I've always loved swings. Since I was a kid, there was just something that drew me to them, more even than the average kid I think, because to this day, as a nearly 30-year-old grown woman, I still love them. I once had a home-made tree swing, but the tree it was attached to was dead, so it didn't last very long. Ever since my first swing came crashing down, I've wanted another and for some reason, it never dawned on me that having a swing again was completely within my control. Thankfully so because my need for a swing became more intense this year when my dad was in hospital, critically ill. I found myself struggling to breathe and feeling trapped indoors or standing still. A swing was my only way of coping. One night while paralysed with grief on a park swing, I realised that my childhood obsession was less about a simple piece of play equipment and more about the need for escape. What I love about swinging is the sense of freedom it creates. The ability to move, d...

Photo by  Jessica Lewis  on  Unsplash As someone who's always dreaming up new ideas, plans, and theories about just about everything, I can be a bit of a know-it-all. Unfortunately, though, I often struggle to turn those ideas into reality. Take this blog, for instance - I've wanted to start it for years, but I keep holding myself back, telling myself that what I have to say isn't important, creative, or interesting enough. But recently, I've realized that I'll always find excuses not to take action. I tend to overthink, doubt myself, and get sidetracked by less important tasks. And the longer I procrastinate, the more daunting the task ahead of me seems to become. It's a negative spiral that's completely unnecessary, because all it takes to break the cycle is the commitment to take that first step. I've learned to forget about perfection and just get started, because something is better than nothing. So here I am, finally launching this blog, t...