Our brand-new columnist, Emma Meese, is a journalist, content creator, program maker, producer, director, and social media consultant for the BBC, with a career spanning over 30 years. In her column, Emma shares some of life’s most difficult transitions and aims to inspire others to live their best lives fully.
Why you should live your life in colour…Five years ago, all our lives looked very different as we were living through a global pandemic.During that time, my life changed dramatically; after almost 20 years together, my husband left our marriage. I didn’t see it coming, and suddenly, a whole new chapter of my life was foisted upon me. While the rest of the world had almost ground to a halt, mine felt like it was spinning out of control.
Without the physical support of others, due to restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid 19, I was suddenly navigating life on my own as a peri-menopausal single parent. Life was scary, and the path ahead was uncertain. One day, I realised that maybe this new chapter wasn’t one to be feared but rather one to be embraced. I was determined this would not be the story that defined me. Rather than focus on it as an ending, I reframed it as a beginning and asked myself, could this potentially be the start of an exciting new life?Slowly, one baby step at a time, I began trying new things and exploring new places. Each one sparking joy, anticipation, adrenaline or excitement.
It started with a mini zip wire at a campsite in Devon. I was terrified and cried as I let go of the tree I was clinging on to. Never in a million years did I think that just a few years later I would be doing the fastest zip-linein the world at ZipWorld in North Wales! To keep the momentum going and to have positive things to focus on, I created a list of fifty things to do before I turned 50. We are so lucky to live in such a vibrant city, rich with entertainment and culture. The beautiful green spaces brought peace when I needed to walk and clear my head, and the rest of the city and surrounding areas offered plenty of opportunities to tick activities off my list. Despite not being a fan of the water, I’ve discovered I love paddle boarding, especially at Llanishen Reservoir. I have a newfound love for bottomless brunches (my favourites are at Browns, Aura at the Coal Exchange and Groove N Graze by Lamerica at the Hilton). Cardiff’s impressive choice of theatres and venues makes it easy to attend many concerts and shows, something I rarely did before. Now, on my mission to make as many memories as possible, I’m a regular at gigs and festivals. We go to the annual family-friendly In It Together Festival in Margam, taking more friends with us every year.When I’m not chasing adventures, my favourite way to unwind is a spa session at the OutdoorSauna at Candleston Woods. I love sitting in the hot tub under a canopy of trees, especially if it’s raining.
If you’d have told me five years ago, when I was frozen with fear, that I would go paragliding, shark diving, desert quad biking, have a tattoo, tow a caravan and go viral on Lad Bible, I would never have believed you. Now, with the help of our beautiful city, I’m proud to be able to truly say that I’m finally living my life in colour.
I’m excited to share my adventures and “aha” moments with you, the readers of Style of the City, and hopefully offer some wisdom along the way. New beginnings come in many forms, and I know that many people struggle with the leap of faith into the unknown. However, life is meant to be lived—fully and in vibrant colour, not the end, just the beginning.
