Variety

Dear friends,
When I am in my up, zippy phase my life is full of creating and variety. I love it. When I am in my quiet phase life is less varied and I am trying to learn to appreciate the calmness and serenity of less not more. Do you like variety? Do you appreciate still and quiet times in your life?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Busyness

Dear friends,
I am in a super zippy, up phase of my mood disorder and very busy. Times like now I need to contain the amount of things I take on, be mindful of not over committing and I make lots of lists and journal to keep track of myself. How do you deal with your busy times and / or busy life?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Abundance

Dear friends,
I live a very simple but rich life and am on a pension due to health problems. I consider that I have an abundant life. I am happy with my life and grateful for what I have materially, with friends and my talents.
Do you have an abundant life?

Lots of love from susan in australia

The hero's journey

Dear friends,
I am doing a hero's journey workshop based on Joseph Campbells work. I have done a few collages on my blog of my first homework. What to you is a hero’s journey? I'd love your response on this for my workshop journey

Lots of love from susan in australia

New friends

Dear friends,
I just had a new friend come for lunch and to share our love of God, scrap booking and artist journals. We had a wonderful time and I hope we meet again. Have you made a new friend lately?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Staying up late

Dear friends,
With my mental illness I need to try and keep my bedtime regular but every so often I’m not tired and I think I will stay up until I get tired. I stayed up until 4am. I read a book called “Feel the fear and do it anyway” and did some of my artist journaling. I drank heaps of decaf coffee and generally enjoyed myself. Do you ever stay up late?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Decluttering

Dear friends,
My mum is getting older and wanting to get rid of a lot of her possessions in case she has to move into a smaller home. I also cleared out huge amounts of possessions when I downsized from a house to a unit. We are both people who keep what we need and give away the rest. Are you a hoarder? Have you ever decluttered? Do you live in clutter?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Days off

Dear friends,
With my exercising I have a day off from biking, walking and yoga. I have days off from my other routines like not making my bed! Do you have days off or always stick to your routines?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Enthusiasm

Dear friends, When I am in my zippy, up phase of my mental illness I am always full of enthusiasm and ablaze with ideas and things to do. My life feels so full and complete. When I am quiet and down it is harder to have enthusiasm and that is when I need to draw on my friends, family, my journals for inspiration. Are you an enthusiastic person? What helps your enthusiasm/

Lots of love from susan in australia

Patience

Dear friends,
I am needing to come up with creative ideas for a collage and journaling for an online workshop about the Hero's journey and I am having a real hard time with it. The ideas are coming slowly and some of them are conflicting and need sorting through. I am being impatient. Do you get impatient with your life and your self?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Reaching out

Dear friends,
Just last year a leaflet arrived in my mailbox inviting me to a Christian course at the local church. I went along to the 12 week course and have made some wonderful new friends. What new adventures have you taken lately? Something new you have tried?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Snail mail

Dear friends,
I still have friends who don't have computers and even if they do they love snail mailing. I love receiving snail mail and enjoy writing letters. Are you a snail mailer? What do you enjoy about it?
lots of love from susan in australia

Pacific gulls

Dear friends,
I love looking out for the Pacific gulls down at the beach and at my home. There are young ones who take 4 years to mature I am told. I love it when they hover overhead or fly by. What do you love about the nature around you?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Ideas

Dear friends,
For ideas for my creative work I usually go from the moment and rarely plan ahead. Some people have a book of ideas that they refer to and add to and have books that they brainstorm in. Do you create in the moment or have a book of ideas or do ideas percolate in your head?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Motivation

Dear friends,
I’ve woken slow and sluggish but need to keep going. I have my routines of prayers, daily morning emails and breakfast and the day begins. I will go and visit my mother which I do on Saturday afternoons. Routines help keep me motivated. What keeps you motivated?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Fear

Dear friends,
I have a fear of passing cars on busy country roads. I used to be fine but since my breakdown I have lost my confidence. I visit a friend every few weeks and she lives in the country and i have to face my fears on the roads. Is there anything you are afraid of that you are confronting?
lots of love from susan in australia

New Year

Dear friends,
When I looked at my achievements for 2009 I was quite surprised. I feel positive going into 2010 and am strong in how I see myself. Do you look back at your achievements each year? Do you make new year resolutions?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Good news

Dear friends,
I remember when I was waiting for my work placement when I had finished my training as a teacher librarian. I got a posting just near my parents and close to my new home. I was so pleased. What is some good news that you were hoping for? Any now? I am hoping to travel more.

Lots of love from susan in australia

Resuming

Dear friends,
Yesterday I walked around the National art gallery for 4 hours. I guess my knee injuries are much better. I walked to the beach today. It is good to resume my daily walks. Have your resumed anything lately?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Neighbourhoods

Dear friends,
In my neighbourhood I have wonderful neighbours, lots of houses and gardens, 2 small local shopping centres with lots of shop owners I know by name. I have the beach and parks. What is special about your neighbourhood?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Too many changes

Dear friends,
I remember when my mum fractured her hip and there was suddenly too many changes in her life and mine. I needed to ground myself with my writing and walks. What grounds you when there is too much change?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Change

Dear friends,
I love change in my life and often instigate changes in my routines. At the moment because of knee injuries I can’t do my usual biking and yoga and long walks so I now have more time for art, reading, writing, etc. Do you like change? Do you create it? Why or why not?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Surprises

Dear friends,
Yesterday I dropped past a friends house to exchange a hug....that’s it that’s all. She was so thrilled I did that and surprised her. I will do it again. Do you surprise your friends with little acts of kindness?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Positive thinking

Dear friends,
Sometimes I look over my life and see the disappointments like not getting married, not having kids and then I look at the good things that have happened instead because of that like more time with family and friends and interests. Can you see the good things that come from sad or bad things in your life?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Challenging times

Dear friends,
I am in my up cycle and have forgotten what it’s like to sleep in until late and half the day is gone. I know these days will come again. I make small preparations like freezing meals, encouraging notes in my journal, plenty of food on hand. Do you do small things to help yourself through challenging times?

Lots of love from susan in australia
PS I went to Southland shopping mall and I didn't have any anxiety at all. When I started blogging I used to have panic attacks when I went and over the years I have learnt to manage them and now I don't get them. Blessed be. An answer to prayer and my efforts

Rituals

Dear friends,
I have a morning ritual of lighting a candle, prayers, meditation,yoga and then my emails and computering for the day. Do you have any daily rituals?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Setbacks

Dear friends,
I had a bad fall and can’t do my daily hourly walks. I am seeing the doctor on Wednesday. I will have to resume my walks in baby steps again. Back to basics. Have you had any setbacks lately? How do you get back on track?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Little adventures

Dear friends,
On a recent walk I discovered an area I haven’t been to before. It had an unmade road which is unusual in the suburbia around here. It was such a pleasant discovery. Have you been on an adventure lately and discovered something new?

Lots of love from susan in australia

Adventures