Tenacity in Testing Times

Today is 3 October 2020 – and boy oh boy, what a year 2020 has been so far! It’s been the strangest, most volatile time.

When I last wrote in my blog in the beginning of the year, little did I know the curveball life’s about to throw, all the twists and turns & high and lows – the world hadn’t even heard of the word Covid-19 ten months ago!

But what if…what if 2020 was truly meant to be? A year that forces us to focus not on adversity but possibilities, and be the change we want to see?

In January 2020, I was determined to make 2020 an even better year. And today, I can proudly say that I have made that a reality.

In this week alone – I got married, and during our little honeymoon I was announced the 2020 winner of the ‘Woman Who Achieves - Outstanding Team Member’ award, and today, I’m overjoyed to have been selected as a Finalist in the Business Category for the ‘Women of the Future Awards 2020’.

My husband shared the most sentimental vows that made me well up at our wedding ceremony. He said I am a ‘woman without limits’. And I believed him. We are limited only by what we allow ourselves to be limited by: our own minds. And when we become aware to this, absolutely nothing in this world is impossible.

I got engaged on Christmas Day 2019, and our wedding planning journey was one that’s thwarted with repeated setbacks. Just before the national lockdown was announced we had booked our wedding venue. Then lockdown kicked in, and just like that, all weddings were cancelled. One month. Two months. Absolute radio silence about what would be possible. In early June, Northern Ireland resumed small outdoor weddings – but still no news in England. We couldn’t even make an appointment to give our notice of marriage (which is yet another lengthy complex process for foreign nationals that could take up to 70 days). There were glimpses of hope when England allowed the hosting of wedding ceremonies from the 4th of July, and a further announcement that wedding receptions of up to 30 people could go ahead from the 1st of August. The night before these relaxation measures became effective, hopes were shattered by yet another hammer blow, as these were all postponed. Until the very last few days, we all still didn’t fully know if the wedding was going to make it all the way through. The whole world seemed to be screaming ‘NO’ – but my heart says ‘go’. Despite all the obstacles, my single mindedness (or stubbornness as one may call!), determination, dedication, belief and the tenacity to never give up on my dreams, pushed me to stay on course.

And I couldn’t have asked for a more magical day.

Not only have we made it, literally one day before further wedding restrictions kick in, the 26th September 2020 was the most glorious sunny day, without a single cloud in sight. The day went without a hitch, and all of our 28 guests shared the most wonderful and intimate wedding filled with love, kind tears and laughter - just as I had dreamed of as a little girl.

When the unexpected happens, you always have your inner core strength which cannot be taken from you.

FEARLESS is getting back up and fighting for what you desire, over and over again.... even though every time you've tried before you've lost.

TRUST is believing in yourself, and believing that each of us will do the best we can, to make the best of what we have. I could not have achieved these things alone, and 2020 has continuously reminded me of the importance of building strong relationships, not only at work, but through all interactions in life. We all need others who will stand with us, to both celebrate and grieve.

I trusted many different people to deliver for us, as they trusted me to commit to them in the most uncertain time.

Staying true to my purpose, I will continue to dedicate my passion, energy, thoughts and emotions in advocating for courage, and for breaking our self-limiting beliefs. Next time a curveball comes your way, take a deep breath, say thanks, and open your mind to a new opportunity. As when you knock it out of the park, the smile on your face will be more than worth it! 

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