Currently we're running through a Z-A of activities to try, in order to manage stress and anxiety and support self-care.
R.I.P Worries, Concerns & Anxieties
As it's Creativity and Wellbeing week, I'd like to share with you a little coping strategy I've developed recently.
I've had a rather unfortunate 10 days. Some personal issues - bad news, needing to support some of my nearest and dearest and a few 'you couldn't make it up' type scenarios have happened. I've had a coffin shaped cardboard box in my Making Box for some time now. (It was the vampire obsession before you ask.) Now is the perfect time for resurrection, as I've found a daily use for it.
If something is playing on my mind causing me upset in any way - in or out of my control - it gets written down on a piece of paper and placed in the box. This really helps me to acknowledge and let go so I can rest in peace.
If you like this idea, you might also want to take out the paper and burn it or simply rip it up -whatever works for you. I know some of us find this a really cathartic process.
On a side note, you can find some really funky shaped boxes in Hobbycraft!
Thursday 19th May, 4:07pm
Uplifting Film: The Secret Garden
This is not a review, it's more of a response. Views are my own. Please note this post may contain spoilers. Watching the film in order to read and respond to this post is encouraged. Watching the film for intended enjoyment is strongly encouraged!
The Secret Garden (1993)
I saw this film as a child and absolutely loved it, unfortunately then forgot about it for many years and put the DVD away in a cupboard. Recently I came across it and popped it on to see whether it was worth keeping. DEFINITELY! What a magical film with some lovely imagery, themes and metaphors scattered throughout. These are the reasons I find this film so uplifting:
Loneliness vs Connection
Mary, Collin and Lord Archibald are all lonely in their own way at the start. Mary’s parents aren’t attentive of her in India. Although Collin is surrounded by servants, he desperately wants his father’s company and Archibald goes away for long periods of time to wallow. When they all come together, they fully embrace their connection. Rejection and acceptance goes hand in hand with this.
The garden was unwanted before Mary came to the estate. She brought it and them ‘back to life’ as Archibald wonderfully points out to her.
Friendship, of course
Mary and Dickon encourage Collin out of his room and to use his legs. Martha doesn’t take any of Mary’s nonsense at the beginning and teaches her kindness.
Which leads me onto the limiting belief that Collin is ill. They all try so hard to protect him from the ‘dangers of fresh air’ when that is exactly what he needs to thrive.
Curiosity
That lovely childish trait - Mary goes in search of the entrance to the garden she can’t get to. Colin wonders what life will be like outside of his bedroom.
Magic
The power of nature. The way Dickon has learnt to communicate with the birds and animals and knows so much about the garden.
The garden is seen and shot as this absolutely beautiful, dream-like place - perfect in every way.
I love this exchange between the children. Collin: Are you making this magic? Mary: No, you are.
It shows us the joy they are getting by just spending time together.
Visualisation and Manifestation
Collin closes his eyes to imagine the garden before Mary shows it to him. In some ways he dreams it into being.
The chant that speaks to Collin’s father/Mary’s Uncle, Archibald, and brings him back to be reunited with them.
A change of perspective
Mary and Dickon find a way to pull off the shutters on the window to let the light into Collin’s room. He is upset at first but soon starts to see the benefit, and what’s beyond his room more clearly.
And this fab quote from Mary below, how lovely!
“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”
Thursday 12th May, 11:00am
Radio Gaga
I had the privilege of being invited on the radio (Marlow FM) earlier this week to talk about my work as a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist. It was such a surreal experience but wonderful in every way. I was really nervous but was able to use the many tools in my box to keep myself feeling calm and comfortable.
Fab host Pat Capp made me feel at ease and it was much like having a cup of tea with her. It makes me happy to get my word out there so people can seek help having some prior information and facts about the processes. (Although the word processes makes it sound a bit boring and it's not!) It's also great for everyone to see that I'm a human being, just trying to navigate life too.
Check it out www.marlowfm.co.uk/listen-again (Good Morning Marlow, Tue May 03 10:00)
Thursday 5th May, 2:43pm
10 Things I Love About Spring
I’ve used a Writing for Wellbeing invitation as a basis for this piece.
You will probably notice that there aren’t 10 items on this list. I feel this wonderfully demonstrates that we don’t have to stick to the rules. It’s just a diving board to get our minds exploring possibilities. The prompts are a bit magical like that. You somehow get where you need to go.
I’ve repeated several words and missed punctuation, amongst other things. Because this is not creative writing, it’s about the process, it’s liberating to not edit it. I wrote down whatever came out of my brain and simply rearranged it a little bit here for this post. I mean a little bit! I hope to write here in this way on a regular basis. Feel free to explore the prompt in your own way and let me know how you get on!
The bursting of colour,
green and yellow,
the grass is greener on your side
Growth and rebirth of old and new
A cleansing process
Changing over clothes in my wardrobe
Decluttering, letting go, a sigh of relief
Revitalising shift
We are somehow OK with change at this time of year even though we don’t like it in general.
Sitting in the sunny silence of the new.
Positivity
All the things I’m going to achieve this season
Warmth in the air, not just the temperature
People seem warmer
I feel like a weight has lifted
Laughter echoes
I’m more integrated and open
Possibility
Clearer paths
Adventures planned
Lazier days of Easter and Bank Holidays
Outside becomes a more inviting place.
The weather improves
Lighter mornings and evenings
More sunshine, less cold
Long sunny days
Visions of running through a meadow
Passages of time
I don’t mind losing an hour for the light
Memories flooding
Nourished by the echoes of my youth
The sound of the lawn mower signified Dad’s day off
Preparing for family get togethers and friends over for lunch
Cosy and comforting drift back.
Thursday 28th April, 5:36pm
New Maidenhead venue
I'm so excited to announce that I have a space in Maidenhead (Furze Platt) to work out of one day a week. Seeing clients face to face is wonderful. Online therapy can be equally effective but I think people have really missed that 'in person' connection due to all the lockdowns. Some of us are fed up with staring at screens all day and I completely understand. It's great to be able to offer both options so my clients can feel as comfortable as possible.
The room is an Osteopathy clinic, Body BackUp (pictured below.) I'm taking the blue sky as a sign that brighter days are coming, not just weather wise.
