Yesterday was such a hoot. We were supposed to be going to see the amazing Katy Perry in concert, well that didn’t happen…. Here’s what did.
A good few months ago, I had the chance to get tickets. There are a handful of Katy Perry songs that I love. 🎆 I thought, Lorraine, you go enjoy this show. I know just the people who’d come with me and appreciate the fun and frivolity of such an adventure. So we booked.
We are 52 year old doctors who’ve been working our socks off for nearly 30 years. 🧑⚕️ All of us have young kids – having sacrificed starting families earlier due to our careers. Not something younger doctors need to think about now, but was certainly a thing back when we qualified. We are also peri/menopausal. We go to bed at 9pm! Do you see where I’m going with this ……..
As the months passed, I tried to get excited. I listened to new songs and tried to hype myself up about it. Then I remembered – the tickets were in the mosh pit! I preach that sedentary lifestyle are not good for health and wellbeing, but I was growing increasingly uneasy. What did I sign up for? 😧
Little known to me was that my friends were feeling the same.
I had been listening to The Five Second Rule by Mel Robbins and working on my courage. So I sent a soft text: How’s everyone feeling about this? The responses were tentative but honest. I then asked: Shall we sell these tickets and do something different? That’s exactly what happened.
Instead, we had an amazing get-together in Edinburgh. A wonderful lunch at Dishoom 🍛, a little shopping – focussed entirely on finding the perfect foundation that doesn’t sink into our 52 year old laugher and living lines. 🛍️
As we cheered and celebrated the friendship we’ve had since Freshers’ Week well over 30 years ago – we marvelled at the JOMO – the Joy of Missing Out.
In a world where the social media version of life often bears little resemblance to reality, we can often feel pressure to “fit in” to a social construct of what it means to live or have fun. For example, gone are the days when going holiday and simply being was enough. Now me must cram in activities to make it worth sharing. Keeping up with the Jones is FOMO in disguise.
But here is the shift: I want to celebrate my friends and family’s adventures and choices- truly! I want to be inspired by them. But I also want to do that without feeling incomplete or less-than in my own choices.
That is not their responsibility. That is mine.
My life. My choices. My celebrations. And having gratitude for the things that bring me joy.
I wish there was a social media emoji that could simultaneously celebrating others’ choices whilst infusing self affirming gratitude for our own. Maybe heart and a mirror 🥰🪞 reflecting love outward and inward at the same time.
Love You: Courage to choose differently. To the Joy of Missing Out. To friendships that both honour togetherness and individuality. To living a life that feels like home. 🥰🪞
Love you: Health and Well-being with Lorraine 