‘Smiling is the best way to face every problem; to crush every fear and to hide every pain’....Unknown.

 Well, here I am, and still wondering what the future holds for all of us. In England, we’ve gone into a second lockdown to try and slow the infection rate. I do take a short walk most days, but people aren’t very considerate and only one or two try to put a space between us. I think I’m very lucky, because I can go for a walk on the cliff top ten minutes away, and move around people if I need to, but I have to get there first and that means walking along busy pavements.  I love to be outdoors though and somehow feeling the fresh air on my face, watching and listening to the waves as they move in and out towards the shore and enjoying the wildlife, somehow gives me hope and I need that at the present time.  Unfortunately, my anxieties have been quite high and that’s affecting my fibromyalgia and, in turn, my IBS. My body seems to ache constantly and I feel so very tired. There are other niggling problems too and I’m sure they’re anxiety based, but if I can get a little fresh air daily, it helps me to cope. Nature and a smile have always been my lifelines - for as long as I remember. Even at a young age, I realised somehow, that a smile helped me through the day and sometimes, it may have helped others too, whereas nature was my escape to place. I used to talk to the wildlife and still do. Am I mad? It has been suggested, but no,I don’t think so, they became my friends. I was a shy, reclusive child and felt very unloved and on the outside somehow, but I could be myself with nature. I collected insects, to see how they interacted with each other and then I would release them after a couple of days and we always had lots of animals in the garden. In that, I was very fortunate. I feel I’m rambling on, but anxiety and fibromyalgia go together and this is my way of living with it, coping with it and getting on with life in the best way that I can. My other go to, is meditation and it gives me a peaceful place to be and to feel in the moment, which is really all we have and can be sure of. So, I try to live in the moment too. Mindfulness, is also another wonderful tool and there’s lots of advice and information out there now. If I’m having a day when leaving the house is too difficult, then I try to make sure I do some gentle stretches. Today, I’ve managed to do a little painting (a chair) and fed my garden birds. Not a lot, but something! I try not to dwell on how I feel, but sometimes I will mention it in my journal. A smile isn’t always easy and doesn’t change a thing, I know, but for me, it can put a different perspective on the day. When I go for my walk, I walk with a smile and yes, I get some odd looks from people, but I also get the occasional smile and that makes me smile more. I’ve asked myself if I could use my blog page as an addition to my journal, but it could be a little boring. If you’ve stayed with me this far, you might agree!   Take care and stay safe.  Namaste.