S.R. Crawford's Blog, page 74

How My Puppy Has Changed My Life

as a socially anxious, introverted work-from-home writer…

*and by “change my life” I don’t mean in an exaggerated, I-will-never-be-the-same-again kind of way; I just mean changed my perspective and routine etc.*

Teaching me patience

I put this first because oh-wow, a puppy really does test your patience! I’ve never had a dog before and with cats its much easier. And so I was not prepared (how could I be? My puppy was a Christmas present from my partner) to have to care for a baby at the start of my year.

I think the trouble is that I’m trying to write a novel and grow my business at the same time, to be honest. It’s not so much him that’s the problem. During the Christmas break, when I allowed myself some time off, it was fine. I don’t remember feeling frustrated. But fast-forward to this week and last, and we have quite a number of frustrated moments.

But it’s good. It’s hard, but it’s good. Joey (the puppy) is teaching me how to be patient. I can’t yell at him, after all, I can’t send him away, I can’t give up being his adopted mother for a while, either. He is ours for life, a commitment I am happy with and committed to. And so, in order to be a writer and be a good dog-mother, I must practice patience.

Anyone else who is a writer knows that patience is a big part of it. Patience with the novel that just won’t write itself. Patience with the characters who keep doing the wrong things. Patience with the clients or agents who are messing you around and paying you too little. Patience with the timing of your creative journey and eventual success.

So thanks, Joey, for helping me to be more patient at this pivotal time in my life and career.

A work colleague

Now, as I said, I’m both socially anxious and introverted, meaning I like being alone. I’m happy in solitude and never really get the urge to venture out of it. However, of course, as a mental health writer, I know how toxic this can be. We are social beings; we are built to be in social environments.

He may not quite be a person, but Joey is breaking my solitude. He is bringing me out of my head and back to reality. Sometimes annoyingly so, but often just when I need it. As a writer, it is very easy to get lost in your work and forget about the outside world so I thank Joey for helping me with that. He’s the house Employee of the Month!

 

Unconditional love

Of course, the one thing that all dogs bring is unconditional love. I have been so grateful every day since we got him because it is the most wonderful feeling in the world to be greeted quite so enthusiastically. He comes, tail wagging so fast that he might take flight, and jumps on you, licking and biting and diving because he can’t contain his excitement.

And this is infectious. My face can’t help but light up no matter how crappy I’ve felt that day – and trust me, I’ve had some really crappy days over the last two weeks. I will always treasure how excited we all get when he sits when commanded or does his business in the right place! The joy and unity and precious love that he has brought to our household is just…I’m getting emotional thinking about it because gosh, I really needed him and I didn’t even know it.

 

Persistence and reward

Training Joey has shown me that there is real reward in persistence. I know, as a writer who has struggled at times for most of my life, I should already know this lesson; and I do, really, but there is power in the reminder.

During the training, we have had highs and lows; irritation and elation. But, of course, we have had no choice but to continue and keep trying. Then, boom, success! And it feels damn great! This is something I feel I’ll need to be reminded of many times over: Keep on going, even when it’s hard, even when it’s trying because that reward feels immense.

 

New friends and activities

We are now a part of a new group: dog owners. I now get puppy jokes (like, really understand them). I see people in the street and they talk to me just because of Joey. We attend Puppy Hour every Saturday with him and I’ve met loads of new people (and dogs) because of it, having lovely, easy-flowing conversations.

Now, easy-flowing conversations are hard to come by as a socially anxious, introverted writer. So, for me to have experienced this is just amazing. I was anxious, naturally, before attending Puppy Hour but once we got there, it was effortless. I spoke with the other owners and the dog trainer with ease, a great grin on my face and anticipating the next week.

 

Joey has changed my life because I have someone else to think about each day other than myself and my woe-is-me problems. I now have a topic of conversation that connects me to others. I have a partner who keeps my lap warm as I work. I have someone who makes me get up off the sofa. And I have someone who will keep teaching me the hard lessons that I will need if I’m ever to succeed as a writer.

 

Thank you, Joey, and welcome to the family.

Oh January – Poem

Oh January, how you’ve tested me.

Poked and prodded and tried to best me.

Rejection.

Loss.

Fear.

Sadness.

Fatigue.

Sickness.

Frustration.

All of it, inside me.

All of it, weakening me.

Or is it?

Maybe, just maybe, it’s giving me strength.

Maybe it’s making me better.

Pushing me further.

After all, never before have I been so

creatively and intuitively awake.

Maybe this is the storm,

that will clear my path.

Maybe the junk and the litter that I’d gathered last year

are now being blown away.

And so I may see it,

at times,

as a beating;

as a betrayal;

as a boisterous and unfair fight.

But really,

Maybe,

It is my guardian angel who is fighting

for me.

Fighting against the shit that I’d allowed into my life.

Trying,

Oh she’s trying,

to get me to pay attention to what really matters most.

Please, don’t give up on me.

Please, keep fighting,

and I will try to keep my eyes open whilst my heart

aches in this chrysalis.

New Year Fitness

As I said in my podcast this week, many people have similar New Year’s Resolutions and goals, i.e. fitness and weight loss. But, as I discuss in the episode Relationship with your Body (and Goals), this pursuit needs to come from a place of love, healing, and positivity. If you want to lose weight because you hate yourself, want to look like someone else, or don’t love who you are, then it may not work, you will keep being pushed back, and you will never be satisfied.

Instead, come at your fitness goals with:

Self-love
Kindness
Wanting to feel good, not necessarily look good
Appreciation and love for yourself, so much so that you will want to eat healthier and work out
The goal to forge habits and a fitness routine

Let’s discuss why some people fall off with their fitness goals by the time that it comes to February. Firstly, they do too much too fast and inevitably ache and tire themselves out so much that they quit. Secondly, they are doing what they’re doing for all the wrong reasons in the first place. Thirdly, they have deprived themselves of this thing and forced that thing and the pursuit of fitness has just been no fun for them.

Why and how do we succeed with this kind of goal? We’ve got to want it. To be passionate and motivated and dedicated. If you’re not, you won’t succeed because you won’t be willing to put in the work. If you’re forcing things you hate and you hate yourself in the process, I don’t see how that will ever add up to success.

I eat fruit, salad, and vegetables now for one main reason: I like them! Forcing yourself to exclusively eat foods you hate (and not a lot of food, either) will always lead to failure. Instead, if you simply decrease the amount of sugary, fatty foods that you know are bad, and up the “healthy” foods that you know are good, you will see results.

Finding new, exciting recipes for your meals that expand your palate and include more of the foods your body has been missing. And then, over time, you will like the healthier options. I no longer miss takeaways or crisps or biscuits – mostly because I never forbade them in the first place. By taking foods off your list forever, you are telling your mind that you crave it. Instead, by not taking this approach, you know that it is always there, and you can have it, but you won’t want it as much – that’s the aim.

This is not easy. I had a kind of food phobia for many years. I couldn’t even eat in public for many years due to my social anxiety, either. But in time, we change. When we’re ready, our minds and bodies sort of flip a switch that’s like, “It’s go time! I’m ready!” and things start to change before you know it. This is a very emotional topic for me because like I say, for most of my life I ate little more than chicken nuggets, pizza, and sausages. Now, I eat an innumerable amount of things that bring me so much joy. I cook and experiment and try new things. And I haven’t had chicken nuggets in god-knows how long.

This can be you, too, if you are patient and if you come at your goals from the right standpoint.

There are three things you need to be able to smash fitness related goals:

A good relationship with your reason WHY
A healthy, SMART, realistic action plan for execution
Trust and love in yourself

And please, stop telling yourself lies.

“Healthy food tastes bad” – NO IT DOES NOT! You’re either cooking it wrong or not trying enough variety.

“Working out is too hard” – No, the gym may be hard, but working out is not because there are so many creative and fun ways to work out without even realising that you’re doing it!

“I’ve got too far to go. I can’t do this” – Pft, I’m sure that there are people who have been worse and accomplished the same goals. It’s just about how much you want it.

Here are some healthier truths and ideas to help you have the right mindset going into your fitness goals in 2019:

Weight loss can take years.
Being good in the gym or on a run or whatever else may take years.
That person you want to look like, worked for years before they got to where they are now.
There is no fad diet, trend, miracle shake, expert, or trainer that will “fix you” for you. You must put in the work, wholly and lovingly, to succeed.
Have the mantra: “if I love myself, I will look after myself” – Simple.
Less self-hate, more self-love. Less change, more improvement.
Accept where you are, love who you are, and then trust yourself to do the right things towards your fitness goals
Fitness isn’t about looking a certain way. It’s about strength, speed, agility, durability, stamina, flexibility, and confidence.
Make a conscious effort to develop a routine for your fitness and healthy eating so that it becomes a set habit that requires little to no effort on your part.

To be able to reach your fitness goals, you need to know why you really want to do it. You want to feel less sluggish? Great. You want to be able to run a marathon. Go you! You want to fit back into an old pair of jeans? Wonderfully specific. You want to feel stronger and fitter in general? Excellent choice. But you need to know why. A real why. Not because you’re fat. Not because you don’t look hot enough. That just won’t cut it.

Ways to reach your fitness goals in 2019:

Take the stairs where possible
Run with the dog
Go on lunchtime walks
Get an activity tracker (can be a simple one for only less than £20 on Amazon) that will help you track your steps and alert you when you have been sitting for too long
Morning gym or work out or run; evening gym, workout or run: fit it around work!
Use your home space, get some equipment so that it is so easy to do a quick work out (again, can be something cheap)
Get inspired by the right people
Visualise it every day so that you keep motivated
Track progress to feel like you’re getting somewhere
Don’t weigh yourself too often, it’s off-putting
Get a buddy to do it with you
Be held accountable by someone so that you’ve no choice but to do it
Slow and steady, patience, my friend
Set realistic goals and break the goal down into actionable, trackable, smaller steps
Don’t cut out all food, fun food, or fat food – just cut it down slowly
See it as exploration and expression and experimentation

Pursuing fitness is a lifestyle, not an end goal that you can stop once you’ve lost the weight or ran the race. It’s about making the right choices, for the right reasons, each day. So, rethink your whys and your hows. Be smart, kind, and realistic and I bet you’ll actually see that come 2020, you’ve achieved your goals.

Bonus: some ways to include fitness (working out) into your life:

Lift weights
Do circuits
Use resistance bands, foam rollers, medicine balls, dumbbells, bikes, ankle or wrist weights (etc.) at home
Yoga or Pilates or Tai Chi
Swimming or aqua aerobics
Rockclimbing
Dance of any kind
Martial arts
Walk with a group or go on hikes
Boxercise
Vigorous gardening or housework (yes, it counts)
Rowing
Obstacle courses
Boot camps
Gym: there’s always the gym, of course, but it’s not the only way to work out, remember that

Before changing your eating/food allowance, check:

Are you just bored eating? If so, fix your boredom, not the food.
Do you emotional-eat? If so, you may need to speak with a therapist or doctor.
Do you eat badly or always out take-out because of your friends?
Are you tired instead of hungry at times? If so, fix your sleep pattern.

 

Use apps for work out tips and exercises and calorie counting etc. Visit the NHS website for real advice and information about weight loss and fitness.

Good luck!

Let’s Work Together to Make Lives Better!

This year, I am taking my business strictly in the direction that I want it to go: into the mental health community. When I say “Mental Health“, I mean all areas of mental wellness for all. As you can see from my site, I love to share any information, tips, and advice that I have about bettering your life and your wellbeing, especially mentally. And so now, I want to take my freelance writing services in that direction, too.

So, if you are in this area, I want to work with you. I want to write for you, to help your business and your message be delivered worldwide to help better the lives of more people.

Who I want to work with:

Mental Health companies*
Mental Illness services, advocates, businesses etc.*
NLP Coaches
Life Coaches*
Personal Trainers
Holistic Healing practitioners
Pilates instructors, yoga instructors, Tai Chi and other gentle healing exercise forms
Meditation businesses and websites
Spirituality sites and advocates
Psychiatrists
Psychology based companies and sites
Personal Development sites*
Counsellors
Lifestyle Influencers*
Wellness and Wellbeing sites
Health and Diet sites
Healthcare sites and businesses
Intentional Living sites
Confidence and Self-Esteem sites and advocates
Anxiety relief sites
Depression relief sites
Stress Management sites
Black Life advocacy sites
Dream Life sites
Women’s Health sites

Why you should hire me as your mental health writer:

I’ve studied Psychology academically for three years.
I maintain a regular blog and podcast on the topics of mental health and wellbeing.
I am a published author of three books, namely “ You’re As Mad As I Am ” the self-help guide to better coping with anxiety, depression, and stress.
I’ve written a number of mental health articles for clients; please feel free to request samples and I’d be happy to share.
I’ve been asked to speak at mental health events in 2016 and 2017.
I used to run an anxiety and depression support group for local sufferers.
I myself have had depression several times and suffer from Social Anxiety, which I am always working on and put those experiences into my work.
I’ve experienced therapy and anxiety relief classes for myself, and so I understand CBT and how it can help people to cope better.

My Writing Style and Expertise:

I’m trained in SEO keyword writing.
I’m an experienced novelist, proofreader and editor, critique partner, article creator, blogger, copywriter, keyword writer, and (amateur) poet.
I believe that my strengths lie in emotive writing.
I believe in writing for your audience, and so in the mental health community, that audience requires a kind voice, a helping hand, someone who truly knows and has been there, and a friendly, non-invasive, not confusing voice. That voice is mine.

Where do we go from here?

Please, get in touch! Even if you’re not sure exactly what you want from me, we can discuss it and hopefully come to a conclusion. I’m happy to negotiate and give quotes to anyone who needs my mental health writing services.

For blogging (posts under 1,200 words), I charge £25 per post.

For all other enquiries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

I hope to hear from you soon.

Poem for mom on her birthday

I believe that everything happens for a reason. Each mistake a lesson forged by my shaking hands.

But there’s someone very special,

Who holds my hands when they shake.

My mother.

Oh, mom. You angel, you.

The burdens you bear,

The fear you withstand,

The trials you’ve suffered.

Don’t you know how strong they’ve made you?

Never has there been a day when you were weak. Not ever; not really.

Again and again, you’ve stared into the red eyes of the beast,

And told him, “not today.”

And how grateful I am that you stare down my beasts with me, too.

Telling them, “not my daughter, not today.”

And so today, on your birthday, I say to you:

Remember your strength.

Remember your power.

Remember that there is no greater force than that of a mother.

And just like Lily Potter, time and time again your motherly love has protected your three children.

Time and time again your magic has supported, cared for, and encouraged us to be better.

You are my strength. You are my comfort. You are my reason for carrying on through the trials of life.

I hope you see that. I hope your hands stop shaking. I hope you get the rewards that you’ve been waiting for…

Happy birthday, you warrior

New Beginnings

What the New Year means to me

Not, “New Year, New Me“. Not “New Year’s Resolutions“. Not trying to fix every “bad” thing in your life. Not going 100mph into every goal and dream you’ve ever had then inevitably burning out.

Nope. No. Uh-uh.

For me, the New Year means a clean slate. A fresh start. It doesn’t mean that overnight my life (or myself) will suddenly be anything other than what it was before. It doesn’t mean I am now somehow allowed to work towards goals and my dream life. No, I’ve already been doing that all year (in 2018). And I will continue to do that in 2019.

Instead, it means that I have hit a point where I get to make a new set of 365 days count for something. I can set new goals, or alter the ones I already had. I can see what I can do each month or each season included in this new year. I can plan and plot with self-awareness, self-love, and intention to make another year count.

It’s not like I believe that this year, in particular, is “my year“. Oh, no! I feel excited about every year. I work hard and make changes and set goals and plan every year. I see things through, every year. To perfection? No. But I do what I set out to, for the most part, and as best I can.

Anyone who expects the New Year to mean they will only just now begin caring about themselves and their lives, and thus will work towards goals and an idea that they have of how their life should be, will be disappointed. Your motivation will burn out.

However, if you are someone who believes in New Beginnings (not New Years), then you will do just fine. For a New Beginning can happen throughout the year at any time you like. Your new birthday year, new season, new month, new week, new day! At any given point, you can set new goals, try out new habits, tackle new challenges, and reignite your motivation. NOT JUST ON A NEW CALENDAR YEAR!

Waiting for a new calendar year means you don’t really push for newness. It means you think the new year will give you something. I’m sorry, it won’t. Only you can make things happen. Only you can get yourself motivated and then take action. And you can do this whenever you want.

So, in the New Year, think about newness as a whole, like I am. Think of it as a new beginning, but don’t think of it as a magical new year where everything will suddenly be different.

When can you get a new beginning?

On your birthday
New season (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter)
New month
New week
New day
New job
New house
New hobby
New phone
New pet
New routine
New room
New goal
New dream
New academic year
OR WHATEVER AND WHENEVER YOU DAMN-WELL PLEASE!

New things to implement into your life:

New books
New yoga poses
New fitness routine
New writing challenges
New friends
New hobbies
New skills (new language, art, sport, practice life skill etc.)
New trips
New shoes (hey, a new pair of shoes once in a while didn’t hurt anyone!)
New pet
New job
New food
New restaurants
New activities and experiences
New mental health care practices

New ideas to live by:

No longer giving energy to your weaknesses, limitations, and self-doubt
No longer worrying about the ifs, buts, or maybes
Do what makes you happy and feel alive
No longer justifying your choices or how you choose to live your life to anyone else
No longer giving so much energy to social media, false lifestyles, fads, and trends
Looking after yourself (mind, body, spirit) in a healthy, wholesome way – not by any rules set by others, no must-dos, trends, or crazes; just treat your mind and body with awareness and love, simple!

What not to do this new year:

Copy what others are doing
Expecting a dramatic life change
Forcing too much change too fast
Tiring yourself out by doing too much
Putting pressure on the New Year to be something big
Start dissecting your entire life, looking for issues to fix
Jeopardise your mental wellbeing by juggling or expecting too much
Copy what that YouTuber or Instagram influencer said to do (or is doing)
Try to squeeze yourself into this “perfect life” box that doesn’t exist

So, to summarise. Don’t look at the New Year as a magical portal into a new life, or a new you. I’m sorry, but you’re still you. Only with intention and self-awareness will anything ever really change for you. Then when self-awareness meets action, you’re on to success, my friend!

Forget the New Years Resolution of losing 10kg or reading 100 books. If you were already working towards these things, and they’re a natural habit etc., then fine – go you! But don’t expect drastic changes in your life just because you wish for it on January 1st! Change takes time and work and patience with yourself. Change takes trial and error, failure and resilience, bravery and discipline – never forget that, and you won’t give up.

This New Years, just promise (yes, promise, not resolve) to just be aware of yourself and your life. Promise to love yourself so much that you don’t beat yourself up. You don’t eat that junk food. You don’t skip that workout. You don’t buy that clothing haul. You don’t neglect that project. You don’t isolate yourself. And you don’t give up on your dream life.

Simples.

Good luck, and happy New Year, all!

xx, S. R. Crawford

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Avoiding the New Year Blues

Don’t be sad or scared of the new year. Embrace it! I’ve always been someone who loves the new calendar year, seeing it for the romanticised clean slate, new start that many of us do. But I also know that for some people, it’s scary. It’s sad. It’s pressure.

Well, try this one instead. See it as an adventure. A new venture. A chance to fill 12 months and 365 days with excitement, progressive, change and challenges.

The thing is, I have no idea what the year will bring. I might feel like I should continue doing what I’m doing. Or I could go back and retry something I did before. Or I could scrap it all and pursue something entirely different.

I just don’t know.

And whilst the unknown is scary, it’s also super enthralling!

You can manifest anything from here. Focus on that. Focus on the possibilities before you.

How to beat the New Year blues:

Literally take a moment to “clean your slate” by meditating, journaling, or simply saying to yourself that “I let go of the negativity, mistakes, and junk from years past and no longer want to carry that weight with me.“
Seek a way to celebrate the coming of the New Year in a way that is fun for you. Don’t be roped into doing what everyone else is doing.
Plan out some things to look forward to in the New Year. Block out something to do in every season, at least.
Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many goals or tasks. Focus on your priorities and take things one step at a time.
Appreciate and be grateful for the gifts you were given this year. Remind yourself that you didn’t know these wonderful things were going to happen at the start of 2018, and so the same will be true for all the wonderful things that will come in 2019. How exciting is that?

Happy New Year, all. Embrace it. Enjoy it. Make it count. You got this.

15 Things I Learned in 2018

I can be happy when I buy (and own) fewer clothes! This is my lowest clothing haul year ever!


I can produce consistent, interesting content, but I still have a lot of growing to do and that’s OK.


I can be ME and the right people will come my way and love me for it. I may not be the smartest person, or most interesting, or fittest, or strongest, or prettiest, but my god do I have a lot to offer and I’m awesome just as I am.


Self-development and the “growth mindset” is good…but to a point. Don’t let focusing on growing become overwhelming or put you in a place of lack.


To be more succinct with my writing and storytelling.


As long as you’re self-aware, you will be fine in life and get your success.


You may never be ready to do what you want to do, so just do it and find your feet as you go. I did this with self-employment, the books I wrote, and my podcast this year.


Not everything is as it seems; don’t be quick to judge or assume something about a situation or a person.


Sometimes the only person holding you back or making your life (or even just your day) bad is you.


You’re not behind in life. There are plenty of people who look at your life from afar and want what you have. Appreciate where you are now as you work for what you want in the future.


Don’t take things too personally. I’m an empath and a highly sensitive person, but I need to learn to detach from this mindset/reaction to things at times for my own good.


It’s 1000% fine to do something that you enjoy for the simple reason that you enjoy it. I never need to justify this to anyone else.


Anyone who gets at you, judges you, speak about you behind your back, or decides something about you with little evidence or without consulting you first is someone you don’t need to worry about. As long as you know your truth and your intentions, that’s all that matters.


I will always encounter people with different opinions and life experiences to my own. Accept this, love them anyway, or move on. Don’t let it poison how I feel and what I believe.


When in doubt; when you’re having a bad day or a low-mood day, do one of the three following things: READ, WALK, OR WRITE. It’s OK to have a slow day or a low day, but it’s not OK to waste a whole day in that place. Reading heals.


Bonus!
*STOP LETTING OTHER PEOPLE RULE YOUR LIFE! We all let people rule our lives too much in various ways, like:

Comparing ourselves to others and getting sad or angry about it
Doing what others say we should do
Taking people’s “advice” or opinions too seriously
Getting upset about people who don’t matter
Wasting time judging others
Avoiding people
Being codependent or overly dependent on others
Looking for approval and validation from others
Reaching for likes and comments and shares on social media
Following the latest fashions and trends
And so-much-more that it’s scary…

There is so much more, and more specific things, that I learned this year, but I wanted to share the more generic ones with you to pass on the advice from my experiences. It has been a really…weird year, but a pivotal one; a challenging one. I thank this year for all that it taught me, all who were there by my side, and I welcome all that is yet to come.

What did you learn in 2018?

Things to remember at Christmas time

We don’t get to receive
It’s not supposed to be about how many presents we get
It’s not a competition of who got the best gift
Don’t overeat like crazy just because it’s the holidays
If you can’t afford a present, don’t put yourself in debt to get it. The person you’re getting it for should be someone you care about and who cares about you, so they shouldn’t mind that you couldn’t get them anything.
Good films, warm evenings, hot chocolate, good company, and festive cheer is at the top of my to-do list – and it should be for you, too
Hating Christmas doesn’t make you cool. Loving it for the right reasons does
Don’t let what other people are doing or getting make you feel down. Celebrate your way!
You have no right to tell people how they should celebrate (don’t even listen to me if you don’t want to!)

Enjoy the festive season no matter who you are, what you believe in, and how you spend it

Welcome, New Years…

I can’t wait to meet our dog.

The scruffy, fluffy, bundle of

Joy

That will make our house

A home.

I can’t wait to meet

The fans I’ve yet to gain.

Book lovers and movie go-ers,

That will scream and hype over

The stories I tell.

The ideas they’ll have

Of the characters

I brought to life.

I can’t wait to dance with you,

My love,

Eyes watching intently

Tears, inevitably, in my eyes;

Our vows ringing in my mind.

My pretty white dress

Will be unparalleled.

I will be more than a princess.

More than a queen.

And you, of course, will be my

Chieftain.

My African king.

I can’t wait to meet our children,

They too will be

Royalty.

Not because we are anything

special.

But because they will take on the

World,

And shape it. Make it.

What brilliant things

Will my sons and daughters teach me?

What will they know?

What will they do?

Where will they go?

I must slow down.

That is, I think, a far future.

But it is our future.

And I can’t wait to see it.

To feel it.

To be in it,

With you.

The future used to scare me,

To the point of fits of tears.

But how can a future be scary?

When all it is is years,

With you?

How can a future be scary,

When it holds the unknown?

The unknown is everything.

Everything.

Endless possibilities,

And that,

My love,

Is not scary.

That,

My love,

Is a burning life yet to be lived.

And so, as we reach the

End,

I greet the new year,

As a welcomed friend.