2. Encumbrance..

Evening Blog, how have you been?

I've been wanting to write to you about a subject that's been on my mind for a while now, I feared that it may seem to melancholic for our third communication, but I really need to express this. 

Pressure. There comes a time in everyone's life where we feel the pressure of a situation. Of course it's how you deal with such a thing that allows for personal growth and a better understanding of oneself. But there are many kinds of pressure, Blog.

Can you narrow them down and categorise them? Is it even possible? Does it follow the simple "fight or flight" model? 

Some people thrive off of the stuff. It's when they can truly show that they can preform on top. I know this because I have had some of my greatest moments in work due to the sheer amount of extra pressure on the task given. The problem I have is, it is not as consistent as I would like. One person's defining moment is another's downfall, but why? Yes, I know we are all different, and that is one of the joys of humanity, but when does pressure become a burden for someone? Is it solely a variety in skill, or is there something deeper like an emotional connection?

There have been a few instances in the past few years of my young adulthood where the pressure to preform in a task has been so difficult,making it feel more like an incredible burden than an amazing opportunity. I find that when I'm questioning myself as to why this is, instead of assessing my skills and looking for a way to improve, I compare myself to those around me, those that have achieved what I want without it feeling the heaviness that I did. I should be where they are. I should be just as good as them, but I'm not.

But why Blog? Why am I comparing myself to others?

Do we crave acceptance from others? That if we can handle what they can, we're in? As a society, we love to compete to be the best and have the best. No one really tells you though that with it all comes the pressure of keeping it and staying at the top. I compare so that I know what I have to strive for, that soon I can be great like those around me.

The definition of pressure is the amount of force applied on a object. Straight away, in that little sentence, you can screw yourself over. You already have the force of the situation, then force yourself to preform better with a little 'healthy' competition and then if you add the force of the comparison that someone, somewhere has done it better than you and the odds are quite simply against you. Fight or flight. The way I see it, the more you burden yourself with pressure the less likely you are to truly emerge triumphant. It's an exponential graph of doom.

And we still fall for it. 

I suppose the reason why I sometimes compare, is that I can't stand the thought that if somebody has done better than me in the exact same situation that they somehow now, have to right to judge me on how I handle it. 

Do you ever feel like that Blog, or is it just me? 

Till later...

1. Life sorbet..

Blog,

It, once again, has been far too long.

The last time we spoke I was talking about my trip Newcastle and generally how excited I was. The trip was amazing and just what I needed. I've been talking about this whole "life sorbet" thing for a while now. It's just with the all the things have been going on lately and not really having a real spare moment to do anything, I felt that I needed a palate cleanser for my life. Hence, the "life sorbet" idea: just a few days, in really good company to refresh and cleanse the bitter after taste of the past few months.

And boy did it work.

The thing I love about Kate and Newcastle is that everything is easy. You see blog, me and Kate are very similar in personality, style, morals etc.. that for me, just being in her presence is relaxing. We don't require a lot of  entertainment or a big fuss. And that's why I love Newcastle. It really is a beautiful city that has everything, that I don't have to rush into anything and can take it slow. Oh, I have some pictures for you, too.

The biggest thing that the 3 of us have in common is our love for food. When me and Kate get together we easily spend hours and hours talking about what food we cooked and liked, where to go for something great, what new cookbook is a must read and honestly, I love that. I don't have that with anyone else, really. When we're together long enough we cook together and recently have started the indoor picnic food. In essence, we are cooking lots of mini dishes, sort of like a British tapas I guess. On the first day of my trip, we baked a Camembert each and dipped a fresh loaf and sausages into the amazing cheesey goo. Served along side a raw fresh pea and asparagus salad, I thought I was in heaven.

So, what has Newcastle got to do with food? I never realised it until I went up there, but Newcastle is one of the most amazing places to go for some fantastic fresh food. There are some many independent deli's and markets, all showcasing to die for produce. On the last day, we went into the centre, it was so lovely and warm that we stopped off into Grainger St Starbucks for a Reserve coffee and wandered around the farmer's market. That's when I saw them blog, the most amazingly red, shiny and plump grape tomatoes you will ever see. I had to have them. We had to eat them. Warmed and ripened by the day's sun, they really did taste every bit of summer. Right next to the tomato stand? Fresh artisan bread, oh my.

Well, that was my trip. I haven't gone into too much detail for you blog because, well, all we did was catch up and eat. That may not sound a lot to you, but it was my life sorbet.

Till later...