New semester angst and Lifesprints

Sky over Goodwill Bridge

Time is slipping through my fingers...actually I am noticing that the beginning of each semester is a very anxiety-provoking and stressful time for me, which is sort of the reason (or excuse) for not posting anything here for two weeks. I have now officially started my social work placement, and also had all last week in social work lectures and workshops, so I'm relieved that some of that is now out of the way, although the sw assignments for this semester look fairly demanding. This week is the return week with my research project students, so its yet another new beginning (although not so new as last time). Not sure if that makes much sense at all to anyone, but anyway... And I have an art therapy workshop all day Thursday to facilitate, for 35 students... 

Mermaid in the Giant's House, Akaroa.

One other new thing I have been trying, is Lifesprints, which I heard about on Radio National's Health Report. This involves interval cycling on a fixed wheel bike, really fast and then slow, for 8 and 12 second intervals, for 20 minutes, three times a week. This has been demonstrated in a university study to be the most efficient way to lose weight in the shortest amount of exercise time. Anyway I'm giving it a try, and its been fine so far, but I will have to give it some time to see how well it works.  I have the CD on my I-pod, which tells me when to speed up and slow down, but you could figure this out for yourself too. 

Still doing combat and some yoga and pump, and PT (session with personal trainer), but this is an addition. Trying really hard to re-establish some good routines, to keep me on track. I realised I would need about 2-3 hours each morning to do everything that helps my day go well, which is basically as follows:

• meditation
• gym
• shower
• get dressed
• walk the dog 
• breakfast (must include either muesli or porridge, soy milk, fruit and/or yoghurt, coffee)
• pack lunch

Now J is cycling to the station, which helps a bit, as I was sometimes rushing back from the gym to give him a lift. Now if only the gym was nearer the house...obviously, some compromise is required here. I have to also be realistic.

I also experimented with listening to Jon Kabat Zinn's meditation track on the train, which worked.  I can zone out of the constant announcements quite well...

I am missing creative work at the moment, as its just been to busy. So the photos are recycled from previous blogs. Two of my favourites. 

The next few months are likely to be similar. 

more later. 

'Hearing voices', anxiety and mental health

Girraween National Park

Girraween ('place of flowers') is one of my favourite places, and I was there two weeks ago, whilst trying to squeeze in some time off, essential for my mental health, which is the theme of this post. It was cold and windy, but it was exhilirating to climb to the top of the Pyramid to take this photo.

Pyramid from the bottom

I also spent some time with my boys and my 17 year old niece, which was a rare treat.
Meanwhile, back in Brisbane:

'hearing voices': pastel drawing

Then, last week, I was at my placement, before it officially started, at a workshop on 'mental health and hearing voices'. Participants had an experiential taste of what hearing voices might be like, by putting on an MP3 and listening to a simulation of hearing voices - mainly an American male voice saying variations of 'you're shit'  and some incoherent mumbling for one hour - which was very intense, distracting and, at times, believable. 

An invaluable lesson and quite humbling, as we were able to remove the MP3, unlike those having the 'real' experience.

'Mt.(-ing) Anxiety' - plaster and paint on canvas

This image comes from a team supervision activity at work, in which we created a 3D representation of a difficult feeling out of clay, then covered it with plaster bandage (used to mend broken limbs), and painted the resulting shape once it was secured onto a canvas background. The bandage softened the effect of the feeling, although I have noticed my familiar anxiety revving up for the new semester, like an old friend, almost. And yes, it does bear a slight resemblence to the Pyramid, now I think about it...

My scientist sister Tamsin was on Radio Four's The World Tonight last week talking about the Higgs boson, which was 'discovered' (probably the wrong word) last week at Cern. She has an amazing and enviable ability to explain complex ideas simply, so that even hopelessly arty people can understand. Fantastic work!

Next week is going to be big. Placement starts for real. 

More later. 

reno and review

not good enough?

Today is the beginning of the new financial year, and also the first day of the long-awaited carbon tax. So far, and contrary to popular opinion, the sky has not fallen in.

Time, I thought, to review this blog, which is now over 18 months old. So firstly, there has been a style renovation - not totally sure if I like it, but it will do for now - and a revisit of my original goals, which were to cultivate the following: 

• family,
• health,
• environment,
• community,
• friendship,
• creativity,
• leisure,
• frugality,
• therapy,
• home,
• emotional growth
• communication
• spirituality

These are all still a good summary of my intentions. In the past year and a half I have:

• shopped less
• appreciated my family and friends
• started a social work degree
• made more art
• cooked lots of new dishes
• started a veggie garden
• become a 'pyjama angel'
• had a personal trainer
• been to the gym 
• used public transport more often
• said 'no' to some things
• hesitated less
• done a 3 day walk
• got orthotics
• stopped hearing noises in my ears
• meditated most days
• started a girls' sewing group

I am still on the other hand:

• not losing weight
• having hot flushes
• buying books - via both the internet and real bookshops
• cranky sometimes
• watching tv most nights
• etc. etc. 

There is always room for improvement. I like this definition of mindfulness, by Jon Kabat Zinn: 

Coming to terms with how things are. 

How true.

space, possibly

Thanks for dropping in. I really enjoy reading your comments!

More later.