There really is not much to say.
I used Facebook once, but not as myself, as I have social media duties for the Roller Derby league I skate with, so had to update their page with information about the next fresh meat intake.
I still haven't had much free time as I am on late shifts this week, so I will really start to see the impact next week, when I have free evenings.
I have managed to read over 100 pages of the book I started at Christmas (Game of Thrones). Surprising, when using Facebook I only managed 147 pages between Christmas Day and the 13th Feb. On one day alone, I read 100+, which just shows how much of my spare time was going at reading Facebook.
I feel Facebook isn't enjoying the fact I haven't been looking at it though. Within 48 hours, I recieved an email, telling me i had notifications pending, and that 12 people on my friends list had statuses for me to read. It WANTS YOU TO LOOK. Not working Facebook, not working.
I also feel a lot more relaxed. How this relates to not reading Facebook I have no idea.
I thought maybe my usage of other social media sites would increase, but if anything, they have decreased. Twitter is still something I scroll though for about 5 minutes a day, if that. Then again, my twitter is mostly D list celebrities being weird, and a small fraction of friends.
Instagram hasn't been holding my attention either, I don't know if it is the content currently (you are all suddenly BORING) or that I just don't feel the need any more.
I think I now realise why a lot of blogs and articles I read about people leaving Facebook were short, or only reported a few days, or simply a conclusion: once you haven't had it for 48 hours, you don't really need it.
Life went on with it, and life still goes on without. Once you get over the feeling of missing out on something, some important post you really should have read, you're not bothered. That is how I've felt anyway.
Things I would have put on Facebook today? It's Valentines Day, I would probably have wished everyone a Happy Valentines. I may have posted about proposing to my Derby Wife (See Urban Dictionary Definition for Derby Wife... she said YES! :D ) and about the lovely rose and card I got from Mr Wolf. Or about the fact I forgot to take lunch to work and then forgot to buy some before the canteen closed.
Nuggets of information that form mere novelty in the Facebook world. Each status would have been liked or commented on, guranteed. Am I missing out by not having that?
I think I only have one reader here even after posting the address on my Facebook so people could follow progress - if you have been reading though, leave us a comment so I know? Would be interested to see how many of you there are. :)
Happy Valentines/Overpriced greetings card Day! xx
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Life without Facebook: Day 1
This morning, I woke up, crawled out of bed, went downstairs and made pancakes for breakfast.
Seriously. I did this before even making tea, or lighting a cigarette. Weird, for me at least.
I checked twitter. I checked instagram. I read the forum I frequent. And then I got ready for work and left.
What is weird, is life without Facebook seems an awful lot...quieter. Not that Facebook was loud, although, I suppose it is in a way.
It's like a lot of little voices have stopped in my head. Instead of my brain managing the thoughts of me + 100 or so other peoples daily lives, today, it was only really thinking about mine. Its really quite nice.
I suppose, in a way, Facebook is inviting every other persons thoughts into your head unknowingly. It certainly was the way I was using it, unable to go 10 minutes without checking for new status updates. Maybe, in some subconcious way, being up to date with everyone clutters the mind somewhat. You may not realise it, but the thoughts are there.
Is it possible our brain is still processing other peoples problems, thoughts, ideas and issues once it's consumed them, no matter how much you think it's just innocently keeping up with other people?
Today I read this article: Five Ways Facebook Can Be Bad For Your Mental Health
But the part that rang true with myself was:
"Dr. Charles also found that many become stressed at the thought of missing out on something good posted to the site, a phenomenon now known as the “fear of missing out,” which has become so widespread it has its own acronym (FOMO)."
This is perhaps because I did not go the whole day without looking at Facebook in some form. Mr Wolf is not very technically minded, and asked me to help him upload a picture to his page. And he showed me some photos of a mutual friend in her pants (True story) but beyond that, I didn't log in or read anything of my own.
Mr Wolf did kindly tell me some people had commented on my last status advising of my Facebook Holiday, and read the replies out to me.
I don't know if Izzy reads my blog, but I wanted to let her know, yes, there is some kind of inner peace existing outside of Facebook, and that so far, I have spent my time catching up on the book I am reading (Being at work, and on late shifts, I haven't had an awful lot of spare time!).
In other, none Facebook related news, my mum bought me a lovely new cardigan today, black, made of lovely chunky knit wool, and very cosy for this wintry weather we are having.
Mr Wolf cooked us a lovely roast chicken and cous cous for supper, and our Dogs D'amour tickets turned up in the post this morning for their show in Wolverhampton on the 3rd of March. It is the original line up and I'm very excited for it.
I shall leave you with my favourite Dogs D'amour song, as I feel I have rambled enough for today, and want to go have one last cup of tea and a good read of my book before bed. :)
"Well in to the bright lights, the rain in the gutters still the same, washing twice as many young, hopeful hearts down the drain..."
Seriously. I did this before even making tea, or lighting a cigarette. Weird, for me at least.
I checked twitter. I checked instagram. I read the forum I frequent. And then I got ready for work and left.
What is weird, is life without Facebook seems an awful lot...quieter. Not that Facebook was loud, although, I suppose it is in a way.
It's like a lot of little voices have stopped in my head. Instead of my brain managing the thoughts of me + 100 or so other peoples daily lives, today, it was only really thinking about mine. Its really quite nice.
I suppose, in a way, Facebook is inviting every other persons thoughts into your head unknowingly. It certainly was the way I was using it, unable to go 10 minutes without checking for new status updates. Maybe, in some subconcious way, being up to date with everyone clutters the mind somewhat. You may not realise it, but the thoughts are there.
Is it possible our brain is still processing other peoples problems, thoughts, ideas and issues once it's consumed them, no matter how much you think it's just innocently keeping up with other people?
Today I read this article: Five Ways Facebook Can Be Bad For Your Mental Health
But the part that rang true with myself was:
"Dr. Charles also found that many become stressed at the thought of missing out on something good posted to the site, a phenomenon now known as the “fear of missing out,” which has become so widespread it has its own acronym (FOMO)."
This is perhaps because I did not go the whole day without looking at Facebook in some form. Mr Wolf is not very technically minded, and asked me to help him upload a picture to his page. And he showed me some photos of a mutual friend in her pants (True story) but beyond that, I didn't log in or read anything of my own.
Mr Wolf did kindly tell me some people had commented on my last status advising of my Facebook Holiday, and read the replies out to me.
I don't know if Izzy reads my blog, but I wanted to let her know, yes, there is some kind of inner peace existing outside of Facebook, and that so far, I have spent my time catching up on the book I am reading (Being at work, and on late shifts, I haven't had an awful lot of spare time!).
In other, none Facebook related news, my mum bought me a lovely new cardigan today, black, made of lovely chunky knit wool, and very cosy for this wintry weather we are having.
Mr Wolf cooked us a lovely roast chicken and cous cous for supper, and our Dogs D'amour tickets turned up in the post this morning for their show in Wolverhampton on the 3rd of March. It is the original line up and I'm very excited for it.
I shall leave you with my favourite Dogs D'amour song, as I feel I have rambled enough for today, and want to go have one last cup of tea and a good read of my book before bed. :)
"Well in to the bright lights, the rain in the gutters still the same, washing twice as many young, hopeful hearts down the drain..."
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Fairwell, Facebook.
Time without Facebook: 1hr 15 minutes, roughly.
At midnight (ok, thereabouts, maybe a few minutes past) I signed out of Facebook on my phone, and removed the icon from the main screen.
I made sure I left contact details in case people need them. If you came here looking for them, you can comment on the blog, or use the email/twitter links provided on this page. :)
A couple of things:
Why didn't I deactivate my profile?
- Because my boyfriend asked me not to. He was concerned it would mess up his relationship status, and all the photos I have tagged him in, which it would. So, I uploaded a picture with writing on it saying I wasn't using Facebook, and made a status explaining thus.
Why didn't I uninstall the app?
- Because I have tried this before, in order to fix the app on my phone, and it doesn't seem to work. Smart phones FORCE YOU to have Facebook. Well, that is how it seems, I am sure if I tried hard enough I would find a way, but I don't want to mess anything up, so will just leave it there, lurking in the list of apps I have.
What will I do while I am away from Facebook?
- Read
I have much catching up to do with unread books.
- Learn Dutch. Or try to.
In August, me and Mr Wolf are planning to go to a festival in Amsterdam. I want to try and learn some useful phrases and such.
- Work out. Go for a walk. Do something other than just sitting.
Doesn't need an explination.
- Be creative
I am losing my creativity and this is sad. I need to pick up my guitar again. Play around on photoshop again. Take photos again. Write that book I always thought I would write. Even just get the craft stuff out and cover shit in glitter again. ^_^
- Not be so ignorant.
Because when you are reading Facebook on your phone, conversation suffers. I will admit, many a time, when Mr Wolf is talking to me, not hearing what he just said, and just mumbling the right sounding words in his direction. This is AWFUL. It must stop.
- Not have to ask what I just missed in the TV program I'm watching
Irritating. Enough said.
Speaking of TV programs, another thing that really spurred on my decision to do this was watching the recent episode of Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror - entitled Be Right Back*.
It features a dude who uses his phone so much, technology is capable of creating a replica of him just using the information stored about him from social networking?
At the start of the episode, the guy in question is constantly looking at his phone. To the point where his girlfriend is stood in the pouring rain trying to get his attention to open the car door for her because she's got her hands full of scalding hot coffee. And still, door open, he returns to his phone instead of offering to help with the cups of coffee so she can get in the car.
A little later she makes him put the phone in the glove box so he can't use it. Again, later in the program, he is shown paying far too much attention to his social networking to realise his girlfriend just offered to serve him soup in a shoe.
That is what I was turning in to. And I found it annoying to watch. I don't want to be that, I don't want to be sidetracked by social networking so very much that the people I am around get irritated or dismiss me because my attention is not with them, it is with Facebook.
Tomorrow will be the start of me reclaiming my life, instead of filling it with what everyone else is doing in theirs.
*You can watch Black Mirror: Be Right Back on 4 on Demand here --> Black Mirror 4OD
(may only work in the UK, sorry folks)
At midnight (ok, thereabouts, maybe a few minutes past) I signed out of Facebook on my phone, and removed the icon from the main screen.
I made sure I left contact details in case people need them. If you came here looking for them, you can comment on the blog, or use the email/twitter links provided on this page. :)
A couple of things:
Why didn't I deactivate my profile?
- Because my boyfriend asked me not to. He was concerned it would mess up his relationship status, and all the photos I have tagged him in, which it would. So, I uploaded a picture with writing on it saying I wasn't using Facebook, and made a status explaining thus.
Why didn't I uninstall the app?
- Because I have tried this before, in order to fix the app on my phone, and it doesn't seem to work. Smart phones FORCE YOU to have Facebook. Well, that is how it seems, I am sure if I tried hard enough I would find a way, but I don't want to mess anything up, so will just leave it there, lurking in the list of apps I have.
What will I do while I am away from Facebook?
- Read
I have much catching up to do with unread books.
- Learn Dutch. Or try to.
In August, me and Mr Wolf are planning to go to a festival in Amsterdam. I want to try and learn some useful phrases and such.
- Work out. Go for a walk. Do something other than just sitting.
Doesn't need an explination.
- Be creative
I am losing my creativity and this is sad. I need to pick up my guitar again. Play around on photoshop again. Take photos again. Write that book I always thought I would write. Even just get the craft stuff out and cover shit in glitter again. ^_^
- Not be so ignorant.
Because when you are reading Facebook on your phone, conversation suffers. I will admit, many a time, when Mr Wolf is talking to me, not hearing what he just said, and just mumbling the right sounding words in his direction. This is AWFUL. It must stop.
- Not have to ask what I just missed in the TV program I'm watching
Irritating. Enough said.
Speaking of TV programs, another thing that really spurred on my decision to do this was watching the recent episode of Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror - entitled Be Right Back*.
It features a dude who uses his phone so much, technology is capable of creating a replica of him just using the information stored about him from social networking?
At the start of the episode, the guy in question is constantly looking at his phone. To the point where his girlfriend is stood in the pouring rain trying to get his attention to open the car door for her because she's got her hands full of scalding hot coffee. And still, door open, he returns to his phone instead of offering to help with the cups of coffee so she can get in the car.
A little later she makes him put the phone in the glove box so he can't use it. Again, later in the program, he is shown paying far too much attention to his social networking to realise his girlfriend just offered to serve him soup in a shoe.
That is what I was turning in to. And I found it annoying to watch. I don't want to be that, I don't want to be sidetracked by social networking so very much that the people I am around get irritated or dismiss me because my attention is not with them, it is with Facebook.
Tomorrow will be the start of me reclaiming my life, instead of filling it with what everyone else is doing in theirs.
*You can watch Black Mirror: Be Right Back on 4 on Demand here --> Black Mirror 4OD
(may only work in the UK, sorry folks)
Monday, 11 February 2013
I'm giving up Facebook for Lent.
The past few days have made me realise that my day-to-day routine revolves around one thing. One little blue pill I can't seem to go an hour without.
Facebook. I am addicted.
Updating, reading, posting photos and clever anecdotes. Telling people about the most mundane elements of my life.
And the useful stuff, like relaying messages, sorting out events and keeping up to date with Very Important Things.
My general day goes like this:
I wake up. I hit the snooze button a few times. I wake up enough to roll over, unplug my phone from the charger, switch on my wireless connection and read Facebook.
Seriously. That is my routine. I then check Twitter, then Instagram. Then my email. Then I check a forum or two. Then I might get out of bed, go boil the kettle, make a cup of tea. Open the back door and smoke the first cigarette of the day, whilst checking Facebook... AGAIN.
If I'm on an early shift, I will continue to get ready, and go catch my train for work. When I get on the train, I will check Facebook, Twitter, Instagram... same line-up as above.
If I'm on a late shift, I will park myself on the couch, maybe have some breakfast - but as soon as I park my bum, I have to open Facebook. Yeah sure, there are only a few updates in the 15-30 minutes periods between which I am checking, but I do it none the less.
If I'm not at work at all that day, I will continue to check Facebook in these 15-30 minute periods whilst idly watching TV, until such a time as I have to do something else (Luckily, this isn't before long, because if I had too much time, I am pretty sure I would remain on the sofa, until my battery ran out).
When at work, I check Facebook before I go in the door. I then check it at lunch. And straight after I come out the door at home time.
I eat a meal on the couch instead of at the table? My phone is right next to me, with Facebook open.
I go ANYWHERE, I end up checking Facebook.
It is getting beyond ridiculous, it's obsessive, and unnecessary, and a ridiculous waste of time, battery power, and the data on my mobile phone when I am not at home.
Seriously. How did my life end up this way?
It wouldn't be so bad, but I have to, HAVE TO make sure I read every status update since the last time I looked at it. SRSLY?!
The final straw has come since Christmas. I am an avid reader of books, I could finish a decent wedge of a book in 3 days, I could consume a good 3 or 4 a week if I tried hard enough.
I would read into the early hours, until my eyes felt heavy or I'd fall asleep and wake up with print on my cheek.
These days? I'm reading bloody Facebook into the early hours. Prior to Christmas I started a book I still haven't finished. Since Christmas, I was bought the Song of Fire and Ice/Game of Thrones book series, that I was looking forward to so so much, and two months later I am still not even half way through the first book! Disappoint!
I even had a days leave booked from work with the SOLE PURPOSE of reading. I didn't read a damn thing. Because every time I try to, I OPEN FACEBOOK.
The development of smartphones has not helped this. It's too easy. Just push the button, read those new updates. Post that random thought you thought about. Upload the picture you took this morning of your cat in ANOTHER cute pose. Meanwhile, poor book sits there unloved.
And so it has come to this. It has to stop. I have researched google for people who have left Facebook, temporarily or indefinitely, or forever.
Some people go back to Facebook, and find they don't use it like they used to. Others have never gone back.
Some people find their social life suffers, because they don't know what is going on for the whole time they are away from it. On the flip side, the rediscover other interests, they focus on their work, their studies, they find their creativity again.
I will be recording my Facebook Detox here, for people who are interested. I will still be using Twitter (Something I don't use as frequently as Facebook) and Instagram (Because I love a good photo).
I will officially log out of Facebook on Wednesday. I would like to say I will manage it through till Easter, but we will see how it goes!
Facebook. I am addicted.
Updating, reading, posting photos and clever anecdotes. Telling people about the most mundane elements of my life.
And the useful stuff, like relaying messages, sorting out events and keeping up to date with Very Important Things.
My general day goes like this:
I wake up. I hit the snooze button a few times. I wake up enough to roll over, unplug my phone from the charger, switch on my wireless connection and read Facebook.
Seriously. That is my routine. I then check Twitter, then Instagram. Then my email. Then I check a forum or two. Then I might get out of bed, go boil the kettle, make a cup of tea. Open the back door and smoke the first cigarette of the day, whilst checking Facebook... AGAIN.
If I'm on an early shift, I will continue to get ready, and go catch my train for work. When I get on the train, I will check Facebook, Twitter, Instagram... same line-up as above.
If I'm on a late shift, I will park myself on the couch, maybe have some breakfast - but as soon as I park my bum, I have to open Facebook. Yeah sure, there are only a few updates in the 15-30 minutes periods between which I am checking, but I do it none the less.
If I'm not at work at all that day, I will continue to check Facebook in these 15-30 minute periods whilst idly watching TV, until such a time as I have to do something else (Luckily, this isn't before long, because if I had too much time, I am pretty sure I would remain on the sofa, until my battery ran out).
When at work, I check Facebook before I go in the door. I then check it at lunch. And straight after I come out the door at home time.
I eat a meal on the couch instead of at the table? My phone is right next to me, with Facebook open.
I go ANYWHERE, I end up checking Facebook.
It is getting beyond ridiculous, it's obsessive, and unnecessary, and a ridiculous waste of time, battery power, and the data on my mobile phone when I am not at home.
Seriously. How did my life end up this way?
It wouldn't be so bad, but I have to, HAVE TO make sure I read every status update since the last time I looked at it. SRSLY?!
The final straw has come since Christmas. I am an avid reader of books, I could finish a decent wedge of a book in 3 days, I could consume a good 3 or 4 a week if I tried hard enough.
I would read into the early hours, until my eyes felt heavy or I'd fall asleep and wake up with print on my cheek.
These days? I'm reading bloody Facebook into the early hours. Prior to Christmas I started a book I still haven't finished. Since Christmas, I was bought the Song of Fire and Ice/Game of Thrones book series, that I was looking forward to so so much, and two months later I am still not even half way through the first book! Disappoint!
I even had a days leave booked from work with the SOLE PURPOSE of reading. I didn't read a damn thing. Because every time I try to, I OPEN FACEBOOK.
The development of smartphones has not helped this. It's too easy. Just push the button, read those new updates. Post that random thought you thought about. Upload the picture you took this morning of your cat in ANOTHER cute pose. Meanwhile, poor book sits there unloved.
And so it has come to this. It has to stop. I have researched google for people who have left Facebook, temporarily or indefinitely, or forever.
Some people go back to Facebook, and find they don't use it like they used to. Others have never gone back.
Some people find their social life suffers, because they don't know what is going on for the whole time they are away from it. On the flip side, the rediscover other interests, they focus on their work, their studies, they find their creativity again.
I will be recording my Facebook Detox here, for people who are interested. I will still be using Twitter (Something I don't use as frequently as Facebook) and Instagram (Because I love a good photo).
I will officially log out of Facebook on Wednesday. I would like to say I will manage it through till Easter, but we will see how it goes!
Thursday, 13 December 2012
The gift of giving.
I was a pretty spiteful kid. I had an attitude problem and would throw a strop if someone close was seen to be getting more than me. I cheated at Monopoly. I always wanted what someone else had I threw a fit if I thought my brother had got more than me for Christmas.
To be honest, I think perhaps I wasn't a very nice person. I could blame this on the fact I was bullied if I wanted, but I think even if I hadn't had the tormenters at school, I probably, maybe, still wouldn't have been very nice to try and be friends with.
And it's not been very long since I "grew out" of this awful personality, probably only over the past 8 years or so. I'm glad I did. I couldn't imagine behaving the way I did growing up. I don't even know what changed, but these days, I have much more acceptance of a situation than I did back then. Perhaps this is what is referred to as "growing up".
In more recent years, I've found great happiness in the gift of giving. I think it comes from working in Customer Service for such a long while (Well, from when I left school), and being used to helping people.
My "career" (You can hardly call it that lol) has progressed from helping people in need of a printer cable (They don't come in the box!) to helping people in need of movie channels (Yes, they really do cost that much to add on), to helping people in financial difficulty.It's this last one that has really opened my eyes to how easy it can be to help someone.
I am fortunate that on a daily basis, I can help complete strangers with their difficulties, I get a lot of satisfaction out of my job, and have even felt myself on the point of tears at times because someone has been so grateful for my help. Job Satisfaction could not be any greater, considering this was not the plans I had when leaving school (I was going to be a West End Musical Star, don't you know!!).
The warm feeling from knowing you've helped people is fantastic, and so, I put together a few ideas on how we can all help people this Christmas.
Share with Single Parent Families
Do you know any single parent families? Do you know what they are doing this Christmas? Some of them might be fortunate enough to have other family to go to or have around, but there are an awful lot out there that don't.
Being a single parent can be very lonely, especially at this time of year. So check in with your Single Parent friend, and see if they are up to anything. Invite them over this Christmas, or offer to visit for a few hours.
It can also be a struggle financially as a Single Parent with no other support. Maybe a food parcel or hamper could help them out, or a few small gifts for the children. And don't forget a gift for mum or dad - they might not have any family around them to buy them gifts, and I bet they'd appreciate someone remembering them this year.You could also invite their family on an outing with yours, and have fun as a large family group.
Single parents may also spend a lot of time working to keep their family afloat. You could offer to babysit one of the nights over the festive period, and give them some time to let their hair down, or on the flip side, invite them out with you if they can get a sitter. If your children go to the same school, why not offer to take care of the school run for a couple of mornings?
Keep a check on our Senior Citizens
Look out for the senior citizens in your community this year. Like Single Parents, there might not be a lot of family about to come and visit or look out for them. And with cold weather and rising energy prices, more and more people are refusing to put on the heating to save money.
AS many as 25,000 people die each winter due to the cold. Age UK currently has a Spread the Warmth campaign, this page explains how they help.
EDF offer a free room thermometer to help elderly and vulnerable people - you can find more information here - Click to read about EDF's free room thermometer .
Like our Single Parent friends, our elderly friends may appreciate some company - invite them over for a hot meal or a cup of tea, or if they arn't able to get out and about, pay them a visit and take some food with you. Many will appreciate your company and kindness this time of year.
You might be the only person they will see that day, if they are housebound or can't get around easily.
Offer to take them shopping, or do their shopping for them, and help make sure they have enough food in the house. Or offer the help out by cleaning for them, or checking in every morning or evening to make sure they are ok. Just a few minutes out of your day, could make all the difference to theirs.
Feed a Family This Christmas
Food banks are becoming ever more known for the support they give to families in temporary crisis. Care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, CAB and many other agencies identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher. They can then recieve at least 3 days of food using the voucher to help them through a difficult time.
Food banks rely on donations from communities, churches, schools, businesses and general public to keep running.
Why not put together a box of food to donate, hold a donation day at your workplace or your childs school - You can help out by donating these items.
Pasta
Rice
Milk (UHT)
Sugar (500g)
Soup
Pasta sauces
Tinned tomatoes
Tinned beans or spaghetti
Tinned vegetables
Cereals
Tea bags
Tea bags
Instant coffee
Tinned meat
Tinned fish
Tinned fruit
Tinned desert
Custard
Rice pudding
Sponge puddings
Biscuits
Fruit Juice (cartons or cordial)
For more information, see Birmingham Central Foodbank or, view this map of UK foodbanks to find your nearest one.
A home for the homeless at Christmas
There are many ways you can support homeless people around this time of year. Here are a few suggestions:
Birmingham Christmas Shelter
Birmingham Christmas Shelter depend entirely on volunteers, and donations - items like clothing, food and toiletries - to help support their open door shelter this Christmas.
Their doors are open 24 hours a day during Christmas week and, typically, they welcome between 50 and 150 guests on a daily basis, providing hot meals and drinks, entertainment and a safe and warm place to sleep.
They aim to provide food, warmth, shelter and friendship to our guests, regardless of colour, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.
The Bridge
The Bridge provide family style homes for the marginalized members of society. The Bridge exists to bring hope to those who have no hope, to see those who are marginalised being supported and valued, and to see people set free from the limitations of life-controlling addictions. They rely on volunteers, see how you can get involved at the link above.
Centre Point
Sponsor a room at Centrepoint for just 40p a day and you'll help the homeless young people we work with to achieve independent, fulfilling lives.
Unlike some other homeless charities which concentrate on finding emergency shelter, we're committed to making a real and lasting difference to the lives of young people.
Becoming a room sponsor is quick, easy and incredibly rewarding. For just 40p a day you'll become an integral part of a homeless charity that's proven to help young people off the streets.
Other ways you can help
Here are some other charities that are making a difference this year:
Barnardo's Real Gifts
Gifts you can buy for Barnardo's to give to children living in poverty.
Save The Children
Providing help to children in poverty in the uk and in overseas disasters, including refugee children in Syria.
Oxfam Unwrapped
Buy a life changing gift, like a goat, chickens, or even an education.
Other ideas
Why not get in touch with your local womens refuge, orphanage, or homeless shelter and see if there are ways you can get involved and help this year?
Many of these places will welcome donations of household items, food and toiletries, and gifts for children.
Thank you for reading. I really hope you find a bit of joy in helping others this year.
To be honest, I think perhaps I wasn't a very nice person. I could blame this on the fact I was bullied if I wanted, but I think even if I hadn't had the tormenters at school, I probably, maybe, still wouldn't have been very nice to try and be friends with.
And it's not been very long since I "grew out" of this awful personality, probably only over the past 8 years or so. I'm glad I did. I couldn't imagine behaving the way I did growing up. I don't even know what changed, but these days, I have much more acceptance of a situation than I did back then. Perhaps this is what is referred to as "growing up".
In more recent years, I've found great happiness in the gift of giving. I think it comes from working in Customer Service for such a long while (Well, from when I left school), and being used to helping people.
My "career" (You can hardly call it that lol) has progressed from helping people in need of a printer cable (They don't come in the box!) to helping people in need of movie channels (Yes, they really do cost that much to add on), to helping people in financial difficulty.It's this last one that has really opened my eyes to how easy it can be to help someone.
I am fortunate that on a daily basis, I can help complete strangers with their difficulties, I get a lot of satisfaction out of my job, and have even felt myself on the point of tears at times because someone has been so grateful for my help. Job Satisfaction could not be any greater, considering this was not the plans I had when leaving school (I was going to be a West End Musical Star, don't you know!!).
The warm feeling from knowing you've helped people is fantastic, and so, I put together a few ideas on how we can all help people this Christmas.
Share with Single Parent Families
Do you know any single parent families? Do you know what they are doing this Christmas? Some of them might be fortunate enough to have other family to go to or have around, but there are an awful lot out there that don't.
Being a single parent can be very lonely, especially at this time of year. So check in with your Single Parent friend, and see if they are up to anything. Invite them over this Christmas, or offer to visit for a few hours.
It can also be a struggle financially as a Single Parent with no other support. Maybe a food parcel or hamper could help them out, or a few small gifts for the children. And don't forget a gift for mum or dad - they might not have any family around them to buy them gifts, and I bet they'd appreciate someone remembering them this year.You could also invite their family on an outing with yours, and have fun as a large family group.
Single parents may also spend a lot of time working to keep their family afloat. You could offer to babysit one of the nights over the festive period, and give them some time to let their hair down, or on the flip side, invite them out with you if they can get a sitter. If your children go to the same school, why not offer to take care of the school run for a couple of mornings?
Keep a check on our Senior Citizens
Look out for the senior citizens in your community this year. Like Single Parents, there might not be a lot of family about to come and visit or look out for them. And with cold weather and rising energy prices, more and more people are refusing to put on the heating to save money.
AS many as 25,000 people die each winter due to the cold. Age UK currently has a Spread the Warmth campaign, this page explains how they help.
EDF offer a free room thermometer to help elderly and vulnerable people - you can find more information here - Click to read about EDF's free room thermometer .
Like our Single Parent friends, our elderly friends may appreciate some company - invite them over for a hot meal or a cup of tea, or if they arn't able to get out and about, pay them a visit and take some food with you. Many will appreciate your company and kindness this time of year.
You might be the only person they will see that day, if they are housebound or can't get around easily.
Offer to take them shopping, or do their shopping for them, and help make sure they have enough food in the house. Or offer the help out by cleaning for them, or checking in every morning or evening to make sure they are ok. Just a few minutes out of your day, could make all the difference to theirs.
Feed a Family This Christmas
Food banks are becoming ever more known for the support they give to families in temporary crisis. Care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, CAB and many other agencies identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher. They can then recieve at least 3 days of food using the voucher to help them through a difficult time.
Food banks rely on donations from communities, churches, schools, businesses and general public to keep running.
Why not put together a box of food to donate, hold a donation day at your workplace or your childs school - You can help out by donating these items.
Pasta
Rice
Milk (UHT)
Sugar (500g)
Soup
Pasta sauces
Tinned tomatoes
Tinned beans or spaghetti
Tinned vegetables
Cereals
Tea bags
Tea bags
Instant coffee
Tinned meat
Tinned fish
Tinned fruit
Tinned desert
Custard
Rice pudding
Sponge puddings
Biscuits
Fruit Juice (cartons or cordial)
For more information, see Birmingham Central Foodbank or, view this map of UK foodbanks to find your nearest one.
A home for the homeless at Christmas
There are many ways you can support homeless people around this time of year. Here are a few suggestions:
Birmingham Christmas Shelter
Birmingham Christmas Shelter depend entirely on volunteers, and donations - items like clothing, food and toiletries - to help support their open door shelter this Christmas.
Their doors are open 24 hours a day during Christmas week and, typically, they welcome between 50 and 150 guests on a daily basis, providing hot meals and drinks, entertainment and a safe and warm place to sleep.
They aim to provide food, warmth, shelter and friendship to our guests, regardless of colour, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.
The Bridge
The Bridge provide family style homes for the marginalized members of society. The Bridge exists to bring hope to those who have no hope, to see those who are marginalised being supported and valued, and to see people set free from the limitations of life-controlling addictions. They rely on volunteers, see how you can get involved at the link above.
Centre Point
Sponsor a room at Centrepoint for just 40p a day and you'll help the homeless young people we work with to achieve independent, fulfilling lives.
Unlike some other homeless charities which concentrate on finding emergency shelter, we're committed to making a real and lasting difference to the lives of young people.
Becoming a room sponsor is quick, easy and incredibly rewarding. For just 40p a day you'll become an integral part of a homeless charity that's proven to help young people off the streets.
Other ways you can help
Here are some other charities that are making a difference this year:
Barnardo's Real Gifts
Gifts you can buy for Barnardo's to give to children living in poverty.
Save The Children
Providing help to children in poverty in the uk and in overseas disasters, including refugee children in Syria.
Oxfam Unwrapped
Buy a life changing gift, like a goat, chickens, or even an education.
Other ideas
Why not get in touch with your local womens refuge, orphanage, or homeless shelter and see if there are ways you can get involved and help this year?
Many of these places will welcome donations of household items, food and toiletries, and gifts for children.
Thank you for reading. I really hope you find a bit of joy in helping others this year.
Thursday, 6 December 2012
Blogging: And why I'm not good at it.
I always wanted to be a blogger. I want to join the ranks at coffee shops, raiding their wireless while I sip a cinnamon latte and write about stuff that people find absolutely riveting, whilst avoiding getting blueberry muffin crumbs in my keyboard... You read other blogs and it looks so easy.
It really isn't though, is it? Where do people find the content from?! Some people write about their own lives or experiences, and I just sit and think, well, what I did today does not equal to a good 500 words or so of quality reading. No way. My day infact consisted of begging my mom for a lift to work because the trains were still broken, being at work, coming home and eating beans on toast, and sitting here watching Green Wing whilst trying to write an amusing, interesting blog post.
Totally not interesting. Or do people just succeed in writing about mundane every day life in interesting ways?
I've just spent the past ten minutes googling such terms as "What can I blog about" and "Random blog topics" and seriously, the ideas alone bore me. I fear most the sites are faceless marketing sites that just pump out pre written articles to feed the masses, and therefore have no real meaning behind their suggestions anyway. So finding no inspiration there, I just started writing about my dilemma: Not Knowing What To Write About.
I seem to have done pretty well so far, I mean, I've got a fair few words down on the troubles of not having anything decent to write about in an entertaining manner. Tomorrow, I might sit for a while and try and write a list of interesting topics, but I don't think I will get past #2 before I think "Oh really, no one wants to read about that!". So we will see how that goes.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy lots of stuff. I'm just not sure it's stuff that other people will find interesting. Or, somehow, my opinion isn't valid, and no one gives two hoots why I enjoyed the latest Johnny Depp/Tim Burton collaboration, or why I think the new Derby rule set will be a winner. Does that then become a confidence problem? Do you really need the confidence to blog?! Maybe you do...
Anyway, before I bore you all to tears, I will wrap it up here. Maybe the key to writing a good blog is just writing. Sit down and let the keyboard guide you, who knows what you will end up with.
It really isn't though, is it? Where do people find the content from?! Some people write about their own lives or experiences, and I just sit and think, well, what I did today does not equal to a good 500 words or so of quality reading. No way. My day infact consisted of begging my mom for a lift to work because the trains were still broken, being at work, coming home and eating beans on toast, and sitting here watching Green Wing whilst trying to write an amusing, interesting blog post.
Totally not interesting. Or do people just succeed in writing about mundane every day life in interesting ways?
I've just spent the past ten minutes googling such terms as "What can I blog about" and "Random blog topics" and seriously, the ideas alone bore me. I fear most the sites are faceless marketing sites that just pump out pre written articles to feed the masses, and therefore have no real meaning behind their suggestions anyway. So finding no inspiration there, I just started writing about my dilemma: Not Knowing What To Write About.
I seem to have done pretty well so far, I mean, I've got a fair few words down on the troubles of not having anything decent to write about in an entertaining manner. Tomorrow, I might sit for a while and try and write a list of interesting topics, but I don't think I will get past #2 before I think "Oh really, no one wants to read about that!". So we will see how that goes.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy lots of stuff. I'm just not sure it's stuff that other people will find interesting. Or, somehow, my opinion isn't valid, and no one gives two hoots why I enjoyed the latest Johnny Depp/Tim Burton collaboration, or why I think the new Derby rule set will be a winner. Does that then become a confidence problem? Do you really need the confidence to blog?! Maybe you do...
Anyway, before I bore you all to tears, I will wrap it up here. Maybe the key to writing a good blog is just writing. Sit down and let the keyboard guide you, who knows what you will end up with.
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