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Your thoughts about well-being

A couple of days ago I asked you, 'What contributes to your well-being?' I have had a great response. Many thanks to Sue, Nicky, Kath, Toby, Inge, Kate, Janet, Priscilla, Noelle, Maz and Caryn. I have collated their responses below. It makes…
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Staying Grounded

The practice of living mindfully is obviously challenging when life is difficult. During these phases when life is not as we would like it be, we can become overwhelmed and imagine that life will always be this way. We may not be able to see…
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Birthday Gratefulness

I have a practice that has lapsed during the hospital days. Every night I share 5 things I am grateful for with my sister, Kim in Canada. I haven't done this regularly over the last 3 weeks, but starting here I am beginning all my supportive…
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Long stay hospital reflections

After landing in 'God's own country' (thanks for the line Si), reacquainting myself with fine wine and food, reconnecting and sleeping for 10 hours, I feel that this is the day to reflect back upon what a long, challenging hospital stay is like.…
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Tales from a hospital bed 13

The training wheels are off. An almost completely normal nights sleep, only a dressing change over my neck hole required at 4.40am. Otherwise a full night's sleep. What a novelty. In fact when I was woken up for my breakfast order I thought…
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Tales from a hospital bed 12

The Probation Edition. When I awoke this morning at 6 I just laid there for a while coming to. After a while I noticed a warm glow coming from beneath the blind. I slid out of bed, raised the blind and revealed the day. It felt like a positive…
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Tales from a hospital bed 11

A low key edition. To reflect my mood. I am dog tired and, of course, that affects mood. Sleep has been episodic for a while now and the cumulative effect of several nights with little deep sleep is insidious. I am usually a good sleeper. 8…
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Tales from a hospital bed 10

Morning all. Last day of being a patient patient before the second stage tomorrow. Meanwhile, some better sleep last night, although the bar has been set pretty low recently. I feel more balanced today, keen for the next stage to come and go…
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Tales from a hospital bed 9

Sleep. It's an essential element of our wellbeing. When it is disrupted or inadequate we do not function as well - physically, emotionally and psychologically. Sleeping in hospital can be a challenge. Here's a sleepy tale shaped by recent nocturnal…
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Tales from a hospital bed 8

I am very tired. Two nights of poor sleep have left me a little low in most ways and I am watching my moaning mind escalate and embroider. It's not as pretty as the end of that sentence sounds. I won't throw any of those whinges your way,…

Tales from a hospital bed 7

Thanks to those of you who contributed photo themes to keep me creatively occupied and in mischief. I've had staff faces, tension, equipment as art, textures, hospital hustle and bustle, and probably my favourite - slippers! More on that lower…

Tales from a hospital bed 6

I sense that the slowing of change and the adjustment to my new scenario may influence the content of these blog posts. It's a challenge in the relentless routine and unchanging sensations to find interesting creative output. But then that's…

Tales from a hospital bed 5

This second week of recovery is a slow moving beast. How I can remain sane, positive and support my well-being is at its heart. Today, I thought I would ramble on about how art is helping, not that I am not engrossed in reading, Netflix and…

Tales from a hospital bed 3

There is a risk that these medical missives could turn into a moan fest. During the middle of last night's drug dispensing (not as dangerous or exciting in hospital as on the mean streets) I composed today's tale in my head and it was a catalogue…

Tales from a hospital bed 2

I'm feeling a bit rubbish today. For the first hour or so I was nauseous, dazed, dizzy and tired. Anti- sickness meds were consumed immediately - I can have pretty much anti-everything drugs it appears. Though the unnatural balance achieved…

Tales from a hospital bed 1

Three days after my major op I'm alert (well I am right now, it comes and goes) and healing. The process all went as expected and now I have a couple of weeks in the hospital where patience will be my watch word. That's easy to say, but I…
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Impending Change

I have throat reconstruction surgery planned for November. I have recently had the date officially confirmed and have begun to consider how this major change sits in my life path. My current feeling is that I am at the edge of a significant…
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Cartier-Bresson was a Mindful Photographer

“Photography is putting one’s head, one’s eye and one’s heart on the same axis” Henri Cartier Bresson I do love this quote. Not only does it summarise my view of photography beautifully, it has also been an inspiration for my development…
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Understanding how mindful photography can help

Over the last few years I have slowly come to the realisation that it is life that is the practice. Every aspect, every element, every event, every difficulty provides opportunity to be with how it is and respond skillfully. That is for me,…
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Mindfulness and Creativity

“Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.” Dorothy Parker You are creative. It is in your DNA. It is in your soul. Every day you create. You may have a bright idea. You may invent a witty one liner. You may put together a fabulous…

Celebrating Life

This year has been a challenging one. The last six months have thrown up two life situations that have been full of difficulty, but at the same time laced with possibility and learning. The first three months were dominated by a short term…