text: I know this isn't what you want for me. I know that when you sat down and wrote a list of everything that would make my life beautiful, these things were not scribbled in your illegible handwriting. I know you wish that I spoke differently, or agreed with you more frequently on your vanilla views of the world. I know you wish that I would just sit down, shut up and cross my legs like I was raised to do. I know that I am much more awkward than you like and never quite make sense to you. I know that I have made mistakes that have left black scars on your own heart. I know that you would never admit that. I know I have a few too many tattoos and real-life scars for your own liking. I know that you wake each morning hoping that I am taking your advice just a little more seriously today. I know when you read this your face will turn a little red and you will phone me and immediately demand to know why I am being so vulnerable and sharing so much of myself again.
  I know, but I also know myself even better than you know me. I know what brings my soul alive after working all day. I know what makes me giggle just a little more than anything else, and how giggling has the same value as water in the quest to keep me alive. I know what it feels like to have someone read something that is literally the depths of who I am vomited out on to a page, and tell me how they just never thought anyone else could feel the same way. I know what it feels like to be completely in sync with who I am, what I want and my purpose here and that I will never, ever give that up to fit into a box you wrote me into.
  I need you to know that even if I am not everything you want me to be, I still love you (every part of you,) and I've got this, I promise.
  ITV narrowed the ratings gap with the BBC during the first ten days of the World Cup, according to research by Carat.
  Kim Slater, strategic brands director at Guinness Brewing Worldwide, is leaving the company after 14 years to set up a drinks consultancy called Faraday. Slater is joining forces with Peter Lousada, former commercial director for Schweppes Beverages Worldwide, and two worldwide drinks consultants – Dominic Moseley and Richard Movis. The new company will give strategic […]