Hello all, I’ve just released a book titled Mental Health WisdomDeveloping Understanding & Empathy.
This book contains everything that you need to know about mental health and mental illness.
Mental Health Wisdom is divided into three sections. Understanding is section one and is all about the facts of mental health. Including: mechanics of the mind, causes of mental illness, famous people who have experienced mental illness, a list of common conditions, the secrets to self-awareness and much more.
In section two, Empathy Through Lived Experience, the author shares his personal experience of mental illness. Including: the impact of mental illness on the individual, family and friends, catastrophic thinking, rumination and the critical inner voice, signs that someone is struggling, his experience of being admitted n a mental health ward, his journey through recovery, his mental health playlist, inspirational quotes about mental illness and much more.
Life Hacks is section three. It’s all about self-care and quick and easy ways to improve your mental health, prevent mental illness or relapse of mental illness. Including: the well of resilience, tips to deal with worry and anxiety, great ways to relax, reasons to keep a gratitude journal, tips for a better night’s sleep, a strengths-based decision-making model, daily mood diary, how to support someone with mental illness and much more.
I am so excited to share this with you and the world.
In January my mum, brother, brother’s fiancee, nephew and I watched Peter Pan’s Musical Adventure in Blackpool. I went to Leeds to spend time with Robert and Neha. Robert & Neha are two of my most dear friends and favourite humans. Here are some photos:
Blackpool TowerMum feeding the 2p machines and feeding her habit at the same time.Left to Right: Me, Robert & Neha.Monopoly!
Me.The entrance to the main ruin (2). From the bridge was a sheer drop of at least thirty feet.My batch of handmade Pumpkin Spiced Scented Candles.One of my Pumpkin Spiced Scented candles. They just need some witchy charms tying to each jar.
The most well preserved.Remains of Walkworth Castle (1).Tynemouth Priory and Castle remains (2).Simon (right) and me (left) in the stone coffins. I couldn’t believe that we both fitted perfectly.
When my mum was a little girl, she lived in London with her mum and dad (my grandma and granddad). Every Sunday, while her mum was making the Sunday dinner, her dad would take her to watch the changing of the Guard and then into St. James Park to feed the ducks.
In June I was fortunate to unexpectedly see A-Ha with my good friend Jayne. Endless things broke including my boiler, car, new laptop and washer dryer.
July saw Jayne and I visit Chester Zoo. Here are some photos:
Butterfly (2).A close up of the baby elephant.My new lover! He’s the strong, wooden, silent type.This gorgeous beauty came to say hello and flirted with me (by winking with her big eye and long eyelashes) when I said ‘Hello Gorgeous.’ to her as she passed by.
September was particularly busy. A good friend, her son, two of his friends and I got close to wild animals at Blackpool Zoo. Here are some photos:
This photo of a penguin is most probably the best photo I’ve ever taken. The penguin was swimming at great speed, although you wouldn’t have guested. I looked at this photo when I got home and it looks like it was taken by a professional. A total fluke.Another of the beautiful tiger. Blackpool Zoo have two tigers from what we saw. The tiger is more than slightly moist because of the rain.This is how close we got to a Lion. Able to look in its eye and see the intelligence, along with the hunter instinct. He appeared to be eyeing us up as a snack. Blackpool Zoo had two male Lions living in the enclosure together from what I saw. They seemed pretty well bonded and one went and groomed the other while we watched.Quickly becoming my favourite animal, the giraffes. What I love about giraffes is that every time I’ve politely called over to one (in different Zoos I might add), they come over. They look at me with their big black eyes and some times, if I’m really lucky, they let me take a photo before they walk off.
Still in September I was unexpectedly (and lucky enough to be offered) a spare ticket to see the spectacular Shania Twain.
In October I self-published a poem Sometimes High, Sometimes Low:
Click for Full Size Image.
My mum, Kelly, my mum’s friend, her daughter and myself saw Matilda.
In November I went to a wonderful wedding and I watched Fantastic Beats: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
In December I had a great Christmas, shared with loved ones.
Overall 2018 was a busy year filled with the unexpected. Hopefully 2019 will be less busy, but with many good times, shared with friends and family. I’d also like lots more creative output from myself.
Christmas was great. The best thing about it is always the precious time spent with loved ones. The food, drinks and presents are just huge pluses. This year I must have been extra good because I didn’t get any coal (the traditional gift for the naughty) and instead got lots of lovely presents:
Christmas presents I was fortunate to receive from friends and family (1).
Christmas presents I was fortunate to receive from friends and family (2).
MPR is magical, musical and all-round marvelous. It had a number of brilliant cameo appearances by: Julie Walters, Meryl Streep, Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury.
My Christmas was finished off by seeing Adam Lambert perform Believe in tribute to Cher. A gorgeous man with an amazing voice. This performance made me cry the first time I saw it. I have watched the performance numerous times since.
