Have you ever had that moment where something shitty happens to you, and in turn, it sparks a series of shitty events, and before you know it your shitty day has, in fact, turned into a shitty situation (a shituation, if you will / wish to sound like Sean Connery.) Trust me when I say, I’ve really been there! And it took me a really long time to realise it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Let’s get personal – I’ll paint you the scene so you can understand where I was at. You’re going to need a big cup of tea, or something stronger. And sorry-not-sorry, this post is bloody massive…
(Also, sorry Mum and Dad but this one gets a bit swear-y).
My job….
I had just left a job I loved because I had a boss who was putting me under crazy pressure. I was the only one in the team, so escalating it would have made life difficult. Although it pains me to say this, I did not listen to my Dad who told me not to jump for the first job that came along, which I duly did (yes yes Dad you can take this is as an admission of you were right and I was wrong…), taking a swift paycut and not really thinking through the impact commuting from a town in Buckinghamshire to London every day would take on my now depleted finances.
My love life …
I was also in the messiest relationship situation, which was so ridiculous it could have been on Jeremy Kyle – I was with a guy who I’d met who lived in my building, who’s ex was now with my ex. He still saw them both regularly, due to having a child with her.
My social life…
Not to mention, I was so lonely – I didn’t really have a big group of friends – actually, I pretty much had no friends bar my one bestie who lived in London, and this guy and I spent all our time sat in on the sofa. God seeing it written down like that my life really was a bit tragic..! And I say that because I know, looking back on it, I was desperately unhappy but I was settling for what I thought was as good as it was going to get for me.
So, I begun my new and underpaid job. I dated the guy. The guy and I went on a break, and work took me to India, where I’d meet H (who you’ll remember from this post!). H soon became my saviour. We were best friends, pretty much instantly. I mean, Deli Belly really does forge a bond with your colleagues that you’ll never forget. I came back, the guy decided we should be together again, I went with the flow.
One year later…
The guy asks me to move in. Fast forward a few days later, and I was having a rough time – the commute meant I’d missed a chance to go and see my Grandparents who I’m really close to. They’re in their 90s, and all I could think about was how stretched I was with work, and how sad I was to have missed seeing 2 of my favourite people, not to mention a cruel little voice in my mind suggesting I might not get another chance to see them. So, I cried in front of this guy for the first time, admitting that I was having a tough time and feeling a bit depressed with life overall. And just like that, he told me “I just don’t think you’ll ever be good enough for me”, and there it was – over (you’d have thought I’d have had a dawning realisation at this point that this guy was a MASSIVE douche bag, but no, the penny didn’t drop just then…)
Of course I didn’t think it was over over – I just thought he needed break etc. I came home from work a week later, and my stuff was on the doorstep. Fucking brutal eh? So, there I was, 23, dumped, moving back in with my parents, scraping by because I’d taken this RIDICULOUS pay-cut in my desperation to get out of a job that was driving me insane. So, H and I started going out after work and she used to let me crash at hers (she’ll tell you I still have her good black Warehouse top somewhere which I borrowed after yet another night unexpectedly staying at hers!). We’d put the world to rights over a bottle of dodgy white wine (or 5) at the world’s worst bar in Pimlico. It might have had sticky floors, poor food hygiene standards and service that certainly never came with a smile – but the best of friendships were forged in the corner of that pub, on the table right at the back, exchanging life stories, laughter and some tears once or twice, too. I honestly think H is my guardian angel. When I look back at that time, I have no idea how I’d have got through it if it wasn’t for her.
Meanwhile, my commute was driving me insane! a 20 minute drive, an hour and a bit train journey, a tube, another tube, and a walk – all to get me to my underpaid – did I mention I was underpaid? – job. Which, incidentally, I was hating. I was so frustrated and stressed, with no time to eat I ended up losing weight (which is a challenge for me at the best of times). One day I was on the train home, I was picking at an M&S sushi (way out of my price range at this point but I was SO. HUNGRY.) sipping a G&T out the can, by myself, on a train, on a Tuesday. When I decided, enough was enough. I was going to move to London, I didn’t care any more, I wouldn’t bother trying to be friends with my housemates, I just needed a roof over my head so that my commute was no longer five hours+.
THEN…
In my usual way of making a snap life-changing decision I contacted one place to go and test the waters. Before I knew it, I had a viewing on the Sunday. So I drove to London, picking up my best friend who’d moved to London a couple of months prior. I was greeted by three of the friendliest faces. The room was weird, but cool (it had a bath in the eaves… Actually on reflection, the house was really ramshackle!) but it felt like ‘my’ room. We all sat and had a cup of tea, trying to figure out if we were compatible, or at the very least, co-habitable. I left – I’d put my best self on, but I didn’t know if it would be enough. That night, my phone rang with an unknown number, it was the girls to say they wanted to live with me. I later found out that they decided on having me instantly, and were trying to figure out which of them would sound the least crazy before they called as they thought I was going to reject them (little did they know I’d not been to a single other viewing, or that I was just as bat-shit crazy as they are!).
A week later, H and I met K – who would soon become one of my closest friends – in Oxford Street where she handed me the keys, gave me a big hug and said she couldn’t wait. and neither could I 🙂 .
And so, my commute when from 4.5 hours, to 45 minutes – I started to read, and dare I say I actually like the tube? My housemates, two of their friends and I became a close-knit group of 7. We watched Harry Potter and cooked roast dinners on a Sunday, and ventured away on holiday together in the summer. We moved house when our landlord became too much of a nightmare to deal with. I laughed with the girls about all things dating. I laughed with the boys about our in-jokes. Most of all, I was laughing again.
H and my friend who already lived in London came over all the time too. I made a couple more friends through work and London. And then I got a new, better paid job, where I was really taught my worth by my amazing bosses.
None of this happened over night. It took me over a year to get each part of my life sorted. But it was finally my life. I finally had friends, and the type of friends who were going to stick around when it got tough and be inclusive even when it wasn’t. I finally had a job that I was good at, and where they knew my worth which in turn made me realise it, too. I had a home, that really was a home. I didn’t (and still don’t) have a boyfriend, and to be honest after years of thinking that’s what I want, I honestly, think I’m cool. The right person coming along would be ace. But I’m so fulfilled in so many ways, that it’s OK that they’re out there doing whatever it is they’re doing right now.
So now, when I have a shituation on my hands I take a deep breath, and I think about the things that make my life so happy now, that wouldn’t be there:
- If I hadn’t had that shitty boss, I’d never have left my old job. If I’d never have done that, I’d never have met H, who is basically my soulmate.
- If I hadn’t had that shitty boyfriend, I’d never have moved into the house share and I’d never have met six of the most important people in my life, and I certainly wouldn’t be living in what I can safely say is both the best and my favourite city in the world.
- If I hadn’t had that shitty break-up, I’d have settled for just the next guy now, like I did then – I would literally be putting the ‘settle’ in ‘settle down’.
I learned an awful lot, too:
- Be grateful for your Mum and Dad. This is an obvious one, but, they’re really just looking out for you. Living with them once you’ve had your independence is tough, but its tough for them too.
- Money isn’t everything in a job, but it is important and you should really think about how taking a paycut is going to affect your lifestyle.
- When your Dad gives you career advice; listen. Actually, when your Dad gives you any advice, listen. He’s probably right (I’ll never live this down now🙄).
- When your hearts not in your relationship, listen to it. Don’t settle because you think nothing better is coming your way. Being on your own will always be better than settling, I promise.
- Snap decisions can work out, not always, but if you’re gut instinct is telling you to do it – go for it. Better an ‘oops’ than a ‘what-if’.
- And one toxic person, doesn’t equal a lifetime of toxic people; you might find that actually, there are some genuinely amazing people out there.
Lastly, I remember that sometimes when life puts you on the worst path you’ve encountered, it’s also probably leading you to one of the greatest adventures you could ask for.
Kate x
Such a good post. I’m so proud of you for turning rubbish and negative experiences into so many positives. Finding a job, and a boss that makes you feel your worth is so important, and it sounds like you have the most amazing group of housemates. I love the Christmas jumper picture! I completely agree with all your end points as well, I’ve always been a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. And also, personally I’m extremely happy you now live in London!
Hels xx
Author
Aww Hels thank you so much for your lovely and kind comment. It took a lot to post this, but I’m glad I did! I definitely think everything happens for a reason, who knows where you’re meant to be and why but you can guarantee you will get there! I’m also super happy about living in London not least because it makes it easier to meet up with people as lovely as you! Thanks so much for your comment xxx
“Promise me you’ll always remember:
You’re braver than you believe,
Stronger than you seem
And smarter you think. ”
A.A.Milne
This is you kiddo. You’ve come through a lot but not least because you’re amazing.
😘😍
Author
Only because I’ve had a big sis like YOU.
xxx
I’m really glad this had a happy ending! Or even a happy beginning of something new. I recognised so much of the bad instances which you mentioned.
Author
Aww thank you Llinos! I hope you found happy beginnings too xxx
I’m so proud of you, both for getting through all of these shitty situations and coming out the other side as the strong, beautiful, and successful woman you are today, and for having the courage to put all of this on paper (metaphorically haha) and share your experiences with the world! It’s so easy just to put the good stuff out there for the world to see, all the successes and good things that happen to us, but it takes real guts to talk about the tougher times in life! Sharing your experiences is so valuable because it shows everyone reading just how life REALLY is, and shows exactly how you can power through, not just creating an Instagram-perfect illusion of life! You’re a star Kate, an amazing woman and a talented writer! Very proud to call you my friend!
Abbey ❤️ http://www.abbeylouisarose.co.uk
Author
Oh Abbey, this comment nearly made me cry! I feel so grateful to have people like you and Hels who have been encouraging me and supporting me, it’s honestly made me feel like the people reading this on the other side totally understand and it’s made being honest about the way things have been in the past, feel almost ‘easy’, would you believe! Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words, I can’t tell you how much they mean to me and how touched I am by what you’ve said. I feel very very lucky to have a friend like you!
xxx
This is a really lovely post!
I’m sorry you had such a shut time, but it’s positive that you’ve made some best friends through it!
I’m also glad that you’re in such a good place now, you must be so strong to have come through all of this and be smiling on the other side!
Love,
Hayley X
Lifethroughtsg.com
Author
Aw thank you Hayley! Your comment really made me smile and def – they were the best thing to come out of a crappy situation!
Kate x
This was such a well written post! It takes guts to express all of that to the world but it’s been so insightful and to see how you’ve taken the negatives and saw the brighter side of them is simply amazing! So glad you’re in a better place and not in all these shituation (I see what you did there and I love it) and if I’m honest this had kind of given me hope in the shituations im in and I’m going to beilive there’s something better on the other side!
Jessica & James | http://www.foodandbaker.co.uk / http://www.foodandbakertravels.co.uk
Author
Awww thank you so much Jessica and James, your comment is really lovely. Ha I’m glad you like the word blending 😉 . Sorry to hear you’re having some “shituations” yourself but I’m so glad this post has given you hope!
Kate x
This was such an emotional read… I’m glad you found happiness in the end sweetheart. You deserve it. Thank you for sharing all of this with us – I’m sure you will help someone out there with this! I admire you soooo much!
Author
Aw thank you so much Charlene! Your comment means the world to me!
Kate x
This is such an honest and inspirational post. I am so happy for you finding something positive in such a hard period of life. It’s really proud of you to have shared your story!
Have a lovely day,
xx Kris
https://dreamingofpink.wordpress.com
Author
Thank you so much for your lovely comment Kris – it’s so kind of you! Hope you have a lovely day too 🙂
Kate x
Oh Kate! This is the first time I am reading your blog and Im SO SO happy I finally am! I loved this post, and can actually relate to so much of it! I had the worst year of my life, and although it felt awful at the time; it shaped me and helped me get to where I am now. Im so so grateful for that! I love seeing how far you’ve come, this is so lovely!!
Jemma x
DORKFACE
Author
Jemma thank you SO much for your comment – honestly, I have been reading your blog for ages so it’s made my morning to hear you read mine and that you enjoy it! Your comment has put the BIGGEST smile on my face, and I’m touched to know that you found this post relatable. Super proud of you for letting your experiences shape you into the lovely lady you are today!
Kate x
I am having the most rubbish time of my life right now babe so reading this has really helped me feel more positive. Thank you so much for sharing 🌸💗✨
With love, Alisha Valerie. x
http://www.AlishaValerie.com | http://www.twitter.com/AlishaValerie
Author
Aw I’m so sorry to hear you’re having a tough time, but just remember that you can’t have a rainbow with rain! Sending you lots of good thoughts!
Kate x
I feel similar in some ways with rubbish things actually making everything a lot better. I hated my first semester of uni because my flatmates were horrible and my flat was ‘party central’ in my block. I’m not a party person, like, at all, so it was awful to try and stay there. I felt like I didn’t have many friends there (I went to uni 4 hours away from home so it was difficult not knowing anyone at all) and I wanted to drop out of my course.
But I stayed, I persevered, and did everything I could to make it better. I moved accommodation into nicer halls (it was more expensive but had an ensuite compared to my shared bathroom in the old one, and I managed my money so I could afford it) and made friends by joining a society that I later became VP of. They were my best friends throughout uni and I lived with them for the next 2 years. I love them all so much and I can’t even imagine how different my life would be if I dropped out and went somewhere else!
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who has had to deal with some crappy experiences to get to the best ones. I loved reading your story and I’m SO glad it’s all worked out well for you!
Author
Awww thank you for your lovely comment, it’s really tough when you’re in the thick of it! I’m sorry you had a tough start to uni but I’m mega impressed you stuck it out and I’m so happy for you that it turned it all around – sounds like you made some lovely friends! Go you for throwing yourself into joining a society – that’s always daunting!
Kate x