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Better The Devil


Well it's a new day and a new appreciation post. 

I can't tell you how much the one about David - the one I was reluctant to share - has affected so many people from my Facebook friends list they reached out to me about the post. 

It reached people in ways I never expected, and in ways some of the people reaching out never expected.  So once again David's actions had a profoundly positive effect. Thanks again David and thanks to all those who reached out to me about it. 

As promised though, here is something a little lighter than my previous two posts. 

This coming Saturday is Eurovision. 28 years ago it was held on the 19th of May, the day after my birthday, and it gave me one of the best presents I have ever had. 

Sonia Evans was our representative for the UK. For those of you that don't know, Sonia was signed to PWL records and was produced by Stock, Aitken and Waterman.  Just like Kylie Minogue and Rick Astley. And if you don't know who they are then I will be of no help to you. 

In all intents and purposes Sonia was a down-to-earth, bubbly and giggling girl next door. She wasn't what we referred to as larger than life and she wasn't conceited about her success either. She was just one of us. This grabbed my attention. 

I had always thought that to be in a position like that you needed to be larger than life, you needed to be this big character, super confident, maybe even arrogant but she wasn't. 

I had always dreamed of being on stage or acting in film but I was too scared and ashamed to tell anyone about that, so I kept it to myself. 

But here was Sonia, A normal everyday person doing exactly the kind of thing that I wanted to do. Sounds corny but it gave me hope. 

I followed her progression over the week leading up to the competition, thanks mostly to BBC Radio, as we didn't have social media back then. 

She inspired me so much that on the 19th May 1993, I made my decision to chase my dreams, and I have been chasing them, and catching them, ever since. 

So thank you Sonia Evans, you gave me the courage I needed to be honest and go for it. You also taught me that I didn't have to wait until I was "larger than life" or "good enough" and that I was already good enough in that moment.

Actually I wasn't totally good enough, I still had to teach myself to sing first, but you get my point. 

If you want something, go for it. Don't wait. The only right time is now. You ARE good enough already!

I'm setting the challenge for you all to lean into your vulnerability and give appreciation to someone else, if this is something you feel you cannot do but want to! And I am seeing this happen everyday now 🙂

Have a great day and I'll be back with another name soon x




Photo by Andrew Hurley 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewhurley/14521336706/in/album-72157645450365815/


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