What am I doing with my life?

The truth is... I have no idea.

I'm 20 years old and I have no idea what I want to do with my life. I know I want to do something amazing. We only get one ride around on this earth and I want to make an impact. Ok so I know I'm not going to discover something amazing like Benjamin Franklin did with electricity; or touch souls like F. Scott Fitzgerald did with her writing. Even if I just impact the lives of the few people I personally know- that'll be enough. Like Gus writes in TFIOS: "People will say it’s sad that she leaves a lesser scar, that fewer remember her, that she was loved deeply but not widely".  


I've always been told that I don't have to figure out what I want to be yet. But I can feel time slipping through my fingers and I am no closer to figuring it out. All I know is I am working in a job that I hate, I'm wishing the weeks away so that I can have the weekend and I am deeply unhappy with the life I'm leading at the moment. I don't even have a circle of friends that I can talk to about it because I'm growing distant with all of them. The majority have gone away to university and have new friends so they're not making any effort with me. 


Why can't I have some crazy talent like singing that makes it obvious of the path I should go down? Why is it so hard? Does anybody else feel like this?


Signing off, Lauren 

xoxo

10 Things to do in Autumn

It's time to wave goodbye to Summer and hello to Autumn. Don't you just love that Autumnal feeling? No? Well here's 10 things you can do to spice up your Autumn:

1. Go for a walk.
Now to most people this probably doesn't seem very fun. It helps if you have a dog that you can take with you as dogs make everything better but either way walks are still 100% relaxing. Not only are they a great form of exercise but the fresh air can really clear a foggy mind. Try your local park, maybe a lake? Whatever you do be careful not to find yourself alone and in a position of danger. Here's a picture from a walk I took at the weekend...


2. Plan your Halloween costume.
If you've got the post-summer blues then you need to give yourself something to look forward to. I love Halloween. Dressing up in costume, hanging with your friends and eating your body weight in sweets? Yes please. You could ask a friend or your s/o to do a partners costume with you and go as Cosmo and Wanda or Ketchup and Mayonnaise or something totally wacky. Whatever it is- have the most fun that you can with it!


3. Have a movie night with the girls.
When the cold weather sets in what could be cosier than 5 of your best friends, duvets, chocolate and your favourite chick flick? Sometimes a late night gossip is just what us girls need; to talk about our crushes or our problems, to cry over The Notebook or laugh with Bridget Jones. Just try not to stay up too late otherwise you will not be feeling relaxed and refreshed the next day.

4. Go to the movies.
Whether its alone, with friends or on a date there are always awesome films out around Autumn time. It's like the season for new releases. So grab your popcorn and get to your local cinema. Just don't forget to take a jumper because some of those movie theaters can get a tad chilly.

5. Attend a sporting event.
Autumn also means the start of many sport calendar seasons. Whether it's your school team or the football team for your town; sports is a great way of spending your evening.

6. Start a diary.
I don't think there is a person alive that at some point hasn't tried to keep some form of journal/diary. Now if your like me then that attempt probably started on the 1st January and ended some time around the 9th. Most people can't find the time to write about their day because they're too busy living it. However it is important to get some 'me time' sometimes and a diary is the perfect way to do it. You see it's not about 'finding the time' it's 'making the time'. Try to go to bed 10 minutes earlier and write a brief outline of your day, how you're feeling or a list of what you want to achieve the next day. Writing is a great way of expressing yourself so write away! Why wait for the new year?

7. Start a new book.
Now that it's not hot enough to spend every minute outside it is finally a good time to start the book you've been putting off starting. If you've got nothing lined up then I recommend the Hamilton series of books by Kody Keplinger (if you're into teenage fiction). If you can't think of a book then go into your local book shop and spend a bit of time finding one you do think you'll like. Getting lost in a story whilst sat by a window with a blanket is most lovely in Autumn so try it out. You might even find a new favourite book.

8. Spend some time with a family member.
'Tis the perfect time of year to go visit that family member you haven't seen in fooooorever! Go see your Grandad, Uncle, Auntie or if you don't have any family in the area then travel to see them. Spend a shopping with your mum or tag along with your Dad to the DIY store or whatever your parents like to do. Any time with family is quality time and you will feel better for it. Trust me.

9. Re-organise your bedroom.
A new layout of your bedroom can leave you feeling like a new person. Even a tidy bedroom can leave you feeling better. A tidy bedroom equals a tidy mind- or so my mum used to tell me. Whether it's moving the furniture around or tidying the way it already is an organised bedroom is bound to beat those summer blues. You could re-organise your wardrobe and put your summer clothes away. Then those shorts you wore every day of summer won't be laughing in your face every time you open the doors. Get those Autumn decorations out; like fairy lights. Fairy lights will brighten up any bedroom and leave a warm glow for the cold nights ahead.

10. Make a scrap book.
A way that I deal with saying goodbye to Summer for another 8 or 9 months is to scrapbook. I print a load of pictures off that I've taken over summer, lay them on the pages so they look pretty and stick them in. You can then get some colourful pens and decorate around them. Add dates, places, names or other mementos that can help you remember details about the events pictured. I also like to collect train tickets or cinema tickets to stick in as well. I still have my actual tickets to see The X Factor Live Tour from 2009.


I hope a few of these suggestions give you some inspiration for things to do this Autumn.

Autumn is the best season for new beginnings so don't let it go to waste.

Thanks for reading :)

Signing off, Lauren xoxo