Lessons Learnt From Glastonbury Festival

1 | Leave no trace. From the day we arrived to the day we left Worthy Farm I was shocked to see the amount of rubbish that was left in the fields simply because people were too lazy to pick it up and pop it in a bin, of which there were thousands. It made me so angry and overall, disappointed. The worrying thought was that if people do this at festivals, how many of them are the same at other places they visit?

The festival organisers can’t be blamed for any of this; there were bins and recycling signage everywhere you looked. Plus, you know, we’re all grown-ups and shouldn’t have to be told to put rubbish in bins. We are responsible for our own waste, and only us.

Lesson learnt? Shout at people who litter and think of better ways to reduce waste at home.

Pocket Shirt Dress c/o Debenhams

2 | Be outdoors often. I’m always better outdoors. I feel better, I’m less prone to mood swings and I smile more. Put me in a field with a view (and a G&T) and there you have a happy lass.

Lesson learnt? Go on lots of outdoor adventures, in all seasons. Also, take outdoor breaks from work.

4 | Live simply. I wore less makeup, washed less, wore my wardrobe basics, lived with less possessions, ate less snacks than usual and I survived. More importantly, I was happy. You care less about the pressures of life when everyone is in the same boat. Being at Glastonbury reminded me to keep things simple and to only buy things that are made well and that create joy (and only when I really need them).

Lesson learnt? Remember what truly makes me happy and ignore the Boden catalogue.

Lotus Navy Ankle Boots c/o Debenhams

5 | Go offline. I want my parents to embrace technology to help build their confidence in this digital world of ours. It must be confusing seeing modern-day language used all about them; what must they think when they see website addresses and hashtags everywhere when they don’t have computers or understand the internet?

But (and a big but), 5 days spent without my laptop did make me feel a sense of freedom that I haven’t felt in a long time. Although I do love living and working in a digital world, I am converted to a life unplugged more than once in a while. I just need to work out a logical way to incorporate this into my daily life.

Lesson learnt? Go on holiday where you are forced to be offline (hello camping) and when you are online, try to ensure it is for a purpose (goodbye procrastination).

6| Be young at heart. I hate describing it as a festival for all the ages, that sounds lame. But this is the only festival I’ve been to that feels open to everyone experiencing it. From babies to pensioners, it’s reaffirmed my opinion that Glastonbury festival is a place for all the people, and all the better for it.

Lesson learnt? Age means nothing. Go seek fun and adventure!

7 | North country girl. I love a fine city; New York, Manchester and Paris are my favourites and I know I could live happily in NYC if it were ever possible. However, what I did notice from being at Glastonbury Festival (based in the gorgeous county of Somerset) and coming home to Hebden Bridge, is that I am a lass that loves living and being in the country. Wellies feel right at home on my feet, as does a wax jacket and unkempt hair on my head!

Lesson learnt? Learn more about the nature that inhabits Hebden Bridge and go on more outdoor adventures.

8 | Freedom. On previous visits to Glastonbury Festival I felt unhappy in my real life (work/home/lifestyle) so escaping to the muddy fields of Glastonbury for 5 days felt like my only passport to happiness. Dramatic, right? This year, it was all so very different.

It was strange going back as a happy and contented person. I wasn’t sure if I’d feel the same sense of ‘freedom’ I’d felt previously when walking through the festival gates. This time around it felt more of a celebration of how far both the OH and I have come, and it was even more perfect that it was just the two of us.

Lesson learnt? Continue to live a daily life that promotes happiness, freedom and positivity. Oh, and surround yourself with people who have similar values.

9 | Patti Smith. I’ll never forget watching the awesome and inspiring fist-pumping rocker that is Patti Smith on Sunday 28th June in a field in Somerset. Oh and singing happy birthday to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, that was pretty special too.  Her spirit and energy was humbling and without doubt, she was the best performance we saw at the festival. I can’t wait for her latest memoir, M Train, to be released later in the year. Power to the people!

10 | Be festive all year round. As I mentioned earlier, Glastonbury felt like a big celebration this year which made me feel that I need to not only celebrate and be festive more in my everyday life (any excuse, eh?) but to be present every single day. So if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to go and spend some time with the OH (and open a bottle of Prosecco)…

Happy weekend all!

♥

Disclosure: Collaborative Post