NST JUST JUNE

mothernerd

June Challenge Day 18
Cupcake Day - organised by the Alzheimer's Society to raise awareness and funds.

mothernerd

Rain is just confetti from the sky
When life throws you a rainy day, play in the puddles
Some people feel the rain, others just get wet
Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows the flowers, not thunder
Everybody wants happiness and nobody wants pain, but you can't have a rainbow without a little rain

Just go with the flow. Should I do my portable rainbows explanation?

apple_muncher

Yes please, mothernerd. We always need to hear about portable rainbows.

Calling14

Thanks Mothernerd love your quotes.

Yesterday basic foodstuff spend £25

Today ordered bench paint online, not any dearer than shops just £3 postage. Would cost me that in fuel plus B &  Que listing it in clearance section oos. Whilst at it ordered non slip decking paint, 2 tins. Be worth the money if I can walk on it when wet. Found that cheaper than shops on Amazonie. Just need to powerwash decking and take my time, worst jobs for back ache.

Raining here today, off work this afternoon, rain all day by the looks of it. No idea what to do with myself, need to get out of the house before I find more jobs to do. Wet walk looking likely.

Grateful for

Boss bringing his sons bday cake into day. Not that I needed the calories.

Happy paint ordered, starting to panic would have to re do what I have already done.

Lots of raspberries in my garden.

abbi_aurelia

Morning 
Working in the office today so have some socially distanced company which is lovely.  OH has got LO and is trying an experimental spag bol (half meat/half veg) we normally aim for 1/4 veg to replace mince so see how it goes.
Grateful for finishing the Illiad, now onto The Age of Innocence, OH cooking dinner and for chatting to real people instead of over webchat

mothernerd

Thirteen years ago, I was doing a work placement in Manchester as part of my foundation degree in Environmental Science and Management. One very grey and rainy day the bus was so crowded that I had to stand up all the way home (it was the third bus that came as they were all full). My rucksack was so full and I felt really tired and fed up. After a few miles (stop and start as it was rush hour now, which I usually managed to avoid) a bit of weak sunshine broke through the clouds. Suddenly a huge rainbow appeared, arching over the bus and out across the fields on either side. It changed the whole day, my spirits were uplifted, I felt happy and grateful and it occurred to me that what I needed in my life were 'portable rainbows' - simple little things that I could carry around with me to remind me of all the good things when life felt very gloomy.

I have an elephant keyring. It came from a fair trade shop and is a simple wooden carving with a brightly coloured coat (that elephants wear for celebrations). I found that if I threaded it through the bottom buttonhole of my cardigan it would bang against my leg as I walked. Each time it did I tried to focus on something good or fun in my life, or just smile thinking about my elephant. I had a set of metal bangles that I put on my arm. As I moved my arms they slid up and down and clashed joyfully and again I smiled. I pulled all the tiny perfume bottles from the drawer and used different ones on different days.

Using my portable rainbows is one of the many techniques I have for coping with my depression. Being aware of my senses, using things I can see, hear, feel, smell and touch (eating spicy foods or chocolate for taste) makes me feel more alive (part mindfulness, part grounding), more aware. Using up the little perfume bottles - ones I thought were too flowery, too strong, too sexy, just not 'me' opened me up to the possibility of change - I could try being a different 'me' for a day - softer and sweeter, bolder and more daring, not always hiding, dressing down (hiding behind the dowdy) and make other little changes in my life that might lead to big changes.

Toni'sfriend

What a lovely and inspirational story, Mothernerd. Thank you.

abundant1972

Afternoon   

It is raining here but I love it - so cool and I can hear it pounding on my window... I'm very content. Thank you Mothernerd - you made me laugh with the  reference to the Japanese technique of sorting through what does/doesn't bring you joy haha. I did it with my clothes and it worked. I never thought about going through the fridge and my bills haha! Love the portable rainbow ideas too... Will have to have a think what I could use...

Apple - I am becoming a master at the well-meant distraction... I have realised trying to get Mum to do something directly (e.g. go to the loo) rarely works... I have to be a bit devious and ask her to help me upstairs with something, even if it is just a pair of socks or something I could easily manage. What I find is, when she sees the loo she then will often go herself. So yes - a cup of tea is always a good tool. I bought several books - and for whatever reason - have resisted reading them. I will dig them out and give them a read. I think I bought them early on in her diagnosis and i didn't want to read about how things might progress, I'm not sure I do still... but well, forewarned is forearmed as they say. 

Today I am grateful for:

1) Time out to be mindful
2) A humorous email from an old friend
3) The rainfall

Rest of the day I am spending in quiet contemplation with maybe the odd episode of Smallville (on Season 10 finally!) to break up the day. After that I will need a new series to watch! 

Have a lovely rest of day folks!!!

Toni'sfriend

Have managed NSD No 14

There is indeed a small birthday BBQ going on at the moment. Very responsible, though. Social distancing (as far as possible when you have an eight year old and a six year old), food on paper plates, plastic cutlery, straws, hand sanitiser. She's done very well to try to stick to the rules and everyone is known to one another and have been extremely careful through all of this. Just a bit of common sense, I think.

Lockdown easing here another little bit here. If only we could get everyone to stick to it as far as possible a not be stupid we might get out of this sooner than later.

Have a good night, everyone.

crazy_cat_lady

Evening all
Today I am celebrating my completely new bathroom, with a massive bath, new electrics, walls and floors and even a soft close toilet seat  
I have just spent 90 minutes in the bath reading a book and relaxing without fear of falling through the floor - it was pure heaven.
Thank you mothernerd for the story about portable rainbows. That is something I am definitely going to do.