I started this week in a bad way – I think that was pretty evident from the slightly melodramatic post – but somehow found myself approaching my usual weekend deadline sat in a tent in the middle of the night with a completely different attitude.

A few months back I had agreed to go to Tomorrowland 2018 after my friend Ron managed to get 4 of those oh so precious and desperately sought after tickets and had a spare one going. The idea was to fully embrace my appreciation for edm and have a great experience camping with close friends. I’d also realised that I would probably need a distraction from my upcoming anniversary of course.

The festival was all that I expected and much much more. Tomorrowland was like an edm paradise mixed with a street food market and an amusement park all rolled into one – all my favourite things essentially and every interaction was positive and full of love. Citizens of the world came proudly bearing the flags of their home countries – but not as a tool to divide or segregate based on location but to unite as one.

I came expecting a 4 day breather, music and a bit of a distraction. Instead I rediscovered my happiness.

Find something you love, do it with people you love and if you can surround yourself with as much positivity from strangers as I saw these past few days you’ll find there is no better salve to sooth the soul.

I learnt to express myself more freely, not self conscious of singing out loud or how I looked when I was dancing.

I learnt to treat myself to small things to get that little bit of happiness because life is short.

I learnt that kindness, unity and joy really is inherent in everyone – you just need to bring it to the surface.

I learnt that I can be happy by myself as I forged my way into the front of the crowds of hundreds of thousands and raved with complete strangers; some who welcomed me with open arms to share in their joy, others struggling with their own pain and so happy to see someone offer the slightest bit of compassion and in turn rediscovering their own happiness.

Normal service resumes next week but for now;thank you Ron, Sam, Jon and Stan for being part of an unforgettable and life changing 4 days and for helping me recentre myself.

Thank you Tomorrowland for bringing all this joy, optimism, positivity and unity through music.

Live today. Love tomorrow. Unite forever.