• Guest Post: Beautiful Things to Do…from an Artsy Perspective!

    I hope you enjoy this fabulous guest post from June, one of our amazing Trail Blazers in the Wellness Trailblazers’ Cafe.  A huge thank you to June for sharing her arty suggestions with us here. See you next week, darlings. Grace xx 1. Draw what you see: I’ve been inspired by a visit to the David Hockney exhibition in Saltaire where there was a sequence of artwork on a big screen where he had drawn the view from his window using his iPad. It doesn’t have to be digital – it could be a pencil drawing with highlights done in coloured pencils, or using pastels or paints. 2. Artistic endeavours are a good excuse to…

  • Having a Bad Day? Head Here…

    Bad days happen. Sometimes you know why you are stuck and struggling, but don’t see how to change it. Other times you can’t see a reason for your mood, but still can’t get out of it. I know what that’s like, and I’ve made a list of tiny actions to shift your energy, your thinking, your perspective and hopefully shift your mood too. I hope these tiny actions make your day, (however dark) a little brighter. (Click to Tweet!) * Wear a hat, because hats change perspective and make nearly everything better. * Watch a duckling running. * Read something that makes you smile. * Wrap up in a soft quilt with…

  • My Top Ten Most Comforting Books

    When you need some comfort, if you are having a difficult day or you just want something lovely to occupy you – dig into this list and don’t forget to comment to share your favourite comfort books/films/actions. 1. The Harry Potter Series  Because what part of becoming a wizard, and overcoming evil with the help of your friends isn’t heart-warming?   2. Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day It’s the ultimate Cinderella story, and it is unmissable.   3. Cold Comfort Farm Flora Poste “of every art and grace save that of earning her own living,” travels to the farm of her relatives, and finding it devoid of both common…

  • Emotional Rescue: A Poetic Refuge

    What do you do when you are sad or struggling? I read poetry. In fact I can’t understand why one wouldn’t read poems then. People tell me, ‘oh I don’t really get poetry.’ It baffles me. If you don’t have poems or prayers ,what do you hold onto when the pain gets to be too much? When you aren’t strong enough to hold on any more. Poetry as therapy exists, and Bibliotherapy is even being piloted on the National Health Service “The use of books as therapy in the treatment of mental or psychological disorders.” – Oxford English Dictionary I’ve compiled my own bibliotherapy shortlist for you. Scroll down and find…