The gift of giving

When I'm older I want to look back on my life and feel as if I've achieved something, as if I've made someone's life a tiny bit better and as if I've made a difference. 

So often we are so caught up in our busy lifestyle that we neglect simple acts of kindness. I'm not saying that everyone should go and set up a charity but even just being nice, putting that extra bit of effort into making someone smile.

For those of you that don't know, I send out gifts to children with serious conditions and illnesses through my charity. I have been asked a lot of times "why do you do it? It must take up so much time". 

It's hard work, there's no denying that but it's the feeling that you get knowing that you've made a child that is going through a difficult time smile, even just for that moment. 

Through my charity I've met so many inspiring families and to know that I've helped them even in a really small way is something that I will be able to look back on in 10, 20, 30 years time and think "yeah, I did that".

Smiles are contagious :) 

x~Jess~x

Unsocial networks

Being a teenager, I spend a lot of time on websites such as Facebook and Twitter, checking them frequently through my phone as they are so easily accessible and a quick and simple way to talk to friends no matter where they are. In that sense, these social media sites are great. 

However, it does make us lazy, it is easier to send a simple message than to actually pick up the phone and talk to people (like who does that anymore) it may also mean that we don't see as much of our friends and family as we feel that we don't need to, because we can talk to them through these sites. 

It is only once they are no longer there to talk to that we realise how much we miss them. My advice would be to meet up with friends, with family. Yes, you may be able to talk to them through these sites which is great but don't rely on them. You're not going to make memories by sitting on a computer all day. 

Unfortunately we are the lazy generation, bought up surround by easy access technology, we do not write letters and very rarely phone anyone but I think we should pick up the phone occasionally (since it's constantly in our hands anyway) and at least hear the voice of those we care about. 

x~Jess~x 

^typed with my phone

Antiques and 80s music

So apologies for not writing a blog post in a while I've had 0% motivation and not had much to write about. 

So these are not two of my favourite things. My dad is obsessed with antiques and when I was young my mum had her own antique shop. I probably know more about antiques because of this than the average 16 year old girl. My parents were keen for me to develop an interest in antiques, this wasn't the case. I looked at antique jewellery and thought "nobody my age wears that" and I couldn't find anything that appealed to me. I did collect cars for a short amount of time and have acquired a box of them in the garage but it didn't last. 

I do however like 80s music which may seem odd, my parents are keen on all types of music and have played 80s music to me since I was born probably, it used to be the only music I knew until about the age of 10. However, 80s music is something I do seem to like.

I'm sure I'm not the only person that has had to put up with doing something they weren't interested in, if you have a similar story why not share it? 

x~Jess~x