Millie Hardy-Sims
Stories (52)
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My Choice to be Seen
The first time I used my walking stick in public, I felt like every eye was on me. I was 31—too young, I thought, for something so visible, so loaded with assumptions. The stick wasn’t just a mobility aid; it felt like an announcement. An explanation I hadn’t prepared. A story strangers would finish for me in their own heads.
By Millie Hardy-Sims2 months ago in Motivation
I Am More Than Enough.
For most of my life, my body felt like a problem I was expected to solve. I learned early that being plus-size came with conditions. I could be confident, but not too confident. Stylish, but only if I dressed to “flatter” myself. Visible, but preferably quieter than everyone else. My body was treated as a work in progress—something that would be acceptable once it was smaller, tighter, or more socially palatable.
By Millie Hardy-Sims2 months ago in Motivation
Hitting Pause
At 30, my life ran on momentum. My days were full, my calendar crowded, and my value—at least in my own mind—was measured by how much I could do without stopping. Like many people in their thirties, I was building something: a career, a future, a version of myself that thrived on being busy. Rest felt optional. Slowing down felt unnecessary.
By Millie Hardy-Sims2 months ago in Motivation
"The Greatest Years of Your Life"
I had been so excited to go to University. I didn't know any better. It was four years ago now. I was 22 years old. I had put off University for four years because I had not made a decision about what I wanted to do. I still hadn't really, as I changed my degree after my first year. I enjoyed doing drama, but I didn't want to perform (which I know sounds stupid, but I was more about behind the scenes and it just wasn't what the degree offered). I changed to film and despite knowing it was a 'Mickey Mouse' degree and it would be very unlikely I would find employment in film, I felt I had at least a small chance once I graduated nonetheless. I was smart and efficient. I'm a First Class student, I work hard, I'm mature (in every sense) and so I really thought I'd enjoy university and have a good chance after graduation.
By Millie Hardy-Sims5 years ago in Education
"The Fandom Chooses the Fan"
I am a nerd, loud and proud. If you could see my house you would not contest it - ceiling to floor with collectibles, merch and everything between of my multitude of favourite fandoms. I am also the president of my university’s fandom society, which I also subsequently started. So yes, I’m a nerd.
By Millie Hardy-Sims5 years ago in Geeks
"If You're Fated, It Doesn't Matter If You Choose or Not."
I realised I didn’t go much into the actual fandom or the books and films in my last post, I kind of just talked about my own experience. Is that the kind of thing you want to read? Or do you want more of a rounded ‘this is the fandom, this is what it does’? I talked about how big the fandom got and how that became intimidating. So this time I’m going to talk a little about the smaller fandoms.
By Millie Hardy-Sims5 years ago in Geeks
"A Journey in the Dark"
I was not a ‘normal’ little girl. Where most girls my age spent their youth wanting to be princesses, vets or mermaids, I wanted to be a pirate. I am, of course, talking about the ‘romantic’ swashbuckling, earring and eyepatch wearing pirate, not the machine-gun toting Captain Phillips type. I mean frock coats and peglegs at dawn, Bristolian accents and gold teeth. To me, even at that young age, I wanted the freedom that seemed to come from a rum-soaked life aboard the Seven Seas. I wanted to look for buried treasure, sing sea shanties and find ‘glory’. I now know much more about pirates than I did then, about how hard life could be and how dangerous that life was, and I no longer desire to live such a life, but I have nonetheless carried that love of pirates with me into adulthood.
By Millie Hardy-Sims5 years ago in Geeks
“Do You Know What a Hero Complex is, Diego?”
If somebody was to say to you ‘superhero television’ you may be forgiven for thinking of the television programmes of Marvel, DC or the one-series-wonder that was Watchmen. You might even cast your mind back to Heroes or Misfits of the last decade. It’s perhaps very unlikely that your first thought would be The Umbrella Academy, unless of course that’s exactly why you sought out this post.
By Millie Hardy-Sims5 years ago in Geeks
