I moved to Cottingham when I was 2, & I’ve lived here since…

Over the years people have commented:

‘You love Cottingham ’…

‘If you leave Cottingham, you’ll get a nose bleed’…

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Many people have also slagged the place off: claiming it’s backward, it’s boring, there’s nothing happening etc etc…

I’m not saying Cottingham is the most up & coming village & it’s far from cutting edge…

However, I’m happy…

I live with Amy (& Smokey the cat 😂), our families are close by, as are our friends.

We both have each other, we are not struggling, we have our health (mentally and physically) & we are both content. ( I think she is anyway 😂).

If you are ready this, the chances are that you are not living in a war torn country & things could be a lot worse for you too? 

I’m sharing this because it’s important to realise & acknowledge what it is that makes you truly happy…

If it’s leaving in the hippest city.. then do it.

If it’s driving the biggest car… then do it.

If it’s living in a mansion… then do it.

If it’s losing weight… then do it.

But do it for the right reasons.. don’t do it because you think it’s what you ‘should’ do or because it’s the standard others use to measure success.

Likewise, try not to be one of those people that breeds negativity about life without doing anything about it.

If we truly hated Cottingham as much as others appear to, we would move.

I’ll take being happy in a ‘backward’ village over being unhappy in the coolest city on the planet any day.

Tristan ‘Mr. Cottingham’ Buttle.