Lessons I learned after I turned 30

Happy Bank Holiday Monday!

What a wonderfully amazing weekend it has been. I don’t even know where to start from.

A couple of days ago a notification came up on my FB feed that they were looking for volunteers for Southampton Pride on Saturday and I seized the opportunity to help and be a part of this beautiful celebration of love, no matter your sexuality.

To begin with I was asked to assist with fundraising but I wasn’t very good at it. I felt uncomfortable interrupting people whilst having fun asking them to donate. So after a while I went back to the boss and asked if I could help with something else. I was by the gates for a while and after I was relieved I ended up with the most marvelous job.

I was paired up with this lovely lady and we were given a gorgeous feather embellished frame and a camera, and we were asked to go out and take pictures.

I absolutely loved it! Every minute of it. The smile on peoples’ faces made my little heart melt every single time.

It’s such a cliche but is true. Beauty is who you are not how you look. Beauty comes from within. It really does. And all I could see with every photo I took was gorgeous, beautiful humans. Every time I said gorgeous, beautiful, lovely, I really meant it.

I cannot wait to see the photos when they are published. I’d love to share some of my favourites with you.

And the fun didn’t end there.

One of the highlights was the best hug I’ve had for a while, by this gorgeous man in the Guildhall giving away free hugs.

I loved the comments board. So many wonderful messages!

I’ve bumped into lovely friends, I made new friends and the evening came to an end watching 911 with my brother from another mother.

I’m so happy and blessed to have been a part of this beautiful celebration of pride and love. Love is love. Nothing else matters. It doesn’t make a difference whether you are straight, bi or gay. It doesn’t matter what kind of love it is. Family, friendship, romantic, platonic.

I was in a 7 year relationship and never really felt loved. But the love I felt from my family, friends, colleagues and on some occasions even strangers, over the last couple of years it more than made up for it.

Love is love!

On Sunday, another glorious sunny day, I got to sing with Singforce for Summer in the Square and also got to watch my old pals from Sing Now Choir and Love Soul.

At that moment, singing with colleagues in the sunshine whilst my Sing Now friends cheered us on, staring at the clear blue sky, I felt so happy!

I had a lovely afternoon enjoying a scrummy smoothie in the sun at Mettricks with my Sing Now friends afterwards.

To my Sing Now friends who asked me whether I’m coming back.

I want to say that I really do miss you. I met the most wonderful, genuinely nice, friendly people through Sing Now. And when I saw most of you yesterday, not for a second did it feel awkward. It felt like catching up with family after you haven’t seen them for a while.

If I end up staying in Southampton, depending on what I do next, I will definitely return. I miss you all.

When I came home yesterday I cried. It was happy tears. Happy and grateful for the beautiful weekend I had with lots of singing, pride, sunshine and love.

Love is love

Eleni