Balancing The Scales Of Mental Health

Tipping the balance of mental health , tipping the balance of mental health can occur if the odds you feel are stacked against you . And you'd think that being told that my teaching assistant job being restructured that this would happen , I was only told yesterday and currently I am galloping through the various emotions of disbelief , tears , upset and anger . There is nothing to be done it is part of the modern way of things and budgets and restructuring are sadly a way and fact of life.

But though I am losing my job as teaching assistant and it's a job I have truly loved I have to get knuckle down and look for something else to make up the shortfall. I did walk to school today alright not 100 % but ok hoping it together that was until I reached near my school and then I got upset . I know I will continue to get upset but it will lessen and  at the moment I feel as I have no energy .


I don't feel the same as I did when I had my breakdown , yes it is a bit of a struggle to get motivated but I was only told the news yesterday about losing my job. I feel that documenting my feelings help me through it and will enable me to cope , I am stronger that I ever was even tough depression and anxiety will always be apart of me it is going to get control of me at this moment at time . I am keeping one step ahead and the difference is this time I have more a support network in place and I am very much sharing everything with colleagues even the cat , cats are very good listeners except when they turn their back on you and escape through the catflap.

I feel a bit lost which is rather like trying to tidy up after a toddler you never quite get it sorted , but eventually you do as they learn to tidy up for themselves .

But I will come through it , I will find my way again ...

Jack And His Cat Manifesto

I sit here before you to talk about my cat manifesto , I do believe it was leaked on line but there isn't anything in the cat manifesto that we can't achieve. You'll see form my photo that I am connecting with nature * ps not a mouse tail . Of course with the sad death of Rollie our party leader I have had to step into the political affray.

Did you know Abraham Lincoln loved cats and he kept 4 of them at the White House , perhaps there is a power crazy cat sitting on Donalds Trumps head ?


1. EU will someone left the door open so of course we will go out then come back in then go out again and so it goes on .


2. Nationalising cats after all there is power in those paws .

3. The right to knock random stuff off any surface.

4. What is yours is mine whether I need it or not ~ I own everything.

5. There is no word "NO "

6. Free tuition at the University of Cunning.

7.  I pledge more cardboard boxes .

8. I am not a pacifist I will launch weapons , claws , tails * sitting in front of the television.

9.  Smoked salmon in the bowl of every cat ~ no longer will you go hungry and have to put up with an empty bowl.

10 Naps 23 hours a day on a chair of your choice.



Of course I may backtrack on a policy promise here or there , you brought a whole case of the cat food I like ~

"I don't like it anymore "

You want a plant and a cat impossible "you cannot own both , the plant is going down unless you kill it first "

Popping to the loo ? then I need to come to and paw the door wide open * oh is there workmen in the house oh dear I am so sorry.

Creating Your Familiar Footsteps

Where my feet travel carries the memory of me where ever you go what ever we go ~ familiar  footsteps  , I'm loving walking and where ever I go I believe I leave an imprint a little piece of me that I'll keep returning to. And I know when my son goes to university it's really a copy of my own feet going further a field . We've all been to York as a family and I took myself up to Bettys tea rooms last year and a jolly meander round.

And I know when the teen goes to I feel that he is safe as he will be walking in familiar footsteps where we have all walked as a family ~ familiar footsteps.

And as we have been up and looked round York University to look at the archaeology course he will be be studying as well as the accommodation , I will safe in the knowledge that he will be treading familiar footsteps. Though when it is Freshers week ( looks at sky ) the familiar footsteps could have a little bit of a sway maybe.

It matters not the weather nor the season where you go , I go we go familiar footsteps is what carries me through where once a imprint in the mud stood I have the memory of you in our familiar footsteps.

The crunch of leaves makes me smile for knowing that familiar footsteps have been here to , no matter if you are near or far away I have memories of you .

Often I am in the wake of familiar footsteps as I am talking pictures or just pondering , I always capture my families familiar footsteps as we walk our memories.

You have to let them fly when they go to university you have set them up in their familar footsteps and to see them smile in their own confidence is something very special indeed.

You can create familiar footsteps all round the world like we did here in Washington DC it doesn't matter that I am not in the pictures as we we were all together in our family footsteps.

Amsterdam where I was made to walk blooming miles though I did protest a little at the time as Mr T does like to walk everywhere do gets to see everything it was creating our familiar footsteps.

So don't be sat reading this go get out there and create your own familiar footsteps especially as it is #nationalwalking month.

National Walking Month Time To Get Out And Enjoy The Outdoors

 

You can walk anywhere and everywhere ( just so long as you're not trespassing !) I enjoy walking in all sorts of places be in from cities to countryside , you'd be surprised that walking in cities can be relaxing as often there are hidden green oasises.

 

May is National Walking Month. National Walking Month is a campaign to promote the benefits of walking and to get everyone walking, no matter what your level of fitness is.  Walking is simple and free and one of the easiest ways to be more active, lose weight and become healthy. And as we've a teenager going to university we will be saving money as parents as the teen will be stopping on campus and he'll will be walking everywhere to ! - bonus.

 

A 20 minute walk can boost your mood and as I suffer from depression and anxiety I truely believe in getting out there and exploring , I love being an intrepid explorer, I always view places as I'm the first person to ever set foot there. 

I love the challenge of my environment and varying where I walk from flat places to those with more of an incline as this is helpung increasing my stamina. You don't need fancy equipment to start walking just make sure your footwear is applicable for the surface/area you're going to be walking and decent socks ( especially if you're going to be strolling over hill and dale)

  

So once this month is over I urge you to keep walking and why not take your camera with you , this is something I love to do . You'll see this in particular from my Instagram I find it a wonderful visual prompt esoecially if I'm feeling down in the dumps.

What To Wear To A Wedding Reception

At the weekend I had the pleasure of attending my very good friends wedding reception and my friend looked beautiful , my friend had got married in Australia and then toured round in a camper van with her new husband and 2 children. She brought elements of her wedding / honeymoon to her reception in England not to mention the fact that she had a blessing in church the morning of her wedding reception.

  

 

It is always a conundrum as to what to wear to a wedding reception as you don't want obviously to ever upstage the bride but you want to be elegant and smart.

 

Comfortable shoes are a must and compliment your outfit , I can't do heels so flats are the natural choice .

Outfit wise I went for a dress that was an empire fit which fits my shape and doesn't make me feel self conscious. I think your meant when you model to place your hand your hip turn sideways and pout.

I in all honestly usually really hate pictures of myself and I think that's because of my size but thanks to this dress from J D Williams my confidence has grown.

 

The maxi summer dress I chose was a Joanna Hope print one at £55 and I know that I will wear this time and time again infract I have a rugby dinner that I will be wearing it to this week.I'm certainly going to being looking at more Maxi summer dresses and flat shoes. I love the fact that the dress is one of those that really doesn't need ironing well I don't iron unless I really have to , I will be able to pack the dress for Rome knowing that it won't be creased .The flat shoes I am wearing are so comfortable they are Hush Puppies Lexa Heather Bow Slip and are priced at £53.What I love about the shoes is obviously everything but in particular it as if I am walking on air thanks to memory foam within the shoe. 

 

Of course I will need more shoes for Rome and I will be sure to look in the Women's shoes section in JD Williams.

JD Williams kindly sent me the clothes but all thoughts and words are my own.