Navigating life in your twenties is really hard and very confusing. I think there is a lot of pressure to choose a path and it feels like that path will determine the trajectory of the rest of your life. I have definitely felt that pressure this year. However, slowly I am beginning to understanding more about myself and what’s really important to me.

People always talk about your 20s as a time for ‘figuring it out’. My version of this is trying new things like blogging and being a gym girlie, rediscovering things that I used to love like reading and cute stickers, and doing whatever the hell I feel like doing and realising that I actually really hate doing that. I recently remembered that I have free will, so ultimately, we can really do and try anything we want to. I am guilty of being scared to try new things, and so this year I want to push myself out of my comfort zone (hence starting the blog).

I think the lesson I’ve learned is to slow down and not let pressures from others cloud your mind and make you doubt yourself. Nobody truly knows exactly what they are doing in life (if they say they do, they’re lying), and everybody is moving at their own pace and no pace is better than the other, just different. As Joni Mitchell wrote in one of my favourite songs of all time “Where some have found their paradise, others just come to harm”. Life is unpredictable and I think that’s the only thing we can really know for certain, we just have to not be too hard on ourselves along the way and do what we think is right for us.

This is exactly why I have started this blog. Feeling lost is a feeling I know all too well. After graduating and moving back home, I had no direction, no plans, and felt like what the hell am I doing? This took a toll on my self-esteem and anxiety, and it was really hard. However, what grew from this was that I was forced to reflect on the hardships I had been carrying with me and the constant flow of anxiety that I had been managing by myself my entire life. Without that time, I never would have sought out help and never would have had the space or confidence to find the things I now love doing, and make me happy, like running and reading.

So, this is a judgement-free safe space where I am going to be sharing everything and anything from life experiences and struggles to fashion and music, the whole lot!!! I hope from this I can create a community where we can all help and support each other.

Welcome to the Judgement-Free Diaries. Love you all very much.

Ellie