Chronic Voice Link-Up: Why Autumn is my Best Time of Year

Hello Autumn! I love this time of year. Maybe it is because my Dry Eye Syndrome seems to improve, and the pain recedes ever so slightly before we hit the cold depths of winter. Maybe I just feel more productive because I prefer shorter days and longer nights. Sunlight can be too powerful for my sensitive eyes, and sometimes I even struggle on a cloudy day when the white light is too intense.

Here is my take on the Chronic Voice link-up prompts:

Why Autumn is my best time of Year by SpookyMrsGreen.com pagan lifestyle blog
Why Autumn is my best time of Year

Chronic Voice Link-Up: Why Autumn is my Best Time of Year

Producing

Autumn is my most productive time of year, and this time I am producing early results for my brand-new business, Goldstone Reiki. I set up a website and social media pages at the end of September, and I am already booking in clients, practicing reiki healing treatments, and continuing my professional development.

Acquiring

In order to set up my new business I had to acquire better skills in the boring side of business: planning, administration, and cash flow forecast. Having always shied away from anything involving numbers and maths, this has proved quite a positive experience for me as I acquired new-found self confidence in my ability to crunch numbers and develop a sound business idea.

Switching

My mind is busy switching from one business to another as I continue to run my SpookyMrsGreen blog while simultaneously working on Goldstone Reiki. Sometimes it feels overwhelming but mostly I am happy to switch between two jobs that I find satisfying and rewarding. I am lucky to be here, and grateful for all my experiences.

Disappointing

I couldn’t find much to be disappointed about recently, although I am anxiously waiting to see if my planned family holiday in Wales will go ahead at half-term… no more lockdowns, please! I did finish reading Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez and found it disappointing. It’s a book I had wanted to read for some time, but when I finally gave it my attention, I found the content dry and decidedly depressing. It didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know, apart from presenting long paragraphs of facts and figures that were quite difficult to read and make sense of. Not a book I would recommend, unfortunately.

Forming

I joined The Reiki Association as part of my continued professional development, and during the past few weeks I have joined in with some group reiki energy shares and meditations. I look forward to forming new friendships and meeting a whole new network of practitioners and spiritual people that could widen my perspectives and help me grow into a new phase of life.

Chronic Voice Link-Up

I joined the social network for A Chronic Voice because I needed to find people who understand what life is like with chronic illness, people like me. Today I have written a post using the October link-up prompts, to show my experience of living with a chronic pain disorder. Click here to find other blog posts from fellow chronic pain sufferers, or #spoonies as we call ourselves online.

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LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

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New Books and Old Books from Waterstones

It seems reading has become even more popular during recent times and with books flying off the virtual shelf at Waterstones there seems to be no slowing down.

As we get ready for the popular festive season Waterstones welcomes hundreds of new big title books in from Robert Harris, Captain Tom, Jacqueline Wilson and many more.

Seasons Readings Christmas at Waterstones affiliated with SpookyMrsGreen.com pagan lifestyle blog.
Seasons Readings Christmas at Waterstones

New Books and Old Books from Waterstones

Hundreds of new titles with selected discounts on popular titles

You can still get Up to Half Price Books and Free Delivery on orders over £20.

And for those extra special gifts, look for the limited edition and signed editions on Waterstones with signed editions from Gareth Southgate, Catlin Moran and Will Young to name a few – Click here.

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Waterstones Signed and Special Edition Books

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Four Ways To Create The Ideal Home Office

Your home is your pride and joy, but it could now also be your central point of work for your business, or because you are now working from home. If you’re now working from home, you may be in it for the long-term as things with coronavirus certainly aren’t dying down.

As we get used to the new normal, it’s time to think about creating the perfect home office space to enjoy and keep you productive.Ā 

Image of a home office desk with computer and laptop.

Photo by Kelly Lacy from Pexels

Home Office Location

When choosing where to set up your home office, you need to think about the traffic running through your home and the noise levels from both indoors and outdoors. You have to think about noise that you may hear from the street and also any noise you may hear indoors from things such as the kids having the TV on. If you place it near the kitchen, family room, or bathroom, then you may end up with a lot of distractions. If you don’t have space in your home for the perfect office location it may be worth working with architects to design an extension or replan of the layout on your home. However, if you have small children, it might be ideal to have your office near the playroom so you can keep your eye on them better. 

Keep Things Simple

Although you may feel as you want to go mad with decorating, creating your space, and adding in loads of stationary, however,  it’s best to keep it simple. Keep the walls neutral and add some pictures, you need it to not be a distracting area. You should also try to keep your desk clean with as little clutter as possible. If you need a lot of stationary or supplies, it may be worth getting a desk tidy and some under-desk storage. 

Blend It InĀ 

Your home office should ideally be somewhere that easily blends with the rest of your home. If your office is visible from other areas of your home, think about how it blends. The style and colours should ideally be complementary and not clash. If your office space is sitting in your dining room or living room, for example, try to have the desk match the other furniture in the room, and keep the area clean and tidy, in similar colours to the room it’s situated.Ā 

Let In The LightĀ 

There have been studies that show that when people work in natural light they absorb more vitamin D, sleep better, are more productive, and have fewer eye problems. Light can boost your mood and keep you away from stress and anxiety too. Not to mention, if you make sure there is plenty of natural light in your office, there will be less need for you to have the lights on, thus, reducing your electricity bill.Ā 

These are four great ways to create the perfect office space in your home for you to enjoy your working from home experience. Id there anything that you have done to your working space to make it perfect for your home? Please share them in the comments below.

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How Reiki has Changed Me

Have you experienced Reiki healing energy? Do you work with energy in other forms, such as meditation, martial arts, yoga or similar? How does it feel for you?

I have been practising Reiki healing meditation for four years and it has transformed me in ways that I cannot properly explain. Outwardly I am the same person. I look the same. I live the same, quiet life. I am an average woman approaching middle age. But internally there have been massive changes, most notably in my response to the world and the situations I experience.

Photo of a woman receiving a reiki treatment while she lies on a therapy bed. You can see balls of white light emanating from the hands of the practitioner who is giving the reiki treatment. Text reads "How Reiki Changed Me @GoldstoneReiki"
How Reiki Changed Me @GoldstoneReiki

How Reiki has Changed Me

During my teens and twenties I suffered with anxiety. Back then it wasn’t recognised as a formal illness and I never understood why I got so worked up about simple activities. I remember my dad once asking me to telephone for a pizza takeaway and I really didn’t want to do it. Talk to a stranger on the phone?! How could I?!! This was the landline, by the way, before we had mobile phones. My heart was pounding, my palms were sweaty, I wanted to burst into tears. I think I was sixteen at the time. Then I learned to drive, and before I got in my car to travel anywhere, even just across town, I had to talk myself down from panic and stress responses. I had no idea what these feelings were, and I thought I was being weak, so I never told anyone how I felt. I basically told myself not to be weak, and I powered through.

Many years later, after the digital revolution and while I was at home nursing my babies, I began to learn more about myself and these strange, intrusive feelings. People began to talk about mental illness in the public sphere, and I began to learn about my husband and other family members who suffered with mental illness. I began to separate out my responses to situations and recognise when I needed to resolve them. And then I discovered Reiki healing therapy.

Reiki takes time and effort

Reiki is a process that takes time and effort. In the beginning I avoided my reiki teacher, never committing to a class because I didn’t have time; I had my children to look after, my house to deal with, my business to build. When could I possibly sit still and meditate? With some gentle persuasion, I signed up for my first reiki course. And that was it. From that moment on, my life began to improve dramatically. The people around me didn’t change. I changed. I have become better able to control my moods (although I do still snap on a regular basis – classic redhead syndrome), I sleep soundly at night, I listen to my body when it tells me to rest or to eat more healthy, or stop a particularly disruptive habit. I don’t take on other people’s problems personally. I am here to support and listen, and I will offer guidance and advice if asked, but it is not my job to fix people or their lives.

We must take responsibility for ourselves. That is the biggest lesson that Reiki has taught me, and one that I am incredibly grateful to have received.

Image of a child relaxing on a therapy bed and receiving a reiki healing treatment. Reiki for Parents online reiki course affiliated with SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
Reiki for Parents: naturally support your children’s health and wellbeing at home.

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Jewellery Inspired by History at English Heritage Shop

At English Heritage Shop, we have a range of jewellery that has been inspired by our historic sites.

These unique pieces of jewellery make perfect gifts for friends and loved ones.

#FreeforallFriday Jewellery Gifts at English Heritage Shop affiliated with SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
#FreeforallFriday Jewellery Gifts at English Heritage Shop

Jewellery Inspired by History

London Bus Necklace – Tatty Devine: Wear an iconic piece of English history with this red bus necklace by British designer Tatty Devine. Our Price Ā£35.00 – Click here.

Stonehenge Bluestone Bangle: Wear a piece of Stonehenge with this Bluestone Bangle. Bluestone makes up the smaller stones inside the famous stone circle and can be found only in Pembrokeshire’s Preseli Hills. Our Price Ā£275.00 – Click here.

Whitby Abbey Silhouette Necklace: Take home a piece of history with this Whitby Abbey Silhouette Necklace. Our Price Ā£65.00 – Click here.

Stonehenge Sarsen Stone Trilithon Earrings: Sarsen stone has been sourced from around Stonehenge to create these beautiful Stonehenge Sarsen Stone Trilithon Earrings. Our Price Ā£85.00 – Click here.

Oak Tree Necklace: A necklace fit for a lover of all things nature. This necklace features a highly detailed engraving of a very impressive oak tree. Our Price Ā£30.00 – Click here.

Vampire Fangs Brooch – Tatty Devine: Channel your inner vampire with this Vampire Fangs Brooch by British designers, Tatty Devine. Our Price Ā£35.00 – Click here.

Silver- and Gold-Plated Bee Stud Earrings: Celebrate one of nature’s most amazing creatures with these Silver- and Gold-Plated Bee Stud Earrings. Our Price Ā£40.00 – Click here.

Stonehenge Amber Gold-Plated Pendant: This genuine amber necklace has been hand cast and is 22ct gold plated. and is stamped with a Stonehenge design tag. Our Price Ā£125.00 – Click here.

Stonehenge Round Circle Bracelet: Tell someone you love them with this Stonehenge Round Circle Bracelet. It features two interlocking circles with a highly detailed depiction of the famous trilithon stones. Our Price Ā£50.00 – Click here.

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Live Your Best And Healthiest Life, Today!

A healthy lifestyle includes all the ingredients of a healthy lifestyle. According to research, in order to maintain a healthy way of life, you must take action. Incorporate the right foods, exercise, adequate sleep and generally healthy habits into your daily routine on a consistent basis.

It does not make sense to eat a healthy meal every now and then and for the rest of the day to eat frozen and processed foods. You should almost always eat carefully selected foods. Yes, over and over again we have all enjoyed ice cream or pizza and that is not a bad thing but it isn’t sustainable for our bodies.Ā 

Text reads, ā€œSuper delicious healthy food cocoa added.ā€ Image of Koso Super Drink from Koso Med affiliated with SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
Unleash a New You: Transform Your Health with Our Proven Japanese Weight Loss Elixir.

The motto is: “Eat to live and do not live to eat”

In addition to healthy foods, your body also craves exercise. Designed to work out and move on a regular basis. All the joints in your body, your knees, your elbows and your hips are designed to move in some way. By pushing and stretching all these joints, your body will be kept in good condition and if your exercise becomes a frequent habit, you will remain healthy for the rest of your life, especially if you manage to maintain your weight at normal levels. You should regularly check your BMI to ensure that it is within the healthy range.  

Balance and measure 

A balanced diet means eating enough but not too much of all the nutrients. If the portions are reasonable, there is no reason to limit your favorite foods. There are no “good” and “bad” foods, only good and bad diets. All foods fit into a healthy lifestyle as long as you maintain balance and moderation. Moderate amounts of all foods can ensure that energy intake remains under control and that no food or food ingredient is consumed in excessive amounts. If you choose a high fat snack in fat, choose a food with less fat for your next meal. Examples of reasonable portions are 75 -100 g (the size of a palm) of meat, a medium-sized fruit, ½ a cup of raw pasta or a scoop of ice cream (50g). Ready-made meals are a good way to check portion size and usually indicate their energy value on the packaging.

Do not forget fruits and vegetables

Many do not follow the recommendations for eating at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Many studies have shown an association between the intake of these foods and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. Increased fruit and vegetable intake has also been associated with lower blood pressure. People can supplement their diet with fruits and vegetables as they are good sources of nutrients and the majority of them are low in calories and fat. Nutritionists pay special attention to fruits and vegetables, as these are “packages” of nutrients that positively affect human health. The “antioxidant case” has focused much of its attention on the micronutrients of fruits and vegetables, such as vitamins C and E, as well as many other natural protective substances. Carotenoids (B-carotene, lutein and lycopene), flavonoids (phenolic compounds found in abundance in common vegetables and fruits, such as apples and onions, and plant-based beverages such as tea, cocoa and red wine ) and phytoestrogens (mainly isoflavones and lignins), seem to play a beneficial role in health. 

Balance your salt intake 

The salt (NaCl) consists of sodium and chlorine. Sodium is a nutrient found naturally in many foods. Sodium and chlorine are important for the body to maintain its fluid balance and regulate blood pressure. For most people, excess sodium passes directly through the body. In some, however, it can raise blood pressure. Reducing the amount of salt in those who are sensitive to salt can reduce the risk of high blood pressure. The relationship between salt intake and blood pressure is not yet clear and people should seek the advice of their doctor.  

This is a healthy lifestyle!

It is not a diet to lose weight, as summer comes. Yes, I know you want to look good in your shorts or swimsuit in the summer months, but it’s better to have a life goal. Maintain a flawless silhouette and build a strong, functional and balanced body and maintain it forever, not just for summer but for winter. That is probably one of the best things you can do. At the moment, we all need our immune systems in top condition! The biggest factor that will help you maintain this lifestyle is self-discipline. You have the discipline to eat the right foods, control portion sizes, follow an exercise program and keep going even when you do not feel like doing it. Routine is everything. The same way that you may have a routine with your medications. For example you may use dosette boxes to help you keep on top of your medications. You must do the same with your life. This means that you have to promote yourself and give yourself a clear path going forwards. This should be step by step and slowly every day. By doing this you will feel good, your self-esteem and self-image will improve, because you will know that you are one of the few people who has the self-discipline to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Maintaining a positive attitude is like taking multivitamins every day.

It is the best medicine to stay enthusiastic and will help you face the complexity of life. Surely, in many cases you have experienced some negative emotions that made you want to run away, get away from this unpleasant feeling of discouragement or that you are lost in the dark. But it is not worth it. Learn to wake up in the morning with a smile on your face and create a positive attitude that will fill you with optimism.

If you have children, enjoy them. Spend some time with your pets, family and friends and always wish them the best. Above all, never forget to love yourself for what you are. Confidence is essential for maintaining a young and healthy brain.

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Why we Need to be back at School #WATWB

We Are the World BlogFest (#WATWB) celebrates special people and small stories of inspiration and hope in the world. Let’s face it, we need some inspiration and hope during this time of pandemic and social distancing.

#WATWB We are the World Blogfest at SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
#WATWB We are the World Blogfest

Why we Need to be back at School

This month I want to talk about school. My children returned to school following the UK lockdown, and after just two weeks their behaviour completely changed. They had not been noticeably depressed or unhappy during lockdown, but since school started back, they are bouncing around the house barely able to contain their excitement. Their dance class finally resumed last week and while there have been changes to make the environment Covid-safe, they are delighted to resume lessons and continue practicing for an upcoming dance show. I really hope it doesn’t get postponed again…

And it’s not just my children that feel the benefit of being back at school. I have resumed my morning routine of walking the dog once I have done the school run. We can walk for about three miles, which I could never achieve with two grumpy children. The dog is happier and more settled, and I have more time in my day to work and complete tasks that are important for my personal wellbeing. We are so happy to be back at school, and we hope that the UK does not experience another full lockdown any time soon.

We are the World BlogFest (#WATWB) focuses on positive stories no matter where they’re found. It is all about spreading peace and humanity on social media. All participants post on the last Friday of the month, sharing a positive news story that contributes to making our world a happier, safer, and better place to live.

You can find more about #WATWB over on Belinda Witzenhausen’s blog.

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LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

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Important Parts Of The Body That Require Plenty Of Care

If you are keen to make sure that you are looking after yourself properly, there are many things you need to consider along the way. As well as ensuring you are generally healthy, there are also a number of parts of the body which often require extra or particular care. That’s either because things are known to often go wrong with them, or because they are simply vulnerable in some way or another, or just that they are important.

In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the important parts of the body that require plenty of care – and what you should do to ensure you are looking after them right.

Heart Health is Important Health Advice shared at SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
Heart Health is Important

Important Parts Of The Body That Require Plenty Of Care

The Heart

It should go without saying that this is an important part of the body. It is, of course, arguably the most important part of the body at all, and it is certainly the central organ that you need to be concerned about. Anything slightly wrong with the heart can mean the worst possible consequences for your health and wellbeing, so it’s essential to keep a close eye on the heart. That doesn’t mean over-worrying yourself (that wouldn’t be good for the ticker anyway!) but it does mean that you should look after it in a basic way.

What does that mean? Put simply: get some exercise every week, try not to eat too many saturated fats, keep your sodium intake low, and do your best to avoid getting overstressed or worked up. One of the major causes of heart problems is overworking, so you might want to ask yourself whether you have been putting in too much overtime at the office. Your boss might be pleased, but your heart will certainly not be.

Beyond that, you should obviously try to avoid doing things which directly harm your heart – such as smoking, drinking excessively and generally overworking it. Do that, and your most important organ should remain intact and healthy.

Lungs

Another very important organ is the lungs, which are generally a lot easier to look after, but do still require some help. One of the most important things here is, again, not to smoke, or at least not to do so excessively. You should also try to keep your stress to a minimum, as all that fight and flight heavy breathing tends to disrupt the health of your lungs profoundly over the years. If you can do those things, you are already looking at a much better lung health in general.

There is some evidence that deep breathing practices help your lung capacity, and that increased capacity is directly related to healthier lungs. For that reason, meditation and mantra work, or just breathing relaxation exercises, are a good idea here – as well as being an extra way to bust that stress! Similarly, singing and playing wind instruments are known to be good for the lungs’ strength too.

Exercising regularly is important in lung health, as you want to feel that they are strong and that they can maintain you while you are working hard, which is the whole point of the lungs. So get plenty of cardio exercise too, otherwise your lungs won’t have the necessary practice in order to be as healthy as possible.

Eyes

People really do overlook the eyes a lot of the time. It’s hard to always remember the importance of the eyes, but they are clearly an extremely important part of the body, and looking after them well should be a priority. Everybody will experience some worsening of their vision as they get older, and there is not so much you can do about that. However, you can minimise it and make sure that your vision remains as strong as possible simply by following some basic steps.

First of all, be sure to visit the optometrist regularly. This is the only way to stay on top of any vision changes you might have undergone, and to ensure that you are aware of any lesions or anomalies in the eyes themselves. People often forget that optometrists also check for serious issues like tumours on the eyes, so you need to make sure that you are not forgetting to go. You should have your eyes tested at least once every other year; your optometrist will suggest going more often if that is necessary for you.

If you do need to wear glasses, either get recommendations or go to a trusted source like https://www.eyeglasses.com/ and get the best you can afford. Then make sure that you are wearing them at all times when it has been recommended. That might just be when you are driving and reading, or it might be every waking hour. Not wearing them could damage your eyes further, so this is an important thing to remember.

If you can do all that, your vision is going to be kept in a much better state, and you should be able to ensure that you are enjoying better eyesight forever more, even with the normal degradation of aging.

Skin

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, and the essential barrier between the inside of your body and the outside world. As you can see at https://www.society19.com, the better you look after your skin, therefore, the better you are caring for your overall general health. But do you know what you actually need to be doing in order to take care of your skin? It is actually much simpler than people often think, and it doesn’t take all that much in the way of hard work and knowledge. Mostly, it’s about following a few simple essential things.

First of all, be wary of time spent in the sun. Probably the single most important thing you can do is to keep your skin out of high-UV sun as much as possible. This just means wearing sunscreen, even if it is not too bright or hot out, and ensuring that you don’t regularly sunbathe between the hours of 11-3. At the same time, make sure that you don’t spend all your time indoors, as your skin does need the vitamins from the sun’s rays to keep your body operating how it should.

Keep yourself hydrated

Beyond that, the next most important thing is to ensure that you are hydrating well and constantly. The standard eight glasses a day is all you need to ensure that you are taking proper care of your skin, and it will also bring with it a number of other health benefits besides. If you want to hydrate your skin further, applying moisturiser once a day will suffice. If you can do all that, and make sure you are cleansing your skin once a day with a low-impact cleanser of some kind, you are really doing everything you need to in order to keep your skin perfectly healthy.

One of the benefits of good skincare is that you will not only be healthier, you will look more attractive too, so it really is a win-win!

These are some of the most important parts of the body that you should be taking care of. As long as you follow the simple and easy advice laid out above, you are going to notice many positive health changes in your life, so they are absolutely worth considering for that reason. You will also have more energy and feel happier, as these changes are all general health improvements anyway.

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Five Ways You Can Prepare For Uni

Whether you are moving away to study or are starting a course at home, starting university can be nerve-racking and stressful.Ā 

There are many things you need to sort out, so have a look at this list to help get you started:Ā 

Image of university students talking and smiling.

Photo by Buro Millennial from Pexels

Choose What You Want To Take With You

If you’re moving to university then you may feel like you need to take absolutely everything with you. However, you need to think about what you’re going to take. You will need a few essential such as looking at comfortable chairs for students, the kitchenware that you need, new bedding, a few pictures, and keepsakes to make it feel more like home. 

Sort Out A Student Bank Account

When it comes to a student bank account, banks ill offer you a range of different benefits and funds. They may offer you a debit card, an overdraft facility, an optional credit card, and possibly an incentive for joining like a free student railcard or an Amazon voucher. Make sure you compare all the accounts on offer to secure yourself the best deal. 

Start Looking For Your Tech

The majority of student take a laptop with them to university and also use things like a tablet or smartphone to record lectures or notes. Some will even take their own printer, however, with most coursework now submitted digitally, long gone are the days of ā€˜the dog ate my homework’. It’s a good idea to shop early for your tech needs when going to university, although there are a lot of student deals, you want to ensure the items you want are in stock and you get everything you need in time for your start date. 

Start Gathering Your Student Essentials

You need to ensure you have a few essentials when you are student these include: 

  • A travel card so you can save on your travel news, you can either get a student railcard or a coach card.Ā 
  • Contents insurance so all your personal items are insured. Remember if you no longer live at home then you won’t be covered by that policy any more. You can usually get a student policy.Ā 
  • NUS Extra card so you can take advantage of the everyday discount on things like eating out, entertainment, travel and clothes. It can be difficult when a student and you will often find that you need to shrimp therefore a little bit of discount goes a long way.Ā 

Look For A Student JobĀ 

One of the smartest things you can do when studying is to bag yourself a student job. You obviously need it to be part-time, and it needs to be fairly flexible to fit in with your studying but there are often many opportunities when you are a student. One of the first places you should look is with your student union, they will be able to point you in the right direction.Ā 

These are just a few things to get you started for your uni preparations. Is there anything that you think should be included? Please share them in the comments below.

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My Chronic Pain Journey

Lessons learned during lockdown, looking forward to new business, and letting go of what no longer serves my best interests.

My Chronic Pain Journey rare eye disease by Catherine Green of SpookyMrsGreen.com pagan lifestyle blog.
My Chronic Pain Journey rare eye disease by Catherine Green

My Chronic Pain Journey

Feeling: I am feeling much better now that my children are back at school. This is my favourite time of year as we begin to prepare for autumn, look forward to Halloween, and then the festivities of Christmas. I do not cope well in heat and hot weather, so I much prefer the colder time of year when I can light a fire, put on my cosy jumper, and snuggle down on the sofa with a book and a glass of wine. That is the best feeling!

Gruelling: The past twelve months has been gruelling. It began with family bereavement, and then another family bereavement, then lockdown, the pandemic and everything that came with it. My marriage is collapsing. My health has been generally good, apart from my chronic illness and a daytrip to A&E with chest pains. The pain in my eyes has been excruciating recently, exacerbated by stress, tiredness, too much screen time and not enough fresh air. Thankfully now I can try to alleviate those symptoms, but it only takes a windy day or the wrong kind of rain to set me back and send me home crying and fed up.

Tempting: It has been so tempting to wallow in self-pity and give up on life during lockdown. My children kept me going, but they struggled without the routine of school and time with their friends. I turned to junk food for support, and the Just Eat app became far too tempting at one point. Now I need to work off the extra weight and eat a more balanced diet. I also need to drink a lot more water to help alleviate my Dry Eye Syndrome and overall dryness in my body. But the coffee, wine and Coca Cola are just so tasty!

Running: The new month has brought a new challenge, and now I am planning to set up a new business. I am soon to complete my Reiki 3rd Degree Master practitioner certificate, and I finally feel confident to be a professional reiki practitioner. Running a business is a daunting prospect, and while I know that my blog is a business in itself, this new venture brings more responsibility because it has to bring a regular income. Now I am writing the business plan, exploring my options for a space to work from, and preparing to engage with potential clients. It is an exciting time.

Mending: I have learned over the years that I can only mend myself. I cannot help other people with their problems and behavioural issues. It has been a hard lesson that finally made sense during lockdown. I reached into the darkest recesses of my mind and emotions, did some seriously heavy energy work on myself, and realised my truth. I had to mend myself, and I am still recovering, but now I feel strong enough to reach out and help other people, but only if they want to help themselves.

Chronic Voice Link-Up

I joined the social network for A Chronic Voice because I needed to find people who understand what life is like with chronic illness, people like me. Today I have written a post using the September link-up prompts, to show my experience of living with a chronic pain disorder. Click here to find other blog posts from fellow chronic pain sufferers, or #spoonies as we call ourselves online.

Chronic Voice blog link-up for September by Catherine Green of SpookyMrsGreen.com pagan lifestyle blog.
Chronic Voice blog link-up for September

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