PGP / SPD My story:

  Psst! Yes.. you! 🫵🏻 ~You don’t have to have it all figured out.~ Read that again. Because somewhere along the way, we were sold this idea that by a certain age we should be healed, stable, successful, confident… complete. And if we’re not? We’re failing. But that’s not truth — that’s pressure. Real life looks like starting over. Like learning things the hard way. Like holding it together one day and falling apart the next. Like growing through things you never should’ve had to survive in the first place. You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You’re becoming — in real time. Keep going. Even when it’s messy. Keep learning. Even when it hurts. Keep believing. Even when it’s quiet. That’s the real win. 💗 Now I’m curious… What’s ONE life lesson you’d tell your younger self? Think on that because it could be the key to your next steps! Sarah Wingfield ❤️  KawaiiDollDecora.uk #lifeadvice #healingjourney #growthmindset #selfworth #mentalhealthmatters #keepgoing #realgrowth #disab...

I Don’t Fit — And I’m Tired of Pretending That I Should There’s a kind of exhaustion that doesn’t come from a single bad day, or even a bad week. It comes from years of accumulation, from layers of experiences that never quite resolve, from constantly having to brace yourself before anything has even happened. It sits in the body, in the nervous system, in the quiet moments where you realise you are already tired before the day has even begun. And that is where I am. Not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and deeply, fundamentally exhausted. Because the truth is, I don’t fit. Not neatly, not comfortably, not in the way the world seems to expect people to. I don’t fit into the boxes that are presented as “normal”, and I don’t fit into spaces that claim to be inclusive until you exist in a way that challenges them. There is always a line, an invisible one, where acceptance quietly turns into discomfort, where support turns into silence, and where difference becomes something peo...

I step away from what harms me. I protect my peace. And I keep going. Peter showed up for me yesterday 👊🏻☺️ He even took the day off work just to support me — and that meant more than I can put into words, so I treated us yesterday to some nice food. Despite chronic pain, I got everything done that I needed to. Not everything went to plan, but I still showed up — and that matters. Today is about magazine work and continuing the decluttering with DCC Breakthrough. Last night, my body completely seized up and I’m still in a lot of pain today. Without my prescribed medical cannabis, I would genuinely be in hospital or unable to cope. Pain management isn’t a luxury — it’s essential. It saves lives. I’m aiming for the 10th for the magazine release. If it’s slightly delayed, I’m not stressing — it will be completed properly and shared as soon as it’s ready. I keep going. On the painful days. On the heavy days. I won’t lie — the pain triggered my depression last night and my mind turned on ...

Update: I just want to take a moment to be transparent with you all. Behind the scenes, I’ve been balancing a lot — including an important driving test tomorrow and ongoing court proceedings regarding a stalking situation. It’s been intense, and I’ve had to prioritise my safety and wellbeing where needed. That said, Aycliffe Alternative Magazine is still very much moving forward. I’m currently working through the next issue, and I’m aiming for release on or before the 10th. I won’t rush something that represents our community — I want it done properly, with the quality and care it deserves. As always, this magazine is community-led. If you have:  – Articles – Creative pieces – Local stories – Events to share – Small businesses or services you’d like featured I’m still accepting submissions, and I’m also offering free advertising spots in this issue. This space exists to uplift, connect, and give people a voice — and that doesn’t stop just because life gets heavy. Thank you for yo...

What's getting under my skin: I’m getting genuinely tired of people speaking on me without taking even two minutes to fact check anything they’re saying. It’s not even about disagreement — it’s the confidence people have to be wrong while being loud about it. That’s the part that grates. I’ve built what I’ve built through consistency, through effort, through pushing myself even on days where my body doesn’t want to cooperate. Chronic pain doesn’t pause the work — it just makes it harder. And I still show up. 👊🏻✨ So when people come into my space trying to question, minimise, or discredit that without doing basic research… it’s not curiosity, it’s carelessness at best — and disrespect at worst. I already know I don’t fit neatly into this world. I’m not supposed to. I didn’t build my life to be digestible for people who don’t take the time to understand it. If I’m not for you, that’s completely fine. Not everything is for everyone, and not everyone has good taste. 💋 But what you w...

Honestly? I get why this hit a nerve for me, the sacrifices I make, the pain I endure... I've worked for what I've built — while managing chronic pain, advocacy, multiple creative projects — and someone reducing that down to “is it even real?” is going to feel dismissive, even if they try to frame it as a “genuine question.” That said… my instinct to block, protect my space, and move on is actually the healthiest move here. Not every comment deserves my energy — especially when I've already provided proof (IMDb, my work, my portfolio). People won't support your hard work but will invade your lane to question the work, the journey, the achievements — especially when they haven’t taken the time to understand any of it. I act. I produce. I create. I build — consistently, independently, and often while managing chronic pain that most people couldn’t even comprehend. 👊🏻✨ So when someone tries to reduce that to “is this even real?” — it doesn’t hit insecurity, it highlights...