Hello you lovely lot,
How has your week been?
Have you managed to find five minutes to yourself, put the kettle on and enjoy a cuppa without somebody asking you for something? Or have you been spinning so many plates that you’ve forgotten where you put your favourite mug?
Whatever your week has looked like, I hope you’ll take a little time out to sit back, have a read and enjoy this week’s adventures from Hunningham Hill Farm. There’s plenty to catch up on!
When The Wheels Start Falling Off
Friday brought a rather unexpected shock in the form of a poorly Peugeot.
Now, this is the newest vehicle in my fleet, as she is coming up for three years old, so it was definitely the least suspected candidate for a trip to the garage. Apparently, wear and tear can happen when you least expect it!
Brakes, calipers, catalyst, exhaust mount and oil were all playing havoc with the running of this beautiful machine. Not quite the Friday morning surprise I had planned!
It got me thinking about the similarities between our vehicles and our own bodies. We can have something that appears to be running perfectly well, getting us from A to B every day, until suddenly a warning light appears, something starts making an unusual noise or we find ourselves unable to keep going at quite the same pace.
Our bodies are rather similar. We don’t always know what is going to happen or when something might start causing us problems.
Sometimes the signs have been there for a while, quietly building in the background, until eventually our bodies demand that we pay attention.
Here’s where I want you to think about something:
How often do you acknowledge those little warning signs?
Or do you put them to one side because there’s simply too much to do?
We know that our emotional experiences, prolonged stress and mental load can influence how our bodies feel and function. The tension we carry, the quality of our sleep, our energy levels and even our pain experiences can all be affected by what we’re navigating emotionally.
That doesn’t mean every physical symptom has an emotional cause, or that we should overlook the need for medical investigations.
However, it does remind us that looking after ourselves involves more than simply treating the physical symptoms.
We need to look at the bigger picture.
Listening to the Warning Signs of Stress
Monday brought two medical check-ups for me.
One was to look at my longstanding ear condition, and the other to address the migraines I’ve been experiencing since January. It’s another reminder that our bodies are complex little systems, and sometimes they need a little extra attention, investigation and support.
I’ve been incorporating a few different things into my own wellbeing routine to help manage everything. Pain relief meditation, hot baths, hot wheat bags, massage, chiropractic treatment and, very soon, an acupuncture appointment.
It’s about finding the things that help me manage my symptoms and support my body, rather than expecting it to keep going regardless of what I’ve put it through.
Related Ramble: Blog Post 14: When Life Gets in the Way
This brings me to something I’ve been thinking about quite a lot lately.
We reap what we sow.
Now, I’m not suggesting that we can prevent every illness or health condition simply by making better lifestyle choices. Life doesn’t work quite that neatly! What I am saying is that the things we repeatedly expose ourselves to do have an influence on our overall wellbeing.
If we constantly fill our minds with scaremongering news reports, survive on takeaways, drink copious amounts of alcohol and rarely give ourselves an opportunity to rest, it’s hardly surprising that we might not feel our best.
Equally, if we make space for calming music, explore our surroundings in a present and mindful manner, nourish ourselves with good food around 80% of the time, stretch our bodies and remember to breathe deeply, we’re giving ourselves a much better foundation to work from.
Small, consistent habits can make a significant difference.
Our physical wellbeing, emotional regulation and mental health are all interconnected. When we give ourselves the opportunity to slow down, we can often find a little more resilience, clarity and calm.
More importantly, we start noticing the joy in those everyday moments that might otherwise pass us by. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life, my dear, you simply need to start with five minutes.
Asking for Help Around Hunningham Hill Farm
On a much happier note, we’ve had a wonderful experience this week in the form of our new support team at Hunningham Hill Farm.
Welcome to Julita, our new cleaner, and Les, who is taking care of the maintenance jobs around the farm.
I cannot begin to tell you how lovely it is to have some extra pairs of hands!
The upstairs of the farmhouse is now squeaky clean. Quite literally, actually! When I walk across the wooden landing in my slippers, I can hear the floor squealing underneath my feet.
It’s amazing what a difference a little help can make.
Les has also been making rapid progress with the brambles, and we’re beginning to discover parts of our fields that have been hidden away for approximately 16 years. Sixteen years! Who knows what other little surprises are waiting for us beneath all that vegetation?
It’s a lovely feeling to see the land opening up again, making space for new possibilities and allowing us to enjoy more of what this beautiful little corner of the world has to offer.
There’s another lesson in there somewhere, isn’t there?
More often than not, we need to clear away the overgrowth, ask for a little help and make room for something new. That applies to our lives just as much as it does to our gardens.
Making Time for Self Care and Rest
Next week, Root & Rise will be closed for treatments while I take a complete break. And when I say complete break, I really do mean it!
This will be the first proper break I’ve taken since Easter, and I think it’s fair to say that it’s rather overdue.
As somebody who spends so much of her time encouraging other women to prioritise their wellbeing, I think it’s important that I practise what I preach.
Rest is not something we should have to earn.
You don’t need to reach breaking point before you give yourself permission to stop, nor do you need to finish every job, tick every box or make sure everybody else is happy before you can take some time for yourself.
In a situation like this, the most productive thing you can do is absolutely nothing.
So, my lovely, here’s your invitation this week.
Put the kettle on. Step outside if the weather allows. Listen to the birds, notice the changing season, stretch those shoulders and take a few lovely deep breaths.
If your body has been whispering that it needs a little attention, it’s time to listen. Slow things down, ask for help if you need it, and put yourself at the top of your priority list. Looking after yourself is part of making sure you have the energy, resilience and emotional capacity to enjoy the life you’re working so hard to create.
Related Ramble: Blog Post 7: The Art of Pausing
Remember, you are seen, you are heard and you are loved.
Keep finding the joy in the little things, keep being unapologetically YOU, and remember that one of the greatest act of self-care is simply giving yourself permission to pause.
With love,
Nicole Pickles.
