Style Diary: Birthday Musings

Photos by Dominika from Fashion Philosophy

Skirt: Romwe | Jumper: Penneys/Primark (similar here and here) | Hat: River Island (similar here and here) | Heels: Penneys/Primark (similar here and here)

As you may have guessed from the title of this Style Diary ~ today is my birthday! I went home to Galway to celebrate with my friends and family, and I really had the most perfect weekend. Thank you all for your well wishes and kind words! I’m currently on the bus back up to Dublin suffering a hangover and some dodgy wifi, and my thoughts are running away with me, so please bear with my rambling.

To be honest with you guys, I had been apprehensive at the thought of turning 25. After all, I can no longer make the sweeping “it’s fine, I’m in my early-twenties” statement! This milestone raised a lot of personal reflections for me. Have I achieved enough? Am I where I need to be in my life? Am I living my life to the fullest? Am I exploring my full potential? Am I challenging myself?  Do I need to stop daydreaming? Should I stop dressing like a 12 year old and finally start dressing like an adult? It’s quite a lot to think about, I’m sure you’ll agree.

I’ve been mulling over these questions for the past month or so, and I have come to some conclusions that I would like to share with you all.

Its all too easy for us to put this kind of pressure on ourselves at birthdays and other big milestones, but the way I see it is this. Every year I try to take a long hard look at myself, and ask myself if I am happy. One question, simple as that. All other questions can come afterwards. Happiness is everything. It is a rather confusing concept, and one that from time to time, I mistakenly attribute to the wrong things. Money, status, follower counts, material things, beauty and so on. I’m fairly certain I’m not the only one who sometimes struggles with this.

As for all the other, less burning questions, my thoughts are mixed. To be completely truthful, I don’t ever think I will ever feel like I have achieved enough, and I have come to accept that it’s just who I am, right now anyways. I’m always looking towards the next goal, the next project, the next challenge, which I think in many ways is a great thing. It’s good to be hungry. I do think however, that this pressure I sometimes put on myself can also be a bad thing- because it can stop me from enjoying the present. That is something that I am openly admitting that I need to work on. I need take more time for myself, I need to plan more trips, take more walks, and basically do more leisurely things for the sake of enjoying them and nothing else. These past few years I have been pushing myself to do as much as possible, but I’ve come to learn that life really is all about balance, and switching off is something that I am determined to do more.

I think this simple (and rather lovely) quote explains my attitude best:

“Take pride in how far you’ve come, and have faith in how far you can go, but don’t forget to enjoy the journey.”

And so, my dear readers, what I have promised myself for this year, and for the next 25 years, I am going to keep asking myself those questions. Those hard, uncomfortable, and sometimes terrifying questions, and if I am not satisfied with the answers, then I will change something.

My final thought on this little milestone in my life is one of gratitude. Gratitude towards my family, towards my friends, and towards all the other people in my life who make it so interesting and so wonderful. I also feel so grateful to you guys, reading this. I have thanked you countless times on this blog before, and I will continue to do so, because you really are so lovely. Every time someone stops me in public and has a kind word to say about my blog, it makes my day. I don’t know what I did to deserve such lovely treatment, and I only hope I can continue to keep you interested.

Thank you for sticking with me thusfar, I am confident that there is lots more to come.

Lots of love,

Ciara x