August Mantra Check-In
Action & Adventure (…and emotions galore)
If August’s mantra was all about Action & Adventure, then on paper I’ve nailed it. Festivals, portraits, motorbike dates, miles travelled and memories made - it’s been non-stop. But if I’m really honest, a lot of the month has also been me beating myself up, drinking more than I’d like, and crying about how fat and unlovable I feel in my own skin. Not exactly the badass energy I imagined when I wrote this mantra back in January.
And yet - stepping back - here’s what August actually looked like (because it’s important to remember the glimmers!)
Family & Friends
→ catch-ups never feel long enough, but they filled my cup all the same (pubs, plants, and a gorgeous dinner at Griffin Inn).
dream roast dinners
→ I fucking love a Sunday roast and honestly, I think the Quadzilla at Fourwards Restaurant in Earl Shilton may have stole my heart!
Portraits in Cambridge
→ back at one of my favourite summer fetes – shout out to G&P in Waterbeach for the invite and all the smiles!
Rei Time
→ quality mischief, the kind of happy dances and hand-holding that get me back on my feet (literally).
We Out Here Festival
→ four frantic days of painting, portraits, and festival life. You can read about it properly here:
The In-Between Days
→ barely enough time to breathe, let alone prepare Buddy (the van) for another round, finish shop orders, and prep for my trip.
Shambala Festival
→ an utterly bonkers whirlwind of kindness, creativity, and so. many. portraits. (more here)
Pre-Trip Chaos
→ cleaning Buddy out, winterising him, panicking over visa fails, sneaking in a motorbike sunset ride + pizza (with a glamorous stationary topple), and a cheeky hotel sleepover.
The Big Journey
→ 16+ hours later, I landed on the other side of the world, still wrestling with my demons but determined to try and sort my shit out.
So yes, I’ve felt low, sluggish, and uncomfortable. But I’ve also shown up, kept moving, created, connected, and made it through a month that was both chaotic and colourful. Action? Tick. Adventure? Double tick. The self-love bit might be lagging, but I’m still here, still cracking on, and still searching for that spark of consistency.
*reality check
I ran this post by ChatGPT to review and give me some honest feedback - a roast if you will - and boy did it throw a gem* back at me!
“You’re a powerhouse of doing, but your being is getting neglected. You’re basically sprinting through life with a massive backpack of “I’m not enough” and wondering why your feet ache. Spoiler: the feet ache because of that backpack, not the running.” OUCH!
Here’s to a softer but strong September, eh?
✈️
