Wishcasting on

WHENsday

Today I'm working on my branding so I'm casting wishes out there to gather the creativity, intuition and insight to bring together the wonderful idea that I know is just there...

Originally found via Lissa Rankin

Just under the surface and out of reach, but I just know that one extra burst of wishcasting wisdom will bring it to light.

Who knows, tomorrow this place could look completely different.

May the wishes that you all wish for yourselves

come to light in the best way possible.

Namaste

Catherine

xxx

Tuning into the Invisible Stuff - working through the research

One of my first 'Inspirational Quote' Pins

While at least 1 in 4 suffer from some kind of mental health condition and the number of children included in the statistics increases annually what can we do, not necessarily to reduce the statistics, to deal with this modern epidemic.

Whilst looking for information on pseudo seizures I came across a video of Dr Andrew Weil of Big Think Mentor and serendipity brought it back to me again today through Finer Minds, so I thought I should share with you all. 

Dr Andrew Weil

This film is only 4 minutes long and in such a short time raises so many questions - is depression a product of the 21st century? and are we really using our children as guinea pigs?  If we don't know what effects anti depressant drugs have on developing minds - are we doing more harm than good?  

I strongly believe that anti depressants have a place in the whole recovery/coping process.  There have been times where functioning on a day to day basis would not have happened without them. But I believe even more strongly that there has to be a change in the way we manage our mental health.  With a major emphasis on managing and taking responsibility.  

I read a great post by Beth Beulow recently it builds on the premise that we should "view and hold others as whole, capable and responsible."   Because that is what we all are. 

When you suffer from a mental illness like depression it's like a loss of control, a loss of reality and it can scare the bejeesus out of you.  The old 'fight or flight principle' jumps in and we rush for cover and welcome the protection and support of those around us.  You lose faith in yourself and rely on the wisdom of others.  Unfortunately that protection, support and wisdom can so easily take over, our inner light switches off and we are now following someone else's light.  Now this may all seem a bit airy fairy and out there but bear with me.

I believe that depression, stress, anxiety are our body's way of telling us that  something is out of sinc.  Life is not the way we want it to be.  Duh, there never seems to be enough hours in the day, money in the bank - life is what it is, that's life - is it ever the way we want it to be?  I'm talking more about   that something inside that tells you, sometimes just once, but mainly over and over that you are not living "your life".

Does depression breed depression?  As the first episode highlights an imbalance with our values bringing with it the dependence on others, the reliance on their take on values and situations.  This dependence pretty soon dulls the line between our authentic values and theirs and in many ways can enhance our challenges, distancing us even further from our path.  Others decide that we should not be stressed, that we don't need responsibility, no added hassle when in reality those may be the very things that we need.  We need to feel challenged, to feel responsibility - and yes, stress can be a good thing.

It is key that whilst acknowledging help is good and we do not have to cope alone we can take responsibility for and manage our daily coping processes.  For if that management and responsibility are taken away for too long our skills and confidence may be eroded completely.  It's like we've embarked on a vicious cycle and I for one am ready to jump off.

I want to manage my life, I want to have responsibility - I am not broken, in fact, having been there and back and forth again, I could be an invaluable asset.

 I make no secret of my ongoing battle with depression and a very quick skim over the statistics would suggest that in doing so I'm shooting myself in the foot, apparently only 4 in 10 employers would employ someone with a mental health condition in comparison to the 62% that would employ someone with a physical disability.  This could go a long way to explaining why so many of us move toward self employment.

But is that only feeding the problem further?  Perhaps our job should be to educate, actually to show that mental health issues are not only the norm but an awareness of what could be.

If there is a reason for everything I'm hoping the time has come to embrace the reason and make a difference.

It's taken a while but I have found my reason and my difference and I hope that I can help in some way to help others find theirs.  I'm ready to be what I am.

Using what I've got:  Pins I've already collected and skills I forgot I had.

To find the positives I recommend you have a look at: Kind Over Matter; Roots of She; Lissa Rankin - there are so many responsibilitarians out there.

Are you ready to join?
Have a responsible week.
Namaste

Catherine
xxx

Monday is for Making

and Using What We Have

Last week I showed you the beginnings of some luxurious ribbon jewellery. Today I bring you the one piece that is now ready to wear.

Is it just me or is it a 'creative' trait ? - I love the idea and the working out how to transform that idea into reality.  However, half way through the creative process I can already see the end result and seem to have difficulty in distinguishing the fact that seeing the end result is not the same as having the end result in your hands.  Note to self, new rule on the Rules for Creatives with no Rules - #1 "if you start it and blog about it then you MUST  finish it."  i am such a critic of those who do not follow through or maintain momentum - which just goes to show that the flaws we see in others truly are those that lie within.

Something else I said I would do a few months ago was create my own desktop calendar pieces.  In order to bring some accountability to that one I even volunteered my services over at Going Home to Roost.  Whilst as we go to print I haven't completed the final piece for August as it will involve some threaded texture - for July I'm using some Pic Monkey trickery and invite you to download and use July and fill it in for all it's worth - you could even take it over to Pic Monkey and add in your plans for the month.  After all once they're written down they're more likely to come to life.

August will be inspired by the Zen canvas I have at home, colours will vary but the essence will remain the same.

Another thing I'm committing to over the next week is designing a canvas to enter the Pinterest competition on Stratejoy.  I'm aiming to have this ready for Thursday's Thoughtful  Thread.

So, as far as making is concerned I'm committing to a pretty busy time. Between that and compiling pieces for my daily blog posts and getting my Etsy Shop up and running I am looking forward to a creatively busy week.

Pop on over to Handmade Harbour to see what some other Creative Lovelies have been up to - and be inspired.   I've already been inspired over at Highland Monkey, especially loving the recycling element.

What are you committing to this week?

Namaste

Catherine

xxx 

Usual Sunday BS - Checking In and Moving On

This week has been pretty good - I've set up the bones of what I want to cover day to day - one of the main things in store for this coming week is getting my 'branding' sorted out.  And the theme for the week is to be 'using what I've got'.

And throughout the week:

I was loving the content over at Bentlily, especially Monday's piece on absence rather than presence - I am so in touch with the need to tune out.

I guess I have a thing for poetry this week as another favourite would be the Silk Worm by Jalaludin Rumi over at OCG.

Loving all things needlework related right now.

So for the weeks to come this blog now has a format

Monday is for Making

Tuesday - for tuning into the invisible stuff

Wednesday - for Wishcasting on Whensday

Thursday - the Thoughtful Thread

Friday for some Fashionable Authenticity

Saturday for some Silent Sunshine and Smiles

and

Sunday for the Usual Sunday BS.

Got the structure set up - now I have to work on the aesthetics, branding is key.

From Lifewithoutpants.com

Have a wonderful week

Namaste

Catherine

xxx

Saturday - some silent sunshine and smiles...

Namaste

(You can follow the pinterest links back to the original source - or just enjoy the moment of sharing this smile)

Friday will be Fashionably and Authentically Fit

Introducing Alice

Friday is going to be Fashionably and Authentically fit from here on in.  

catherine@whenatthemacsx.blogger.com

When I initially started The MacsX I had an Ebay shop featuring quality recycled fashion, the true intention was to 'upcycle' rather than recycle  wanted to add my own twist, but never quite got round to doing that.   Whilst I had rave reviews  for the quality of the pieces and for my customer service there was always something missing.  The customisation, the upcycling and the styling.  So I closed the shop and whilst I still love shopping for pieces for myself that was as far as it went.

In keeping with using what I've got and doing what I 'say' on a Friday I'm going to feature some authentic fashion.  And I'm going to start with me.

'Alice' is my mannequin.  She didn't actually have a name until we moved house last year and the removal man asked where I wanted to 'put Alice'.  One of the pieces I had used when covering my mannequin, on the right hip, was for 'Naughty Alice' he just read that and so the mannequin with no name has been 'Alice' ever since.  Over the next few weeks I'll be using Alice to restyle my wardrobe and to use my creativity to do some upstyling.  After all if I can't do it for myself how can I be expected to help anyone else.   So Fashionably and Authentically Fit starts here.

Fitting Authentically is a whole other side of the coin and one that I'll cover on another day.

Keeping my phone handy to keep updated and 

a little glass of wine to start off the weekend.

Have a great one

Catherine

xxx

Thursday's Thoughtful Thread

Catherine@WhenatTheMacsX

In keeping with the redesign – and my one day at a time deal – I’ve decided to make Thursday the day of the Thoughtful Thread.  Mainly because I want to combine my love of words and creativity and create some inspirational canvases.

Today’s piece, inspired by my chosen word for the year, is a bit of a cheat as I’ve pc’d it together – for next week I will create a needlework piece.  In fact I might well pop over to Molly Mahar’ssite and kill two birds with one stone, create my entry for her PinterestContest.  Combining my love or words, needlework and Pinterest – how much more inspirational can it get.

Time to get busy...

Catherine

xxx