26 years...

So in 2 weeks time I shall we turning the grand old age of 26, not old by any means but I am slowly beginning to get closer and closer to 30 and my teenage years are becoming more of a distant memory. My 20's have been amazing in my ways and I think, I believe, that by the time I am 30 I will have accomplished many of the goals that I have set for myself. I have had many highs and lows in my life, like anybody. My childhood up until the age of 13 was wonderful, full of cherished memories and many moments I look on fondly. My teenage years were some of the worst of my life. My 20's so far, have been life-changing and if I look back on how I was when I was 16 compared to now, I do feel proud of how far I have come. So I thought I would take a little look back at the special moments I have had in my life so far...

5

Ah, being 5 is just great isn't it. When I was 5, I had no care in the world. I loved going to school and I loved learning, always ready to go with my pencil case with a million smelly pens. My primary school days were the happiest of my life. I was always the 'reserved quiet one' but once you got to know me, I could be loud!

10

 When I was 10 I still loved going to school, being a school councillor and pretending I was a Spice Girl. I still had my grandparents, I had friends and I was looking forward to starting secondary school. I remember telling my Year 6 teacher I wanted to be a teacher like her-even then I loved helping to look after the younger children.

13-17 

There are barely any photos of me from this period of my life-I was extrememly unhappy and I guess you could say troubled! However I got through it with the help of my mum and started to get stronger as a person. I didn't enjoy school, but I managed, despite missing tons of school, to get 10 GCSE's Grade A*-B which I am always quite proud of.

19

 When I turned 19, things got significantly better in my life. I had friends, a great social life and I had managed to get into college so that I could gain a qualification to get me into university to study Journalism. However, most significantly of all, I met Michael who as you all know by now, is the love of my life! To say that meeting him has changed my life is an massive understatement.

23

23 was a fantastic age for me-I had spent 3 great years at university, made some fab friends, been on some wonderful holidays and graduated with a 2:1 degree in Journalism and News Media. I still struggled a lot with my anxiety especially around this age and it wasn't easy. I had started working in a nursery and realised my passion was working with children.

 

 25

25 has been my favourite age so far of course! I have finally found a job I am happy in, I have coped well with my anxiety and depression (although I still find it hard, I can think much more positively than I ever have before) and of course...yes you know...I got engaged! I am so excited to be 26. By the time I am 27 I will be married with (hopefully) a little Michael or Cheryl as part of the family. For the first time in a while, I look forward to getting up each day just to see what life brings. I have learnt so much, mostly through my own mistakes and some bad experiences but I HAVE made things better for myself. I could have wasted my life moping about but I am so truely glad I kept going.

xoxo