De-Clutter.

candicealancasterLeave a comment
Related image

I haven’t blogged since the post where I came clean about #exboyfie and I breaking up.  I still haven’t re-found my blogging mojo, so to speak. I keep coming up with these ideas in my head but when I get my computer or phone out to type them, it all just seems like worthless junk or I get writer’s block.

Today I’ve just decided to fill my blog text box with words and see where it takes me.   

A friend of mine texted me out of the blue today to let me know that there are 83 days until I travel to my next destination.  Funnily enough, I already knew that because he’d created a ticking countdown for me last week.  He also told me that I normally use this platform as a virtual diary; so that is why I’m just fumbling my way through a post today.  Just clearing out all the junk in my head that is making it sooooo muddled up. He is one of my only close friends that reads my blog without me shoving it all over my other social pages.  He gets his email notification that I’ve has posted an article, and he reads it.  From one “Capt.” to another, thank you. 😊

Can we also just pause for a second… what an amazing, clever nerdy friend, this above person is.  He CODED me an entire flip countdown to my next holiday.  Like who knows how to do that or even has time?  I even tried to find a flip app and I couldn’t.  I could find plenty of clocks but no countdowns.  Can I ask for y’all to have a look at it?  It has no value to anyone else but me, but hey, it’s freakin’ cool and you’ll found out where I am going on holidays!  Check it out here > www.cmedia.com.au/countdown

Right, I got a little bit off track, but I did mention it could be a little bit all over the shop tonight. 

In my attempts to try type out a blog (or get around the thought of a VLOG), so many questions pop through my brain every day yet I can’t get any close to getting them on virtual paper.

Things like:

  • Should I really being going on holidays when I could be using that money towards a house deposit?
  • Should I create a new space on my blog for travel even though I haven’t done much of it lately and why does my opinion matter?
  • Why isn’t my career taking off as well as I wanted/planned it to; I’m getting to a point where my career should be set up?
  • Why do I need a man when I can go out and FIND MYSELF?

All these questions are absolutely ridiculous when you write them down.  At the end of the day, I know all the answers to those before I can type the end of this sentence.  The real question should be this:

Why does society think it is okay to put unrealistic pressure on people to have life decisions made before they’re a certain age or period in their life time?

The answer is; it isn’t okay, but society doesn’t care.

Take my job for instance: I’m a full-time working girl, who has a travelling high flying job planning events for a multinational company, who meets all kinds of people, in all kinds of places, planning all types of cool things… Why would I hate my job at all?  The simple answer is I don’t, I love my job, but it is more complicated than that. 

People see the end game with events.  They see the shiny lights and the golden gates, but they also haven’t walked through the fires of hell (so to speak) to get to those golden gates. It takes time to put on a great event.  FIFA World Cups and Olympic Games take 4 years in the making, for an event that might run for 2-4 weeks…

Getting back to my career; why haven’t I worked on the football side and moving my career that way; from Corporate to Sport.  Surely skills cross over into that and I should be able to get a job easily enough, right? That my friends, is where society is wrong. It’s not just a snap of a finger and it’s done, I’ve got what I wanted, and I got it without doing any actual work.

Working for a national/international company, calendars are busy months and months in advance, sometimes I don’t even have time to go to the gym or have time to sit and eat lunch, let alone make plans to meet with sports industry people and have coffee dates!  I am working on my footy career, slowly, week by week with a wonderful club, biding my time until I can get an opening to look at future options.  In the meantime, bills still need to be paid so I must keep working.

Another society generalisation that grinds my gears is when statements like “You don’t need a partner, you just need to be happy in your own company, FIND YOURSELF.”

FIND YOURSELF.  What does that even mean?  Apparently, there is a wiki page on it.  https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Yourself

You’re essentially going through life, trying to ‘find yourself’ on a guide society made up, because they know what is best for you… In truth, the only person that knows what’s best for you, is YOU. 

I’ve been single now for 9 months and at the beginning I was like, I don’t need a man, I want to learn how to be at one with myself and be free.  All I have been doing for the last 6-8 years is be in relationships… Surely, I need some time for myself.

Well in that last 9 months, I’ve felt isolated, I’ve felt lonely, I’ve lost friends and I didn’t gain any new ones.  Maybe I’ve found myself in the sense, that I know being with someone that makes me happy, that makes me feel loved and safe, is the kind of person I am.  It 100% doesn’t take away from the strong individual woman I already am.  I know who I am as a person.

I like vanilla ice-cream and not strawberry (yes, even though it is pink), I like two peppermint teabags in my cup and not one.  I love football and my shoes.  I have strong opinions and don’t back down to intimidation.  Having a man would not compromise that person I am because I know what I deserve.  Being with a person that you love and cherish shouldn’t change who you are, but it can definitely enhance and enrich your life with emotions and feelings that material things cannot.

Someone once told me, “Candice, you like to plan the plan.  You cannot always plan the plan of your life”.  I like to control things.  I like to know when they’re happening, why they’re happening and when they’ll stop, so I can plan the next thing; but in my 29 years on this life, maybe I just supposed to take that leap of faith and just jump. 

And that is what I plan to do, in New Zealand, in 83 days.  Lots of jumping and saying, fuck it, life is too short.

Until next time.

La love,
C. xx

~In loving memory of Mary-Ann – I miss you. I hope you and your Dad are enjoying a cuppa while dipping your toast and watching over us all.  ~

Strong & Tearless.

candicealancasterLeave a comment

rose

Every time I go to write this post (or even think about writing it for that matter), I tear up and wonder how much longer I can procrastinate about letting these feelings rise to the surface… I haven’t been strong enough to virtual pen these words to into sentences… until now.

It’s not a newsworthy headlining story but #boyfie and I broke up…

There. It’s out and I’m still tearless. It happened a little while ago, 5 months to be exact. 5 months before I have been somewhat capable of writing it down on a platform like this. This blog has always been like a journal to me; somewhere I can share my feelings and only virtual strangers read it. Most of those close to me already know but admitting I still hurt sometimes, has been hard.

Telling someone how I feel is easy when I don’t know them very well; I can just say it was mutual, I’m fine and walk away. My close friends or workmates see straight through me and it’s a little tougher to be the strong person I am in my heart. They know I’m still hurting yet am trying to be strong. I can get through days, even some weeks and be fine then one small thing triggers my memory and I’m a mess. I’m not in denial either – I know that it’s going to take time to heal; been there and done that before. However, being with someone for such a long time (almost 5 years), it’s going to take a little longer – if it didn’t, I’d be worried I was in the relationship for the wrong reasons. I loved him and I think I will forever… Just over time, the way you love someone changes.

Without going into the finer details, we mutually decided to go our separate ways to work on ourselves. We agreed life has a funny way of working out and we won’t know what the future brings until we are in the moment. There isn’t a day where I don’t think about him, but I know in my heart, it was the right decision. I truly know that in my heart even though my brain says I should have fought harder, stayed to see it out … He needs it and I need it but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t bloody hurt. Seeing and talking to someone for such a long time, almost every day, is such a hard thing to give up the next day.

There isn’t any sourness, hate or anger between us. In the beginning, I thought that may have been better/easier that way but I know that will prevent me from healing quicker. If anything (from my side anyway), I admire him for being honest and allowing us to make the decision together. I am really looking forward to the time where we can just chat and be friends again; I not only broke up with my boyfriend, but I temporarily lost my bestfriend. We talk occasionally by text or facebook tag but that’s about it. We both need this time to heal which will help our future friendship.

Given I’m now single (I’m still not used to saying that), I have more time alone than I did before. It’s not really like free time, it’s just time alone with my own thoughts. Your own thoughts can be so mean and self-damaging sometimes.

  • What’s wrong with me?
  • Why do I feel sad all the time?
  • If only I’d tried harder…
  • If only I did this/that, maybe this wouldn’t have happened…
  • I must have been a horrible girlfriend for him not wanting to stay with me

The trouble with thoughts like this is that this thing really did happen and you now cannot change the past, no matter how hard you try. For all the negative thoughts, there are still positive, happy ones.

  • You’re strong and beautiful – there isn’t anything wrong with you
  • You tried all you could … and even more, if that were possible
  • Gut feelings are very rarely wrong, you did the right thing
  • Look at all the possibilities that might open up for you now, if you just let them…

The negative/mean self-thoughts are not something new to me… I have always doubted my own ability and given myself unreasonable expectations to live up to. I’m not sure why, it’s never been something put on me from anyone else, only myself. In this alone time, part of my search to better myself is to be nicer to myself, to be okay with being alone and feeling content that I only need myself to be okay. If I am content with myself and finding peace in my own company, I can’t imagine how much more will I appreciate the company of my family and friends.

It’s not the end of the road for our friendship or a goodbye – it’s just another chapter in our lives, as separate people.

I know a big sleep will help calm my thoughts and body. Tomorrow is a new day; one to cherish, have fun, laugh, smile and find the light in something dark.

La love,
C. xx

Brain Vs Heart.

candicealancasterLeave a comment

Have you ever given up something because it was the “right thing” do” in your brain and everyone else is advising it but in your heart you truly know you don’t want to? Does that even make sense? Let me put some context around it. 

The long and short of it for those who haven’t been around for my entire blog journey; in 2013 I snapped my ACL in my right knee which sidelined my football career, indefinitely.  It took doctors 9 months and arthroscopic surgery (which turned into a full knee reconstruction) to diagnose the snap and then a good 18 month recovery to be full healed and ready to play again… but I’ve never gone back.

To this day, I wish I still played. Every day football consumes my thoughts and it hurts to watch people play well into their life while I’m sidelined in my 20’s. Having injured 2 ligaments in the same knee, it most certainly feels like the “right thing” to do. My career cannot afford another injury. 

Sidelined. Am I truly sidelined though? My brain certainly still believes that. What about the countless hours spent in the gym conditioning my knee to be just as strong as my “good” one? They have to count for something, right? I shouldn’t have good and bad knees, they’re both as “good” as each other now. 

My heart believes otherwise. It believes I’m mentally sidelined. It wants another crack at football.  A chance to feel my cleats pierce the turf, breathe in the freedom the next 90 minutes will bring and the white line fever bubbling in my veins. There is no Candice without football. I’ve been trying to compensate by writing college projects, volunteering on events and coaching but nothing beats playing.

I guess the bigger question here is, “Why do we give up things that bring us the most joy and love?” 

This wider observation was brought on by my PT last week. We were talking after life threw me another curveball in my #roadtofifa2022 journey. She said, “I think you need to start doing that thing you used to do all the time.” At first, I did think she was thinking about football. (Of course, because we just established I love football more than anything, except maybe #boyfie 😁) However, she was talking about blogging and when I registered the comment in my brain, I thought, she’s right. I love blogging! (Except when my keyboard on my tablet refuses to auto-punctuate. Super frustrating! 😣)

I don’t do this for anyone else.  I do it to mentally dump everything out of my brain and vent to the billions of people in this world who fail to know I exist. I stopped blogging so much because I started a new job at Ricoh, did my event  diploma got lazy. There is no other explanation or excuse. I make time for work, gym and socialising. Why can’t I take the time out again to blog 5 minutes every couple of days? I currently use gym as my physical vice (this has replaced football) to get my anger/stress out so why not rekindle my mental vice as well? 

 I have plans for pulling the cleats out and freshening them up. I need the weather to warm up first but I guarantee this summer, they will see the light of day again instead of the inside of the Nike box they currently live in. Maybe I need a new pair? 🤔 Hello http://www.prodirectsoccer.com 😂

No one should have to give up things they love, if there is another option to make it happen. Say yes, make time, take (calculated) risks because the feeling of joy and freedom outweighs the regret and disappointment of not having tried one more time. 

La love,
C. xx

Compelled. Committed.

candicealancasterLeave a comment

I’m not sure why but I felt compelled to write a blog post tonight. It’s been a pretty long time since I’ve written one but life gets busy, people are busy and time gets away from you.

Things have been happening left, right and centre for me at the moment. All fantastic things but just so much of it in one go…  It’s been a busy couple of months.  Holiday in Vietnam with #boyfie, a new job role and organising exhibitions, conferences and a corporate birthday function.  As you can see, all those things are amazing and look fantastic on my experience list but being busy at work, means I’m neglecting the one thing that relieves my stress – gym.

Poor gym – If it were a person, we’d no longer be friends.  At the moment, I’m only making my PT session once a week (if I’m not at a show or interstate) and that is not enough.  My nutrition is crap as well, which is really making any previous progress before this hectic stage in my career,  null and void.

I could sit here, going on and on about how I’m going to change it and I’ll meal prep for a week each weekend and hit the gym hard 7 days a week.  Let’s be real.  I’m not going to be doing that. Not yet.  I may prep for a couple of days and I might be able to get to the gym 3 times a week. Until the last of these events are done and it becomes quieter at the end of October, I just have to do my best.  I do however need to pull my head out of the sand and stop pretending I won’t get gain weight if I continue to eat unhealthily.

Tonight I smashed a 20 minute ICE interval cardio session and an old home Kettlebell work out.  Felt pretty bloody awesome after it to apart from the makeup in my eyes.

I finally get what people mean when they are too busy to cook, too busy to go out, too busy to reply to social media posts straight away.  I can also guarantee I have never been this busy in my whole life.   (Work, work, work, work work. Gosh, I feel like Rihanna.)

I had a pretty decent chat with my trainer about this workaholic business and me not getting to the gym.  A sliding comment was made about being committed to working out was made in a conversation and I’ve been thinging about it for about a month.  Don’t get me wrong, 6 months ago, I was committed to the gym and getting results because I had no passion and drive behind my career. Then all of a sudden, there is a bloom in my career and I’ve got no time for anything else.  I now understand and want others to also understand that it’s not about being uncommitted to the gym; people have other priorities, that at that present time, are more important.  Me for instance, the gym will always be there for me.  I can go back whenever I want, however many hours and days I want.  My career will not wait for me to find results at the gym then come back to my job.  If an opportunity arises, I need to take it by the horns in order to not let it go and slightly adjust other commitments.

I cannot wait until Summer is here and daylight savings gives me light to run in the evening and take away the stress of the day. Those are the times of freedom, now that I am retired from footy.

Today’s takeway: What you might think is your main priority in life, may not be someone elses and that is okay.  Everyone is working on what they need to, in order to successfully build their own lives and careers. 

job-work-life-balance

La Love,
C. xx