2020. What a year. Previous to this year I was working hard at keeping myself mentally healthy – I’d struggled in the past with feeling anxious.

There’s this memory I have that I’m pretty ashamed of… it’s of being in primary school and sitting next to my best friend Charlotte.

Back last summer, we were in the garden eating our dinner at a little marquee when a wasp appeared. I noticed it at the other end of the table and I immediately began to feel terrified.

Picture the scene: I’m in the cafeteria of a police station in London, where my brother has been showing me around. I’m queueing up for some breakfast and feeling unbelievably nervous surrounded by so many police officers.

As you scroll through your social media feeds, you see someone post about a recent success in their life…

I vividly remember not being able to spell the word ‘family’. I was little (I’ve no idea how old) but I remember sitting in our dining room writing an anniversary card to my mum and dad.

I’ve recently started running. When I say running, it’s more like a walk/run at a less than moderate pace.

Nail-biting, phone-scrolling, online shopping, mirror-checking. Now it sounds like I’m just listing off the last hour of my day, but I’m really wondering how many of these you’ve found yourself doing regularly without even making a note to do it.

It’s 1° here in Essex. It’s not one of those bright, crisp, sunny, wintery days where the sun shines, it’s dull, grey and looks like it’s going to chuck it down with rain.

As I sit and type this the song ‘Simply having a wonderful Christmas time’ is ringing out in my local coffee shop. There are snowflakes and robins hanging from the ceiling and my cup is filled with sweet Christmassy-goodness.