Monday 16 March 2015

T E D



This post requires little text, all I'm hoping is that you take the time to watch these, it might just change your life! 

Mika x

Wednesday 4 March 2015

F. O. S. T.

It's easy, perhaps even logical to fear the unknown. We humans are creatures of habit. We are conditioned by nature to feel safest surrounded by what we know, in our familiar environments. However, isn't it always the case that what we truly desire, what will genuinely challenge us to become stronger, better and wiser versions of ourselves lies just outside our comfort zones?

It is my belief, that routine and these comfort zones we construct, are what truthfully cripple us in living a most fulfilled life. We have all experienced a life of routine, perhaps never even straying from the path set out for us by society. So with that I ask you to recall a period of your life -perhaps this even applies to the present- when you simply did not notice the faces of the people you passed on your way to work. When was the last time you looked up at the night sky just to stare at the stars? Is there a period of your life that you genuinely can't remember because every day was only a slight variation from the last? These thoughts used to terrify me. Not only was I living a life detached from what made it so beautiful and fascinating, but I had given up before I had even started seeking something MORE. My biggest fear was the thought that when I came to the end of my life, I would look back at only a blur of mechanical movements. Just shifting through the years, only to recall short holidays, or some lone incidents I may have stumbled in to. 

I made the decision to OVERRIDE my future. To make my own destiny and seek an existence that leads me on a constant path of discovery and awe because the TRUTH is, we forget too much of our lives!  The time spent filling the void between the next holiday, the next weekend whatever it is, it's not living.

So this is why travel is so important. It's a chance for us to create memories spent seeking a truer existence! Resist the tug of conformity in order to truly fulfil that desire and curiosity once so wild and pressing when you were a child! I mean, why is it that we seem to lose this desire to explore as we grow older? Is it really because of societies constant pressure to follow a set path? It's time to un-teach yourself that of which the older generations have concluded. You don't have to give up living in order to find security and 'success'. Is not the real success but being happy?

So lets talk about the fears and rationalities of those fears that come with solo travel. Firstly, you might be wondering, "But wouldn't it be preferable if possible to not travel alone?". Absolutely not! Here's why;

Solo travel is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself. Speaking from the perspective of someone who has suffered with anxiety amongst other mental health issues, I can tell you honestly and confidently that it would be the most positive, self assuring thing you will ever do. Overcoming anxiety is something that has changed my present life to the point where I feel like a completely different person! It made me realise that I was capable of enduring much more than I gave myself credit for. It was the first time I'd been truly self-reliant. With no home comforts or family around for me to lean on, I had to dig deep and deal with my problems in different ways, which often meant tackling the situation head on. It was either find away around the problem or be stuck at a stand still. Anxiety suddenly became an irrelevant issue, for once I knew what I was capable of, I only began pushing myself further!

If what you're worried about is being alone, I can tell you now, that will be the least of your problems. Making friends on the road is as easy as "hi!". In the 3 months I travelled around South East Asia, not once did I feel alone. I would even make friends whilst sitting in the airport waiting for my gate to open. It's not hard to spot someone who's backpacking, and given that 90% of the travellers I met were going it alone, everyone is in the same boat and is just as grateful for your companionship as you are for theirs. 


You reach new levels of companionship on the road. Spending 24/7 with people means relationships grow quickly. After a week with one person you feel like you've been friends for life. I even remain in contact with some people I spent less than a day with. One crazy night can bond people for life! 

The next issue people are often faced with is the old urban legends! Horror stories of muggings, cons, illness! Let's tackle this now; you might get mugged, you might get sick, you just could trip over your own feet and die! But you forget that you're also liable to these possibilities every day in your home country and yet it doesn't stop you leaving the house! Granted the possibility of these things happening abroad does increase the drama factor, but rest assured as long as your travelling you will be surrounded by fellow backpackers and locals who will just about bend over backwards to help you, because like anywhere in the world, there is good and there is evil. Keep your wits about you and you will survive!

If it helps, compare your fear to the rewards; day dream the 'what if's' or actually set out and see those incredible places, taste the food, submerge in culture and lose your insecurities with the help of like minded people!

I'm hoping some of what I've touched on is enough in itself to inspire you to take a leap of faith! But if you're still lacking the courage, you can always ease yourself in with a tour to build up your confidence. People never tell you how easy it will be, but theres a whole world of possibility out there and you're lucky enough to have it in your grasp!  

If you don't want to be subjected to living in a 'zombified state', be bold enough to decondition your thinking and begin the search for your own reality. Wake up and realise there is no map for how to live your life! Let's continue to follow this urge to find purpose and retain our desire to explore and understand. It is either this or stay oppressed by fear of the unknown, to not live but instead slowly die? Let's encourage each other to stay curious! Let us be brave and reckless! Because after all, the word reality is just that, a word.

Happy travels,
Mika.

Sunday 1 March 2015

W I L D D A Z E

Recently I have had this overwhelming feeling that my ideals, my morality, no longer coincide with the projection I am feeding the world through my blog and YouTube.
I can only describe my wanting to make this change as a personal evolution of ethics and a shift in what I actually want to get out of this life. In other words, I'm growing up, and I want to take this blog with me. I have made the decision to shift away from fashion and beauty, and instead make a real contribution to the world. Dream big right? Wild Daze is my new project. I want this blog to be a candid representation of my life. An outlet for my thoughts on real questions, a place for me to share my adventures and inspiration. A place that harnesses all the good and bad in my life and tries to make some sense of it all. I want to post about travel, food, philosophy and maybe drop some personal style in there along the way. 

I don't have much of a plan for this life but one thing I certainly have decided is that I'm not going to attempt to become every other UK youtuber or blogger in order to succeed. I see a formulaic structure to the way one succeeds on youtube and as a result these beautiful girls with identical personalities are churning out the same videos week in and week out and frankly I can't stand by it any longer. I do want to clarify right here and now that I still respect and admire all bloggers and youtubers for pursuing their passions and unleashing their creativity on the world but I believe my purpose here is to stay true to my differences and create something that reflects my ethos without being another cog in the machine. 

Although I remain forever flattered and humbled by the amenities that come with being a 'fashion blogger',  I do not wish to be adorned or praised for my narcissism any longer! Nor do I want to give people this false perception that my eccentric personal style is the only/most important aspect of my being. I am still happy to work with brands I believe in for any personal style segments on my blog or youtube but I no longer want to to dictate how my blog is run. 

Personal style will forever remain as a segment on my YouTube and blog (and I shall continue to document it on my instagram) because it's always been one of the sweeter forms of self expression for myself and one that I still take much gratification from. However I am going to cut down on the amount of work I do in fashion, as I don't think it's right for me to still enjoy all these perks when I can't help shake the feeling I don't share the same values as the people I'm working with. I want to spread more positivity on subjects that exclude external beauty and materialism. Hopefully I too will start to become more of the change I want to see.

What else is to come? At this point it is unclear! But Mika Francis is now a lifestyle blogger! Let it be known! 

I hope you decide to follow my adventure. I love you all.

P.s look out for the relaunch and re-branding of my channel happening in the next month. If you are reading this you'll know in advance what is coming!

Mika x