Lily is my best therapy

A lot of my readers would be aware that I live with mental health issues and that I have a dog called Lily.

Lily often shows me why she is the best therapy ever. Most days I manage my mental health well, but certainly Lily is a huge help in keeping me well. Yesterday afternoon and early evening I was having some negative thoughts and feelings,  some dark thoughts and feelings and Lily must have sensed that because she has stayed right by my side. Today I am being kind to myself, and Lily is staying close to me,as I focus on staying well. I manage the day to day symptoms of my illness very well, and I think having a constant companion who is there just to love ❤️ and support you helps.  Dogs are intuitive and sometimes I believe they are psychic 🔮.  Lily knows me so well I love her dearly and I am so grateful for her gentle,  loving,  faithful  nature. She makes it easier to handle life. God created Dogs for a reason, they are humanity’s best friend and Lily is a huge part of me maintaining good mental health ❤️.  She keeps me well and on the right track..

Worrying about things i can’t change

What could you do less of?

I definitely am too caring at times and I am learning the hard way not to worry about things I have no control of. In the past I was a worry wort but have learned over the past few years that nothing is worth worrying about so much that it impacts on my mental health.  I get better at this as time marches on. We live and learn, experiences bring wisdom 🙏🏽.

Positive events over the past 12 months

What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?

Firstly I would have to say that over the past year I have enjoyed my writing ✍️ skills and have felt challenged and inspired in writing ✍️ this blog and writing more of The Angel Lady.

My friendships,  in particular my relationship with Kathryn has gone from strength to strength over the past year. I am so happy that Susanna brought Kathryn into my life.

My relationship with my family and in particular my mum has grown over the past year. Mum seems more accepting and proud of me over the past year and definitely she isn’t as judgemental about my mental health issues as she has been in the past. This can only be a good thing. I think that by reading 📚 my blog she learns a lot more about me and what makes me tick. Again this can only be a good thing.

Hopefully in this following year I will move into The Haven and will start a whole new chapter of my life

Do I ever see wild animals

Do you ever see wild animals?

Living in the outer suburban fringe of Melbourne i occasionally see the odd lost kangaroo in nearby streets.  I also occasionally see the odd wild rabbit in the distance. It has been awhile since I have been to the zoo and hope to visit the Werribee Open Range Zoo in the not too distant future ❤️.  I also love seeing Australian fauna like koalas and wombats and platypuses,  but I never would usually see them in the wild.

Too caring

What is one thing you would change about yourself?

Probably the one thing I would change about myself is that at times I am too caring and that this negatively impacts my mental health.  Even my psychiatrist praises me for being a caring person but he tells me that at times I am too caring.  By that he referring to the time that my concern over a friends behaviour and worrying about her and her children caused an onset of my mental health issues.  I try always to do the right thing and worry too much and care too much for the people in my life.

However, as I age and become wiser this caring side of me grows wiser and don’t let myself worry so much that I become unwell. I have learned the hard way that nothing is worth worrying about so much that it impacts my health.  It is a harsh lesson that I needed to learn.. I am a far wiser person than I was a couple of years ago.

A morning person

Are you more of a night or morning person?

I am definitely more of a morning 🌄 person.  I usually wake up between 6.00am and 7.00am.  I enjoy walking 🚶‍♂️ Lily of a morning in the fresh crisp morning air.  I am more productive of a morning 🌄 and tend to do my writing ✍️ in the morning, as I am doing now. By late afternoon my brain is foggy and I tend to put my phone on charge overnight around 6.00pm because by that time my mind is foggy and I can’t have serious conversations at that time.  I tend to talk to people and make my appointments for earlier in the day.

Rainy start to summer

Today is the first day of summer here in Melbourne Australia 🇦🇺 and it is wintry weather. There are storms and heavy rain and cold 🥶 temperatures.  It is hard to believe that in 2 days time we are expecting heat around 32 degrees.  Lily loves her creature comforts when it is wet and stormy and this image is about how much she loves being warm and dry when it is pouring outside.

Bring on summer ☀️ soon. At least in Melbourne we have interesting weather,  four seasons in one day.