Tag Archives: therapy

Artful winter survival

07 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by in Art, community, Health, pets, philosophy, photography, reading, therapy, writing

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Canadian winters…  You adapt to the season or you escape to warmer climates.

For those of us who are not beach lovers or sun worshipers, we choose to stay and make the best of it. Sometime after January 31st, we start complaining.

bus shelter surrounded by snow

Public Transportation experience

We pop our Vitamin C, D and Omega-3 and absorb the glow from the DayLight lamp while we curse the inconveniences of the season. We get in gentle exercise, cautious walks outdoors, small social gatherings then retreat indoors for quiet activities.

As someone who appreciates the quiet and calm of my humble abode, I make efforts to refresh my living space and head space by performing winter housecleaning and preparation for the Lunar New Year. It’s a valid excuse to add ceremony to housework, to make it fun and hopeful.

Of course, when you share living space with cats, you adjust the placement of items to maintain harmony in your home.

cats hiding in play structure

Cats avoiding the cleaning staff

One way I refresh my head space is learning new things, doodling, listening to uplifting music and reading. When you’re a bus mouse, you can get in some good reading time – if you can find a good seat for the long workday commutes.

Photo of I Ching Handbook

I Ching Handbook

So as we navigate through and negotiate with Winter, we can remind ourselves that it will soon lead to Spring.

There is hope.

Photo of life cycles banner

Thanks for reading along! How do you survive Winter in your neck of the worldly woods?

T

 

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Everyone has a story

27 Sunday Jul 2014

Posted by in community, reading, therapy, writing

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As a real life survivor, parent, attentive friend and writing group member, I agree with the statement that everyone has a story.

I have met people who have a story or two – or more – to share.  Some offer real life accounts and cautionary tales.

Some offer works of fiction whose characters have sprung from their imaginations and forced the writers to give them life upon the page.

pen and paper

Some writing friends have far-out story ideas that extend beyond the galaxy.  Other friends have shared down-to-earth stories or similar real-life struggles as I. Some have written about them either as self-help books, blogs or as works of fiction containing different places and names. More cautionary tales.

Many people have interesting lives during which they have survived setbacks not within their control or conquered addictions and personal demons.

I admire those with the courage to put pen to paper, to open their journals and hearts to a trusted few. At least twice a year they bravely and willingly deliver a six-minute reading in front of their peers.

My local writing group is Ottawa Independent Writers.  That’s in Canada, eh? One does not have to be a published author or literary snob to join.  One merely needs to have an interest in writing and would like to connect with others in our community.

You are invited to post a comment here, to add a description and link to your writing group’s web site.  Please note that comments will be moderated. Any that are off-topic will be sent into oblivion.

Thanks for dropping by.

T