So, it's been a while hasn't it?
After a conversation with a college friend I've decided that, in the name of communication and moving with the times, it was about time I grasped modern technology properly and got back to blogging! Not that I promise there will be much coherent communication in this blog, but I'll have fun writing it, and those who know me will have fun laughing at what I write in it.

I can't believe it's been over 2 years since my last entry! I guess things have been a bit crazy since then - what with my final year at university, starting my new course in youth work, moving back to Weston (into my nan's spare room), meeting Mark and falling in love, leaving Bath (my favourite city in the world, and a place I really grew to love), dealing with my parents' divorce and the aftermath, coping with running the youth work in two churches, and other more mundane things like learning how to cope without my partner in crime Becky being in the country. Wow - there has been a lot of stuff going on hasn't there?! I'm never going to be able to catch you all up with everything, but most of you who'll be reading this have had to put up with me moaning in their ears about it all anyway!

But I shouldn't complain as I've learnt a lot. As a very wise person said to me recently:
"This is how I look at it; there are two choices basically, do something easy or do something hard. Easy routes are everywhere, you don't get challenged, you run less risk of making mistakes, and you get mediocre payback with little satisfaction. The hard route involves pushing your abilities, stretching your capabilities to find the boundaries of what is possible, then push a bit more! If something is difficult for you, then it is generally worth doing. overcoming obstacles and exploring our skills to the full is what defines us. There is no such thing as 'I can't', it is more like 'I can't be bothered'".
I know i'm easily inspired - show me a advert for persil and I can find some way to make it speak into the situation I'm in - but that really got me thinking. It made me think of all the times in the past I've put something off because it was just too hard. I'll never know what I could have learnt through that experience because I missed the chance through fear and indecision. It's all too easy, and all too common, for us to go with the route of least resistance because we're too busy, or too scared, or we've had a bad day already and why make it worse. But we're not missing out on effort, we're missing out on broadening our horizons, stepping out of the boat, and going somewhere we've not been before. No matter how hard a situation is, there is always something we can learn from it, there is always something we can take away for our future, and for the future of others that we know. We should never waste what we've been given, and we should make the most of what we have now. I just wanted to put that in, because some things are worth sharing with others in order that they can benefit from the wisdom of an individual.

Ok, so in summary tonight - things haven't gone the way I expected them to in the past two years. I've made decisions that have taken me down roads where I never thought I'd go. And it's hard being where I am now (I'm sure I'll mention how hard from time to time). But I wouldn't be anywhere else for the world. I have ahead of me so much opportunity and so many experiences that will continue to shape me into the person I'm meant to be. And I welcome them, with all their joy and all their pain, because I know that there are many things to learn, and that there are those around me who love me and who watch over me.

Sleep tight all
Peta
xxxx