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The Power of Nature

Mental Health Awareness Week

Hello to you all

I hope you have had a good week. Isn’t it funny that whatever the weather, we always want something different? Over here in France there has been a real lack of rain over the winter. At times it hasn’t felt like that but in many parts of France there have been water shortages. Now the weather is rainy and chilly for the time of year, we want the sunshine! Last year in May the weather was warm and we were longing to swim (see post Diving into la Piscine to find out why we couldn’t!). This year with temperatures around 16°C at the moment, and the pool at the same temperature, not so keen! It was 29°C last Saturday, by Tuesday it was back down to about 13°C. Summer is not quite ready yet.

I love all types of weather and being out here in the countryside, I get to experience some amazing skies, whether stormy, very blue or cloudy. I can’t tell you how many photos of the sky I have taken, not just here but always. Being out in the open is so beneficial for our health both physical and mental.

In a bit of a departure this week from renovating, gardening and cooking, I thought I would highlight Mental Health Awareness Week. Mental health is every bit as important as physical health, many might argue more so. This is a subject very close to my heart, with family and friends struggling with their mental health. It is often overlooked or the impact under-estimated, and people are just told to cheer up. This is something that can be impossible and very demoralising for someone struggling to see a positive in life. We all have our ups and downs, physically and mentally, but for some, actually many, the downs are very hard to shake off.

This week the Mental Health Foundation is highlighting mental health during their awareness week. The theme this year is Nature and the benefit time with nature can have on one’s mental health. Find out more at https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week. There are some great tips and resources, including a Nature Journal. This is somewhere to note down the impact on your mood of time with nature. My younger son introduced me to journaling, but if you haven’t tried this, a Nature Journal seems like a great place to start.

For many it is very hard to get out and enjoy nature, but even a few moments can be hugely helpful. For me, even sitting outside for a few minutes listening to the birds, watching the insects or the kittens, just enjoying the view or the flowers and plants around me can be very restorative.

I think I have mentioned that the sea is my go-to place when I need a boost. I grew up by the sea and love walking along the shore, whatever the weather. Perhaps it is the vastness of the sea, its rhythm, changing colours, its power and depth. I don’t really know. Maybe it is just the lovely fresh air but time by the sea is a great healer for me.

We don’t live near the sea now, but I can see a lake from our garden. My new place to sit for a moment of tranquillity is our terrace looking across to the village and the lake. This is a view I never tire of, ever changing, no two days the same but inspiring, calming, soothing and the subject of too many of my photos! A great place for a coffee and chocolatine (or an apéro)!

There are plenty of lovely walks on our doorstep and rivers nearby for some water. I now take greater notice of nature, seeing wildflowers I haven’t seen in a long time. I think I have always enjoyed nature, but now I understand the good it does, I really try to notice more and be aware of the beauty all around us. This week we have been out for a few blustery, showery walks – good to blow the cobwebs away. When the sun shines, there are butterflies everywhere. My favourite this week has got to be these little blue butterflies, possibly a Holly Blue but I am not sure.

Since living over here, probably because we are out in the countryside, I have enjoyed each passing season so much more. It is amazing watching each phase of the year as Nature wakes from winter slumber, the different wildflowers, the birdsong, the trees waking up and the garden and countryside coming back to life. Poppies are in abundance at the moment – a great favourite, so vibrant.

I am lucky to have a large garden in France and a love of gardening. I take great pleasure in growing things from seed. There is something so magical about planting a seed and watching a tiny shoot emerge from the soil, then transplanting it so it can grow larger, getting the plant ready for outdoor life and then putting it out in the garden. When the weather is better, seeds go directly into the garden. I have recently sown some poppies and cornflowers around one of our fruit trees, in a bed I created last year. There are now lots of tiny shoots, so satisfying. I am looking forward to a fabulous show of bee friendly flowers in the months to come. My sunflower seeds are also up – I think we will have sunflowers either side of the front door this year. Such a cheery flower that always makes me smile. Some of last year’s flowers have self-seeded – so exciting to find cornflowers, sweet peas and cosmos popping up.

We all need to find time for ourselves in our busy lives, whether out with nature, a quiet moment, yoga (or for me ballet), reading, jigsaws, music or anything you really enjoy. This is very important for our mental health and well-being. Alongside nature, I love creative activities, so sewing or painting furniture absorbs me, but a good dance around the kitchen to some lovely music also works wonders! This week, having finally regained use of my right hand, 4 weeks after the cat incident (see post: Contretemps with the Cat), I have started painting an old table. I have lots of projects to sort out and haven’t done anything for a while. One drawer front so far – what do you think? I am picking out the detail with a colour called Quill (Valspar), a matchpot we got for wall paint and then didn’t choose. I am using an ivory coloured chalk paint for the table. I will show you the finished item next week.

Now that I can paint again I hope to finally get the hall finished and perhaps also finish the flowerbed around the cherry tree. Like the one around the plum tree, it will be bordered with the old roof slates and have lavender in each corner, with some bee friendly flowers for the summer.

Look after yourselves this week and try to make some time for yourself. Let me know what your favourite me-time activity is.

A bientôt
Ali xx

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