Story 1. Launching…
The beginning: When I first conceived of Nature to You, I was not aware of how much it would draw on my own self-expression and healing. Over recent years, especially since returning to university in 2012, I have been on many journeys, some very difficult. Meanwhile, threads of experience, skills and insights that once seemed disjointed, have come together. Now, for my own wellbeing, I rely on the very elements that my workshops promote - the healing effect of engaging in playful curiosity, creativity and connection.
Chronic stress has a cost: You may be aware that stress and trauma cause the ‘threat-detection’ and ‘fight or flight’ parts of the brain to activate. When the brain prioritises vigilance and survival, other functions like creativity, empathy and learning, are reduced. Over time, prolonged or successive stressful events change the physical structure of the brain. Threat detection networks in the brain actually grow. A sign of this change is feeling like one is always in ‘survival mode’ - just barely keeping up and feeling on-edge, with little energy left for fun, even when objectively speaking, things aren’t so bad. Another sign is poor concentration, memory and decision making. I personally have felt all of these impacts (and they tend to create more problems). Despite this, I have been exploring ways to help myself. Like any sensible person I get therapy support. But I recognise the big role I can play in my own mental health.
Moments of truth: Some ‘low-lights’ of my last decade include (quite aside from the whole Covid thing) the messy breakup of a long-term relationship, moving house four times, caring for a teenager suffering acute autistic burnout, and my own cancer journey. Life is looking up, and I just completed a PhD. But challenges and uncertainties loom large some days. Despite my fears, I have not allowed life’s dark patches to get between me and finding answers to a better life. I have wondered if I should wait until my life is more - perfect - before promoting wellbeing. But that doesn’t seem honest or relatable in today’s world. The challenges will keep coming. As I work to evolve and apply better ways of living a good life, I can share what I learn with others who feel as overwhelmed and ‘imperfect’ as I do.
Not long ago, I had lost the desire to strive for anything at all, until I discovered renewal in play. My point here is that my expertise is not purely theoretical, it’s very much ‘road-tested’. Playful curiosity is turning my exhaustion around, reminding me who I am and what matters to me.
Connecting and healing: I’m not the only one that’s gone through a hard time over the last few years. Most people have, for reasons that are too obvious and numerous to mention. We are seeing a mental health crisis and epidemic of social isolation as people withdraw from society, in pain, exhaustion and fear. However, just as a stress can damage the brain - play can rebuild it. Play is not just for children, it’s a vital counter-weight to stress. Play allows us to enter a state of flow, where our brain can stop fighting and start rebuilding. Play encompasses curiosity, exploration, humour, learning and social connection. These experiences don’t just make us feel good - they stimulate our brains to grow more robust networks devoted to recognising good things. These changes increase our capacity for constructive thinking, creativity and connection with others.
My workshops create a space where people can actively practice these principles. It’s my way of sharing the best of myself, my skills and what I’ve learned through life, for the benefit of our community.