place

Find your resting places

February 28, 2018Series of the MonthKerrie Woodhouse

There is something so enticing about a quiet bench in a beautiful spot. It is an invitation to stop even just for a moment, to take a breath and slow down.

No charging port or wifi necessary. Bet we all need to do a bit more of that. If we have become so busy that we feel we do not have the time to sit still for a moment, is that really progress?

Do we see time spent sitting in quiet contemplation or even staring into space, thinking about nothing in particular as a waste these days?

That would be a sad thing. Our 24 7 world of instant gratification and permanent connectedness is a world of constant activity. Perhaps it is encouraging us to forget our respect for the natural ebb and flow of daily life.

Like day and night, like the rise and fall of the tide, we need the still parts of our day just as much as we need all that motion. One feeds the other, they are equally important.

Take that nap.

Or sit in the garden with a cup of tea.

Stop at that bench on your walk and just be for a bit. You deserve that. In fact, you need that. Finding resting spaces in your day is just as important as finding time for your work.

And while you are there in your favourite resting place, soak in every part of it with all of your senses. Build it into your memory. Then the next time you are stuck in that queue at the checkout you can close your eyes and return for a restful minute to your favourite resting place.

Need a restful image for your home? Come and explore the peaceful places in the shop...

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Keep on reading…

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I’d say that happens to all of us.

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How to use your strengths (and each other's)

October 31, 2017Kerrie Woodhouse

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Build your resilience with self care

August 30, 2017Series of the MonthKerrie Woodhouse

Do you remember that wonderful line in Wind in the Willows, when Ratty talks about how worthwhile it is to spend some time simply messing about in boats?

How right he is. It is becoming increasingly clear to me just how important it is to make some time away from the busyness of all those things we have to do in our beautiful but full, modern lives.

We have to make the time to do those things that replenish us in order to maintain the capacity to keep doing all those things that fill our schedules. And the fuller those schedules get, the harder it is to find the time to do the things that are important but not urgent.

It is that lack of urgency that Ratty alludes to when he is explaining his view to Mole. (Do you remember it? you can read it here if you like!) He talks about how it doesn't really matter if you get somewhere or you don't, he seems to thinks 'messing about with boats' always gives you something to do without requiring much of you.

And how rare that is. Think of all the tasks on your to do list. So many demands are made of us, consequences of not performing them well abound. We owe it to ourselves to find the things that we like to do, that can engage us gently enough to transport us from the everyday but without overburdening us. It is these self care practices that build our resilience.

For each of us this is something different.

A long walk.

Perhaps a quiet cup of coffee in a cosy cafe where you can watch the world go by.

Gardening, baking or sketching (yes art making... definitely try that!)

In fact, why not start your painting adventure with a free class?

1000-x-647-Banner-free-supplies-class-with-mockup-ANS-TEXT.jpg — Beginner’s Guide to Watercolour Supplies

Free - Start today!

A glass of wine in an indulgent bubble bath or spending time with a loved one.

What replenishes you?

The more of these boats that I painted, the more I came to see them as symbolising our personal space and resilience. As we move through the physical space of our world we should not ignore the mental and emotional space that we occupy. We can't control what happens in our environment but we have utter dominion over our mental and emotional space.

Investing the time into replenishing ourselves is as wise as the captain keeping his boat in good repair. We have to tend to the vessel that holds and carries us through the water of our lives. We don't know what is ahead of us. It may be choppy waters, it may be still as glass. For sure, it will be full of colour and texture, fun and excitement, but also challenging and testing at times. From the comfort of your well maintained little boat you can take it all.

Are you on your own painting adventure?

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