At the ripe ‘ole age of 33, I have learnt a thing or 3. The other day FB reminded me of an event in my life where it was 6am and I had to give myself a pep talk: “Okay Hayley. You’re a smart person, you can figure this out.” That was 2 years ago when I was somewhat stranded at the airport after missing a work related international flight due to a fairly intense stomach situation. Not ideal and fairly stressful, yet I sorted it out. Life moved forward and no harm was done. I was 31 then (I’m sure you can do the math), imagine the life lessons that have come my way in the past 24 months?! As I say to my friend Sarah as we climb rock walls inside – life is never boring.
When faced with choices that must be made and things that need to be done, I like to think I have a pretty solid foundation in who I am as person and where I sit on things. I’m confident that my peeps know who I am as a person also. That can all get brought into question when you are staring down the barrel of romance and love. It’s pretty well established that I like to live with my ‘heart on my sleeve’ and that I actively choose to experience the high of happiness and love, knowing full well that the low of being hurt or upset will likely be lurking somewhere in the area. I choose all of this with respectful responsibility that comes with great emotion.
While I may cry and wallow for a day or two when upset, I know full well that I have the choice to embrace it or shift it. Usually I roll with it, squirrel away the lessons for future empathy and growth – knowing full well I’ll be alive and kicking into the next great experience that pops into my world. This approach is often very foreign to many of the people in my world, I can sense a sliver of fear and maybe a touch of reluctance to see my perspective. To be clear – I’m not asking people to live with the same attitude, I choose to live (and love) this way as it brings me large amounts of joy. It comes with work around self-reflection and ongoing curiosity with a twist of humour – not a gig everyone wants to sign up for which I understand.
The other day I was cleaning my teeth whilst listening to a Podcast (Joe Rogan or Sam Harris? Sometimes they blur) where the notion of old sayings 
are coming to light scientifically. “Follow your heart” is being backed up through the discovery of neurons similar to that within the brain being found in the heart. Now, I was using an electric toothbrush, so take this info with a grain of salt and go forth and google your heart out – you may find some interesting reading at the very least – I know I have. It gave me strength to think that in a sea of concerned and caring faces, fearful of seeing me upset – my heart continues to contribute independent insight. Science is reinforcing my natural ability to let my heart run away with my head.
I care very much, and am deeply grateful, for those who love me and wish 
to not see me hurt. I thank you for your love, I thank you for your support. I thank you for letting me be the person who loves with reckless abandon and continue to listen to my heart after 33 years of life lessons.
I’m still smiling!
Happy Wandering!
Hx