Quote by Maya Angelo

This week I visited one of my favourite humans, my Grandads sister who is also my Godmother. she recently fell in her kitchen at home and broke her hip. She is currently restoring her body and soul in hospital. She is ninety four years young and according to her healing in hospital is boring and she’d much rather be at home getting on with things. What a legend.

Above her bed is a sign and my son read it out loud. It said that a light was to be kept on all night ‘as the patient is a little scared of the dark’… she has lived in the same home for over forty years and lives in the corner plot of a cul-de-sac, at the end of her driveway is a streetlight, thus for the last forty years and more she has never truly slept in the dark.

She explained to my son that it was a shock for her and that the first night in hospital was very scary, she didn’t know why until a nurse came to administer some medication and put a light on, but that a privilege of growing older is that just as you think you know everything about yourself, you learn something new and that new fears can occur when you least except them to.

As we left the hospital my son and I shared memories of how incredible she is and how lucky we are to learn from her. The wonderful thing about her is that she probably has no idea how much she means to us, nor how much she has taught and continues to teach us. Perhaps today someone shared something with you, made you feel seen or heard or maybe you interacted with someone and your words touched them. I think having a legacy is often overrated and often over thought when most days we all impact each other without often realising it, I like to think this is our invisible legacy that day by day we add to like a patchwork quilt. Make sure the stitching you give to others enhances them for the better.

Quote by Mark Black

Social media and doom scrolling often get negative comments, in this post I’m going to share why is just made for a wonderful midweek evening activity.

I work full time, I’m a parent and our social calendar is often full with observing our child at various sporting events. Around this schedule we cram in theatre, culture, friends, family and somewhere in the mix I add in all the delights that come with running a house and a dash of yoga for my sanity. I’m a huge reader and I also like to paint for fun.

Our current family lifestyle leaves little flexibility and so in the cracks I make sure I use my week well so that I can relax at the weekend should the opportunity arise (it’s so sad when the pitch is waterlogged).

This evening my son had evening training, so it was an early dinner and then his Dad took him to the training. This left me with a two hour window. After putting on some laundry I sat on the sofa with a cup of tea and scrolled social media…I learnt nothing. Instead I watched toddlers toddle, dogs do cute things, I laughed at people falling over, I smiled at cute quotes and sent funny memes to people who I thought would resonate with the content. I achieved nothing and at the same time as I scrolled it felt good and once I’d finished, I felt good.

Sometimes we need a little ‘junk’ activity in our lives to release us from our routine’s. We are not working ants or bees designed with once deeply ingrained habit/job to pursue. We are diverse beings that require so many things that often require balance…we need to socialise but need our down time, we need sleep but also to exercise, to feel productive, wanted and motivated…and sometimes we need to doom scroll with no learning intention or specific reason. Why? Balance.

Many of the blogs I have written often are about balance as it’s integral to our wellbeing, often when we are unbalanced we are depleted in an aspect of our lives whether that be work or play and that often leads to health issues. I’m not suggesting that we scroll on our phones for hours on a daily basis, but I am suggesting that once in a while it can be productive to be unproductive. However, you only reap the benefits if you are kind with the thoughts that follow. Don’t diet if you feel guilty every time you look lovingly in the patisserie window, or sulk when you didn’t go for the walk you said you was going to but then it rained.

This evening as I caught myself scrolling mindlessly and realised I was enjoying myself, I also gave myself permission to do so. I shall make sure this doesn’t become a habit and instead enjoy it the next time I need a little light release in my often busy day. When was the last time you ate something you don’t usually allow yourself? Watched a tv series that you enjoy or picked up a magazine full on uneducated speculation and ‘ten top tips’ that nobody ever needed? Everybody needs a little sugar in their tea from time to time.