Brighton Pride 2018 & a 'soppy?!' update!

So this weekend has been absolutely insane... I got my first 'Places I Want To Go' item checked off my bucket list after spending an incredible few days in Brighton celebrating Brighton Pride! I can honestly say that I have never been to an event where I felt so completely ok with being myself. It was refreshing, it was eye opening and it really hammered home how proud I should be, not of myself for being openly gay, but of the changes that our entire nation of people has made over the years to ensure that anyone who is a part of the LGBTQ+ community can live a free, open and normal life. A lot of people don't understand what a bunch of gay people have to celebrate about, my parents included. They don't really see why Gay Pride is such a big thing when the fight for LGBTQ+ people has been equality and just wanting a normal life. While Gay Pride will always primarily be about celebrating the different communities, people and lifestyles associated with it, I feel it is important to remember the people that don't have it as good as we do know, that weren't accepted, that were beaten, ridiculed. abused, assaulted, thrown in jail and killed... Its a weekend were we can celebrate them and their sacrifices that allowed for the generally accepting opinions that we have today.

The parade, festival and after party were all fantastic, the vibe were good and its was great to experience so many people just being themselves. I personally have never surrounded myself with members of the LGBTQ+ community just because I've never felt the need to, however that it something that I think will change after this weekend. It took being surrounded by people that have perhaps been through the same 'coming out' situation as me where you just are terrified to tell your parents because you don't know how they will react and those who had it probably a lot worse than me to make me realise that while leaps and bounds have happened in the right direction as far as acceptance goes, we still need to do more. I feel my generation of people will be the most accepting parents yet when it comes to the future LGBTQ+ kids and I think the more we can do to ensure their safety, normality and comfort the better.

Britney Spears was fucking fantastic... like I don't think I will ever admit that to anyone verbally but she was just like fabulous. Of all the bands I've seen I never thought I'd see Britney Fucking Spears!

In other news.... I'm coming to the end of what has been a much needed week away from work. I've pampered myself, refreshed myself and worked on making sure I know I'm going in some kind of right direction even if I don't know where it leading me to just yet. I got two video games played this week which is quite frankly a pin prick dent in the progress of playing all my video games but even the smallest progress is still progress... REMEMBER THE SMALL VICTORIES GUYS! Same goes for my Netflix watch list, its slowly but surely getting smaller! I also started brainstorming for a book idea but that's all y'all are getting on that for now :P

I feel a whole lot more positive about my feelings on a lot of things after this week, I think just saying that I need me time and to focus on what I want is one thing but finding the time to actually kickstart that properly has been tough despite my best intentions... this week though I feel as though I have managed to get myself going and getting a few things ticked off my Bucket List has really spurred me on. There are a lot of people, friends and family, who are really pulling through for me right now, even complete strangers are making me feel like I have more to give to myself and in this difficult time for me all I can do is say thank you to those who have helped me so far and to those who may help me in the future. I can't tell you all how much it means for so many people to have my back while I come to terms with what the future looks like for me. I know a lot of people don't understand the decisions I'm making given the circumstances but It's appreciated that you're sticking around to support me anyway, you guys rock and I'll be forever grateful.

Take a look at my plethora of Pride photos below!

Love to you all

Robyn