Just kill 'em! (with kindness)

Oh how frustrating it is when someone is really grinding your gears, winding you up, sending you round the bend, driving you up the wall, doing ya nut in, getting on your wick... *insert further appropriate expressions here*

Fortunately, I'm a fairly laid back gal and so it's not too often that I find myself in this position. However, this is something I have been struggling with over the past few weeks. I found myself in a situation where I was having to spend a lot of time with someone who I found pretty exasperating to be around.
At first, I had a bitterness inside me and would go in to each day thinking 'I wonder what they are going to do to drive me bonkers today' and 'I wonder how many times I'm going to have to bite my tongue today'. This really wasn't a nice feeling.

As a Christian, I do my best to love everyone - not just those who I find easy to love. I asked God to show me how to love this person (because I was finding it damn hard) and I felt him challenge me to do at least one nice thing for them, everyday.
Now, I'll level with ya... I definitely haven't managed to do this everyday. Some days there has been an appropriate opportunity to do something really nice, other days it's just been offering up a compliment.
What it definitely has done is massively alter my perspective. Instead of approaching the day with a negative outlook, I have instead been focused on what my 'nice thing' for the day could be. I have been more aware of my thoughts and have actively tried to change them from mean ones to kinder ones.

Now, the poor soul in question is of course oblivious to this whole thing, but it is definitely helping me to cope! I love this quote from Nelson Mandela which says:

"Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies".

This is so true. Hatred, resentment - even irritation - only affect you. What is the point? They can't actually change your situation. I do however believe that love can. Love softens you and can transform even the most broken of relationships.

Please don't think I am trying to preach here... I still find this very hard! I'm working on it every single day and have plenty of moments where I have to take a deep breath and try not to react. I also often come home and rant to my poor housemate, Kate. She really does take one for the team.

This isn't easy, and it's something we will all go through in our life times. We can't always choose who we spend time with and we certainly don't get to choose whether we like them. What we do have some level of control over is whether or not we throttle them lol.

Do you have any pearls of wisdom on this topic? If you do, please leave a comment and share this with the rest of us!


On a different note... I am now coming to the end of my half term break and am getting my brain in gear to head back to placement on Monday. Half term has been great - I got to go home and spend time with family and friends. What hasn't been so great is that I've been ill for most of it! I think I'm just run down from the first few weeks of placement and a cold has decided to take this opportunity to come at me like a tonne of bricks. I am currently a delightful bundle of phlegm and fatigue.
When my energy levels are this low (it's taking everything I have just to type and I reckon it will be lights out at 9pm) I get myself really worked up that it's M.E making a re-appearance. I know that worrying about this is absolutely not helpful but, alas, here we are. If you believe in prayer then a lil prayer for peace and energy for me right now would be very much appreciated!


Many thanks for reading and lots of love,

Katie xxx

The Calm Before the Storm

I am currently in a state of desperately trying to stay awake for a couple more hours. 9pm is a reasonable time for a 20 year old to go to bed, yes? It has been a busy few days and today was spent travelling which always wears me out. I'm shattered but at the same time my soul is feeling refreshed.

I have just been home for a couple of days before I start my 2nd year placement tomorrow morning.
The main reason I went home was to surprise my friend Beth as part of her 21st birthday celebrations which were wonderfully orchestrated by her boyfriend, Kyle. It was so great to be able to see some of the old gang and to catch up as we didn't get much time together over Christmas. I also love an excuse to dress up and eat cake (well, who doesn't?).

As you can see from these two pictures, I am apparently incapable of posing for a nice photo like a normal human being, soz lads.

What made this weekend even better than I had originally anticipated was that Uni gave us a 'pre-placement' week which meant I had a couple of extra days off to get my life together and to then travel back on the Thursday. This gave me some much needed quality time with the parentals. On top of this, two other very important people in my life also happened to be heading back to the Shire on the Friday...

My wonderful friend Katherine who is bossing life and moved to Cornwall for work a few months ago was back in town for a different surprise party! We met for coffee and it was so amazing to see her face and to chat away together like only Kates and Kathers can. We just get each other in a way that I don't think other people always do haha!

And finally, it was a huge bonus to have a date night with Nathan like a normal couple can you BELIEVE. We actually got to spend some time together that wasn't over a dodgy FaceTime connection lol.

Times like these with loved ones who I don't see when I'm in Brighton is such a joy but also hard when they are short lived and I have to say goodbye again so quickly. Despite the bittersweet farewells, I feel like God has hugely blessed me in creating these 'coincidences' of crossed paths.
I am feeling so much better in heading towards placement (which I know will be an emotional challenge at times) having been able to spend quality time with these people in particular.
Sometimes I really see that God knows what I need before I can even ask for it.

Now, time to go and pack my lunch and set a lovely early alarm for tomorrow morning. I am feeling apprehensive about the next 8 weeks but more so I am excited to get stuck in! I'm not one to shy away from a challenge, and I don't intend to start now.

I hope you are all well and excited for January to be over - I know I am!

Thanks so much for reading,

Love,
Katie xxx

Meltdown Central™

Hello all! I am alive! (Just about). My most profuse apologies for taking so long to write a post; this past term has been madness. It turns out that 2^nd year is a fairly sizeable step up…

It honestly breaks my heart that I’ve not been able to keep Katie’s Corner going over the past couple of months – I have seriously missed it! Thank you for bearing with me.
My Christmas break has been equally hectic – some lovely quality time with my nearest and dearest but also a HECK TONNE of work to do (hence why I haven’t had a chance or felt up to writing a post).

Here’s a low down of what I’ve been up to since we last spoke and some thoughts for the year ahead…

October

The month of getting stuck in to 2nd year and embracing everything Autumn related! The return to my course was a bit of a shock to the system so I spent a lot of time working hard but in and amongst that...

• We went to support our boy Dave and his band Island Club at their headline gig in Brighton. Go and check out their stuff on Spotify etc. if you haven't yet. They are sicccckkkk. 
  
• Popped home to take part in the MYCO 30th Anniversary concert in Oxford. It was so nice to be back with old pals and coming together with MYCO members old and new to create an incredible sound. A real honour! 
  
  
  
  

• Enjoyed autumn wonderfulness at Sheffield Park and spent time with the Critchleys 
  
• Explored Stanmer Park for Kate's birthday and made a pie. 
  
• Started a small group with Rhi. This has been a particular highlight of the term. Our group is made up of all girls and we have spent each Thursday evening eating snacks and studying different women in the Bible, what made them incredible, and how we can learn from their example. We have been able to discuss some heavy topics, support each other through life's joys and challenges, and have all the lols.

November

The month that the darkness and cold weather closed in. Lots of new opportunities/challenges came my way and I made some wonderful memories with great people.

• We celebrated Sarah's 21st Birthday with a night out (my only one this term! I am a useless student!!) and a trip to The Ivy for afternoon tea. 
  
  
  
  
• Took on the challenge - along with some other students from St Peter's - to sleep outside, on cardboard, in a car park in order to raise awareness and money for the homeless Night Shelter in Brighton. This city has the highest rate of homelessness in the UK, outside of London. The work of the Night Shelter is vital and it was amazing to be able to raise over £2,000 between us! 
  
  
  

  

  what a TEAM

• I gave my first talk. I spoke at the Eleven which takes place on the Sussex University campus every Sunday morning. It is amazing how God can use a dark story to bring light. 
  
• I wrote my first paid article! It took a lot of work and is part of the reason why my own blog has taken a back seat but it was really cool to have been asked to do it.
• Nathan came to visit! I turns out that people aren't joking when they say long distance relationships are hard, but it makes it even more special when you do get to hang out and make fun memories. Also got to have my first mulled wine of 2018 which was by far the best part of the weekend (lol only joking nath haha soz) 
  
• The St Peter's Student Christmas partaaaay! It featured full xmas dins, rodeo reindeer, roller skating, and silent disco. Fun times indeed. 
  
• Everyone started having mental breakdowns. Second year began to take it's toll, we all got tired and started to lose the will to live. I certainly began to question the point of getting a degree. This term really has been Meltdown Central™

  

  I am in there somewhere... thanks Kate for documenting my meltdowns!

December

The month of CHRISTMAAAAS! Although, for me, Christmas starts much earlier. I had the xmas tunes blaring from Nov 1st and we had our tree and decs up from about 12th Nov... judge me all you want. I was simply living my BEST LIFE. Of course, December is when the real festivities began - along with all my deadlines (!!!) and the countdown to the end of term.

• Safehaven is the ministry (run by St Peter's, Brighton) to support the homeless community. Near the start of December, we had our Christmas meal and it was so much fun! The church was beautifully decorated, a delicious roast was served, the guests all got a present, and I got to sing fun harmonies to some carols, along with the incredibly talented Lydia and Tom. It really was an evening to remember and one which seemed to reflect the real meaning of Christmas. 
  
  
  
  
• Worked my butt off and got all my assignments in on time! No idea if I did any good in them but at least they are done!
• On the last day of term, we had a house Christmas meal - beautifully prepared by Kate and Abby (urrghh my mouth is watering just thinking about it!). I made a dessert of chocolate mousse and we exchanged Secret Santa gifts. It was grand! Just a shame that one of the gang - Lucy - couldn't be there... but she was off having an amazing time surfing in Morocco so we couldn't feel too sorry for her! 
  
  
  
• Returning home was simply the BEST. FEELING. EVER. I loved being reunited with my family (especially my brother who I had not seen in 3 months), getting back to my lovely bed and equally lovely view of the horse field from my bedroom window. A highlight of the lead up to Christmas was going to the Blenheim Lights with some of the old school gang. 

  

  💗

• Aside from festive fun, the past couple of weeks have mainly consisted of yet more work! I have another big deadline next week but I have been plodding on and am getting there.

  

  The Ledden Legends reunited.

Phew. What a mad few months! I have no doubt that the coming months will be equally busy. I have my placement starting at the end of January so that will be consuming my every waking moment for a few weeks haha! I am going to try my best to write more posts in 2019 but cannot make any promises. Sorry that this one is just a messy update and doesn't contain much thought or message! Hopefully normal service can be resumed sooner rather than later...

My plan for the coming year is to continue to trust God in everything and enjoy every opportunity he gives me. He's done a pretty good job so far. 

"Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote: God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?" - Hebrews 13

I also want to get better at not making pre-judgments of people. I know I can have some not very nice ideas about people before I've even spoken to them. Another goal is to practice doing more random acts of kindness and to be braver (determined to make 2019 a less anxious year!).

What are your hopes/plans for the coming year? Here's to a good one!

As always, thank you for reading! Don't forget you can follow the blog by clicking the blue button in the top left corner (if you can't see it, you need to click 'view web version' below!)

Love,
Katie xxx