I've been wanting to do something for a while now and today is the day that I can say I've made plans to do it! I've never travelled to London by myself, I've been with Adam many times but never alone. I've never felt brave enough to tackle how anxious the thought of travelling alone somewhere as busy as London is makes me.
As a blogger I have been fortunate enough to be invited to quite a few events in London but I've rarely attended them because of how I've felt. But this year I set myself a goal and that was to just do it - to face my fear head on and try my best to overcome it. Because for me that's how it works. Take for example, how vlogging and being on camera can sometimes make me feel and how bad that used to be, sometimes I couldn't get the words to come out of my mouth, I'd get upset and not understand why. But I stuck at and I'm still sticking with it and everytime I fall or tumble over my words I just pick myself back up again. Back a good few years ago, I used to worry about driving and so I took a job that was an hour away to get over it. That same job involved me taking 999 calls, before I started there I used to feel really anxious when it came to making calls and talking on the phone - I no longer have that same level of anxiety. All these fears and feelings of anxiety are still there. When I drive a long distance, when I use the phone, when I make my youtube videos, the difference is is that I no longer let it stand in my way. For me, pushing myself to step outside of my comfort zone is the only way I feel I can overcome my lack of confidence and any anxiety I feel.
It isn't easy and this has taken me years.. but this year I will be going to the yearly parenting blogger event and conference, BritMums Live and whilst it's the second time I'll be attending, it's the first time I'll be travelling and being in London by myself. Just putting that into writing makes me feel so proud, I finally feel as if I have enough confidence to push any fears or worries out of my head and just do it.
I'd been waiting for the right opportunity to push myself to do this when out of the blue I was sent an email invite from Boots Soltan who are sponsoring and who are going to have a stand at BritMums Live this year. They have invited me along with five other bloggers (who I'm very excited to spend time with!) to attend the event and also work with them later on in the year around sun protection, which I feel is a great fit my for my blog especially when it comes to sun protection and children, as I think this is a great thing to raise awareness of.
I'm so excited to have been invited, I'm excited for so many reasons. I'm really looking forward to overcoming my fear of travelling to London alone. I'm excited to work with Boots Soltan and learn more about sun protection and care. I'm excited to attend BritMums Live again and go to the blogger workshops as I found them so inspiring before. And I'm also super excited to get to see and hopefully talk to some fellow bloggers, ones I'd met before as BritMums Live previously and others I've not yet met. I remember coming away from BritMums Live before feeling so inspired by everything and everyone. And this time Adam doesn't have to wait around in a hotel room for me whilst I'm there, which I'm sure he'll be rather quite pleased about! ;)
If any bloggers who are going read this, please do come and say hi if you see me! :)
If any bloggers who are going read this, please do come and say hi if you see me! :)
Thank you to Boots Soltan for this opportunity!
Have a lovely time Alex. :) I'd love to go one day too. It's easy enough to fly from Ireland to London and I have been in London quite a few times but at events like this I am a bit more in the background. Maybe one day.
ReplyDeleteAh no, don't think like that. So many bloggers attend and not everyone knows everyone. I spent a lot of the time going off on my own when I first went purely because I wanted to listen to the workshops as I found them so inspiring. I hope you come if not this year, then next. xx
DeleteI heard Britmums was cut down from two days to one days this year. Hopefully they will increase it again for next year but I would definitely like to go next year and maybe get to meet you :) xx
DeleteYAY! Good on you for pushing your own boundaries and setting your fears aside. I can't wait to meet you x
ReplyDeleteThank you Donna, that means a lot. Hope to see you! xx
DeleteAww I'm so pleased you're now coming Alex- I can't wait to meet you and have a good old natter. Good for you for pushing yourself and stepping outside your comfort zone- it takes a lot of guts to face doing something which makes you anxious and I think your approach is amazing. Well done with the Boots Soltan sponsorship too! See you soon! Amelia xx
ReplyDeleteThank you so much lovely, this means so much, I really appreciate it. I can't wait to meet you!! xx
DeleteThat's brilliant Alex, well done for pushing yourself. It's thanks to you, that I am going :-) I am so nervous, but excited to come and do the workshops. Where I will probably hide and not talk to anyone..eek! I hope I get a chance to say hello x
ReplyDeleteAhh I think we feel the same! Please please do come and say hi if you see me and I'll do the same if I see you. xx
DeleteGood for you lovely - and I mean that in the least patronising way possible. I truly believe if you can take 999 calls, you can do ANYTHING! Charlie xx
ReplyDeleteAh thanks lovely. Thats' definitely one way of looking at it! xx
DeleteYay, well done Alex! I promise you'll be fine travelling to and around London. Phil's actually coming with me this year because there's an exhibition at the British Museum he wants to see, but ordinarily I go alone. I've got Martha with me this year so am happy to have some help in the tube!xx
ReplyDeleteAhh thanks Hannah. I hope I'll see you there. xx
DeleteThis is brilliant Alex and well done you. Similarly I feel anxiety with travelling and new situations too but try to push past it, starting my blog this year has been great and now I wish I'd have done it sooner. I am also coming to Britmums (although travelling with my husband!) and would be lovely to say hi X
ReplyDeleteBlogging helps so much I find. Ah would be really nice to meet you. I hope I see you. xx
DeleteThat's fab and I sure will say hi if I spot you :) I live in London, so it's not a big deal for me to get there, as I do the same(ish) journey every day to work but I can imagine it is a bit much if you travel from another city! I am sure you will do absolutely fine though coming here alone - and you'll have lots of blogger buddies here to chat to :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sanna! I appreciate that. I hope I will see you. xx
DeleteWell done sweetie, it can be so daunting travelling and staying alone but BML will be full of friendly faces and it's stepping out of your comfort zone that allows you to grow for sure. I don't enjoy staying overnight anywhere solo myself, I've always loved company. Moving to Italy after uni helped-you face the fear head on and you realise you can do anything you put your mind to. See you there chick x
ReplyDeleteThank you. Your confidence always inspires me Vicki! I hope I get to say hi! :) xx
DeleteI can't wait to see you lovely and you have my number so you can call me anytime if you are feeling nervous, and we are going to be in the same hotel and with each other on Friday, so we can go in together on saturday morning! Can't wait to see you! xx
ReplyDeleteCannot wait to see you!!!! We can hold each others hands at the station and get to the hotel OK! Cannot wait xxx :) xx
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