Colouring

There are a number of activities which I do to try and relax, rest or stay calm.

Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t, it really depends on exactly how I am feeling.

One of my favourite things to do is colouring.

I have worked my way through quite a lot of colouring books in the last few years. My favourites are country village scenes or images which feature a lot of flowers.

I don’t really like the geometric patterns or images which appear in most of the mindfulness colouring books.

I have also enjoyed doing adult dot-to-dot colouring books as I can make the picture and then colour it in too. Extra fun!

I find that the act of colouring gives my brain something to focus on which distracts me from unwanted intrusive thoughts. It also gives me something to do with my hands. I have noticed that I seem to like having things to do with my hands – either knitting when I watch TV or twiddling a pen around in lectures and seminars.

The process of completing a picture is also satisfying and the final piece if often pretty and brings some joy, even if it is only for a short while.

You don’t need much to be able to enjoy the act of colouring which makes it even better as a way to relax. Some paper and colouring pencils are the only things required. If you’re food at drawing then you can create your own pictures to colour. If not, then there are numerous books in many shops and online which you can choose from.

It may seem like a hobby for children but honestly, you’re never too old to enjoy a good session of colouring!

Advertisements

Book Review: Honesty over Silence

When we were at Soul Survivor, a number of books were recommended during one of the main meetings. It wasn’t to sell more books, make more money, and promote their own work but to help us grow as people and as Christians.

One of the books that was mentioned was Honesty over Silence by Patrick Regan.

Soul Survivor 2018: Transformations

The week I spent at Soul Survivor (2018) has been transformational.

So much has happened in the past week. Indeed, this time last week I could not imagine that I would feel like this, that it was even possible to feel like this.

Soul Survivor 2018: Poetry of Change

Soul Survivor week B was a life changing week for me. A lot happened and I am still slightly amazed by how extraordinary and awesome the stuff that occurred was and is.

Llandudno

Llandudno is a beautiful coastal town in North Wales. This year I went there with my family for our summer holiday. I had been before but, as my parents kept saying, it was when I was only nine months old and hence, I did not remember any of it!!

Staying Positive

There are so many days when I wake up and decide that today I will be healthy, I will just eat pure food and take control of how healthy I am.

Holding back, or holding on?

I feel so uncertain at the moment.

The incentive that I had been using to get myself to eat better and more regularly was my exams. But now that I have completed my exams and finished all the assessments for my degree that incentive no longer exists.

Sunbathing or Skills-gaining?

The summer holidays. A time for long, lazy days in the sun. A time to relax with friends. A time to forget about all the wider trials and tribulations of getting a degree, and living a successful life after graduating.

But is this the reality? And should it be?

Film Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I went to see the film The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society yesterday with a friend to celebrate the completion of my dissertation.

Habakkuk.5

Habakkuk 3: 1-19

This will be the last instalment on Habakkuk as the sermon series, and the book itself, come to an end. It has been an interesting study and one that I think it will be useful to return to regularly, particularly during difficult times.