We take our inspirations for granted...

I often go through times of powering through and not really seeing the benefit of doing so. I’m sure a lot of people feel the same, maybe you aren’t getting the result you’re hoping for in life and it feels like you’re constantly pushing for no reward. We work in our day jobs to get paid so we can enjoy life. Which is great but I wish I felt that sense of accomplishment when I thought about my job, or how far I’ve come on my journey etc. But we can’t have everything right!

Lately I’ve been pushing through again and I’ve wanted to give up so many times. Why haven’t I? I asked myself this as I watched the sun rising at about 4am Saturday 17th July. I’ve never been an early bird but the past few months I haven’t been able to sleep so waking up at 3 after about 3 hours sleep was actually fine for me. I’d worked for 8 days and had quite a mental battle with myself with a couple of things that week. The journey to get to that Saturday was a long one but so worth the wait. It had been a crazy week in sport, highs and lows as England had unfortunately lost the Euros and a lot of horrible events had taken place after the match at Wembley and online. From attacks on people, racial abuse and just a general lack of respect for the sporting world and peoples lives which, honestly really got to me. I’m not going to comment too much but I was just so disappointed how people respond to others experiences/achievements in such a negative and disgusting manner. It will keep happening unfortunately but all we can do is work in the right environments with the right people to make sure we are shifting the right change.

But this weekend was all about a new distraction with Formula 1 returning home to Silverstone. I hadn’t been for a few years which made it all the more special for me. After the year we have had not being able to go anywhere and having the sport be my inspiration and one of the only things I can feel safe and happy with lately I was absolutely buzzing to be going even just for the Saturday. NOTHING was going to ruin this day for me and honestly nothing did. Arriving at the track for about 7 am walking round and feeling the atmosphere build was an incredible feeling that I’d missed so much. It made every bad thing disappear in life and all that mattered was being there to support the people who have no idea how much they inspire us just by doing their day job. The whole day got better and better, the sun was the hottest it had been all year, people were so respectful and just happy to be out to support the drivers after a year of being locked away from it all. Everyone involved in the event just gave off such a loving vibe and it was so special to be apart of. Standing and listening to the cars rumble through my feet and ear drums triggered so much happiness in me. Standing in that moment watching Lando Norris fly past was when I realised that I am fighting everyday to feel that happiness in life. These experiences are mine to take, these moments are mine to cherish. I can’t quite have a life where I experience this everyday and I can’t be by Lando's side and experience his life with him (dreams sometimes stay dreams right…). But I’m so lucky to have these memories and plan for even more of them. That is what life is for!

I know a lot of people don’t understand racing as a sport and I completely understand that. Not everyone can enjoy every sport but honestly these drivers inspire me. The sacrifice they take to train as hard as they do fitness wise is insane. Just search for them going next training.. mentally I believe they are one of the strongest role models out there. To step in to those cars, risking their lives is insane but the feeling they must experience living life on that edge and pushing themselves to the limit to me is one of the most amazing risks to take in life. Driving round tracks across the world seeing thousands of people standing and cheering as they pass must be one of the best feelings in the world. Still dreaming of having a hot lap experience one day with one of my fav drivers but again (dreams can’t always come true haha). These guys deal with so much within the sport and continue to get involved with multiple organisations outside of the sport to use their influence in the best way.

Lewis Hamilton was the first driver I supported all those years ago. He’s made history in the sport but has also shared his struggles in life to try and make one of the biggest movements alongside many others in the sporting community against racism and equality. He has so many people alongside him who are ready to fight including the fans like me who are eager to be educated and fight for equality and positive energy in every aspect of life. Again he’s controversial to some but I for one support the way he’s used his ‘fame’ to make a positive difference and carry us forward. He’s achieved so much in his career and come from a very low profiled background in terms of working hard to raise money within his family to be apart of the sport (it is a very expensive sport to become involved in if you don’t have a lot of money behind you or sponsors). He’s told us that his family weren’t the richest but his parents worked hard to make sure he had the opportunity to become something so good on them! He also opened up about facing a lot of discrimination growing up being a young black driver. Which should never have happened and we see so much happening in the world when it comes to racist acts which, still should not be happening! But for him to work hard against all the difficulties he’s faced and achieve what he has in the sport is incredible. Imagine having him as the image for a young boy or girl to look up to and believe in a journey that they could work as hard towards as he has. especially with the movements he is involved with right now I think its incredible and we are lucky to have people like him in the world.

Lando Norris is a man who I respect very much at the moment. He’s young in the sport but has used his three years in F1 to progress and also I believe learn the best version of himself. We of course don’t get to see the version his family and people closest to him see but he presents himself in the best way for the younger generation to look up to and for other generations to respect. He works with Mind, a charity that I am very passionate about as he has opened up about his mental health both within and away from the sport growing up and works to support those who need the right help. During the pandemic he also started streaming often on Twitch to try and interact and bring a community together that were struggling mentally and maybe just needed that sense of safety. That experience of being home playing games or feeling a bit low didn’t have to be so lonely. He took part in streams to raise money for our front line workers and built up an E-Sports community launching his very own team ‘Quadrant’ to keep the entertainment coming. Again not many may understand the streaming community (I didn’t at first) but actually just watching these guys and talking to them through a chat community brings a sense of togetherness I feel a lot of people didn’t even know they could have. Anyone in the limelight is a target for ‘hate’ because people are jealous or don’t want to work hard to achieve anything but I respect Lando very much for sharing his life with his fans. Especially being that influence for the younger generation to follow. He sends the right image in to the world and I love that.

I was never one of those people that could wait hours to meet their superstar. I used to see so many people meeting their superstars and looking so happy in their pictures which obviously was great to see, but you always wish it was you right.. I’m 24 so you’d think if I saw a famous person I was eager to meet I would continue to be that shy/mellow person who would never bother them just like I have done all these years… NOPE not this time! I defo waited in an hours queue to meet Lando’s Quadrant team which included Max Fewtrell whom I watch stream very often and was very fan girly to see. I’m not even embarrassed about it. They were so humble and I got my little picture with them that I will cherish forever haha. If I’ve learned anything its to be grateful for what I have and to stop holding myself back from experiencing life. I say no to so many things or miss so much and its time for that to change! Thank You to myself for saying yes to spending the money to go back to Silverstone and Thank You to myself for sticking with a sport even when no one understood me for it growing up. I didn’t get on with many people and I didn’t have many to talk about my interests with but I stuck with them anyway. Can’t push people to do this enough. Live for you!

I’m a very emotional and what I would describe as ‘connected’ person. What I mean by this is I become very connected in a moment or with people. I don’t just see a race for example I see so much more. I feel the emotions of the day, I look at the drivers and hear their excitement and feel happy with them. I listen to the cars and recognise all the people who have had an influence in to making that car. I live in the moment and get a warm heart as I realise how lucky I am to experience this with everyone around me. We may never meet the famous people who we support and cheer for in our sports but we become so connected with their lives and get to experience their hard work they put in to make themselves and us proud. They are normal human beings with an opportunity to give so much and I’m so happy they can do that for us. This can sound ‘soppy’ to most but like I say I’m glad I am emotional in this way because it allows me to experience things and FEEL it which I will never let go of. I am lucky and I hope I can experience things this way for the rest of my life.

My main message from this post is you’re always fighting. If things seem impossible you have to be patient which sucks as it can sometimes take years but when you realise that’s what you are fighting for, it’s so rewarding. You will have bad times even after good experiences but positive times will come again and again. You are fighting to live life and search for these moments of love, passion and accomplishment. You will find yours. If you can make change and get involved with change and growth along the way please do. Things can only get better with the support of all of the right people but we can do it. Support causes, support your influencers who give their life to make yours better. Live in the moment and actually feel it. It’s not enough to be seen, be present in the moment and only then should you capture it and share it with others.

Be inspired always..

I also want to change a few things about my blog appearance wise and revamp my logo any suggestions welcome. Speak soon.