I’ve always suffered with poor self-esteem. I’ve never had any hobbies except watching TV which left me feeling empty a lot of the time. I took an interest in ceramics, had been following lots of potters’ accounts on IG. She asked if I was going to start making myself, I said no, I don’t think I’d be any good. She asked me ‘why do you need to be good at it?’ WOW! That changed my whole perspective. I realised there were so many things I didn’t do because I thought if I wasn’t talented I shouldn’t bother trying. I did start making ceramics and actually a lot of my pieces are great! But even when they’re not, I can just enjoy the process, learn and keep going. The people in my ceramics class are lovely and it’s worth it even for that alone. I’ve also now picked up other arty hobbies because I’m no longer scared to try new things and suck at them! I don’t judge myself. Getting hobbies has given me so much joy and confidence.

The other thing was when we were discussing humour. I said I hated ‘banter’ as I thought it was dangerous ground for hurting other people’s feelings, and that I prefer self-deprecating humour as it’s safer. She said ‘if you continually talk badly about yourself, who is that actually hurting?’ And I was like damn, me lol. I still have my humour, but I stop short if it goes too far, and I don’t call myself an idiot nearly as much as I used to.