Celebration Resilience - A school teacher poetically shares the experience of children, his students, who live in poverty.
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One BBC reporter experiences an 8 week course of Mindfulness Meditation. For those of you who regularly follow my blog you will know that I practice mindfulness always. It has changed my life and the lives of those around me. Living in the present means that e.g. when I am with my children they get 100% of my attention, when I walk my dog, all of my senses are awakened making the colours crisper, perfumes more fragrant and my dog incredibly amusing. It also means that when difficulties arise I experience them for what they are no more and no less. I am then able to live my life, unburdened by memories of the past or thoughts of the future.
, no more, no less
Eight Ancient Beliefs now Backed by Science.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/21/8-ancient-beliefs-now-bac_n_4995877.html?ir=Arts
This year in May I will entrer my 15th year of this difficult journey. I intend to continue this battle to the end in order to protect children and raise awareness of horror that is childhood sexual abuse. The trial will not commence until April next year.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/22059043/innocence-stolen-by-man-of-god-vic-victim/
Mindfulness techniques have enabled me to travel excruciatingly difficult paths with appreciation. It may not sound possible but with a little peaceful practice the neural pathways in the brain can change thoughts of anxiety to an embodiment of transformation. When we dwell on difficult times from the past or worries about the future we may miss out on the present moment. The present moment may contain no negativity apart from our thoughts.
My little grandson was born yesterday. He is in the 90 percentile for his height and weight and has already been labeled as a " bruiser,tough boy and killer" by some. He is a one day old baby!!! He has a right to be what ever he chooses to be,a poet,a childcare worker or a wrestler. His choice. Keep the labels away so that he is free to be what ever he wants to be and express himself freely as an individual.
SANE Australia - Mental illness affects around 20% of Australians every year, but it is treatable. This pamphlet answers commonly-asked questions about the effects of mental illness on the families of people affected, and how they can be supported to help the person and themselves.
http://www.sane.org/information/factsheets-podcasts/206-families
Transformation Workshop - Celebrate the Winter Solstice with me and other Holistic practitioners on 31st May 2014 ant The Abbotsford Convent. Our aim is to have fun while offering a holistic approach to your physical and mental health in group settings.
http://www.natalierozencounselling.com/#!transformation-/c20lm
The link below is an example of over diagnosing and labeling that can happen when a person presents quirky behavior to the medical, diagnostic world. There is, most defiantly, an incredibly important place for diagnoses of severe mental health disorders in order to help people who are suffering in their lives due to some devastating symptoms of there illness. But how boring would life be if we all had the same personalities and ideas. Many great artists, inventors and scientists have developed their most valuable work due to, in part, to their mental health experiences. Being different can be a celebration of uniqueness.
http://www.newsroom24.co.uk/ive-watched-this-for-years-and-never-noticed/
People may not be getting the help they need for mental health problems because of the stigma attached to a diagnosis. As a Holistic Counsellor my focus is the person, not the label. Sadly peoples lives can be boxed in by the weight of a mental illness diagnosis preventing them from growing to their true capacity.
http://www.bps.org.uk/news/stigma-and-mental-health-treatment
Andrew Solomon: Depression, the secret we share. A deep, poetic and truthful expression of what many experience but are, at that time, too out of touch with reality to share. I've been there. It is a frightening place. But it can also be a place from where you can not only recover, but a place where you can soar to heights of consciousness that some only dream of. The dark night of the soul can lead to the path of enlightenment.
Arita Tan is an inspiration to all. While on a planned trip around the world she was horrified by the sex slavery that she witness in Cambodia. So much so that she cashed in her ticket and used the money to start the Arts to Healing Foundation which now offers housing, re-training and education to women and children who have been stolen or sold into the sex trade. I had the honor of being a guest speaker at a fundraiser held for her foundation last year. I am so happy to see that her hard work is gaining the world interest that this evil form of sexual abuse deserves.
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/feb/26/art-therapy-trafficking-slavery?view=mobile