Small achievement you managed to do today....How did it make you feel? Did it help you feel better today?

[Ggrand]

Hi everyone..

Their are days when just getting out of bed is a huge achievement...Other days we can achieve things like washing up the dishes or clothes, sweeping the floors, mopping the floors..very mundane and automatic robot like chores for the mentally well...They do these chores without even thinking about them...for people struggling with their mental health..these are huge tasks...

Very often I’ll get my vacuum cleaner out to vacuum ...then it will sit their for days, me looking at it, walking over it...until I can get motivated enough to vacuum..after I do find the motivation to vacuum...I am pleased with myself...
Right now I have a small foot cycling peddle machine, sitting on my front veranda..I got it out last week..to start exercising..it’s still their, I’m still looking at it...My thoughts each night is I’ll use it for a few minutes tomorrow..

My car hasn’t been washed getting close to a year now I think...Today I did managed to wash it....and discovered that it has a nice shine on it.....I did it...I achieved something positive today..which made me feel better in myself...

Have you achieved a little something today...and how did it make you feel...If you want to share that achievement it might make other people a bit more motivated to achieve something they need/want to do..

Looking forward to hearing about your achievement....and how it made you feel..

Little steps and achievements can lead to bigger steps..and bigger achievements...

My kindest and most caring thoughts...everyone.
Grandy...

[HappySheep]

Well done Paw Prints! Sometimes getting dressed is a massive achievement!

I was thinking about this discussion earlier this morning and it occurred to me how incomprehensible it must be to people who've never had mental or physical health challenges. You know them, the 'just do it' crowd. And, in my head, I was trying to work out how to explain to someone that, yes, most of the time I too just leap out of bed, grab a coffee and jump into the shower. But sometimes, the act of even getting off the couch can seem so terrifying or such a foreign concept - like telling me to jump in the air and fly - or to take more energy than trying to move at the bottom at the ocean where the pressure is so crushing it takes all your strength not to implode....

... anyway, I think that is what is so very special about the people here on these forums. Everyone understands it.  But, at the same time, can have a conversation about things that bring joy to life - like weeds and walks in the forest.

We have come to a compromise in the garden. Thankfully there is plenty of cutting-back to be done so I am leaving the weeding until last or pulling everything else up but the caterpillar plants.  They've been served their eviction notice and I'll give them as long as possible to get out of the weeds and into their crysalides (had to google the plural of crysalis 😉).  Thankfully for them, I lack the ability to stick at anything for more than a few minutes at the moment, so it will buy them some time!

ER, I love the caterpillar runway idea. But I love the opposite too. Caterpillars are already wearing fabulous outfits.  Let's see fashion models dressed in black gowns covered in orange and white spots with random tufts of hair. Or poison green with stripes and huge fake eyes on their backsides. We could have the most fabulous collection for next season! Can anyone here sew?

[Eagle Ray]

Hello Happy Sheep and Paws,

Paws, well done on the getting dressed and ready for the day. I had an opposite sort of day and was in my pyjamas until mid afternoon. I got up fairly early and actually did some yoga this morning before breakfast. It felt really good stretching. But after breakfast I just felt so weak and tired I had to go back to bed. I had more sleep so I must need it. I did manage a short walk late afternoon. I then scrubbed out my shower where some mould was forming. I find scrubbing the shower one of the hardest jobs to do but very glad I did it. I was glad I had leftovers for tea.

Happy Sheep, that sounds like a good plan with the caterpillars. And Paws, I agree, a weed is only one if we see it as such. I live in a strata complex where there are certain requirements that are part of the strata contract including the upkeep of properties. So I do feel this external pressure at times to adhere to different ideas than those I would follow otherwise. I quite like wild and rambling gardens with many spots for wildlife.

Happy Sheep, it is so true it’s very different for those who don’t have to give a second thought to daily tasks. I have fatigue from multiple health issues and it really is a mammoth effort at times to do things. My dishes often sit there for three days. If I make dinner that often takes all my energy and I simply can’t do anything else. But I’m learning to accept these limitations and that I am often needing deep rest.

 I think caterpillar-inspired fashion outfits sound like a great idea! I’m sure it’s no more outlandish than many of the other creations that appear on the catwalk. From memory there’s a breakdance move that looks a bit like a caterpillar moving along. I don’t know what the move is called but perhaps that could be incorporated too. Unfortunately sewing is not my forte. I can see interesting things in my imagination though.

I hope everyone had a lovely day.

Hugs,

ER

[Ggrand]

Hello everyone….🤗,

Wow so much has happened on this thread, I enjoyed reading about all your thoughts and achievements…Well done everyone 🏆..

I once read that the only difference between a weed and a flower is judgement…how true are those words?..

A house around the corner from my home,  leaves a patch of clover for the bees on the council strip…Im hoping when my Mulberry tree starts to grow properly, some silk worm caterpillars 🐛 will take up residence…

Today I went into town to do some grocery shopping….but before I went I mopped my lounge and kitchen floors as well as washed up all the dishes from a few days, it was nice to come home from grocery shopping to a nicely cleaned kitchen…..

Hugs, love and my care everyone…🤗💜🦋🌈.

Grandy..

[Eagle Ray]

Hello Everyone 🤗💖

That’s lovely you have a mulberry tree Grandy. I remember there was one on a vacant block we used to go past on the way home from school. We’d eat them and put some in our lunch boxes. Mum knew I’d been eating them as I’d have purple on me afterwards. I’m sure they are nutritious and full of vitamin C. I hope you get the silk worm caterpillars Grandy 🐛 

My small achievements today were doing my dishes and putting clean sheets on my bed. I washed the sheets yesterday but did not have the strength to put them on. So I slept last night on my couch. I’ve been in severe depression as well as quite unwell physically. But late this afternoon I managed a small walk in the woodland across the road. It was raining but I didn’t walk with an umbrella, just wearing my t-shirt and shorts. It was refreshing and good to feel the rain. I find getting wet in the rain actually helpful when I’m depressed.

So I feel I achieved a few small things and being outside in nature was beneficial.

 I hope you all had a good day xxx

Hugs,

ER

[HappySheep]

Howdy ER and all,

Getting wet in the rain has such a therapeutic feel. You can understand why our literature is full of references to rain washing away sin or pain etc. Because it really does feel like that.  I love a good walk in the rain - although it does make it easier that I live in the warmer parts of the country.  It's not so therapeutic when the rain is like ice and accompanied by bitter winds - although that can work too.

Glad you could get out and about a bit. It is always good for the soul.

Regards,

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear Eagle Ray, HappySheep and everyone….🤗..

Eagle Ray, I’m so sorry you’re not well and have severe depression…I know it not like the real thing,  if I was with you I would give you a gentle caring hug and tell you that I care, so I’ll have to send a hug through cyber space to you….Please do look after your beautiful self, goes for everyone reading,, self care and compassion is vitally important….

Well done washing the sheets, it’s okay not putting them on the bed last night…many times I’ve left my washed sheets hanging on my line for a few days, 😁…I tell myself the sunshine is good for them…

A few years back when the central west was in drought…It finally rained after many many months of hot dry weather and a few dust storms…which really does send the dust into every nook and cranny of houses….so messy…anyhow, when Mother Nature decides she wanted to wash down her trees, plants, grasses, ground etc…I really did get soaking wet by dancing in the rain..(in my backyard)…I love the rain, and it’s about the only time I’ll wash my car is when it’s raining…our town water is very heavy with lime and minerals and washing my car with that water leaves white streaks all over it….

I really enjoy listening to your walks in the woodland area…I wish so much I could be comfortable enough within myself to walk by myself…

HappySheep, I love that real freezing cold air in winter on my face…it’s so refreshing and therapeutic for me….yet I don’t like my fingers and toes to be cold….

Sending my kind thoughts and hugs to those who want/need them…really need a hug right now 🤗🤗🤗🤗.

Grandy..

[quirkywords]

Today I  started to tidy up my room.i put 6 bags in the garage, just a small step but it was a start. 

[Eagle Ray]

Hello Happy Sheep, Grandy, Quirky and Everyone,

Thank you for your caring thoughts. Yes, the rain is lovely isn't it. Grandy your description of dancing in the rain in the backyard made me think of a video I remember Drew Barrymore put out a little while ago of herself feeling joyous in the rain. If you google "Drew Barrymore rain" you should find it. She is just so happy in it. I understand about the feelings of walking alone. While I am ok with walking alone most of the time, I have other fears that won't budge and stop me from doing things. I think the best we can do is keep being gentle with ourselves and do what we need to do to feel safe. I wish I was there so I could go on walks with you. Sending you and everyone extra big hugs 🤗

Quirky, that's great you made that start on your room. I find small steps is often the way to go. Bit by bit you get there. My small things were picking up a pharmacy prescription, doing some more washing and going in the late afternoon to the ocean. It actually got pretty cool in the wind. I stayed until sunset.

Kind thoughts and hugs,

ER

[HappySheep]

Well done ER and Quirky! I love this thread so much because although each of us post 'small achievements', we all know that washing the sheets or filling a garbage bag can be bigger achievements than climbing Mount Everest. Anyone can climb a mountain if they have the right training, support, and mindset. But only some of us know what a huge amount of courage and willpower it takes to get off the couch under the weight of severe mental illness. Don't ever forget that. Anything posted here is an achievement worth celebrating.

I'm in the tropics and I love the monsoon rain. It is so different from rain in other regions that comes with cold or wind. A proper Wet Season shower is like the gods have just turned on a tap - and they turn it off again hours or days later. It comes down so hard and so fast the best wet weather footwear is bare feet because you'll be up to your ankles in 5 minutes because the gutters can't clear it away fast enough. And it stops just as suddenly. But the water is warm so it doesn't prevent you doing anything except, maybe, driving a car because the wipers can't keep up and looking through the windscreen is like being underwater, you can't see anything. I've lived in the tropics for decades but I'll never lose my sense of wonder at wet season rain.

[Eagle Ray]

Hello Happy Sheep, Quirky, Grandy and All,

I agree Happy Sheep, this is a lovely thread. It reminds us when we have managed to do things when it is easy to sometimes think that we haven't. I went for a nature walk today and I also listened to songs that helped me.

The monsoon rain sounds amazing Happy Sheep. I love your description of it. I was in Singapore many years ago and I remember these solid, heavy downpours that would arrive with a thunderstorm. The rain would persist at an evenly heavy level for some time. Then it would stop and it would just go back to being humid with a total break from rain until the next downpour. It was like you describe, like the gods just turned on a tap on full, left it there for a few hours, then turned it off again. Whereas where I live the rain is highly variable. It can be a light drizzle or heavy. It will often pass through in showers. The same rain event can be light to moderate to heavy and back to light. It is rarely solid for an extended period.

I love landscape photography and I have seen wonderful photographs of the top end of Australian of Wet Season storms that look so dramatic over the landscape. In this country we have the most incredible diversity of environments. There are so many parts of Australia I would still love to see.

All the best to everyone,

ER xxx