Lived Experience Forum

[CheerBear]

Morning @Teej and anyone who might be reading 👋🙂

I had some feel goods reading your update yesterday Teej 😊 So great to hear you're with some lovely people, even if they're not the smell-good-in-that-way kind of people 😉

Love the idea that your respite stay again involves arty stuff. Do you have opportunities to do anything arty or creative yourself while you're there? (Is there space for a tired CheerBear to magically teleport there and join you?)

I wanted to reply, first to say that I hope the rest of your stay is helpful and full of support with and from lovely people, and also to check in myself. I'm not here at the moment as much as I wish I had time to be and I am missing here lots. Not being here is one of lots of (temporary but tricky) changes that have happened in the last weeks. Very little feels normal at all and I'm finding it a bit hard sometimes. I am realising how much better things feel when there is predictability, order, structure, routine... etc to my days. I'd be very happy if life was totally, completely in my control really 😉😆

As for the unwell one in our life, it looks like they will be heading for heart surgery soon-ish. I'm going in this morning to see if I can speak with someone at the hospital and ask questions well one has but is struggling to ask. There is a big team of specialists involved including heart people, tummy people, bone people and cancer people, and it can be very jumbly and confusing for my people sometimes. I'm hoping to be able to find some answers today and a way to de-jumble things a bit 🤞

Hope the forecast today is for a calm one with plenty of good in it for you (and us all). Missing you and everyone, but often thinking of you 💗💕

[Teej]

Good morning all

just replying @CheerBear, @Faith-and-Hope and anyone else reading. 

Im home now and was a bit sad to come home but the way they structure the program you really feel like you need to come home for a rest day. It is going out everyday doing multiple things. We did get to do some art. We had a watercolour class and I had a go at watercolours for the first time. We also had craft time to make cards. There is lots of art stuff in the house so when you are not out you can create until you drop if you want. During the day, the person on is very crafty and arty so there is heaps of amazing support there too. My time was very different to being home. 

I learned lots about myself while I was away. 

@CheerBear I’m thinking of you and hoping that things are going ok for you. Me thinks you might need respite too at some point. Always good for a check in when you are ready. 

@Faith-and-Hope I came home inspired. I researched a bit last night but went in circles. I also saw the price of getting my own art stuff and it’s way out of my league for now. I looked up art groups at community centres but there is not much my way. Most of them you have to take your own art gear as well. It’s ok though because I think I need to explore what it is that I want to do for now as well. I’m thinking lots of YouTube and Pinterest to see. I also learned that I get stuck in my head too much about what I think it should look like instead of going with the flow of creating. I’m sure that doesn’t surprise any of you. 

This is what I attempted to recreate in watercolour. I gave up but now looking back I learned lots during the process. I’d love to have another go sometime.

 

Im thinking I may not be on the forum much (but everytime I write this it’s not true :face_with_rolling_eyes:) except for maybe sticking around here on this thread. I’m more than happy for anyone else to join us here but find I’m getting overwhelmed too easily when I join other threads. It feels like I’m in a headspace where I need to explore who I am and how to integrate back into the real world again. I know my moods will change still and be erratic but I’m hoping I’m finding my baby steps forward. I discovered when I was away how petrified I am of not getting it right for anything and melted down quite a few times so that’s my focus a bit for now. 

Im also feeling very selfish but am struggling with absorbing too much pain of too many lately thus hanging around here a bit. I hope that will change and I find more balance again but for now I’m going to see how it goes. 

Edit... @CheerBear please don’t feel like this precludes you from writing about your stuff. I am connecting with much of it in a helpful way knowing I have this to go through with my parents at some stage. It is a bit like preparing me from what is to come. 

Soo after my long dribble post 😳 I saw this @CheerBear and thought of you because it had the word unicorn in it and then chuckled because this is my type of unicorn.

hugs to all 💜🤗

[Teej]

@CheerBear Please read the edit. 

[Zoe7]

Whether you are here a little or a lot it is always good to see you @Teej. Doing what you feel is right for you is so important so definitely no apologies needed for doing that Hon.

Glad you got some good things out of the program - it is nice to find new things you enjoy.

Hope you can rest up for now at home 

[CheerBear]

Yay it's you @Teej! So good to see you 😊

Thank you for letting us know how you got on. It sounds like such a great place to have been. I think anything that encourages and inspires creativity and is coupled with support, is awesome. I spent most of my break place stay making all kinds of things 🙂

So great to hear that you seem to have found some focus for you while you were away. I'm thinking that may have come from looking inside which can be so tough but so worth it when it's within a safe and supportive space (of whatever kind). Big love to you ❤

I think you're right in saying that respite will be on the cards again for me too one day, but that day will have to be a long way away. There's so much stuff happening and it's testing in all the ways it can be. I don't even know where to start or what to say anymore. Today things are relatively calm for now though, which is great.

I've taken photos for you of a couple of garden friends. I might drop them off in the community garden later 🙂

I hope you settle back at home well. Looking after yourself is a great thing to focus on Teej 👍❤

Love those unicorns 😁💗😆

[Zoe7]

Dropping by to send you some love too @CheerBear 💙💜💚💛🧡

[CheerBear]

Thanks @Zoe7 💚

[Faith-and-Hope]

Love those unicorns too @Teej .... I think they are my herd ......

I will tag you from the art thread where I had dropped some cheapy-version art ideas earlier today, if you feel up to taking a look.  I will try to grab a magazine page and “art-journal” it with watercolour and. black Sharpie texta sometime soon, just to show what it can look like ..... and some collage, cutting bits from junk mail and magazines to glue into an art piece ......

💜😔💐🌷💕 @CheerBear ..... often on my mind ....

[PeppiPatty]

Boo

Dear @Teej

great  message, 

may I be maybe assertive and respond that I feel that you and I have  known each other for a long time. It seems both you and me and others ..... @Faith-and-Hope @Zoe7 @Shaz51 @Mazarita @Appleblossom @greenpea @CheerBear @Maggie @Lauz @TAB @Dadcaringalone @Former-Member so many more have moved in our own directions ..... 

Lately ive noticed the joy of knocking anxieties On the head.  With creating things. 

Money is a problem. Some ideas are ; 

do you have a Facebook page in your area for bartering ? My friend and I get craft stuff by bartering  and sometimes people give away just for a pot 🌱 plant   or even something small like a jar of peanut paste. 

My problem is just the medication  which makes me very tired and living with Mr Buddha where he goes into himself. 

So do I. 

Mr/Mrs Mouse and Teenage Hippo are so so cute. My  🐕 dog Arlo hopped on my message To say hello 👋  ...💥🌿🌸🍀🍁

you are reading clear .....

[Zoe7]

Hi @PeppiPatty I can see that Arlo has had a haircut - He looks gorgeous with his bow