ALWAYS follow your DREAMS (Life is short)

 

I learnt a valuable lesson at a reasonably young age. My Dad passed away at the age of 54, and to coin the well-used phrase, 'that's no age.' In fact, in terms of my own life, that's only five years away.

I don't want to be morbid in this blog, or at any other time, but I do want to justify, I suppose, why I think the way I do, and why I do the things I do.

LIFE IS VERY VERY SHORT, we only get one go at it, and I don't want to be here for nothing! I want to make a difference IN MY LIFE, and I want to make a difference BECAUSE OF MY LIFE.

I don't have a 'bucket list' because I'm realistic, I know that I can't do, or at the very least I can't afford to do all the things I would like, so I keep my challenges and dreams to a reasonable level, they have to be realistic and achievable.

With this in mind, very recently I have started on another goal, another dream.

Some of you may remember, way back, when I was Debbie Miller-Wright and lived in South Devon? Seems like a long time ago now, but way back even before I was self-employed, when I worked for Devon Tree Services. I made a few appearances on BBC Radio Devon, it was 2010 when I was first on, with John Govier on his Saturday morning show. He advertised my appearance as being a 'kickboxing arborist!'

Anyway, I spent that first 3 -hours in the radio studio with John, and some other guests who I still follow the progress of on social media, and I got a bit of a bug for radio shows. I did another show with John, and later another with Michael Chequer.

I loved having my friends and family tune in to listen to me waffling on about things, so, recently the opportunity came up for me to learn, to train how to be a Radio Presenter/DJ at local Barnstaple-based station, The Voice.

Initially I kept this a secret, mainly because I didn't want to start it, find out I was useless and then have to explain to everyone that I was useless at it! 

My first session in the studio was just a 'watch and learn' event. I have had the most amazing trainer in Paul Hopper aka 'Hopps' because he is very kind and patient. From there, I went in for a couple of shows just 'pressing buttons' and learning the technical side of things.

Once I had semi-mastered this, I got to talk on air with Hopps for a show, reading the weather and telling stories, generally waffling on as I do!

It's been an interesting journey so far!

When I've told friends and family recently what I am doing they have all said, 'Oh, you'd be good at that! I can imagine you doing that!' Their confidence in me has been encouraging.

The next part of the training, Hopps set me free for an hour on my own, in the studio with the 'Number 1's at One.'

I'm not going to lie, I was absolutely bricking it!

I did my first link after the news, then the weather and my hand was shaking over the play button, adrenaline and nerves soaring around my body like I had not felt for years. It wasn't a life or death situation, nothing bad or dangerous would happen if I was a couple of seconds out, but it matters to me doing things right, being good at things, and learning again, having that rush of adrenalin before doing a new job and the feeling when you get something right, that makes you feel alive again. 

I think I have it worked out, how to master my nerves, with thanks to Sarah, my friend for about 46 years, who was listening to the show. I found it easier to think that I was just talking to her, chatting to an old friend, playing her some tunes and trying to be entertaining. I think now that even if Sarah isn't listening, I will still have that in mind.

I've now completed three, one hour slots on the radio, on my own and I am ready for the forth one. I'm still in training, the job is not yet second nature to me,  but, as with all other 'new jobs' I have done, new strings to my massive bow, I am sure it soon will be. I'm looking forward to that day, if I realise it's happened, it just creeps up on you doesn't it?

My radio journey is just beginning, at the age of 49, I'm not giving up learning even more yet. There is always more to learn, experience and eventually enjoy in life, and we really do have to make the most of every second.

Create memories, not just for ourselves, but for those that share our lives too, so those memories can exist somehow, forever, or at least until the end of my lifetime.

MAKE memories.

CREATE.

LAUGH.

LEARN.

ENJOY.

FIND fear and discomfort.

FIND happiness and safety.

BE and DO!

HOW are YOU making the most of your life?