What hobbies/ techniques/ lifestyle changes make you feel great?

[Beltane]

Hey all. I'd like to start a nice little convo where we can talk about the things that make us happy, keep us well, soothe our emotions or that make us feel accomplished/ proud/ confident etc. It can be anything you want- a hobby you do, a type of therapy or technique, your belief system, your family or friends, a dream or goal, a song or band, sport, exercise.

Whatever it is that gets you feeling better or keeps you feeling well, lets share our joys and happiness's so that others can be inspired.

i'll start.

I love Crossfit- it keeps me fit and i'm always feeling accomplished because i see myself doing things i couldn't do before. Each week i can run further than i could the week before, or lift a heavier weight, or do more sit-ups- and I've made friends doing it! I do it in the most evenings to ease the stress of a long day, and to improve my sleep.

I love music- I find songs that match my emotions so I can express them and get them out when I'm feeling overwhelmed. I taught myself to play guitar and love to sing.

My favorite thing of all is sewing.  I've only really started last year, and soon fell in absolute love with it. It always makes me feel better, no matter how distressed. The process of cutting and sewing is so calming, and looking at my finished projects (patchwork quilts, pretty skirts, little knick-knacks like notebook covers) fills me with a feeling of accomplishment, confidence and pride. Other people compliment me on my finished projects, and ask me to make them things.

My dream is to be a kindergarten teacher and to live in the country, surrounded by nature and away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Those are things that make me happy, confident, and enjoying life.

What are yours?

[Beltane]

Oh wow i'm really bummed our Hideaway, i posted this really heartfelt reply... I'm not sure what happened to it.. maybe its still in moderation, but my internet and computer have been playing up so its also really likely its just not ended up on the cyber highway... i'll do y best to recreate it, apologies in advance if the original post shows up...

Yes i dream of a cottage-type home. Actually i really like those Tiny Homes, have you seen them? They're beautiful, so eco-friendly, so affordable, i'd love a small home- it'd be so cosy, so easy to maintain, and i really dont need most of the stuff i own, really.... But i want a family, so i guess i'd be better off with a bigger home... I'd love a timber home, with lots of timber inside and out. I'd love slate floors, with plush colourful rugs to brighten up the place.

I love to sew, so i'll make lovely quilts for the beds and wall hangings to decorate the walls. There will be bookshelves everywhere, and a piano (i love pianos). Lovely comfy armchairs by the window so i can sit and read in the sun, and comfy chairs on the veranda so i can relax and watch the sun et.

Lots of big windows so the house is full of light.  A chicken coup around the back, though it'll also have ducks and geese (i love love love geese, no idea why). I'd like a few sheep, but i dont think i'm up for caring for cows. I wouldnt want just one cow, it would be lonely- they're herd animals- and i certainly dont want to have to try to feed a small herd! Sheep would be easier i think.

I'd love a border collie dog, they're beautiful. But again, i'd get 2 dogs so they can be friends- i wouldnt want my dog to get lonely and depressed.

I dream of my home all the time. I really would love one of those Tiny Homes- i'm right into being eco friendly. I'd power it with Solar Panels which would charge batteries, and have water tanks. Pity my boyfriend would never want to live in one...

[HA1]

Hi there Beltane!

Isn't it great how wonderful it makes you feel being able to dream a little.  It generates so much positive energy, particularly if you are able to do something little that represents the dream becoming reality.  As I said earlier, i do this by saving bits and pieces that might be useful for my new place, and planning my road trip in search of my dream country area and property.

thank you Beltane for the wonderful post, it was so warm and positive.

yep, my partner is also none too keen on sharing my dream -she is a city girl :).  That is a hurdle I will need to cross.  The great part is that she understands my need to live the dream.

i am planning to have a cat and dog there.  Shame about the cow, I might need to rethink that now!

All the best and take care.

k

[Beltane]

Heya again..

yeas its hard when the partner doesnt quite "get" the dream the we do..

i really really really want the eco-friendly Tiny Home in the country.. because Tiny Homes and country plots of lands cost next to nothing, i wont have to work quite so much which means i'll have more time to spend on other things that matter.. growing veggies, tending to my animals.. learning musical instruments (i have already taught myself guitar, djembe, and am currently learning Irish Tin whistle because i love Irish folk music and bands that are based on folk music, like this once band named Omnia. i used to play violin. I'd like to learn piano or harp..)

i also love sewing, writing, doing my COmmunity Champion stuff here on beyond blue, dancing and gymnasics, Crossfit.. as you can see i have lots and lots of interests!

I have this massive terrifying fear of having a huge mortgage... Like i really really dont want a  big house, or one in an expensive area..i relly fear living the life i see other people live-- forced to work really long days and weeks to pay huge mortgages, huge energy/ insurance/ rates bills, all the extra costs of having a larger home with all the mod cons.

I really honestly would be very happy in a tiny home, i would never have all those huge debts to pay off, and have all that extra time and money to do what i really want. You can even get Tiny Homes on Wheels, like on a trailer so i could travel! Or jus get an awesome caravan..

I'm having a really rough time at the moment, my anxiety is going mental. My partner and i have been together 1.5 years pretty much now, we're starting to talk about the future a lot. I love the guy like crazy, although we have very different views on the world, and beliefs. But we have other things in common, and theres plenty that keeps ups together 9most important that we're there for each other through good and bad and really try to overcome any issues that do come up).

He's not interested in being eco friendly or living in anything other than the "standard" 4 bedroom type home. At least he loves the country, which is great. Maybe i can cope with the mortgage on a home in the country.. but even that thought causes me huge panic attacks...

I just really want to have the ability to work less, have less financial debts/ responsibilities, and be able to spent that extra time/ money/ energy on enjoying other things in life more... and he share those values and ideas..

[MegW]

In the last four years, I have:

Departed from toxic relationships and refused to enter anything new (I'm just not ready).

Gotten angry with my ex-husband for being such a @#%!! person, instead of loving him miserably.

Carved a career for myself (tough and I'm not quite there yet but well on my way).

Carried on running.

Begun seriously attending the gym and doing strength training.

Become involved with Parkrun, a really feel good community event.

Set goals;  to break my 5km PB (a work in progress), contemplating running Comrades Marathon (South Africa, 90km, iconic race).

Adopted a tiny, old rescue dog who is the sweetest soul you could imagine. (The couch potato, cuddle dog :)).

Got the puppy I always wanted and joined dog club and began training him in agility and obedience trails like I always wanted. (The action dog :)).

Cared for, taken responsibility for and loved all my pets, two dogs and two cats.

Climbed half way out of quite a bit of debt (a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel).

Managed my bills and my life (tough at times but we've scraped through).

Taken control of my life and my dreams and my goals.

I have (tentatively) been depression free for two years after over twenty years of suffering.

Meg.

[Beltane]

Oh wow Meg, sounds like some amazing things have been happening in your life! What wonderful things you've done, love the sound of your dogs. I'm right into hardcore exercise too, my exercise drug of choice is Crossfit.

Got my wonderful new career to enjoy, love love love.

Now to tackle my little mountain of debt, i plan to live on 1/3-1/2 of my fortnightly wage (it wont be easy, but i've live on the dole for some time so 1/2 my new waeg, even though its a modest wage, is still more than the dole. Then the other half of my wage can go straight onto that pile of debt and if my calculations are right, i could make it go byebye in 3 months. That would be amazing!!!!

[insipration_in_the_dark]

Hi i love  music its so amazing  how  song can describe  how ur feeling i write my own song to help me i have a idea to make a app called  no ones worth the headache  for self harm for teens i just dont know  how to do it 

[HA1]

Hi Beltane

Apologies for not responding sooner (have had a horrible week).

Yes I now about the Tiny Homes - a lot nicer and homelier than the tin sheds I have been looking at, but which also do a great job in masquerading as homes 🙂  But they are cheap, and I need cheap!

I am thinking that once the dream is 'activated', all those that you enjoy will come to the fore.  In my case it is growing things, and I also used to find enjoyment in strumming on my guitar (been collecting dust for many years now), and 'pottering' around the place including working with the community. Unfortunately, it is very unlikely that my partner will share my dream.But it is good that she is supporting it.

I do understand the fear of financial debt - and also know that will pass.  It may appear frustrating and overwhelming at times, but it will pass.  If you have a realistic plan, just as you have mentioned in another posting, it will make it some much less daunting.  But I am sorry to hear about your increased anxiety, although, I'm glad you and your partner have similar interest and values, it really does help.  Maybe a compromise is around the corner.

I hope you feel better today

Take care

K

[Beltane]

Actually ive made a post in the main Anxiety forum about my relationship Hideaway, if you feel like taking a look.

Yes my partner have a few things in common, but more and more i feel we're drifting apart and our relationship is in serious trouble. He thinks its ok but its because hes not listening to me. I dont understand how me saying "we need to talk, our relationship is in trouble"" could get any clearer, but he always has an excuse "i'm tired from work" "we;ve been stressed lately"....

But i fear we are intrinsically wrong for each other. I want someone who will share my dream of the Tiny Home or at least modest country house, country cottage to be exact, small mortgage so we can use our spare money to travel the world and australia (in a caravan). We will play music together, walk amongst nature together. We will grow vegetables together, and look after our many chickens and sheep (and get carers for them when we're away travelling).
Someone who realises that life is a precious gift and well, i understand being tired in a particular hard week at work. But night after night after night at best hes vegged out watching tv, at worst hes asleep by 5pm. Weekends hes sleeping. He works the normal 8 hour day as a hardener, doesnt really want to do that job, but has no plans to leave and refuses to discuss it with it me- just says he wont quit anytime soon as its a family friends company and the company will probably collapse without him.

Well thats all good and well but where does that leave us. Where is our time together, where is our relationship.

Another thing i would like is someone whos at least open minded spiritually. I'm a nature-loving pagan (which is a nature religion). He refuses to talk of it, though hes let me know plenty of times he thinks religions is a crock of ****.

its breaking my heart as ive beein spiritual for a long time but recently have had some very life-changing spiritual experiences. I have also made some female friends (as i didnt have any friends at all) who share my beliefs and are very like minded- very much soul-sisters. They've shared some of these spiritual experiences with me, and weve had many deep and meaningful conversations regarding my relationship (and their lives).

I really am no longer sure this relationship can be saved, or even whether it should be. I deep down think that maybe there is someone more compatible with me

[HA1]

Hey Beltane

I responded to your post in Anxiety - its has not appeared yet so might be stuck with moderators.  Anyway, it was a pretty honest response.  I hope you are OK.

Over many years I have embraced philosophy in the sense that I enjoy reading the texts of various philosophers. In more recent years, I have taken an interest in spirituality (I guess since I realised I was not very well at all).  Not in the sense of religion, but in that something else that I know is out there for me.  I have started to read a lot too.  This is something that I will explore more openly very soon (see my other reply).  I have not yet found anyone to share my thoughts with (might go and check out one of those free retreats).

So much to do and take care of just now .........

K

[Beltane]

Still havent got your message on my thread in the Anxiety forum Hideaway. Are you sure it posted properly? Do you have another copy you could try reposting? I'm looking forward to hearing your reply (whether its confronting or not :P)