As some of you may know it is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination . This inspired me to write this blog about diversity in the equestrian world.
When I tell people I enjoy going horse riding some are very surprised not just by the fact I ride and have a disability but also because of the colour of my skin. People sometimes tell me “ I didn’t realise people of your ethnicity took part in this sport”.
They get even more confused when they see me with my family. I am Indian but at 3 months old I was adopted by a English couple who lived in India. They then had a biological daughter so people get confused when I say “and this is my younger sister”. Over the years I’ve had people stare at me when I’m out with my family in public. Sometimes I forget that I’m a different ethnicity from my family to me it’s my normal!
The equestrian world is really lacking in diversity . I think a big aspect of why this is the cause is because of how low the awareness in this sport. People in the past have said and made comments that they thought this sport is not a sport for some like me which really isn’t the case.
We need more role models in the sport. We need someone who is relatable to people. If people see someone from the same background or similar they feel they can relate to that person. To help show how this sport isn’t just for one type of person we need to change perceptions.
I believe Riding for the Disabled challenges perceptions constantly because when I talk to people about the fact I ride with the RDA many people haven’t actually heard of this amazing charity. So I love telling them how special, valuable and life changing it is!
When people see someone like me. They can see that I can ride. I want to help encourage others to give this sport a try despite society’s labels and their are others like me taking part in the sport. This helps to break down the barriers this sport has.
One person breaking down these barriers now is Reece McCook, founder of online campaign Ride Out Racism.
Everyone should feel that it is possible for them to join and achieve great things in this sport. We need to inspire each other to join and participate in this sport and in our community. You never know who could be the top riders of our future let’s break down these barriers together, this sport is for everyone!
2020 was the year of change for everyone around the world. From students doing lessons online to having meetings on zoom calls and probably spending more time in lounge wear than we thought we would. The pandemic flipped our daily routines upside down and everything we thought we knew out the window.
I would say I like to have a routine as much as possible as this helps me to manage my anxiety better. The unknown can cause me to feel a lot more anxious, have more seizures and me feel scared of doing daily activities compared to before the pandemic. I might have taken simple tasks for granted for example being able to walk around college to get to class.
I do like doing things that aren’t planned as such but if I can plan it I feel more prepared and relaxed.
As plans changed daily with new lockdown rules. I had to learn to adapt and come up with coping strategies this was hard at times. To be honest it still is now after all of us living with the unknown for quite a few more months.
However from having to take each day as it comes I have learned more about being present being in the here and now. I have also been learning to embrace the little things that bring joy to me everyday . For example having cuddles with my cats or watching a film on Netflix with the family. Maybe without this whole lockdown COVID stuff I wouldn’t have seen or appreciated the small things that make me smile and help me to be positive on a daily basis.
Another thing 2020 taught me was to try and stop worrying about things that needed to be done with a longer time frame. For example I would want to get my college work handed in way before the deadline so I could tick it off my to do list. I like to do lists as it helps me to organise my thoughts. Once everything was done I could then go and do things I enjoy like messaging friends. I sometimes didn’t listen to my body and would fight it as I wanted to carry on but I was tired. Through the pandemic I have tried to not rush doing work as slow and steady wins the race. This has really helped me with my own self care as I am now able to feel comfortable and not guilt for taking a couple of breaks and I have then been able to do better work as a result and I feel calmer with knowing my due dates for assignments.
Due to the pandemic a lot of my after college activities have been online and through social media I have been able to find new projects and groups to get involved with which I may have not found if I didn’t have more time to look for new activities to do as my routine wouldn’t of had the time available. So 2020 definitely taught me about embracing new activities, trying new things and learning new skills.
All through last year was definitely a year no one could have predicted . We definitely saw more kindness and appreciation for one another from family, to friends and from strangers.
Happy New Year! May 2021 be the year of light , adventure and kindness 💜.
Well this year has definitely been different for all of us due to COVID 19. I haven’t been doing posts on here for a while as I am finding it a bit hard at the moment with anxiety due to COVID.
However I was thinking about all the things I have done and achieved despite COVID and one things for sure I wouldn’t have done them without support from everyone around me and you guys my little online defeatingdisability family. So Thank You!
So as we are nearing the end of this year…. eeek
I thought I would share with you guys some of my top highlights from this year. So in no particular order:
Kiwi (Tabby) & Otis (Black)
This year we welcomed two new kittens to our family. Kiwi a female tabby and Otis a male black kitty cat. We got them from one of our local cat rescue centres. These two were found in a cardboard box in a car park with two others. Otis can’t stop growing and Kiwi likes to play by her own rules. Our whippet called Mango is loving having two new friends.
Earlier this year I got myself an agent for acting . The agency I am with is iNCLUSIVE Talent. They represented disabled and able bodied actors You can checkout their website here: https://www.inclusivetalent.co.uk/bryony-moss
This year I also got some coloured headshots done. I loved working with Anna she is so friendly and made me feel so comfortable. I also loved the way she uses natural light. If you are looking to get new headshots done I would highly recommend her. You can checkout her website at: https://www.annahullphotography.com
Harley
This year I started doing private horse riding lessons and I am loving them. I recently got to be apart of doing a demonstration of a lesson for the local MP Joy Morrissey.
It’s that time of year again. September has arrived which only means one thing it’s the new academic year. You might be going into a new year at school or starting college or even going to university.
Even though I am 22 now I am starting my Level 3 Course in Performing Arts this year at college. Through the years of being in education I have developed my own top tips on how I like to get ready for the new academic year and I thought what better way to share them with you by writing a blog post all about it.
Cleaning out the junk and starting fresh
1. So my first tip is to have a clean out of any old work you may still have but don’t actually need. You may have a desk you use to work and the draw is just filled with rubbish. When sorting out my draw I like to create piles of things I need to keep, things I want to keep and things I can throw out. For example you may have a maths book you’ve finished but you want to keep it because it maybe handy for maths revision if you are doing maths again. Where as you don’t need to keep pens that don’t work anymore.
2. Next I like to go onto my laptop and get rid of anything I don’t need anymore related to my education. For example you may have folders you have created and your not doing that topic anymore and you won’t find those notes useful so it can go. Helping you to clear your mind and organise yourself for work that is now the new important.
3. Another thing I like to do is change my computer background at the start of every academic year. I enjoy going onto Pinterest and finding quotes that speak to me and will help me to stay motivated. Sometimes I’ll just have one quote and other times I like to make a collage of quotes for me to see.
4. To help me get to my most important and most used websites I use for college work I create bookmarks. I then like to go through my bookmarks to see if I need to add any new ones and also to get rid of ones I don’t need to make my web searching more efficient.
5.Lastly I like to go through my college email and get rid of all my emails from the following year so that I can start a fresh.
New Year Equals Haul Time
I don’t know about you but one of the things I love about a new academic year is getting a new bag and stationary.
1. I like to go through my pencil case and chuck out any pens and pencils that don’t work anymore. This helps me a lot later when I am working and taking notes quickly in class as I know all the pens in my pencil case work.
2. I really enjoy writing in different coloured pens and colour coding my work as well as making it nice to look at when reading. If you like doing this to I recommend getting yourself a pack of gel pens. You can buy gel pens for cheap prices at shops such as The Works and on Amazon.
3. If you are struggling to find a new bag that is still really cute and pretty but not to expensive I recommend buying a bag from Primark. I used to love going to Primark to find a new school bag. If you want to spend a bit more on a bag I highly recommend checking out TK Maxx.
4. If I’m in need of a new notebook that is really cute I love to checkout notebooks from Paperchase.
Goals, Goals, Goals
Like at the beginning of the new year we like making new year resolutions. I like to create my own education goals at the beginning of every academic year. It doesn’t matter how big or small they are. I just like doing them to help me see later on in the year how far I have come.
For example your goals could be:
1. To try a new dish you can buy from the cafeteria
2. To sit next to someone in your class you don’t know/ don’t know very well
3. To organise myself more so that I am not so late to class
4. To make sure I hand in my work on the given deadline
5. Set an alarm on my phone for when I need to get up so I’m not rushing and stressing about missing the bus
Create A New Routine
So with everything that’s been going on recently our daily routines have changed massively. To help me create and get into my new routine here are some things I do that you might feel helpful
1. I like to get myself a big whiteboard and section it into seven days. I then like to write the day of the week at the top. With the place and time I need to be somewhere. I like having this whiteboard on my bedroom wall because when I wake up I can clearly see what I’ve got planned for the day.
2. I also like to get myself a new diary that I can carry in with me in my bag. I find this useful as I can write down when things like assessments need to be done by, or when a trip is or if I need to come in an extra day for rehearsals. I also like to colour code my notes so that it is easy to understand if I am running late.
3. Before I leave the house every morning it is really important that I am awake and energised for the day ahead as I am an Performing Arts Student. This means I need to have breakfast before I leave. I will be doing a quick breakfast idea blog post soon.
4. It’s really important that you create some down time for yourself. Self care is just as important as doing coursework or revising for a test. You could watch some TV when you get back home or maybe you want to tryout a face mask you brought from Boots. You could go on a short walk to help your head from spinning with all the stuff you’ve had to do that day.
I will be doing a self care ideas blog post soon. So make sure you are following me so that you don’t miss it.
I hope some of these ideas helped you. Please let me know what other things you do to help get yourself ready for the new academic year.
So this year has been a rather strange year with all of the world living with the upside down news of COVID 19. All of our lifestyle has had to change in these uncertain times with us all living with the unknown. Not being able to see our loved ones and the people we care about. To having to wear masks when doing the quick weekly grocery shop.
So I thought I would share with you some small easy ideas on how you can make someone you love and care about feel that little bit more special at the moment.
Surprise Calls
Whilst in lockdown and not being able to meet up with friends. I have enjoyed having weekly get togethers on Zoom, FaceTime and House Party. If you are missing a relative or friend remember you can always call them up for a quick chat or send them a text . During this difficult period a lot of people don’t have anyone to talk to and can feel very isolated their are charities that you can volunteer for were you get to chat to people who don’t have anyone to talk to. Having a chat to anyone can brighten up their day in more ways than you could possibly think. Here is a link to a list of charities you could get involved with to help people in your local area feel less isolated.
You could make a meal for a neighbour and leave it on their doorstep. Or you could add your neighbours grocery list to your online delivery order if they find it hard to get out and about and don’t have people around them to help. You could give donations of food to your local food bank.
Message on a Pebble
If the love doing anything crafty, you could have a go at painting messages or drawings onto pebbles and stones. You may find some from your garden or maybe you have some pebbles you can paint from a trip to a beach. You could then put them around your local park for people to find whilst they walk their dog. Little words of encouragement can go along way.
Donate to Charity
In this hard time charities need our help more than ever to help the lives of others in the community. Their are lots of charities out their that you could donate to. For example Riding for the Disabled Association, Cancer Research, Action for Children and The Theatre Shed to name a few.
I would love to know all the kind things people have done for you. And what you have done for others over this period. Please leave your comments in the comment box below.
During lockdown I have got back into taking photos around my garden. Photography really helps me with managing my mental health. I wanted to share with you some of my favourite shots so far!
This photo is a leaf I found near our apple tree. For this photo I put a leaf on our apple trees bark as I wanted to experiment with the colours and textures the image would make. This is a leaf I put on some of a apple trees bark. In this photo I wanted to experiment with light and how it hits the ground and surfaces in different ways. This is a photo of a flower in our garden with a bumble bee.In this shot I managed to get two bees as I was trying out different angles. This is a pink poppy in my garden. I took this photo from underneath as I wanted to capture how the raindrops sat on the flowers petals. This is a quince from our quince tree. I wanted to experiment with the different green tones and textures.I love this photo because of the contrast between the purple flowers and the red leaves blurred in the background. Just some white bluebells growing in the garden. My dog Mango in our garden. My dog Mango exploring in the bluebells.
Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my favourite shots as much as I did taking them!
Hannah from Luxury Blush created her very own lockdown tag. When I found out about this I was so excited. I knew I needed to take part! This tag has 11 questions and is just a bit of fun and sure to put a smile on your face.
Quote: Emily Coxhead
1. Come On, Own Up…. Did You Stock Pile Anything?
I didn’t stock pile anything so it was a bit of a shock to see loads of empty shelves around. We found it very hard to find flour but now we’ve finally got some!
2. Have You Discovered A New Hobby?
One thing that I have done in lockdown is finally getting tropical fish. I now have two tanks. I have enjoyed creating the interior of the tank, finding out fish facts and of course getting them. Having fish is much more of a hobby than I originally thought from learning about plants, community fish, temperature to name a few.I now do really feel like part of the fish tank community. I don’t know if you could say this was a hobby. But during lockdown I am enjoying making and painting my own rabbit hutch.
3. Where Is The First Place You Will Go Once Restrictions Are 100% Lifted?
I can’t wait to see my friends and finally getting back into the saddle for my Saturday morning ride. I can’t wait to see the amazing horses and ponies, instructors and volunteers because boy have I missed it!
4. Lounge Wear Or Normal Clothes For A Of Isolation?
I would say most of the time I wear my normal clothes as this helps me with having a routine I feel comfortable with. Also I feel that it helps me set up my mind for the day ahead.
5. Have You Been Wearing Makeup Whilst Staying At Home?
Before lockdown I wasn’t wearing makeup everyday. However during lockdown I have enjoyed reading skin care books and trying out new looks. I have found that lockdown has given me the time to let my skin breathe helping me with my complexion.
6. How Many Zoom Quizzes Have You Done? And Importantly, Did You Enjoy Them?
I’ve done a couple of quizzes and I really enjoyed them it was really nice to be able to chat with friends and have a laugh. I’m awful at quizzes.
7. Did You Give Into The Hype And Bake Your Own Banana Bread?
This is something I haven’t done but my mum has been very busy making delicious birthday cakes and treats.
8. Were You Still Ordering Takeaways? If You Did, What Was Your First One?
I don’t really eat many takeaways even before lockdown. However I recently enjoyed stealing a little bit of my sisters Chinese takeaway meal .
9. Has Your Blog / Instagram Content Had To Change Since Lockdown?
I wouldn’t say my content has changed loads on my channels. However being in lockdown has given me lots of opportunities to write guest blog posts for other organisations. Lockdown has also shown me that when everything is 100% ok again that I would love to do more modelling shoots and post these photos on my social media platforms. I want to also work with other creatives from modelling to acting to things I don’t even know about yet!
10. Are You Waiting Until The Hairdressers Re-Open Or Have You Cut / Dyed Your Own Hair?
Right now my hair is a the length I would like however when the hairdressers re-opens I will go and probably have a small trim. Personally I can’t wait till the beauty parlour opens up again so that I can get my eyebrows threaded and waxed!
11. Who Have You Missed Seeing The Most?
This questions hard I’ve missed so many people so this answer maybe quite long. I have missed seeing and meeting up with my close friends. I have missed not going to The Theatre Shed and seeing my Shed family in person. I have missed seeing everyone and the horses and ponies at South Bucks RDA. I have missed working on the farm with friends. And finally I have missed not being able to perform on stage with college friends.
Thank you to all you amazing key workers out there and Thank You for reading. Stay Safe💜
So with everything that’s going on at the moment I have been feeling more anxious. My routine for the week has changed and I’ve been finding that a bit challenging at times.
Recently I spoke on the phone to my care coordinator and we were discussing how I could create a new routine that I felt I could understand and build myself some structure as things are so unknown. Which can lead to me feeling like I don’t know where I’m coming or going.
I have also been working on creating a new routine I feel happy and comfortable with the help from my support worker. My support worker often reminds me that it doesn’t matter how big or small the things you are achieving are. As well as this she regularly reminds me that it’s all about the sense of achievement I get from doing something and not what others think. I am also trying not to be too judgemental on myself and be kinder to myself as I know I can be a bit to hard on myself at times.
Let’s get started
So to get started on setting out your day visually all you need is a notebook and a pen. I love to make mine colourful so you could use felt tips or gel pens. Or you could do this on a whiteboard and use a whiteboard marker and have this placed somewhere in your room so you can see it everyday when you wake up. Your day could look like this.
How to plan the day
1. First write the date at the top of the page or whiteboard.
2. Now list out the music, TV programme and exercised our want to do for the day.
MUSIC: My happy playlist on Spotify
EXERCISE: Walking the dog
TVPPROGRAMME: Sex Education
3. Next write down 3 things your grateful for, it can be anything!
4. Next you need to write down your MUST do list. This is different from your to do list as these are tasks you must do that day. For example clean the fish tank or send your friend a Happy Birthday message.
5. Now it’s time to think about how you want to feel for the day. For example I wanted to be calm, relaxed and happy on Sunday.
6. Now let’s write down 5 people your sending positivity thoughts and energy to for the day. It can be anyone!
7,. Lastly it’s time to write your to-do list. I like write down 5 things I need to do in the order of importance. Any tasks left to do that day I will add it to my To Do List for tomorrow.
I hope this helps you or gives you some ideas. I would love to know how your adjusting with everything right now. So please comment in the below!
With everything that is going on at the moment our routine schedules have all changed. As I am a college student I have now had to get a new routine for my college working days. I have found this hard but it seems to be getting better day by day.
I thought I would share with you some of my favourite tips to help you get into a new studying routine from home.
The first tip I have is quite a simple one, with changes to my everyday routine I try and look at my day and see if their are anything I can do to set myself up for the day like before. I always have breakfast this might seem obvious but breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And can really help you to get energy for the day head and help you have a positive and a can do attitude!
Before my lessons start for the day I like to make sure I’ve got everything I need and set up ready for my days classes. From making sure I have my pens and pencils to my notebook and calculator to name a few. I also like to refill a water bottle so I can have it with me at all times whilst I’m working as it is really important that you stay hydrated throughout the day.
When I was at college I had different books for doing different topics and portfolio work in. I have really found using notebooks with dividers in helpful now that I am working from home. This is because now I can use one notebook to write everything down in one place but put notes down in the right sections together . For example one section of my notebook is my maths work and another section is about jobs in the industry.
Sometimes in the classroom you can get distracted but when your working from home it can become a little bit harder as you may start thinking about things you need to do around your house or things you want to do. Like watch something on TV or maybe call your friends.
To help me to stay on task I like to do two things:
The first thing like to do is to listen to music as I work as I find this very calming and it helps me to reduce my stress levels.
The second thing I like to do is have a pad of paper near me as I sometimes find it easier to listen in class if I can do some doodling at the same time.
My last tip is remember to take regular breaks and do something else you enjoy for a bit. That could be watching TV, reading a book or magazine, talking to friends or eating yummy treats to name a few.
Whilst in isolation I have had more time to watch my favourite YouTubers as well as finding new YouTubers to watch. From animals to fashion and channels all about motivation to name a few. I thought I would share with you some of my favourite YouTubers I am watching right now.
At the moment I am unable to have my horse riding lessons at my local Riding for the Disabled stables. I am finding it hard but to help me with not missing out on my weekly horse fix. I have been enjoying watching This Esme. This Esme makes YouTube videos all about her horses and donkeys. From equine care to hauls to challenges. If you are an equine or animal love I would definitely recommend watching her videos.
My last Animal YouTuber I enjoy watching is Emzotic. Emma does a range of videos from pet care to D.I.Ys . If you are a fan of unusual animals or want to learn how to care for a variety of animals checkout her channel.
One of my favourite beauty YouTubers is sophdoeslife. She is very well known in the beauty YouTube community . All her videos are about everything beauty and fashion related. From testing products, makeup hacks and decluttering makeup and clothes.
Jordan Bone is a YouTuber who I have watched now for many years now. Through videos she shares her story, to makeup videos and now onto more motivational content too! I have watched many of her videos over and over again! She is helping me a lot at the moment with still trying to stay positive despite life’s obstacles.
Grace Victory a very well known YouTube is another YouTuber I love and have watched for a long time over the years . One of the big reasons why I loved watching her videos for so long was because she is comfortable talking about those taboo subjects! I now really enjoy watching her vlogs too.
I enjoy watching sisters Grace and Amelia aka The Mandeville Sisters on YouTube they talk about everything from disability to mental health to everyday life .
I have recently just started watching Hannah’s YouTube Channel. I really enjoy watching her videos. She makes videos all about lifestyle, arts and culture to work and career.
I am enjoying watching Anomalous Chloe YouTube videos. Chloe is a mental health nurse and I find her videos really interesting as I get to see what’s it like from a mental health nurses perspective as I have been in a mental health hospital as a patient. She makes videos all about mental health, nurse life, vlogs and hauls to name a few.
Last on my list is a new YouTuber I have been watching recently called Sadie Aldi’s. Sadie creates videos all about lifestyle,wellbeing , fashion and organisation.
I hope this gave you some new YouTubers to checkout. I would love to know what YouTubers you like to watch! I’m always on the lookout to add new YouTubers to my watch list!
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