Posting this awkward mirror selfie across all my social media platform as I don't really know what else to share but wanted to do a big life update 😅 sorry if you follow me across platforms and see if more than once. Now, let's get started... I've pretty absent of social media for a good few months. I wasn't in the right head space to be sharing. As you probably know by now I suffer from a chronic illness that I was under the impression until recently was PMDD but at the end of last year I was getting sicker and sicker, I had fatigue so severe I couldn't function. I couldn't get out of bed, I hardly had the energy to return my WhatsApp messages from my friends let alone come on here. My brain turned to mush and I became extremely forgetful and like I was pushing through mud to do anything. Small tasks took my energy for the entire day. My body aches became more severe and I was getting migraines regularly that were lasting for days at a time. It got worse with my periods like my PMDD but stopped relenting for 2-3 weeks during my cycle like it usually does. My doctor's tested me for everything they could but I came out healthy in everything. So I have been referred to the hospital for thorough investigation to get tested for everything ever 😅
At the start of January things started to relieve a little and I was able to function but I was still very fatigued. I think at this point the frustration was building and I was regularly getting upset at feeling like I couldn't live my life any more, and that at 26 this wasn't what I expected for my life. My appointment isn't until the end of April, so I have a good long wait to even start the process of figuring out what is going on.
In the mean time, I've spent some time back at the @druworldwide lodge in Snowdonia and have benefited from the support I found there and I'm forever greatful for the wonderful community there who are supportive when I'm there and from afar, too ♥️ I saw an Ayurvedic practitioner there and I'm following a new diet to see if that's helps. And generally I'm feeling less frustrated, overall happier and I'm feeling functional fatigue and other symptoms at the moment. Continued in comments...
HI FRIENDS! 👋Last time we spoke was a couple of months ago when I said I needed a break. I was struggling letting The Plant Academy go. Honestly it broke my heart saying goodbye more than I ever expected. And I am still working through many emotions. However, I am now home back in Southport and feeling so much happier and healthier!
.
.
We got back a little sooner than planned due to me getting sick on the road (noooo!) it's been a few weeks and lots of self care but I'm all better now. Sweden was beyond amazing and I'm extremely grateful for the experiences I had there.
.
.
AND AND AND I'm so excited to tell you about my new project! You guys knew I couldn't just walk away from this whole food thing. Cooking is in me, the love for creating amazing food runs through my veins and makes my heart beat and keeps my mind happy. And so I'd like to introduce you to @letsgetnourished ❤️
.
.
It's my new baby and brain child. It will be a YouTube channel and website dedicated to simple vegan, gluten free and refined sugar free recipes. My future goal with it is to creat online cooking courses that help you feel confident cooking at home. And YES your favourite items will be showing their faces again, allowing you to cook up your cafe favourites in your home kitchen. I'd REALLY appreciate it if you signed up to my email list so we can keep in touch and I can let you know about the launch (in less than a month 😱) and all the other excitement to precede it. Plus those of you to sign up soon will get first look at my free ebook recipes (I'll need your feedback 😉😋)
The link is in my bio!
.
.
Oh and don't forget to follow me at @letsgetnourished on Instagram, too!
.
.
Love you all for you ongoing support and kindness that I STILL receive from you guys. I haven't forgotten you and you're what keep me motivated. Okay, I'm signing off for now. Enjoy this picture of me in my tiny van kitchen hehe!
A bit of an explanation of how I got to write this post. I’m 26 in a few days, and I’m feeling very introspective with where I’m at in life. I had another bad month of PMDD, my fatigue was bad and I suffered more than normal from low mood and personality changes. I’ve also been talking a lot on our long drives north to Sweden about what’s next and how I’m feeling now I’ve had tiny window of space from Southport.
So here it is, I feel like once again I am writing a ‘bye for not but not forever’ post.
I was quite sure that I wanted to continue The Plant Academy. Pop ups, ebooks, events, markets, blog, YouTube. I really truly love The Plant Academy. But this love I have for it is starting to hurt me, or maybe it’s been hurting for months and months and I’m only just realising. I created something so special, unique and amazing with The Plant Academy, and I’ll forever feel blessed for the experience and opportunities I gave myself through my wonderful little vegan cafe.
But it is a cafe no more. It is not doing pop ups. I am not posting the YouTube videos I filmed. All that is left of The Plant Academy is sweet memories... and me. I am and have been The Plant Acadmey since it first became an idea a couple of years ago. But what I have to share of me now is no longer The Plant Academy, I don’t know what it is. My enjoyment of traveling, my fears for my future, my struggles, my optimism. But I feel like I am tarnishing somehow everything I built and I wish to keep these memories sacred, without dwelling in them, but learning from them and creating something better for myself and others in the future.
It is now time for me to take a step away from The Plant Academy and truely mourn the loss of it in my life, accept its time has gone, and be open to what lies ahead for me. I cannot do that whilst posting here or anywhere else to do with The Plant Acadmey.
So I once again say goodbye for now, but not forever. The Plant Academy will always be my love, and I know it will be waiting for me when the time is right for us to be together again.
If you want to follow my travels I post all my camper antics on @vantoanywhere 🚐 I love you all, see you soon ✨
