Pages

Monday, 18 August 2014

Personal Growth

As a child I was always nervous and quiet. Being extremely shy I found it hard to adjust to new situations and make friends, just generally talking to people terrified me.
I would feel ill (because I was so nervous) before I had to go somewhere and I would let other people enquire on my behalf e.g letting my parents order my food in restaurants. I think it's hard for other people to really understand what it's like. It's kind of like social anxiety. I would be terrified of not knowing what to say or embarassing myself.
I feel that it really has affected me as I grow up, I feel sad that I haven't made as many friends as I possibly could have. And that I've made such bad impresions on others.
As I've gotten older I've seen and felt myself change and develop.

Everyday tasks have slowly gotten much easier for me. I am more prepared to answer the phone, order my food in restaurant, go to the til in shops, ask sales assistants for help. In a weird way I'm very proud of how far I've come and even my family have noticed the difference in me.

Here's some of the things I've done that I feel have helped me grow!

Joining a choir/hobby
When I was asked to join a choir I REALLY didn't like the idea! I couldn't think of anything worse than having to socialise, or sing in front of people I didn't know (even though I love singing). But I got pushed into doing and it was the best decision of my life. It's one of the main reasons I'm much more confident now, and I've made some amazing friends along the way. So even though it terrified me I stuck at it and I'm so glad I did.
If you have a hobby you'd like to persue, go out and do it!!!!!!!!

Getting a Job
I was so lucky to get this job! Luckily my brother had worked there before me, so they sort of knew my family. At the time I was looking for a job, a position came up. It was my first job (I was 16) and it was a totally new social situation. I didn't have the slightest clue what I was doing and for months and months I would feel physically ill, and shake before a shift. But two years later and I'm very comfartable and happy with my job. Talking to strangers is no longer an issue for me!

Driving
When you turn 17 in the UK you can learn to drive. Compared to most people my age I wasn't paticularly fussed on learning to drive, but it's one of those things you kind of have to do. So my mother booked me some lessons. I hated it!!!!!! If I didn't have to drive I would gladly allow others to drive me around for the rest of my life because I hated it so much. After one long and painful year of goodness knows how many hour lessons, on 8/8/2014 I passed my driving test! I carried on with lessons even though I hated it. I would start feeling anxious about a lesson the day before, then on the day of my lesson I wouldn't be able to eat or speak and I'd be really irritable. Yes I actually despised it that much. But I passed my driving test first time! Woohoo! I'm so proud of myself even though I don't fully believe I've passed!


Sorry for the ramble-style of this post. I just wanted to document this. As I feel I've grown so much in the past 3 years, for many reasons, the above being the main ones. So do something that terrifies you and who knows what might happen!

Lynsey xxx

No comments:

Post a Comment