Gum on My Shoe

I saw a social media post the other day which invited readers to share a quotation or piece of wisdom that had changed their outlook on life. The first that sprang to my mind was something I learned from Fran in the early days of our friendship. Everyone gets to be who they are. Fran had been telling me about someone she knew, and how their behaviour had irritated her. I made a half-joking comment to the effect that maybe she needed better friends. “No,” she replied. “Everyone gets to be who they are.” “Even the assholes?” I asked, now less than half joking. “Even the assholes.” Something about the exchange stuck with me. Along with other favourite mantras of ours such as no pedestals and baby steps are steps too , Fran and I reprise everyone gets to be who they are from time to time. Why does it resonate with me so much? I think it’s because it’s a healthy reminder that none of us is perfect. We all carry our share of hang-ups and issues around with us. Some o...

This post was inspired by a recent call with Fran, in which she described the house- and cat-sitting she was doing for a friend. The cat was no problem at all, but the house plants were a different matter. There were plants in her friend’s third floor apartment, on the balcony, and on the ground floor. Those on the ground floor were a particular concern. There was a hosepipe but it didn’t work. Keeping the plants alive in the hot weather would mean many trips up and down stairs to fetch water from the apartment in the watering can. I listened as Fran shared how she was feeling about it all. I asked for clarification here and there, but I tried not to burden her with questions. (Fran will laugh when she reads this; to her it probably seems as though I do little but ask questions!) I agreed it was a lot to expect her to carry water down from the apartment, but didn’t pursue the matter. If there was a viable alternative, Fran would have thought of it. She was sharing her frustration...

As bloggers, we tend to write first and then look for images to enhance or accompany what we’ve written. While searching for that perfect image I’ve frequently come across pictures which weren’t what I was looking for, but nevertheless spoke to me. I realised that images can serve as blog prompts or inspirations in their own right. With that in mind, I’ve selected 21 images from Unsplash which I feel could be useful as prompts for mental health blog posts. Each is free to use and the Unsplash licence means no permission is needed to use the images for commercial and non-commercial purposes, although an attribution to the creator is appreciated. I’ve added a few thoughts of my own below each image, but if one moves you in a completely different direction, follow your inspiration! You’ll find these images and more in my Mental Health Blog Prompts collection at Unsplash, so check back there from time to time for more ideas. 1. Pawel Czerwinski Image by Pawel Czerw...

Check out our top posts for the past month. Posts are listed by the number of page views they attracted during the month, most popular first. Exploring Bipolar Disorder and the Sister Diagnosis of Schizoaffective Disorder. Is My Friend or Sibling Underdiagnosed? How to Educate Yourself about Your Friend's Mental Health Condition Our Top Posts of the Month (May 2022) For Brynn and Aimee: Thank You for Being There When I Don't Want to Talk (and When I Do) From Thought to Page: Adventures With Teeline Shorthand and Other Writing Systems How to Use a Spreadsheet for Wellness and Self-Care 10 Ways to Spend Quality Time with Your Friend That Don't Involve Talking about Mental Health How to Write the Best Acknowledgement Page for Your Book Men and Mental Health: Resources and Heroes Medicine, Morality, Personal Growth: Three Models of Illness and Wellness Our most visited pages were: Contact Us Resources About Us News and Appearances Our books...