Self portraits by Amy

While studying for GCSE and A'level Art Amy started to produce a lot of self-portrait paintings, these are a few of my favourites.

Reading Therapy

There is a lot of solace to be found in reading fiction. I read therapy books throughout 2018. When 2019 arrived I made my mind up to go back to reading fiction and chose six books for the task. They were chosen from various lists of Mood Boosting Books I found on the Internet. Looking back, before my mind became focused on mental health and healing, I have long been using fiction reading as a kind of therapy. A list of books I have found healing over the years can be found below, they celebrate my thirty years as a librarian from February 1990 to February 2020.

Twelve years a gardener

 

I did a bit of gardening when we first moved into our house in 1996, but my main work came in 2009 when I got rid of the rose bed and started work on the herbaceous border. In the 2020 lockdown I had more time to create a retreat beneath the apple tree, introduce more roses and ornamental grass, sort out the garden studio and the patio and paint the garage. I now find the garden a very relaxing space in which to spend time.

The first fantastic reads of 2021

 

With the continuation of Covid lockdowns and restrictions I have found I have had a bit more time and energy for reading. I have been managing to read a book about every fortnight rather than every month. Above are the six books I have been enjoying from January through to March.

On-line Mindfulness

I do not spend so much time on-line as I used to. After 10 years on social media from 2008 to 2018, I decided to live more in the real world. I also discovered mindfulness which helps you to live a better life in the real world. I have continued with my blog as I find it particularly therapeutic. I have also found further on-line resources that can help you live a better life in the real world. Below are links to my mindfulness resource lists on Pinterest and YouTube and five websites that I have found particularly helpful.

Mindfulness Plus on Pinterest

Mindfulness Plus on YouTube

Mindful Blogs

London Mindful

Everyday Mindfulness

Breathworks

Tiny Buddha

Still Mind

Lorna's Reverse Bucket List (21421)

The lockdown of 2020 gave me much more time for looking back on my life, so much so that my 16 point reverse bucket list became 21421, a reverse bucket list for the new decade. It includes three items I was able to work on during my downtime, my short films and DVDs, nature walking and reading books. I find working on reverse bucket lists provides good opportunities for gratitude and reflection.

Drama Therapy

I have done a bit of acting in my time. I acted in Blood Brothers at college and took part in a two week acting course at the Guildford School of Acting in the 1990s. My daughter spent three years acting, singing and dancing at Stagecoach in South Harrow, from 2013 to 2016. I don't know if there will be much opportunity for acting in the future, but seeing therapeutic plays on stage is some kind of substitute. Also listening to BBC radio dramas or watching Shakespeare can also feel quite healing. If comedy is involved you can also gain a little laughter therapy.

Another 6B460

 

I will be sixty in 2027 and worked out that if I do the above six things at least once a year I will have achieved all my anniversary goals from 2021 to 2026. My list of anniversaries are below. 

2021 - London home (25)

2022 - NHS work (25)

2023 - My Blog (10)

2024-  Reading challenge (5), Nature walking (5)

2025 - Piano playing (50)

2026 - MumAmy Holidays (20)