The idea of making a New Year's resolution has always been super cringe to me - mainly because everyone I know who has made one has given up! However, New Year's Eve I actually made one...yes just the one : that each night as I got into bed, I'd start reading again. Reading a proper book, not an e-book, not a blog post, not a Tweet, not an Instagram caption, a proper book. Apart from the last couple of nights, I have been completely on it. I finished my first book One of Us is Lying in 5 days and I was falling asleep approximately 3-4 hours before I normally would! No joke.

However, these past few nights when I haven't picked up my book have got me thinking. Do people put so much pressure on a New Year's resolution that when they don't do it every single day, they've failed? Have I already broken my resolution 17 days in?

Take the resolution of dry-January or losing weight for example. If you mess up for x amount of days or weeks, is it easier to say "oh well, I've broken it now, may as well not continue."? I read something similar in the dieting world. Somebody said, "If you broke your phone screen, would you continue to smash it?" No. You'd repair the damage and try your best to look after it again.

But the first night I didn't feel like reading, I immediately felt this sense of guilt. It's stupid when I think about it - IT'S ONLY A BOOK! but I'd set the goal for myself. Then the days followed and I was beating myself up about it so much that I'd pick up the book, read a couple of sentences or a page, just to mentally tick off that I'd done it and then go back to my phone or iPad.

I asked my friend how many days out of a year constitutes 'passing' your resolution? She replied that each resolution would be different but if you're doing it the majority of the year, you've passed! She also raised a good point - "Why do we need New Year to set a goal, we should do it all year!". Plus, goals change all year round.

If you have a goal, set it NOW! and also, if you think you've failed already with your New Year's resolution, pick yourself up and start again tomorrow! I will be picking that book back up tonight :)

Sidenote: As soon as I was finished writing this, I went to buy a new book and the website said "Progress, not perfection - Fresh thinking for 2019" Sums it all up really, doesn't it :)

Until next post,

Amy x

There comes a time when it's natural for friendships to drift apart. Maybe one person did something, maybe you did something, maybe nobody did anything and it just happened. Maybe you just need a break from each other and space to grow up. The best kind of friendships though, are the ones that come back together like no time has passed.

I have recently reconnected with the person who was my first high school friend and my best friend for 6 years. Neither of us really know why the friendship ended, other than it was to do with the interference of other people creating typical high school drama.

A whole 7 years had gone by since we last spoke which is a crazy amount of time but as soon as I saw my Instagram friend request from her, it put a smile on my face and just felt like the right time to get back in touch because even after all these years, I missed our friendship.

The best part is having someone you can say "oh my god remember when..." which is something I really missed and struggled with when creating new friendships at university and trying to form new friendships in the UK. Don't get me wrong, I know that one day you will be able to say those things with your new friends and the friendship has to start somewhere but high school memories are one of a kind.

We finally talked on the phone tonight - annoying time difference between England and Australia! - and both started the conversation laughing about being nervous to speak to each other after such a long time. After 30 seconds had gone by though, we were our 18 year old selves, laughing about the same things we always did and recounting stories and memories. It felt weird being asked "how's your life been the last 7 years?" because it really didn't feel like we ever lost touch. It's amazing that now we are in our mid twenties we can cheer each other on through the next phase of our lives.

What I'm trying to say in a very rambly way is that the people who are meant to be in your life will find a way back there. If there is someone you miss or you feel you need in your life and they're most importantly healthy for your life and not toxic, reach out to them. Friendships can change and develop and also be exactly the same as they used to be. And it's great.

Until next post,

Amy x