What can you say these days?
I feel as if I am walking a fine line between being open to information; trying to plan and prepare; adapting to new situations in a matter of hours or days; trying to imagine the future; keeping calm; being careful; cancelling things left, right and centre; worrying about family and friends; trying to sprinkle some money around town help out our small businesses; and having the occasional laugh at something ridiculous.
We are fortunate that life on the mountain is pretty stay at home-y most of the time; we have been able to spend vast amounts of time on our own; and even driving into the new studio and back involves no other folk.
So for now we socially distance as much as we possibly can. We stay at home as much as we can. Soon we may be forced to stay home; it's an evolving story for all of us, everywhere. Our world will be forever changed. We will be changed.
But over the weekend I went to the studio and printed some wee cards. I had woken at 3am one morning - and no way could I get back to sleep. My head was churning, trying hard to think of all the things we needed to do; and trying just as hard not to think about the scenario we find ourselves in.
I had read a post by Elizabeth Gilbert on Instagram about some words that help her manage anxiety.
I wrote them down and the next morning when I woke at 3am, wide awake and worrying, I tried them out.
And for me, they worked.
One side of the card just has the numbers 5 4 3 2 1.
I decided why not test out a thing I have wanted to do - that colour blending thing. I was barely capable of deciding which colours to use, so grabbed blue and green and went with it. And I liked it.
Once I went printing, I realised I liked the dark original print, but that I liked the second and third prints (much lighter) just as much, so I did that.
They are all about being there, and focusing on what is around you, using our five senses. I tried it in the semi dark at 3am and it still worked (funny it was hard to do the first bit with your eyes closed trying to relax back to sleep!!!). I opened them for that, then shut them.
So the idea is to identify and say to yourself 5 things you can see; then 4 things you can hear; 3 things you can feel, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste.
It really makes you stop and be absolutely present as you strain your ears or your nose to discover them. I guess its about paying attention too.
I found they worked and I went back to sleep so that was good. It may or may not work another time; it may or may not work for anybody else. But it might.
So if you'd like one or two; or if you know somebody who might like some, let me know and I'll do my best to pop them in the post to you (hoping the postal service continues).
I might also be able to scan them and then you can print them back to back yourself on some nice card? New times call for new ways and we shall find them.
Best to you all wherever you are and facing whatever you are facing. The world does have some magical people in it and we shall connect and do our best for each other in small ways and in big ways from here and from there. Go gently, go well, stay well.
I feel as if I am walking a fine line between being open to information; trying to plan and prepare; adapting to new situations in a matter of hours or days; trying to imagine the future; keeping calm; being careful; cancelling things left, right and centre; worrying about family and friends; trying to sprinkle some money around town help out our small businesses; and having the occasional laugh at something ridiculous.
We are fortunate that life on the mountain is pretty stay at home-y most of the time; we have been able to spend vast amounts of time on our own; and even driving into the new studio and back involves no other folk.
So for now we socially distance as much as we possibly can. We stay at home as much as we can. Soon we may be forced to stay home; it's an evolving story for all of us, everywhere. Our world will be forever changed. We will be changed.
But over the weekend I went to the studio and printed some wee cards. I had woken at 3am one morning - and no way could I get back to sleep. My head was churning, trying hard to think of all the things we needed to do; and trying just as hard not to think about the scenario we find ourselves in.
I had read a post by Elizabeth Gilbert on Instagram about some words that help her manage anxiety.
I wrote them down and the next morning when I woke at 3am, wide awake and worrying, I tried them out.
And for me, they worked.
One side of the card just has the numbers 5 4 3 2 1.
I decided why not test out a thing I have wanted to do - that colour blending thing. I was barely capable of deciding which colours to use, so grabbed blue and green and went with it. And I liked it.
Once I went printing, I realised I liked the dark original print, but that I liked the second and third prints (much lighter) just as much, so I did that.
On the back I was going to print the 5 things. It took me a little while to work out the typeface and the size but it all came together and today I went and printed the words.
They are all about being there, and focusing on what is around you, using our five senses. I tried it in the semi dark at 3am and it still worked (funny it was hard to do the first bit with your eyes closed trying to relax back to sleep!!!). I opened them for that, then shut them.
So the idea is to identify and say to yourself 5 things you can see; then 4 things you can hear; 3 things you can feel, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste.
It really makes you stop and be absolutely present as you strain your ears or your nose to discover them. I guess its about paying attention too.
I found they worked and I went back to sleep so that was good. It may or may not work another time; it may or may not work for anybody else. But it might.
So if you'd like one or two; or if you know somebody who might like some, let me know and I'll do my best to pop them in the post to you (hoping the postal service continues).
I might also be able to scan them and then you can print them back to back yourself on some nice card? New times call for new ways and we shall find them.
Best to you all wherever you are and facing whatever you are facing. The world does have some magical people in it and we shall connect and do our best for each other in small ways and in big ways from here and from there. Go gently, go well, stay well.
