I Will NOT Be Normal!

So today I decided to give up and just get a normal job. I don't want to travel, I don't want to do what I love. I will plod along like a 'normal' person and just get through life.

Wait? Is that what people do? Is it really possible just to go with the flow and aim to reach the end of your life?

I'm sorry, but after thinking this through today, I am ADAMANT that this will not be me. I will make the absolute most out of every single second in possibly can. This might mean doing things I love like scrambling up mountains, sitting in a log cabin, building my own house or working in a job that I want to do. Or it might mean sulking and wallowing in self misery to give me the kick I need to lift my head and carry on. I will not be dragged through life with just enough to get by.

I WILL become a Paramedic.

I WILL travel the world.

I WILL build my own house.

I WILL do the things I want to do in order to live an amazing, purposeful life that has not been squandered. Some people aren't given the incredible gift of a pretty much guaranteed 80 year life expectancy. Some people have to fight for it while others waste it.

I can't say I am perfect but I try my utmost best to live these core values and every day I fail makes me more determined to do better in the future.

It's not easy to inspire this kind of feeling in someone, it often takes a life changing moment or some incredible insight into yourself. I have been inspired by the people I have met and deep down I see and feel what I describe but consciously it takes a lot more effort to live by these principles. My current aim is to make progress in this area, to feed off the inspiration and drive and get to where I want in life. To make the most out of every waking minute.

This video really makes you think too: http://elitedaily.com/life/motivation/this-video-uses-jelly-beans-show-you-how-much-youre-wasting-your-life-video/

Apologies

I know, I know. I've been slacking with the blog posts. In all honesty, I haven't had anything to write about of late nor the motivation to dig something up.

I've been working at NHSBT for nearly 2 months now and I'm amazed at how fast the it's gone while annoyed at how little I've achieved outside of work. I guess this is to be expected though, getting used to the structure a new job creates alongside the new knowledge and skills I've had to gain really takes its toll mentally and physically. This is especially difficult when half the shifts start at 5am, an unearthly hour that never existed before the start of 2013. All I can say, is thank heavens for naps. In all honesty, I quite enjoy going to bed at 8pm of an evening. It's not like there's anything good on TV these days anyway (you wouldn't think I was only 21 would you?).

I'm slowly bringing my life around to where I want it. I've started eating properly again and the exercise will follow soon. I have a good job with good career prospects and the voluntary work for St John Ambulance will begin in the near future. Opposite the building I work in is an Ambulance Service Operations Center where the HART Paramedics (Hazardous Area Response Team) are based. I heard a rumour that we may be able to go over and talk to the guys to see what they get up to. I will attempt to find out more I think, this sounds like an exciting opportunity. Yes, that does mean the burning desire to be a Paramedic is still there, it really isn't a passing fling, this one is gonna stick with me for a long time. That's a good thing though, as I will have to take the long road. It's okay, I'm feeling positive.

Now, I feel it's my duty to do a little preaching here. As I work for the National Blood Service, and regularly give blood, I'm gonna pester you lot to do the same. We're in constant need of new donors and it literally takes half an hour to give a unit of blood. Ever thought of how being a Doctor and saving lives would be cool? Well, you CAN save a life without even applying for a medical degree or getting your stethoscope out. Go on, try it. Give blood.

I also just wanted to point out that my friend Stacie was recently on TV and in the Newspaper for the "From the Heart" campaign in a bid to raise awareness of organ transplantation. She's really quite inspiring and hopefully a read of this article will encourage you to at least think about becoming an organ donor. It takes seconds! You can also see her on ITV News/Daybreak in the video on her blog.

That's all from me today, I'm probably gonna go sleep now. I have a sore throat.

A Day In the Future

I can see my warm breath condensating before my eyes as it meets the cold, crisp air around me. I'm walking briskly through a forest, dried leaves crunching underfoot with my Border Collie, Molly, at my heels. The low morning sunshine is gleaming through the gaps in the branches above me, highlighting the surrounding reds and golds. The air feels clean and refreshing against my skin, turning it pink as my body tries to keep warm. I'm wrapped up in a thick coat and scarf with a wooly hat and a smile spread across my face.

My farmhouse is only about a mile away now and I'm looking forward to stepping into the kitchen, heated warm by the roaring fire. I'll take my wellies off and leave them on the doormat before putting the kettle on to settle down with a hot cup of tea. Molly lays by the fire to doze, content now she's had her exericse for the day. I'm unsure of what I'm going to do with the rest of the day, maybe drive into the village in my Land Rover to pick up some milk. I should probably tidy some of the vegetable plots up too and prepare them for the long, sleepy winter ahead. I might get around to finishing one of the three books I've started later this evening too.

We've had a beautiful Summer with nice hot weather. Perfect for the garden, especially the fruit and vegetable harvest. But now is the best time of the year. It's Autumn.

...

Okay, so It's not quite Autumn yet. The leaves are still green and the hope for a few more lasting days of warm weather are around us. But there is something strangely refreshing and invigorating about my favourite season. It's the inbetween phase between the hot, warm Summer and the cold, miserable Winter. I'm looking forward to wrapping up warm and going out to explore. I have an amazing view of the allotments behind our house, and the woods behind that. It will be fun to watch this view change over the coming months for the first time - a small picture of tranquility in the middle of this busy City.

For the first time in quite a while, I've woken up early and I feel motivated and inspired! I watched Grand Designs with a cup of tea and decided that I would seise the day. I'm going to go out this afternoon and find somewhere in the middle of nowhere to take photos and enjoy the first hints of my favourite season.

...

As a lot of you may already know, I have finally obtained my degree with a 2:1! This is amazing news, as for a long time I doubted I would get there and I was so close to giving up on many occasions. I would like to thank everyone that helped and encouraged me to get to the end.

...

It's official, I have begun my 30 consecutive days of being a Vegetarian. It's not so easy, and I'm struggling a little. I'm going home for a week tomorrow and it will be interesting to see how my family adapt and what we all do about food. The last day will be October 18th, and I'm looking forward to writing about how it's affected my life, if at all.

I do have plans for actual content in my future blog posts, but once again the need for a creative outlet arose. This is that outlet and I hope this post makes you excited at the thought of changing weather and not miserable (as most people probably would feel).

I have found the source of my inspiration, if only a temporary one. How about taking a few moments to think over yours, and refresh them in your mind? It might do you the world of good.

Phil.

Support a Fellow Blogger!

I promised myself I would post no more than once every so often. Well, I think this post exceeds that self imposed limit but is definately well worth it!

Stacie is currently waiting on a life saving heart and lung transplant because of her advanced secondary pulmonary hypertension. She is writing a blog of her thoughts and experiences while waiting for the phone call that will give her a new lease of life.

I have to say after knowing her for a very long time and reading her blog, she is truly an inspiration and it never ceases to amaze me how brave and strong she has been. If only people would stop and pay a little more attention to people like Stacie, her wait might not have to be as long as it is.

If you haven't already done so, join the organ donor register. If you can think of a reason not to, have a read of this blog then reconsider: click here!

Just to show that I am not a hypocrite, I wasn't an organ donor until recently (because of a stupid argument with a family member and my stubborn behaviour) but I have been inspired to change my mind by Stacie.

Join the Organ Donor register

The Beginning Pt. 1

I guess I should introduce myself and start from the beginning... 

I am 21 years old and I have just finished my degree in Biology at UWE (this is a slight lie, I have two resits to do before I technically finish but who's counting?). I didn't know what on earth I was going to do with this degree, but I loved the subject so that's what I went with. After three years I can safely say I would rather be homeless than work as a scientist - it really isn't for me and I struggled monumentally in my final year. I will forever hold a special place in my heart for the subject though (awww!).

On a side note, it does seem that the majority of people are urged to go to university whether they really need to or not. They pick a random subject and probably end up hating it, as I have done. It is an enormous amount of money to spend on something that won't really get used. Although I now have a nice, shiny BSc (Hons) it won't help me become a Paramedic in the slightest as I will need to obtain another degree!

I have never really known outright what I wanted to do when I 'grew up' but I guess I have always been inclined towards health care. It was about a year and a half ago when the traumatic realisation that it wouldn't be long before I was ejected into the real world hit me, so I decided it was time to choose a tree to climb, so to speak. You may think "Oh, he picked Paramedic out of a hat!" but alas, it took a long time for me to come to the decision that I simply HAD to become a Paramedic. I can't really say what it is that made me come to this conclusion, it just seems right. This is what I will be happy doing - helping people, saving lives and of course, driving on blue lights (all for very little money may I add). All joking aside, I really admire the people that spend long hours answering emergency calls 24/7, 365 days of the year with a huge amount of knowledge and skill for very little recognition. I want to be one of these people and I am willing to give my ALL towards this.

Okay, looking back at what I've written maybe starting this post with "I guess I should introduce myself and start from the beginning..." probably doesn't fit. It implies I have a huge story to tell, and actually I bet this fits onto one side of A4 (along with another recent endeavour of mine to encourage some enthusiasm on my part - a list of life achievements. I guess it's safe to say it didn't do much to stir the soul). BUT what I will say is that it symbolises the beginning of this blog and my journey to fully qualified paramedic status and I hope you will join me to cheer at my achievements and kick me into gear after my downfalls. Have you got 50 years to spare?

To be continued... (click me!)