It's Been A Minute...

788401 minutes to be exact. I chose to make the move back to the United Kingdom after 14 years of living in Australia 8 weeks ago, and I have found it incredibly hard to get back into writing and lost my love for it amongst the haze of up and leaving my entire life I had created for myself in OZ. Trust me, I have been in every corner of coffee shops and city parks to draw inspiration, but nothing gave me the excitement to finish any piece with pride to share with you lovely lot.

So, it may be as bland as an under brewed cuppa but this article is going to consist of a mixed bag of little lessons life has taught me recently and most importantly what I have found out about myself.

My perennial trust in others that outshined myself Allow me to elaborate. My early 20’s consisted of me stubbornly only allowing myself to fall for men that showed zero interest whatsoever in me. It was a broken record – I kiss a tall handsome my type on paper stranger and spend the next 4 weeks telling everyone and their dog that I had met my soulmate; followed by a week later of absolute crickets in responses from Mr Right. Since pandemic dating was put into place those days are behind me, mostly due to the thought of kissing strangers in public makes me squirm (thanks to the hygienic nature of the once innocent ritual of a Saturday out on the town). The last year has taught me a lesson that I wish 20-year-old Maisie would have heard.

You Don't Have To Be Doing Amazing 24/7

By this lesson, I mean the constant pressure of sharing success to all those who will listen.

Don’t be afraid to be an open book with your feelings. Seriously, I believed that whenever things turned tits up for me in dating that it was down to ME making the biggest ‘mistake’ in the book – revealing to the world how much I care for someone instead of pretending that I didn’t give a dam about them. The number of times I have been told this when single, ‘just show you do not need them, and they will fall into your arms.’ What a load of Bollocks. Being yourself and being honest about your feelings is the only way to move forward in both romantic and friendship relationships. Being your brilliant self is the only way to ensure that they last. I have learnt to be an unapologetically open book in the dating world, and it has showed that it is quite easy to be on the same page as someone or as simple as finishing the chapter early. So even if the person you learn to love again is yourself for a little while, well, that sounds just dandy to me.

It’s the little things

After all, the past 18 months have given me the chance to slow down and take pleasure in the small thing’s life has to offer. Cliché I know, but from learning new recipes and sharing them with friends at dinner parties, to taking myself on a night away in a nearby city to stroll around and take in new surroundings – it has been a joy to look forward to the tiniest of task that will make your day that bit brighter. Plus, the feeling of guilt for enjoying my own company and saying no to things, quite frankly evaporated. It may mean being a little ‘selfish’ but it is in all means necessary for this uncertain environment we are in. Who knows what will be around the corner, but if you are taking the steps for yourself whatever they may be ,then enjoy the path.

Friendships fizzle out the same way flings do

Now this is something I never came to grasp until very recently. Being a typical Leo (of course I had to put it in here somewhere), I am a huge people pleaser and do love the idea of being liked by many. However, after moving to the other side of the world, it took its toll on a variety of friendships, dynamics changed, and I really struggled to let go of people that were once a big part of my life. I would question their choices and mine, and act like there was something dramatically wrong as to why the friendship was fizzling out. I have learnt that you don’t have to keep on forcibly relighting the flame and just to let it go. No theatrical discussions needed, no gossiping to other friends – just move forward and be happy that you got those fabulous memories with those people.

This all said, maybe I am simply just growing up. I am sure that my late 20’s will bring a bunch of new lessons that I cannot wait to spill to you beauties. Till’ then. Ciao for now!

Mais xx