Nice huh? That’s a Tweet I woke up to Saturday morning.
I was stunned, literally stunned. Someone saw my post about feeling body positive and decided to retweet it with the word - actually is that even a word?
And some delightful emojis for good measure, just in case there was any confusion as to the person’s feelings about my body.
Was I upset by this post? I had a mixture of feelings really. I felt bad for their mental health. I thought it was weird out of all of Twitter he/she (but probably he) chose me - I feel so special! Hahahahaha and I felt sad that someone would try and destabilise my positivity.
I think he missed my point by a mile though. My point has never been to say “look at me and my fabulous body!!”
I am neither naive nor arrogant. I don’t think I have the best body, but what I do know is, it’s the best body I’ve got so I’m damn well going to enjoy it, make the most of it and yes, celebrate it!
If my earnings were dependent on what my body looked like, I’d be screwed. Thankfully I’m not a model and therefore I eat what I like, I do what I like and I bloody love my life!
I don’t put my photos out there to say I’m fabulous, I don’t expect it’s everyone’s cup of tea.
In fact the only people it matters to what my body looks like is me, and then Chris, but mainly me… And I’ll tell you now I’m happy with the skin I’m in. Chris seems more than delighted with it too, so that is a bonus. (Little side note - Anyone whose partner thinks they should make changes to their body or criticises it doesn’t need a new body...they need a new partner).
No, I put my photos out there to say if I can bikini ~ ANYONE can!!
Simple as that, my message is basic. Learn to love the skin you’re in. Be thankful for what you have. And be bold enough to live life well.
And then along comes some subhuman weirdo who thinks his opinion matters to me!?
The words Troll and Trolling don’t really do service to the act.
Trolls sound silly and mischievous.
But think about the sort of mind that wants to deliberately cause someone else emotional pain. Imagine being inside that head space, that’s a bleak place isn’t it.
Justifying it to themselves because it’s only “trolling” and I’m only being a “troll”. Sounds cute, funny, playful even.
But they’re not trolls they’re toxic people.
They’re not mischievous they’re malicious.
They’re not silly they’re psycho.
So rather than use some flowery language. Just call it out for what it is, if you’re deliberately mean to people on social media you’re a toxic psycho.
I have some other choice words for them too, but we’ll leave it there for now. ;)
I don’t see many people wanting to admit they’re a toxic psycho, do you?
“hehehe, I’m a toxic psycho”
“you’re a what mate!!!? What the ****!!
Did what he/she/they said upset me? Not particularly, my ex in-laws use to say similar things, sitting right in front of me and I wasn’t terribly bothered by that either.
I think what shocked me more than anything was that someone had gone out of their way to TRY and hurt my feelings though. The fact that he/she thought that would be fun? That’s tragic.
I’ll tell you why strangers on Twitter can’t hurt me. Have you seen my life!…. I rest my case. ;)
This ‘person’ that ‘trolled’ me, the Toxic Psycho if you will, is using a profile photo of Chris Watts, the name might not mean much outside of America, but people certainly know of him there.
I can’t really say much more on that. I have no words. All I can do is thank the universe for my amazing life, for my very useful body, and pity the poor wretch that likes to hurt people’s feelings.
I’m a tough old bird. I can take it. I shouldn’t have to, but I can.
What his Tweet served to do was bring out an army of support, love and kindness. I wasn’t expecting to have nasty things said about me but also I wasn’t aware, fully of the good that my blogs do.
So what started off as an unpleasant experience ended up with me feeling valued and loved, validated even.
I had wonderful messages, from people that saw my body positivity posts and felt emboldened enough to buy a bikini themselves. Bagged or not, we should be thankful for what we have right now. Tomorrow everything could change and we’d be kicking ourselves if we hadn’t lived in happiness and gratitude, enjoying every moment.
My friends got his account suspended, but sadly that only lasts 12 hours. But there aren’t limits to how many times you can report someone so I’m planning on reporting him enough to get that account shut down. I’m sure more serpent’s heads will pop up but taking down one psycho at a time will do. Feel free to pop by his account and report it too. ;)
His pinned (his most liked, and that he’s most proud of) tweet has 3 likes so he must feel terribly powerful and popular! Hahahahaha
My pinned tweet is this one…
That’s 578 likes so far. Which does rather prove good does triumph over evil.
Anyway. As experiences go, it wasn’t my worst, not even by a mile. Can you imagine someone coming at me? Thinking they had power over me? It’s actually quite funny really.
Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me…nor will vomit emojis. Hahahahaha
I heard a fantastic quote once. I was reminded of it recently, it was the reason I didn’t engage further with the Toxic psycho.
“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it”
George Bernard Shaw.
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Life has been really good of late, my cycling is on fire, not literally, that would be dangerous. ;)
I’m going from strength to strength with it, I’m getting more confident on the roads. Taking routes I’ve never tried before. Which is a HUGE deal as I’m very nervous of hills. But the way I see it, what’s the worst that could happen? If the hill’s too big I can get off and walk.
I haven’t had to walk any of it so far, plus I’m loving going down country lanes and ogling all the beautiful homes that I pass. I love looking at houses. RightMove do a roaring trade out of me nosing on their website.
Actually I found the house we live in now because I was showing my friend how the internet worked on my Blackberry (it was a while back now) - RightMove being my go to website. :)
So my cycling takes me past some amazing villages, hamlets and dream homes. It’s heaven. It’s live action RightMove. ;)
I went out five times last week and got caught in storms, twice, and I didn’t even mind! I’m really enjoying getting out there. It’s great for processing and clearing the mind. I’m impressed I can do that and stay upright on my bike too!
Soaked through and still smiling. This is the new me! Hahahahaha
I don’t know where this new found love of exercise came from but I’m very grateful to it. Having spent the preceding 47 years stationary and stagnant, it’s incredible how easy I’m finding it. My knees are giving me a bit of jip but seems manageable, so far.
*****
We had such an intense heatwave, last week. I was struggling to get my bags stuck on to my flesh. I’ve used my hairdryer on cool to dry the skin enough to get the bag stuck on. It works a treat.
I had to pop to work to pick a few bits up. And then I decided to brave some more shops, to get my dog some treats. She’s been off her food lately. I ended up going to 4 shops! In one dayyy! Big day, big week come to that.
I avoid shops these days for the most part, but Pepper really seems out of sorts and I assumed sweeties from the pet shop would cheer her up…It has perked her up no end.
Dress from Dorothy Perkins, Shoes from Ralph Lauren
I got dressed up because I wanted to, and that seems like a good enough reason for anything that I do.
It was hot and humid. So I wanted something light and airy. This outfit fitted the bill perfectly.
I felt safe in the shops because everyone is masked and anti bac-ed.
It was nice to get out really.
Then on Sunday we met Sam and Zak. Ben and Kaitlyn hadn’t seen Zak since his birthday on 1st March. So with it being Ben’s birthday this week it seemed like the ideal time to get together.
Sadly, Milly couldn’t make it, but her business is taking off in a big way, so she stayed home to make more stock. Not only is she doing craft fairs but she’s now being stocked in two shops near where they live. Which is very exciting, and a great achievement.
Top from Whistles, Jeans from New Look, Shoes from Tods.
Having had that bag failure on my way to Devon I really wanted to see if jeans are a no go for me.
I guess it’s a risky move to test them while out and about but that’s me! I laugh in the face of danger hahahahaha.
I undid them for the journey, and just zipped myself back up to walk around in.
We met Sam and Zak half way between their house and ours. Which took us to St. Albans, I’ve not been before but very nice it was too.
We had a lovely meal in a Thai restaurant, a wander round the town, and I went in even more shops. They have to be what I would call risk worthy shops, but let’s face it I’ve been in Primark 3 times so I think I feel shopping in general out weighs any risk.
St. Albans has really nice shops, Whistles, L K Bennet, Hobbs, that sort of thing. If they’d only had an Oliver Bonas I’d have thought I’d died and gone to heaven. Hahahahaha
They do have The White Company so that was good enough. I bought myself some treats in the sale. I’m kind of done with summer clothes buying now. We’ve basically got 3 weeks left pretty much. I think the clothes I have will suffice. :)
So I bought a jumper, a long sleeve dress and a top for autumn. I like to plan ahead. Hahahahaha
It was so lovely to meet up with Zak, it’s good to see them every chance we get, even if we were one member down this time. You just never know when that possibility might be taken away again.
Zak was so funny. He pretty much ignored his lunch and scoffed his way through Sam’s plate of Thai food. He is adventurous, Ben noting that Zak’s palette is broader than his. ;)
We went to a play ground for him to run free, shops not being of much interest to 17 month olds.
We had such a fantastic time. Can’t wait to see them all again soon.
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I have bigger news than my cycling even, I decided to do an online dog grooming course, firstly it occupied me through lockdown and secondly I am the proud owner of an elderly, cantankerous Miniature Schnauzer, who I felt deserved to be saved from the horror of the grooming parlour. Don’t get me wrong the groomer is a wonderful woman, but Pepper is a difficult character. I thought I’d save both of them the stress of it.
So I set about to do the course for everybody’s sake…and today I passed! With flying colours I might add.
86.67%! I don’t think I’ve ever achieved that sort of score in anything…well, maybe cake eating but that’s about it.
As you can see, my one and only client is delighted with the results! Hahahahaha
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We popped to Ben’s for his 22nd birthday. He is now officially a grown up. My marker of grown upness is based on my life experience.
I was married and pregnant at 22, I felt ready to enter the world of adulting at that age.
Is it young? Yes, probably. Was it too young? Hell NO! I love how my life has played out. Thank god I did have my boys then, God forbid I’d have waited and ended up unable to start a family. I was diagnosed with cancer at 36, which robbed me of the ability to have more children.
So 22 to me is a fully fledged adult. He’s a very sensible 22 anyway. He bought a flat last year. So he was a mortgage owner at 21.
Sam was a dad at 22. I think it’s safe to say that although there are no visible similarities between my boys and I, they certainly get their zest for life goals from me. Hahahahaha.
I was being a daredevil again and trialling eating in jeans again. As we were just going to Ben and Kaitlyn’s for take away curry, I felt this was a safe space to do so.
That said I must have felt a bit too safe as I took nothing to be able to do a bag change anyway. I told you I like to live dangerously. ;)
All was well, no leaks occurred and we had a fantastic curry, Lounge India is the best Indian restaurant we have in Braintree I feel.
Kaitlyn decorated the flat to perfection. Although there was no balloon arch, something that has featured on Instagram heavily this year.
The rule of thumb seems to be no balloon arch - no birthday!
(No prizes for guessing who’s still put out because they didn’t get a balloon arch for their birthday!? Hahahahaha).
Happy birthday baby boy. xxx
That’s all for this week, if you want me I’ll be on the roads of Essex nosing at people’s houses.
Have a wonderful, healthy week…remember - they’re not trolls, they’re psychos. You do you and be happy. xx