Recommended: Play 'Chariots of Fire' Theme Whilst Reading This Post

A wise person once claimed, 'success is a staircase not a doorway'. Its important to remember that we will always have to work to achieve our potential, whatever that may be, and when we achieve that potential our success is oh so much sweeter because of the work we have had to put in.

This concept applies to almost everything in our lives. Last night I was reading an article in Elle describing the writer's experience of training for and running a marathon. She gained such a sense of personal fulfillment and satisfaction as she completed her goal after months of exhausting physical and psychological training and exertion. But what was most fascinating for me was that in the end it was the journey that had made the lasting impact not the achievement of passing the finishing line. She ended up addicted to running and had signed herself up for another two marathons that year!

Behind every success story there's a struggle; from the big city law firm lawyers and politicians to world famous athletes, dancers and singers. I'm willing to bet if you ask any of these people they'll have some experience to bring to the table and most of the time, if not always, they'll look back at those experiences and battles with pride.

So why am I chattering on about these musings? Simply put: today I need inspiration! I have exams in 3 weeks... actually more like 2 weeks and I'm really struggling to push into my revision. The sun is glorious and I'd reallllly like to work on a tan. I've spent the last 5 days procrastinating and seeing friends but this work just will not budge! In my head it all very much looks like this:



So here's a shout out to all those revising and working towards exams right now. I feel your pain! Lets get our heads down and work towards something bigger and then we'll look back on these days gone by with pride of our own (the good kind of pride!).



P.S. A further theory: Sipping hot chocolate from this mug would definitely enlarge the brain cells and basically make you a more intelligent person... now who sells these?

Good Luck!

xoxo

There's just something about shoes...

... please don't ask me what exactly; there just is. Somehow if I can find the right pair of shoes to wear in the mornings I feel my day is going to be just that little bit better. I know some people hate it but i absolutely love the 'clip clopping' of someone walking along wearing heeled shoes/boots.

Shoes have this way of reflecting how we're feeling or how we want to feel. A pair of ugg boots or keds say 'today I'm relaxing and taking things as they come' or perhaps 'I really had no time to think shoes through this morning!'. Some pairs of shoes make me feel empowered, stronger or even more intelligent! If I'm feeling girly florals or pastels have never let me down. Outdoorsy? Wellies! They portray everything from elegance to indifference.


Aldo (£65). If only I was a lawyer already...


and a little bit of Christian Louboutin... (£495 on net-a-porter)



These shoes were in a little independent store in my village that I think my mother is half smitten with. I loved the colour, unfortunately I got frightened off by the price tag!

It is sad that I get all excited when I have bought the perfect pair of shoes? I bought a beautiful pair a couple of days ago and I insisted on showing my whole family.... It is isn't it? Ah well.

xoxo

And so it begins..

I've finally managed to work out how to post videos!! I'm so rubbish with computers that I'm actually proud of this post despite the fact it has taken me relatively no time to write. Here's a bit of cheesy feel good music for you. I need after the hectic day I've just had at work. Hope it makes you happy too!




xoxo

Being British

I'm going to be honest, you've caught me in the midst of my first 'battle of the blogs'. Its all in the name of friendly banter of course... at least I think it is! So whilst I hope this will still be a charming standard Damselfly blog post I am compelled to flaunt and celebrate my true Englishness in an utterly patriotic fashion.

Here we go: To being British!

Great Britain is home to Adele and The Beatles, Mini Coopers, Scones, Jack Wills, Topshop and Burberry. We our so proud of our Union Jack that we manage to place it on almost everything from mugs to tees and even cushions (I even own a couple myself!). We love to spend time down the pub or sipping tea in little cafes whilst chatting about the weather. At least some of the stereotypes are true! Not all I hasten to add, we don't all have wonky teeth like the English always seem to have in episodes of Family Guy.

Did you know our national flower is the Rose? SO proud!

Britain is beautiful! No doubt about it. Want proof? See below:



The first one is from my home town, any brave blogger that disagrees with its beauty is... is... nope I'm just not witty enough.

Another thing I adore about my country is its literature. To name just a few we boast Austen, Dickens, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, Daphne du Maurier, Bram Stoker, Marry Shelly, Evelyn Waugh, the Bronte sisters (love them or hate them their books are classics for a reason!), Wilkie Collins and to name a more modern addition J.K.Rowling (I would be lying if claimed that I wasn't a smidge proud that England is the true home of Harry Potter).

So for now I think this is enough to prove that England is a country of culture, history and beauty. We may not claim to have a statute of a mermaid in our capital but we have a dragon outside Temple Bar and Lions in Trafalgar Square, who would win in a battle? Yes I think so...


xoxo

Shhuushh, Don't tell anyone but...

Its been a while, I'm sorry. Exams are around the corner and I've found barely a moment to revise in the last week. I'm starting to worry a little but tomorrow I have a whole day to myself. Constitutional Law here I come!

Anyway, its about time I posted something for Damselfly. I am going to cheat a little and introduce you to another blog; Post Secret. Whilst at college a friend of mine had a number of the Post Secret books, we could spend hours reading the secrets and discussing them. The idea behind the project is that people from around the world send their secrets on a postcard to Post Secret, sometimes they are placed in the Post Secret books and many are posted on the blog.

The best thing about Post Secret is its honesty, I love the funny ones the best. The brutally honest ones can be sad to read sometimes, but they allow us to understand and experience human nature.





Speak soon!

xoxo

See! I told you it doesn't always rain in England!

Just wanted to take a moment and show you a beautiful place. I travelled there early this morning to help some friends of mine who are shooting a short film (it looks like a pretty good story-line, can't wait to see the finished project). Trebah gardens are among the top 80 in the world. They were certainly the prettiest gardens I've ever seen.

This bridge looks like it belongs to a scene from a movie based on a Nicholas Sparks novel.

March daffodils <3

Baby lockness monster!

Sometimes I think Cornwall looks like a sub-tropical country rather that part of England.

I'm afraid I cannot take credit for the photographs, the talented one is a a friend of mine. Do pop by and give his Tumblr a visit sometime.

xoxo

A little bit of the bright side brings a smile back to my face...

Found this today in an old journal; so sweet.

"Here's to fighting on with fires blazing and flags flying.

Here's to standing up and taking a bow before giving the performance of a lifetime.

Here's to dancing every moment without regret, acknowledging the past and in one fell swoop turning it into something beautiful.

Here's to that battle scar in the shape of a rose adding texture and depth and makes your mystery even more intricate."

Today hasn't been the absolute best of days. I realised something I had completely shut my eyes to before. Life isn't always as smooth as it was when I wrote passages like the words above in my journals; but everything does seems quite insignificant when I turn to think about and appreciate the good things. I gaze at memories on my pin board, and the sunny world beyond my window. Things aren't all that bad. At all. In fact life is definitely about what you make it, so make it good!

xoxo

Out come the florals again, I may never escape them...

My new obsession with duck egg blue has arrived just in time for spring. It all begun when I saw nails inc's new shades for spring. They are so lovely and fresh. I am not usually the girl who buys nail varnish but yesterday I took the bus to town and bought myself the closest duck egg blue shade I could get my hands on.

Town is not big here, there are very few 'branded' shops so I usually wait till I go home to my family to shop seriously. There are, however, various vintage shops and unique little stores with hundreds of pretty treasures to be found. I found this little dress in one of them.

So geared up for spring right now! Hurry up!

xoxo

A thousand new worlds in a single room..

There's something about old libraries that inspires. I want to read, learn, study, discover and delve into the other worlds contained in the novels and non-fictional books stacked shelf upon shelf. I feel like Belle in Beauty and the Beast and could get lost for hours in the right library.

The only complaint I have regarding my law library at university is completely superficial. Its all too new! All too organised, too shiny and too open. I don't mean this in a pretentious manner its just not cosy enough for me. As pointed out above the inspiration is just not there, except the inspiration to get out and find somewhere smaller and warmer to read such as wrapped in blankets and surrounded by cushions in my room. Then I end up just dropping off to sleep... its a no win really.

Beauty has much in the way of inspiration, it raises our gaze to something above and beyond how was currently perceive things. It can make us feel more is accessible and to aim for better but sometimes it can cause individuals to shy away out of feelings of inferiority. These libraries have could never make me feel subordinate. They only inspire.

xoxo

p.s. Sorry for the lackage of postage of recent. I need to spend time finding some more inspiration. What a pity my library is so new.

Valentine's Post

Happy Valentine's Day!

I have to admit I'm do love Valentine's but not for the reasons you might think. I don't love this day for its gifts, the cheesy soft toys, chocolates and flowers, not for the romantic dates or even for secret admirers. Valentines day is a time to celebrate all the people you love in your life, your friends and family. Those who are there to share the happinesses, make you laugh even when you want to cry and those who you know you'll never be without. So here's to them, thank you for everything you've been to me!

Among life's precious jewels,
Genuine and rare,
The one that we call friendship
Has worth beyond compare.

Anon.

Hope your day is special too!

xoxo