Complete – appreciate – but dynamism demands we look ahead, not back

 A massive thank you from me this week to every generous sponsor whose input willed me on and helps the incredible charity MIND to support individuals with mental health issues, mild and major, and their families. We all need to feel good about being here on this earth, about being us and any work thatContinue reading “Complete – appreciate – but dynamism demands we look ahead, not back”

Sort your life out – online and in person

Boaters know only too well the impact of too much stuff. Life becomes more difficult – it’s physically more difficult and uncomfortable to move around an overcrowded boat. Life also becomes mentally more difficult – “the clutter effect” psychologists say. It results in increased stress, lower life satisfaction and I’m not talking about hoarders, butContinue reading “Sort your life out – online and in person”

Leaving home

How do you leave your home for the holidays? Empty the fridge, check doors and windows are closed, pull the front door shut, turn the key in the lock, perhaps even set a burglar alarm, and head off.  Similarly how do you leave the office for a break? Put up an out-of-office email, log outContinue reading “Leaving home”

Anniversary effects and decision time

Anniversaries are strange things – personal and public at the same time. They can cheer and depress us, sometimes simultaneously thus not aligning totally with the psychologists’ definition of anniversary effect being solely related to trauma.  We’ve celebrated 33 years of marriage this month – tongue in cheek this maybe traumatic for my Other Half!Continue reading “Anniversary effects and decision time”

Slow is the only way to go

A new year, a new start and a new month – January named after Janus as my erudite cousin Liz reminded me. Janus was the Roman god of transitions, whose two faces were both reflecting and looking forward. It’s easy to reflect on the calm of the inland waterways (until you meet another boat atContinue reading “Slow is the only way to go”

Our Plan B to party on

Christmas demands planning, and despite Omicron, Delta and other Covid-associated variants, it looks like bubbles this year will be mainly alcoholic! Living afloat Christmas demands decision making not just on what presents to make/buy, what shopping to do or who is cooking what. We’ve both had both our jabs and our boosters and our fluContinue reading “Our Plan B to party on”

Taking nothing for granted; blood, sweat and an end to washing our dirty linen in public

This time last year we were in the midst of Lockdown 2, wondering whether Christmas would be a time we could share the presence of loved ones which was the greatest present we wished for. Since then the world has moved on, and in some ways we have learned to live with a pandemic. Vaccinations,Continue reading “Taking nothing for granted; blood, sweat and an end to washing our dirty linen in public”

4Cs for better mental health

It’s been a rollercoaster Mental Health Week for us, and one which has led me to reflect on the 4Cs – choice, control , consideration and compassion. Armed with these we can try to make life easier for ourselves and just as importantly, make life easier for those with whom we live and work. ChoiceContinue reading “4Cs for better mental health”