That was the backdrop to my early morning workout. So much better that grey, damp , gnarly mist.
At the end of the workout I was finishing off with 10 minutes tai chi when a couple of thoughts crossed my mind. Apart from ITS FREEZING and why on earth did I come outside in cycle shorts.
I thought about clearly looking like a complete Wally and also what my family would think if they could see me now. One of my sisters would be cool with it as she does yoga. The others not so sure. My brother would definitely mutter something involving the word ‘hippy’. My parents would have talked about the world clearly going completely mad. Their idea of a mindfulness workout would have just about stretched to putting on the kettle for a cup of Yorkshire Tea. It’s a Yorkshire thing. We have a saying here
If the country raises the threat level to national panic, Yorkshire would raise the threat level to ‘ put a mug of tea on’.
I guess we all have to find whatever works for us.
But that’s the thing. I’m not sure my parents ever really did. Too many people don’t. We still don’t talk about mental health enough. That has to change.
So tomorrow I will be outside and trying to master Tai Chi. I might look like a Wally but that’s fine with me. Trying to deal with mental health issues is so worth it.
Amen!! Who cares what you look like?! What matters most is how you feel… physically, mentally, and emotionally. Get those in shape and everything is groovy!
Rock the cycle shorts!ππΌπππ
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Lime green cycle shorts. xxx
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I find so much beauty in that sky, and your words. Wonderful post. Yes, mental health needs to be a conversation, always.
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Thank you so much.
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π
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Nice post. Youβre right, so worth it!
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Thank you
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What is a Wally? Here in the states i remember Wally being Beaver’s older brother in Leave It To Beaver. Just curious is all. π
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Think Boris Johnson.
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And we love walls. My parents never talked about Mum having a nervous breakdown, or being in a mental health hospital, or trying to commit suicide.
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My family never discussed my mother’s debilitating chronic pain and related depression. Nor that treatment literally made her crazy and caused hallucinations. I was in my late 20s before being mis-diagnosed as bipolar then correctly diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I realized I had severe depression in my teens but my non-talking family ignored it as teenage angst.
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My mother went to bed, when I was 9 with a nervous breakdown, and stayed there for 2 years. I went to school, shopped, closed and cooked for my Dad and 16 year old brother. In later years she was in a mental hospital, where she tried to commit suicide. I have had anxiety and panic attacks all my life.
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I’m so sorry!
I never tried suicide but lost will to live and welcomed death. After getting on meds, I had 2 really weird experiences where I disappeared from events and started walking to nowhere in particular. Part of my brain kept telling me to stop and call for help, but that wasn’t the part that had control of me. I’m extremely lucky both events turned out okay (the “stop & call” brain took control after an hour or so). Really scary to feel I had no control over myself!
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I have had times when I feel as if I am outside of myself looking in. If that makes sense.
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I so understand that.
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It does. The mind is a complicated thing. I’m not religous at all but experienced several things I can’t explain any other way.
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These things do make you think.
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The brain goes into some strange places. Itβs so hard to explain.
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My mum had a breakdown and stayed on the sofa for month.
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It was too often brushed under the carpet.
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My family didn’t talk about anything, good or bad.
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Mine was the same
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I’m sorry. But it’s nice to know it wasn’t just me.
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Definitely not
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Just not supposed to talk about it. Which is wrong.
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Wallys. The phone keeps changing it
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Mine does.
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I enjoy looking like a weirdo!!
I’ve never felt any shame over my mental battles and discuss them openly. I know many (most? all?) people have experienced a mental issue in their life.
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Itβs a good look. x
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Thank you! This is not talked about enough. I will never understand the shame in it.πhugs!
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Hugs to you x
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β€οΈ
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xx
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β€οΈ
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xx
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β€οΈ
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xx
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It is totally fine to do your own thing.
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It so is.
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πππ
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π
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Do It!
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πxx
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βBut I donβt want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked.
“Oh, you canβt help that,” said the Cat: “weβre all mad here. Iβm mad. Youβre mad.”
“How do you know Iβm mad?” said Alice.
“You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldnβt have come here.β
Life would be so much easier if we’d just admit and accept mental illness/disorders as normal parts of life instead of something to be feared or shunned.
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It would be so much easier if that was how it was. Still we can hope.
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Finding ways to manage my mental health is a daily commitment. On Saturday I did 3 yoga practices, all with a different focus, because I needed to. The first step, I think is recognising when you need to take care x
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That is so the first step. x
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π€
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xx
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Keep the faith my friend. Keep the faith. Hard just now.
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I will my friend x
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Oh, iβd love to start learning Tai Chi. Recommend any online resources?
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The guy who got me into it was a 10 minute introduction video by so done called Jake Mace.
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It is, indeed. You have displayed such necessary adaptability
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Thank you Derrick.
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Do what makes you happy hon. Enjoy life. Both of us know just how short it can be.
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We so do.
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ππ
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Nothing wrong with looking like a Wally if you are doing something that is of personal benefit. And yes, people need to be able to talk far more openly about mental health. There is NO SHAME in it!!
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I have it down to a tee.
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I agree – who cares what you look like. You just do what you need to for your mental well being!
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Best way
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Absolutely a vital and worthwhile pursuit if we are to have any sense of peace in this world… wait, did I just sound like a hippie? π Hugs to you π
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Nothing wrong with that. Hugs to you xx
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