“We all have an impact on each other. We are all connected in so many seen and unseen ways, Which possibly explains why one of the simplest and quickest routes to happiness seems to be to make someone else happy. The reason to be selfless is selfish. Nothing makes ourselves feel better than not thinking … Continue reading connect
Category: Mental Health
kāinga
Home I was at a food festival over the weekend in a small, inland fishing village. I say inland, because when you drive there you feel like you are still inland, but you are really just on the edge of one of The Sounds that reach into the sea from the top of Te Waipounamu, … Continue reading kāinga
growth
While I walk around my forests, I see signs of growth everywhere. From shoots, to leaves to saplings. Even on the, seemingly dead, branches on the forest floor, I see the lichen and moss growing. And those huge old, hundreds of years old, trees, that seemingly have reached the peak of their development, still put … Continue reading growth
five
Its summer down here in Aotearoa New Zealand. Its safe to say after a fabulous start back in November, it’s been decidedly average; but we finally seem to be having spurts of a few nice days at a time. The rain disappears, the sun comes out, the vegetables are finally ripening I suffer a lot … Continue reading five
gentle
A couple of weeks ago, someone in a meeting said she was in favour of doing a “Gentle January”. From the Northern Hemisphere she struggles with the middle of winter, all the fuss and joy of Christmas has passed, the days are short and cold, and she is often left feeling a little Meh. She … Continue reading gentle
sensitive
“It is both a blessingAnd a curseTo feel everythingSo very deeply.” ― David Jones I have been told all my life that I am “too sensitive”. And it is safe to say that that phrase has affected me negatively. The silent implication that I’m somehow faulty, or less, or too much effort, because of my sensitivity. … Continue reading sensitive
expect
High expectations often lead to huge disappointments.. This is the season of expectations. From very small, we are fed excitement and expectations for the festive season. Presents, Santa, food, decorations, “the excitement of Christmas”, family harmony… as we get older those expectations move from the shoulders of others to ourselves. If you are a people … Continue reading expect
worth
In my late night reel scrolling the algorithm has sent a Scottish jeweller to me. She buys mostly estate lots of jewellery at auction, brings them home, sorts through them, while we watch. There is something very poignant about seeing someone’s life’s collection of treasured pieces through the lens of someone who loves jewellery and … Continue reading worth
spirituality
Just as a candle cannot burn without fire; so People cannot live without a spiritual life -Buddha Sometimes I think there are 2 sides to recovery – Abstinnce, be it substances or behaviours; and the search for spirituality. Both are correct. There is no right or wrong. I have found my recovery has been the … Continue reading spirituality
happy
I am currently doing a 30 day writing challenge with a friend. while some of the pieces are quite personal. some are food for a blog... here is one of them... Things that make me happy Hmmmm… this should be an easy assignment. Afterall, don’t we all know the things that make us happy? Things … Continue reading happy









