An ability to entertain the uncomfortable.
Tag: Growth
Musings & Meditations – May 20 2021
It sometimes feels like we have nothing left to give, and yet…
Musings & Meditations – May 12 2021
May 12th is International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND) so here are a few words today in honour of the Lady with the Lamp.
This Is Where The Healing Happens
Lest We Forget
Musings & Meditations – April 22 2021
This, too, was a gift.
Musings & Meditations – April 15 2021
To clear your path.
Learning How To Describe Your Pain and Symptoms
Learning to become fluent with words that accurately describe the pain and symptoms you are feeling is one of the most helpful things you can do to create a positive working relationship and understanding between yourself and your medical professionals.
Musings & Meditations – April 8 2021
What remains? Nature.
Musings & Meditations – March 25 2021
… Isn’t it splendid?!
A Word on Timing, Comfort and Change
There is something to be said for timing and usually we only see that something happens at the perfect time if it involves an obvious change or lesson, but even the things that we seek comfort from can come to us at the right time.
Musings & Meditations – March 18 2021
It may just help.
Musings & Meditations – March 11 2021
Guard well your spare moments…
Musings & Meditations – March 4 2021
This is the time to be slow
Have You Considered Mental Health First Aid Training?
We are all aware of the mental health campaigns urging us to check in with each other, to start the conversation about someone’s mental health… but do you know how to support and guide them to resources if they say “No, I’m not ok”?. What are the next steps to take? Do you feel confident to have that discussion? Read more about my experience completing the Mental Health First Aid course.
Musings & Meditations – February 18 2021
Do not be afraid of your difficulties.
Take Control Of What You Can – The Online World
When chronic conditions start to infiltrate every part of your life, you can feel like you are losing control or have others make all the choices for you. This series is about regaining a bit of control in areas that are manageable and make a huge difference – starting with the online world! Read about how I changed my online experience from taking me for a ride to taking the wheel!
Musings & Meditations – February 11 2021
Not the flower.
Book Therapy – The Boy, The Mole, The Fox & The Horse
Let me introduce you to the beautiful human that is Charlie Mackesy and his incredibly empathetic book, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox & The Horse. If there was ever a time when we needed Charlie Mackesy’s drawings, it would be over the last year.
Musings & Meditations – February 4 2021
For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone.
My Favourite Meditation Resources
Following on from my meditation journey post, I thought I would share some of my favorite meditation apps, teachers and people!
My Meditation Journey
My journey with meditation had a lot of false starts and it was definitely a skill that once I started with the right intentions and reasons, I haven’t stopped and it has become the most valuable practice in my life. Read more about my meditation journey here:
Musings & Meditations – January 7 2021
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language.
The Daily Project That Sustained Me During My Most Difficult Year
I started the year with ideas and dreams for a project – but the year had other plans for me and my project.
Musings & Meditations – December 31 2020
May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness.
A Healthier Way to Review The Year
It’s pretty hard to look back on a disappointing year, when nothing went your way and felt like a struggle to get through. From my experience from many tough years, here are a few things to keep in mind when reviewing the year.
Musings & Meditations – December 24 2020
Depends on our dispositions
The Days Are Long But The Years Are Short
2020 has been a strange year and a lot of us have struggled with the notion that our perception of time has changed. This is a very similar experience to when you have a chronic medical condition. Read more here!
Musings & Meditations – December 17 2020
I wish none of this had happened.
Musings & Meditations – December 10 2020
Wherever you are, at any moment, try and find something beautiful.
Book Therapy – Notes On A Nervous Planet
Matt Haig is a brilliant writer and human being who is constantly investigating and questioning the effect of modern life on our mental health. He is a huge advocate for mental health wellness, and has shared his experiences through his multiple fiction works and his non-fiction books.
Musings & Meditations – December 3 2020
When I am among the trees
Musings & Meditations – November 26 2020
This is the power of gathering:
Musings & Meditations – November 19 2020
Look on each day that comes as a challenge, as a test of courage.
Maybe She’s Born With It
So often we can fall into the trap of assuming that someone is naturally gifted with skills, habits and traits. But what if they weren’t born like that and worked hard to be that person?
Musings & Meditations – November 12 2020
Hope is like the sun.
The Danger of Setting Completion Dates For Things We Can’t Control
I have learnt that time and expectations are two very dangerous things to try to predict and manage. Now we are all learning that with COVID-19 too.
Musings & Meditations – November 5 2020
A ‘human’ thing.
Reading Gives Us Someplace To Go When We Have To Stay Where We Are
When life gets too much we can retreat into familiar places and stories that give us comfort, and which feel better than the place that we are currently living in. Escaping into a book is the perfect balm for a tired soul in need of rest from yourself, your life and the world.
Musings & Meditations – October 29 2020
“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.” ― James Baldwin
Musings & Meditations – October 22 2020
You can not prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair. – Chinese Proverb
Musings & Meditations – October 15 2020
The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis’. One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger – but recognise the opportunity. – John F. Kennedy
The Chronic Condition Emergency Plan
We never know when something could go wrong or we need additional help, and the best way to manage this is to be prepared and have a plan. Here are my tips to cover all bases!
Musings & Meditations – October 8, 2020
In order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you. – Andrea Dykstra
Book Therapy – The Poetry Pharmacy + The Poetry Pharmacy Returns
I would love to introduce you to The Poetry Pharmacy. If you are a poetry beginner, or a literary lover, I am certain that you will find joy and comfort within these pages.
Musings & Meditations – September 24, 2020
“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us…
Sharing Your Story With The Right People At The Right Time
Knowing who and when to share your story with takes skill and awareness, and can be incredibly supportive and rewarding.
Welcome To… The Unexpected
How do we navigate it?
How do we understand it?
How do we explain it?
How do we accept it?
Book Therapy – The Secret Garden
The perfect book to be reading at the end of a long winter that is about to bloom into spring.
My Biggest Game Changer: A Health Diary
One of the most transformative things that I have implemented in my medical journey was to start a daily diary.