Gum on My Shoe

There is no such thing as a new idea. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. — Mark Twain Here at Gum on My Shoe we share new content every week. We published 73 posts last year. The year before it was 63. In 2023 it was 61. At the time of writing, we’ve published 828 posts since our blog started in 2013. Most of the content is written by me personally. That’s a lot of words to a tight, albeit self-imposed, schedule. If you’re wondering how I stay motivated and inspired, keep reading. Here are a dozen things that inspire me, with a few examples of each. Our blog focuses on mental health and supportive friendships but most of these ideas are relevant to other topics and themes. 1. Conversations Many of my blog posts are inspired by conversations with Fran, other friends, colleagues, and even complete strangers. Sometimes it’s the conversation itself that inspires me but a single turn of phrase, question, or insight can be enough...

Happy? Why does everyone have to be happy all the time? — Doc Martin , S6E7 This blog post was inspired by a conversation with Fran in which she mentioned asking a friend, “Are you happy?” After what I imagine was a moment’s hesitation her friend answered, “Sometimes yes. Sometimes no.” I smiled at the answer but it reminded me of something I struggle with a lot. We take for granted that everyone uses words in the same way. This is fine when we’re discussing material things or events. If I told you I spent six hours in my local coffee shop working on this blog post, you’d know what I meant. If I said I enjoyed myself you’d nod, relating my use of enjoyed to situations you’d label with the same word. But we don’t necessarily use it in the same way. We might label distinctly different emotions with the same word, and use different labels for essentially the same experience. I told Fran that if she was to ask me “Are you happy?” I’d first have to think about what that word means ...

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you. — Pharrell Williams. “Happy.” Founded in 2000 by the Society of Happy People (SOHP), Happiness Happens Month is observed each August as a celebration of the things that make us happy. To mark the occasion I posted the following request on our social media channels. ARE YOU HAPPY? I’m writing a blog post about happiness and would welcome your thoughts and experiences. What does happiness mean to you? What makes you happy? What was the last time you felt happy? The contributions are presented here with only minor edits for clarity. Happiness for me is when I’m dissatisfied enough to get on with something. Happiness = getting satisfaction out of life. (Paul) I’m happy as I’ve got my 2 kids by my side, through the good and bad days. (Joanne) Happiness, for me, is a carefree, safe, content feeling. (Sandra) I am happy everyday because I am choosing the lifestyle that makes me feel grounded and content. Enjoying the beauty o...

Check out our top blog posts for the past month. Posts are listed by the number of page views they attracted during the month, most popular first.

And there were times I’d take my pen And feel obliged to start again. — Orange Juice. “Rip it Up.” I think I just decided to scrap the blog post I’ve been writing as a guest piece for Sophie’s blog. I’ve been working on it almost every day for two weeks. It’s not writer’s block. I’ve written more than enough words. Most of the individual paragraphs are ok in themselves but the piece as a whole simply doesn’t work. Sigh. I remember writing those words. It was July 15 this year and I was sitting at the slightly wobbly table on the balcony of the cottage I’d rented at Windermere Marina Village in the Lake District. I’d settled in with a coffee and my little writing setup — my Android tablet on its stand and the larger of my two Bluetooth keyboards — hoping to find some creative clarity. I’d had such high hopes for that blog post. A title I was happy with. A great photo sourced from Unsplash. A solid lead into the piece, inspired by something my friend and fellow blogger Soph...

Falling each year on July 24, International Self-Care Day is an opportunity to promote self-care as a vital part of our health and wellbeing. The date (represented as 24/7 in most parts of the world, 7/24 in the US) reminds us that self-care is important twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. What Is Self-Care? Self-care is one of those terms that’s difficult to define, not least because it can mean different things to different people. I find the following definition of self-care by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) helpful. Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact. Self-care looks different for everyone, and it is important to find what you need and enjoy. It may take trial an...