'Where Have You Been'? Why I've Been M.I.A for Sooooo Long

In the voice of Molly Weasley: 'where have you been'?? I know, I know, I KNOW! It's been over a year. So what the f*** have I been doing? Long story short, getting my degree! Long story not so short... So. Many. Things.

A whole year has come and gone since my last post, so I've probably got some explaining to do. I'll give you a run-down of the past year to get you up to speed!

December

I moved back home for Christmas and immediately became embroiled into the whirlwind of family life. I also had exams in January that I spent the holidays revising for.

January

Moved back to university, started dissertation prep and begun a new relationship.

February

Ended the relationship.

March

Got upset about the end of the relationship, sought comfort in my girlfriends, did a lot of drinking and dancing.

April

Dissertation stress hit hard. I was one of around ten people in the library over Easter break. I took up swimming as a coping mechanism and it worked wonders.

May

Submitted my final assessments on 5th May, left for Italy on the 7th. I also travelled to Barcelona to visit a wonderful friend who was studying out there.

June

I turned 21 in June!

July

July takes the biscuit for the best month ever! I travelled to Tenerife, Sweden and Spain, visiting family and spending time with friends. I graduated with a 1st in English Literature on 12th July! And on the same night, had my last night out in Exeter :(

August

On August 10th, I moved out of my uni house, and said goodbye to the girls I had lived with for three years. We all cried. A lot.

September

In September, I started a Masters in English Literature at a new university.

October

Most of October was spent reading and studying and trying to get to grips with a new campus, a new city and a new lifestyle.

November

My friends moved house in November so I spent a lot of this month exploring their new area. I also took up adult ballet classes (post pending about the experience)!

December

We're up to date! December has been full of university deadlines, and will continue to be until the New Year - but fear not, I'm turning over a new leaf! This won't be the last time you hear from me for a while!

I've thoroughly enjoyed giving my 2022 overview, especially scrolling through my camera roll to work out what happened in each month (only to find that I spent all of April in the same spot in the library!). I'm challenging myself to make this an annual tradition, and I challenge all my readers to do the same. See it as an exercise in reflection and taking stock, assess what you're proud of from this year, what you want to carry over into 2023, and what can stay behind. This year, I've learnt that I'm happiest when I'm trying something new, a new hobby, something that heals my inner child, and that I struggle most during times of transition, when the future is uncertain, but I'm learning that the only thing scarier than change is staying still. I heard that your 20s are a dressing room for the rest of your life, where you can try on different things and see what suits you. My goal for 2023 is to try on as many things as I can!