Currently we're running through a Z-A of activities to try, in order to manage stress and anxiety and support self-care.
13 Reasons to think positively about thirteen
Our fears (mainly superstition) of thirteen date back to biblical times. The poor number generally gets a bit of a bashing doesn't it? Personally, I love it and find its mystery fascinating. Wouldn't it be lovely if we could change the way we think about it? So, on Friday 13th, in the month of Halloween, I present you with 13 fun reasons why we can view the number between 12 and 14 more positively.
1. The names of the fears themselves are just wonderful
Triksideskaphobia - fear of the number 13, Paraskevidekatriaphobia - fear of Friday the13th
I don't know about you, but I love a word I can't pronounce. These two seem to be 'the more the merrier' in terms of letters too.
2. The unspoken avoidance can be quite funny
Buildings, aeroplanes and train stations (yes, Paddington I'm talking to you) miss the number out in their labelling. Floors, aisles and platforms mysteriously jump from 12 to 14. Do they think by pretending 13 doesn't exist, it can't hurt anyone? It's really just 13 disguised as 14 then isn't it?
3. Hidden 13
It's a number hidden in random little things, which haven't harmed us. To name a few...
A lot of the calendar months have 31 days. Surely this is just 13 backwards?
4. Time
Have you noticed how we have a 13:00 every day and survive? It's lunch time for me, and being such a foodie, I very much appreciate it.
5. Age
It's the first of the teens. The first step on a child's journey into the challenging world of young adulthood. I like to think kids are still sweet and innocent as they reach this milestone.
6. Entertainment
Great films and TV series have included this number in the title.
7. Maths
It's not just a prime number, (only divisible by itself and 1). It's also in the Fibonacci sequence, known for fascinating patterns in maths and nature. (Each number is the sum of the two previous ones.)
8. Feminine number
It's considered a fertility number by the ancient Greeks. Some mythologists view it as feminine due to a 'regular' woman having 13 menstrual cycles in a year. Interesting!
9. New beginnings
The common misconception of the Death card in Tarot (13th card) is the literal reading. Yes, it does symbolise endings, but these can lead to rebirth and powerful new beginnings!
10. Elements
This number is associated with the element of air. Creative and intellectual energy is ours!
11. It can be lucky
In places like Thailand, India and Japan, 13 is considered a very lucky number. The Italian expression fare tredici (“to do 13”) means hit the jackpot!
12. A personal connection to it
I was born in the 13th hour of the 26th June (double thirteen!) Is the 13th of the month a special date for you? Do you have happy memories of living at number 13 perhaps?
13. Mindset
Some people feel that today's date is associated with terribly bad luck. There's no concrete evidence to suggest anything bad is more likely to happen to us on this date than any other. It's simply a matter of personal belief.
Our brains are wired to focus on negatives, to keep us safe from impending danger. If something bad happens on the 13th day of the month, we are likely to keep noticing others. But what if we deliberately focused on good and positive things? There's likely to be lots of them too.
Friday 13th October, 1:13pm
Changing 'if' to 'let' (a poetic response)
Below is my interpretation of six lines from the famous poem - Rudyard Kipling's 'If' (highlighted above) It's part Writing for Wellbeing exercise, part creative response translated into my own words. Do I feel slightly self conscious sharing this? Yes! It's not written with proper rhythm, metre etc but it's not meant to be. I believe there's no right or wrong way to respond to a poem. Especially when we're not at school and it's not being marked for coursework or an exam.
It can be really freeing and fun to play with words. Sometimes more fun when it's other people's! We will all have different interpretations and bits that resonate with us most, in any poem. I love this poem but I found it interesting as part of me resisted slightly when it mentions 'man' to mean humans. I have to remind myself just how old the language is.
What speaks most to you and how would you rewrite it? I'd love to hear your versions.
Wednesday 13th September, 10:41am
A lovely lie-in
What do you consider as a lie-in?
Feel free to add your own to the possibilities above. If you're an early riser, you might not even consider you ever have a lie-in.
Having a little extra sleep or simply remaining lying down in comfortable surroundings (i.e. our own bed,) can have such a positive impact on general wellbeing. Even if we can't do it very often, especially if we can't do it very often, we are giving ourselves a gift. An act of self-care, moments of precious calm before the day has started.
Lounging around, reading, listening to or watching something can also have an uplifting effect. Providing, of course, we don't suffer with getting to sleep in general. Who says a lie-in needs to be where we sleep if this is the case? Anywhere you feel cosy, free and relaxed works wonders.
My sister and I like to use the term 'drowsing' for that lovely phase between sleep and wakefulness. It's feeling drowsy but dozing, a peaceful place where it's hard to care about any current stresses. We can just put those off for a little while...
When we're in this state, our brains can whir in the background and come up with helpful solutions to our issues, obstacles or problems. All because we're resting. Isn't that wonderful? So go ahead, plan your next lie-in!
Sunday 13th August, 3:09pm
I've Ticked Whitby Off The Bucket List
I've wanted to go to Whitby for over a decade for so many reasons. There's the literary roots, breath-taking beauty and general eeriness, plus it's on the coast - so dramatic windy hilltops!
I'm a big fan of the mystical and fantastical, so went on a ghost walk with the strange and very silly Dr Crank. He signposted a tunnel where it's almost law to scream when you reach the middle. This is in order to ward off evil spirits. Dracula's bench was also pointed out - a favourite spot for Bram Stoker while he wrote. Can you spot the profound message in graffiti?
When planning the itinerary, another special place was added - Goathland. Some of you will know the sleepy little Yorkshire village as Aidensfield where Heartbeat (TV series) was set. The train station doubles up as Hogsmede in the Harry Potter films!
My holiday wasn't an extravagant, life changing experience on the other side of the world but, quite simply, it exceeded my high expectations. Yes, we can big things up in our minds and then feel disappointed when they are actually happening. We might also wonder if it was worth it when they're over. But the moment we decide a certain destination is worthy of 'absolutely must do that before I leave this world', I think we give it incredible power. I was lucky enough to have nothing but positive reviews of Whitby before going, but any negative ones wouldn't have stopped me. In the end we must make up our own minds because it's our mind that made the decision in the first place.
How many of you reading have completed a bucket list trip? Have you got one planned any time soon? Perhaps they are still a dream for now. Isn't that a lovely thought, of what is still to come...
Thursday 13th July, 4:30pm
😎☀️Are you READY for summer?🚤⛱️🌻
Whether you're going on holiday, taking part in a series of activities or simply doing something silly and fun at home, summer is over all too quickly. You might be taking time off for a well-deserved break or rest from work, some quality alone time or to spend with the kids. Either way, when people ask how your summer was, wouldn't it be lovely if you could truthfully answer 'amazing'?
The days are longer. Light is plentiful. Time outdoors is warm and dry (hopefully.) But many people often fall into one of two categories. We A. plan too much, struggle to do it all or do it all and make ourselves ill for the majority of the autumn, or B. plan nothing/very little and wish we had.
So to help you feel ready for, and find meaning in, the next few glorious months, here are some questions for self-reflection and journaling.
Recall
What have you enjoyed about previous summers?
Engage
Thinking about the above, what's going on in your area or in your chosen destination? What could you bring in/find out in your home? Who else is around in the next few months to catch up with?
Arrange
Three things you want to do. What are you most drawn to? What would have the most positive impact on your wellbeing?
Decide
How you'll make the most of the things you've planned. It might simply be about living more in the moment.
Yes!
You know you'll have a great summer now. Why are you ready to enjoy it?
Tuesday 13th June, 1:00pm