Wow, people get wound up about the smallest of things. As you may be aware, we post out a little question on our Facebook page (if you haven’t seen the page click the F button to the left of this and it’ll take you straight there) every Tuesday just so we can try and keep connected with people, find out a little about each other and also for us to learn and be introduced to new music. 

I understand having passion for something, I understand that being in the moment can cause for heated discussion whether its music or sport or how to cook chicken we all have our own opinions and of course we are all right (apart from those nutters posting ‘Medium Rare’ Chicken pictures on social media). The thing I can’t get my head around though is why would you comment on something not to be involved in the conversation or start a debate but just to tell someone who you have never met or even engaged with before to F off. Mind boggling, if you don’t like something just shake your head and move on, it’s not like we’re asking for your bank details and mother’s maiden name. To be honest though, I – probably weirdly – quite like the abuse, I find it funny that someone can get so wound up about a bit of fun question that you have to wonder if there aren’t any serious problems going on and have to hold myself back quite a bit from what I’d hope would be a witty but savage retort. 

A couple of years ago I made a conscious decision to only do things I want to do, I was doing a job that I hated - bet you can’t guess what it is - and it was taking up all of my time. I had no balance in my life and I was taking everything too seriously. Enough was enough, I had to change. I sat thinking about what I wanted to do, what do I enjoy most. I thought back to my youth and I couldn’t stop thinking about a guy called Simon. 

I met Simon when I was about 12, I think, at the youth club. He was, and still is I hope, a couple of years older than me but Simon has Learning Disabilities. As it turns out, patience and understanding with other people is one of my strengths and Simon and I became friends. I remember the feeling on the 2nd week at youth club after meeting Simon when one of the leaders (are they called that?) took me to one side to say that Simons parents had spoken to them and all he had talked about all week was ‘My friend Liam’. Just writing it down here and thinking about him again has got me welling up a bit. But as I thought about what I wanted to do and thought about Simon I knew that Support Work for people with Learning Disabilities was for me, and I was right. I’ve been doing it for nearly 4 years now and I can honestly say I haven’t had 1 single day where I’ve hated it and I like to think that no matter where life takes me, it is something that I will be able to carry on doing in some capacity. 

Of course, I take the job seriously. I’m dealing with somebody’s life. It’s not to be taken lightly and we all have things in our life that is absolutely vital we get right but I don’t think letting insignificant bits of fun wind you up in your spare time is going to benefit you. So, just shake it off (did I just quote Taylor Swift). As I try and tell myself on a regular basis, Don’t sweat the small stuff.