18 Things I Did/Learnt in my 18th Year of Life

Hello beautiful people. Well we made it! It's the time of the year when my birthday is in sight and that coincidentally also means that the year is at its close.

It's been a hectic one all round I think, and the last thing we need right now is to jump into a completely new decade but hey, that's how life goes.

I thought I would round off the year, and the 18th year of my life with a little summary, so I can reflect and you can be a bit nosy, on the bits I have learnt (not much), the stuff I have done (very much) and the person I have become (I think I've changed a little- for the better).

So first let's discuss what I mean by '18th year of life' cos even I have found it a little confusing and I want us all to be on the same page. At this point in time, I am not 18 yet, though I am already in my 18th year of life and about to enter my 19th. That's to include that year where I was technically zero, then one month, two months old, etc. It's a bit weird but that's the way the cookie crumbles (I think that was from Bruce Almighty :D).

I think it would be easiest if this post was arranged into a list-type form, so I will try my best- no promises!

1. I started my own business with my Mum and sister.

Now this was a major part of my 2019 and was the subject of endless late nights- even all nighters!- sat crafting and having existential crisis after crisis, though we made it in the end. I'm not going to go into much detail here, but if you are interested you should check out our Instagram @ManAQueenUK or our website www.manaqueen.com to see more. We launched in August at the (then) largest drag convention in Europe, had a completely insane weekend and are now going to another drag convention in January (pray for us) to do it all over again. That's something to look forward to ;)

2. I learnt (and am still learning) to drive

This ones a work in progress, but I'm getting there :)

3. Related, I bought myself a car

It's a cute little red Suzuki and I love it to bits. Finally an asset of my own!

4. I met some incredible people

This one's mainly from when I went to the drag convention in August. We met so many people and they were all amazing. I think it's good to always make an effort to be nice to everyone you meet as you have no idea how great these people could be and you walked straight past them!

5. My confidence has grown immensely

*hairflip*

6. I discovered the art of the podcast

And have decided to give it a crack with some friends at college. We will see how that turns out.. (fingers crossed)

7. I looked into universities

See other post on this...

8. I read some incredible books

Reading more will always be a goal of mine.

9. I got a taste of the workforce

Through college, I managed to get a year-long work experience placement at my local paper and it's giving me a proper taste of what my career could be like. It's not always great and I'm not someone best suited to an office job, but the opportunity itself is incredible (see next point...)

10. I went to an event attended by hundreds of world leaders and had a good time!

Through the local paper, I was able to attend the NATO meeting at the beginning of December, got to mingle with news outlets from around the world, meet professionals and meet some people I really look up to. Unfortunately I did not get to see the likes of Trump or Boris in the flesh, but it's close enough and I don't really mind anyway.

11. I cooked more

AND I didn't poison anyone! That's a win in my book.

12. I had a good time, and sometimes I just didn't

No year is going to be good 100% of the time, I guess you just need to plod through the bad as things will always get better.

13. I tried to overcome part of my phobia of hospitals/blood/needles and the like

I don't think it's something I will ever get over, but I am working on it (a little).

14. I tried to be a better sister/daughter/friend

This one's a constant work in progress, but I definitely got a little better with all that this year and want to get even better next year :)

15. Sometimes, it's ok to slow down

This year, like every other year, has come and gone very quick, but unlike other years, this one has been extremely busy for me, and at times it has been difficult to cope. I need time to myself, to slow down and take it all in, so I don't end up pushing myself to breaking point. I think this one is true for everyone though and everyone would benefit from slowing down every now and again.

16. I bought myself a red fluffy coat of dreams

I am inspired by drag to dress a bit more out there and when I saw this absolutely insane yet gorgeous coat, I knew I just had to have it! I have worn it out the house once so far because I am ever so slightly terrified that it will somehow get ruined, which will break my heart...

17. I became obsessed with Joseph (musical) and feel-good music like that

I have never been super up to date with the charts, and to be honest I don't really like any of the music that gets released nowadays anyway. I like the classics, mainly from the 80s and 90s and musicals. I have a particular obsession with Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and think that I would make a particularly good Josephine if there were to remake it with a female cast (I can't sing but I reckon it would be a laugh).

18. I realised that I don't have to put up with sh*t I don't deserve

This is where I get really honest, in an already very honest post. I have always battled with my self esteem and my self confidence. I am not as kind to myself as I am to others and whilst it's sad, it's true. I often underestimate myself and have, in the past, allowed people to walk all over me, and all I did was sit and take it. Looking back, I don't think I deserve that. This year when someone in my life told me what they truly thought of me, I decided that this was my first step to a better me and I cut ties with them, and I have no intention of making up. I feel that although this kind of thing hurts, it is something that we all have to do to protect ourselves and I know that I will never improve my self esteem whilst I have people taking out their own internal problems on me. Life is hard enough without all that crap!

In the next year I have to focus on me, my mental health, my general wellbeing and how I treat myself. Anyone who does not support me on that journey is very welcome to leave and I would ask all of you to do the same thing in your own life. We all deserve better sometimes, and the earlier we realise that, the better.

I think I will schedule this to post on my birthday, 30th December. It always comes so fast, and leaves even faster. You may know from my post last year that I have never been one to love my birthday so I will probably just stay in, with a glass of prosecco and dance around the house and binge watch netflix :) It doesn't sound like much but it's exactly what I want to do so it's perfect.

Happy birthday to me, happy new year to you, and I will be back in 2020 with more endless ramblings!

xxxx