Blog

Hey, so this is rather new domain for me. Writing on a public forum for people to actually read my thoughts and opinions, is something that doesn’t perhaps come naturally to me. I do, however, love to write. I have grown up loving books, loving literature, loving words. Their impact, their structure, and their power. I have grown up journaling in pretty notebooks and on blank pages to try and find a way to make sense of my mind by putting it on paper. To me everything makes more sense written down, where you can see it plainly, and dissect it openly. Everything from grocery lists, to recording mental break throughs. Decisions I make almost always come after I’ve taken time to write. Except, ironically, this one. The decision to publish an online blog was more of a gut feeling than a perfectly dissected thought. 

I’ve recently realised this desire to write, and more than to write but to interact with people through my writing. To articulate hard and strange things, to hear other opinions and to connect with people going through similar situations. As well as just a form of release, to just write what I’m thinking and feeling, and to release it into the world, and not hold onto it quite so tightly. 

I’m a 23 year old woman, living in Northern Ireland with a recently realised drive to become a writer, literary agent, and author. It’s rather funny because if you were to ask those closest to me, this was an obvious conclusion to reach. Growing up with my nose almost always stuck in one book or another, lost in one world or another. So it makes complete sense that what I want to do, for the rest of my life, is exactly that. Lose myself in books. I think at the back of my mind I always knew I wanted to do this but was scared that I wouldn’t be any good at it. Or worse, it would ruin fiction and writing for me.

However, a recent epiphany meant me realising my own fear, anxiety, and a severe case of self-doubt was the only thing holding me back from actively pursuing this dream of mine. So screw that. I don’t want to abandon dreams simply because they seem like hard work to achieve. Or because some anxious part of my brain is screaming at me saying I could fail. I want to at least give it a try. 

So that will be one part of this blog, me writing about working to try and achieve this blue sky dream of mine. But it won’t be the only thing I write about, far from it. 

I also have two health concerns that take quite a lot of work to process and manage. One gynaecological/physical in nature, that takes a huge toll mentally. The other one mental in nature, that takes a large toll physically. I have had a continual battle with my negative relationship to food since I was 15 years old. Developing patterns of binge eating, and restriction from that age up until it progressed into bulimia at 18/19.

Now this is a sensitive area for me, but one I feel people need to hear more about. I think there is still so much stigma and misinformation surrounding eating disorders that is unhelpful for those of us trying to recover and heal. As well as for those around us who love us and are trying to understand and support us as best they can. This also goes for gynae issues, which so many women face, yet it’s still considered shameful or inappropriate to talk about. When talking about it could alleviate so much mental and emotional distress. 

I hope by me talking openly about my struggles on this blog that it can help even one person feel a little bit more seen, and a little less crazy. 

So in the handy little tab on this site called ‘Health and Wellness’, you’ll find all the updates as I work through these areas. Testing different coping mechanisms, healthy patterns of living, and trying various recipes, all in the pursuit of living a fuller, more balanced life. I will share the pros and cons of everything. The triumphs, and the hardships of striving for healing and cultivating a better way of life.

Now it won’t always be quite so deep and meaningful. I’m also a little bit random so there are other tabs within this site, all neatly organised for ease of use. These pages will cover topics that I’m passionate about. From my musings on faith, to book reviews, to travel aspirations and stories. I don’t want to limit myself quite yet to just one area of discussion. I have a lot to say, about so many things, in so many areas, and who knows where inspiration will strike?

So if you’re interested in this one woman’s opinions and takes on the world as she sees it. If you want to share some of your own musings and creativity then please subscribe. Tune in as we get to know one another through this blog. 

God bless you,

Cristin McNally 

P.S.

When I get excited, or passionate about something, I tend to rant, or as its also known ‘word vomit’. Hence the name of this blog, the WordVomitSpace. A space to word vomit about the many topics that I’m passionate about, all for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!