Autumn Skies

One of the most useful things I have learned over the years is the value of writing gratitude lists. Every single one of us has things to be grateful for - and actually the point isn't even which things you choose to include on your list - the point is remembering to focus on them. My lists include everything from the good health of my children to simply enjoying a cold drink or watching the fire on a chilly autumn night.

Today I spent a fruitful, but long, day in Helsinki.

We were all up early this morning and I got my first blast of winter as I went out to the car and saw that it was minus five degrees. Yuck. The heavy traffic meant that I spent three and a half hours in the car getting to the capital and back.

On the plus side, I had the time to listen to lots of music and also talk to friends on the phone. However on my gratitude list this evening I have also included that living in Somero means that I do not have to fight the Helsinki traffic every day. And I am certainly grateful for that.

Once I'd picked the children up from nursery, we went for a drive to take a few photos and we were rewarded by some magnificent skies above Somero.

I stared at the pinks and blues and oranges in the sky and thought how beautiful the world is when you just remember to look at it sometimes.

So here is how Somero looked just a couple of hours ago. Peaceful, autumnal and not a traffic jam in sight. In my book that's a lot to be grateful for.

They can't take hope away from you.....

Have you ever had one of those days when all of a sudden several people from the past pop up at the same time? For no particular reason that you can see?

Well I'm having one of those weeks, actually. In the last three days I have had calls or messages from no less than nine people whom I haven't been in touch with for several months at least.

It has been lovely to be back in touch with several old friends, but I can't help wondering at times like these whether it's just a coincidence or something more that so many people should be in touch at the same time. It isn't the first time that something like this has happened. On occasions such as birthdays, Christmas or New Year, there is an obvious explanation. But none of those things are relevant at the moment.
Maybe it's the weather? Sometimes a change in season makes us reassess where we are going in life and think about people we used to know. Or perhaps it is something completely different. Perhaps there is something out there that we don't even know about.

A year ago this week the whole world of our family was turned upside down. All I could really think about at the time was survival. We needed to find somewhere to live and beds to sleep in. I had children who depended on me. Some days I felt so lost I could hardly find the energy to do normal things, let alone enjoy anything.

But a year later and everything feels entirely different. Despite the challenges of the past twelve months and losing some beloved people on the way - I still can't help thinking how lucky we are.  We have somewhere new to live which finally now feels like home. We have been surrounded by friendship throughout the whole process - and having achieved nothing at all over the summer, the autumn has brought with it new energy and motivation which has enabled me to finally start some new projects...and it feels exciting!


Somero in September..to remind you what it looks like Mihaela!

Those who have experienced depression will know just how overwhelming it can feel at times. It can feel as though you are buried beneath a pile of rocks. You know you should try and dig your way out but you don't even know where to start. Even moving the first tiny stone feels almost impossible. So you do nothing except exist. And the fact that you can't motivate yourself to do anything makes you feel worse...so your sense of self worth becomes almost non-existant and you wonder why you are even here. Know the feeling? It may sound dramatic to those who have never experienced what I am talking about, but I am quite sure that many of you reading this will know exactly what I mean. Hopeless days feel exactly that - hopeless.

I suppose what I want to say, is that it isn't hopeless, however much it might feel like that sometimes. Sure, life is full of unexpected twists and turns. At times it feels rotten and unfair - and as though we are being punished for something we don't even understand. But there are always better days ahead...if you can just hold on to the belief that they will come.

I have learned over the past twleve months that friendship is one of the most valuable things in the world. Sometimes a call from a friend is the only thing that gets you through the day, even if the friend doesn't even know it.  I have learned that learning to love again is possible, even when you are convinced it is not. I have discovered that when families stick together and help each other they can get through almost anything. And most of all I have learned that hope is the one thing that no-one can take away from you. So keep tight hold of it. Keep dreaming, whatever you are going through. Keep believing that better things are ahead. Because one day you will wake up and realise that in fact that is exactly what has happened. The worst is behind you, your old energy is starting to come back and the future is starting to look bright again - and those are the days when you glad you stuck around - and old friends start to look you up again....it's a strange world after all.

Make Today a Good One

Looking at the sky can be inspirational

This is my challenge for you today. Over the last few days there have been some genuinely tricky moments and some really lovely ones. So I decided on Friday evening that the thing to do was to focus my memory on the lovely things that had happened (there were several this week) and to make a conscious decision to make the weekend as good as I possibly could.

Over the years I have discovered that the first step towards getting the most out of life is to take the time to understand the things you enjoy doing. You'd be surprised to know how many people never even give this any thought - but then still wonder why life appears so dull.

So far my Friday decision has brought rewards. Yesterday was one of the best days I have had in a long time. It involved nature, writing, taking photos, being outside, friendship, a film, candles and good food. The film was only mediocre but the day was still really good. And although it is not yet ten o'clock on Sunday as I write these words, this morning has also started off well.

I turned on the computer this morning to find several messages from friends old and new. That's always a good start to any day.  I also had a lovely note from Mihaela, a Romanian who has been living in Somero and is currently preparing for a trip to India. I have promised to post pictures of Somero so she doesn't forget what it looks like when she is away!

Having lived several months when I felt as though my inspiration and creativity were locked away in a box somewhere, it now feels as though they are gradually starting to come back...and I hear that the same is happening to several of my friends too. Which is good news all round.

When in the forest yesterday I found a clearing between several tall trees, lay on my back on the forest floor and took this picture of the sky. Somehow every time I have looked at it since it has reminded me of that moment. I hope it can serve to pass on a little of the creativity and inspiration that I am feeling at the moment. And to Päivi, my very good friend who is currently creating her own inspirational project in the UK... this forest path is for you. Who knows what magic the trees are hiding? If you do one thing today...take my Sunday challenge and make this the best day you possibly can. With love from Somero....