It starts with a photo, continues with a story, heartfelt connections, mindfulness in action
September photography challenge
Sunday afternoon in my part of the world. One of those days when I feel as if I have experienced 3 seasons in one day. In the morning and up to midday it was summer - the sun was shining, lovely and warm perfect T-shirt time. Midday, wasp invasion and sudden torrential rain, two hours later temperature dropped and an extra layer became a must. Now, the sun is shining again and yes, it is warm. How can one be hmmmm normal 😅 given so many climate variations in one day? But I digress!
Inspired by
this week I joined her on a 30 days photography challenge! There are various photography subjects suggestions in her post but of course one can explore different themes. It fired my imagination as a few months ago I did a one month daily mini drawings challenge and loved it. You can read her post below and why not, join us.In my mind, this simple act of engaging in … noticing and capturing various images is part of my self care on going project, something I am researching, studying and gradually applying. In other words I am my own guinea pig.
SELF CARE IN MICRO-STEPS
THE SEA
A walk by the beach clears the mind and this is what I needed a few days ago. It is part of my own reclaim your life in micro steps program and .. my aim was to enjoy the walk .. guilt free! So many time we do things we know we need and yet have pangs of guilt. De programming is a journey!
WRITING AND PAINTING
In my mind, writing and painting complement each other. They both come from the soul and help me / you share stories. This piece speaks about childhood, basic needs and self love because self love heals.
KINDNESS
Storytelling comes in many forms! A couple of weeks ago I was taking to a dear friend about childhood experiences and how it affects us! Having listened to some bits of my story he said:
I know exactly the book you will resonate with you, and it might help you reclaim parts of yourself.
Yesterday he gifted me the book, I have already started it.
I believe in the healing powers of stories and kindness!
PASSION
Painting journal covers is something I’ve been doing for quite a few years. It is my way of infusing the journal with my energy from the very beginning! My journals are full of drawings, recipes, thoughts, dreams. I consider my journals dear friends and I wonder if anybody else likes to paint the covers of the journals.
THE CITY
I am a city girl through and through. For the last 10 years I lived in a provincial town and then in a village. I miss the buzz, the fumes, parks, libraries, theatres, cinemas, buses, metro, coffee shops, museums and more. I miss that part of myself! Last year, out of the blue I had to go on a job related trip to Chicago! For the first time in years I connected again with those special feelings, snells, energies and in doing so I reclaimed a part of myself! Chicago is and continues to be an experience I treasure and will never forget!
NATURE IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Living in a small village had its charm and advantages. One of them is the small lanes one can walk daily - well when one has time. My interest in plants and nature started a few good years ago and each year I discover a new plant, a new medicinal potion I can make with my own hands after a bit of foraging. Now it is the elderberries season and this is what I collected earlier today. Planning to freeze them and make some elderberry syrup, maybe some tincture and elixir, recipes and stories soon.
A MOMENT IN TIME AND MODERN LIFE REFLECTIONS
Smartphones - I am sure that my ancestors would consider them an witchcraft type of tool or pure magic. We use them for so many things, we clap our hands in awe when … we are sold another …. “For your own good” (health, diet, time, convenience and more) App. Isn t it lovely how the machine reminds me when to breath, what to have for lunch, when to drink water and how much, when to take vitamins and what I need and the list is getting longer. Do we need all of this and more? Nope! It infantilises, it scares people, it disconnects them from their own intuition and independent thinking. But this is for another time. What else it does, it “helps” you pay quickly for all sorts of things! Oh yes, isn t it nice! Earlier today I went to a pretty village in the South East of England called Alfriston. When you are in such a place you have very limited parking options - a free parking area and a paid one, in this case run by the local authority. Splendid you would say .. you have options! Do you? Let s see! Today the free parking area was full! No worries, move to the paid one .. luckily I found the last place! Can t tell you the joy! It feels as if you won 20£ at the lottery! Well, full of enthusiasm you approach the paying area. Fantastic! Really? Not quite! You can only pay by card or via an …. app! Actually … no, you have no options as payment by card is not possible! The only option… is the App .. you need to download it, add your bank details, pay. Simple! Nope! First download the App .. I tried 4 times … no luck … because my iPhone software apparently was not updated. Tried to download … no luck … no WIFI. So … I had to leave … time wasted, petrol wasted, energy wasted. Just think … a simple act … paying for parking … completely in the hands of the … machines. Progress? I don t think so! Time to read and escape … this reality!
A week in photographs, emotions, stories, showing self care in micro-steps, recording and celebrating every moment. When we listen to the words self care sometimes we think it needs to be something big, monumental. The truth is that small gestures of self love and self care are like the grains of the sand … they add up.
I wonder what self care gestures are you going to gift yourself with next week?
Until next time, be well!
INSPIRATION IN MICRO DOSAGES
MUSIC FOR THE SOUL
TESSTAMONA AND HER POWERFUL AND FEARLESS VOICE AS A WRITER AND PERFORMER
If you are not familiar with her writing you don’t even know what you are missing. Listening to her “Algorithm Ghetto” is an absolute MUST as well. Enjoy!
“Most of you on Substack are not strangers to being muted by the machine and there are people sitting in jail right now for things they’ve published, so, yes, censorship does matter, and yes, it is our responsibility to call it out and resist it.
For those who have not heard Algorithm Ghetto, it was released here on Substack to patrons (paid subscribers) only, back in July.”
SHAI’S SEPTEMBER PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGE - ARTICLE
This is a lovely wrap-up of the past week. Thank you once again for taking part on SSPB. It's been lovely getting to know you better through this challenge. 😊