There has been a lot of coverage in the media about mental health in recent years which we welcome as the topic finally comes off the ‘taboo’ list. The pandemic has only exacerbated the problem as people have struggled with lockdowns, redundancies, and loneliness. However, there has also been increasing concern across many factions about the deterioration in our children’s mental health. In the last year, we may have developed treatment strategies, coping mechanisms, and vaccines to tackle the virus, but we are also still years away from understanding the full impact that restrictions, school closures, and limited social interactions […]
Continue readingAuthor Archive: Gail Lowe
National Storytelling Week 2022
National Storytelling Week 2022 “Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin.” 29th January – 5th February 2022 Do you remember hearing this phrase as a child and understanding that it meant a story? Even if you are too young to remember the original children’s BBC radio programme called “Listen with mother”, which this phrase came from, or you do not live in the UK, you can appreciate that for over 30 years, it was the cue for children of all ages to settle down and listen to nursery rhymes, songs, and of course, stories. Stories and storytelling telling are immensely […]
Continue reading
How to grow a medicinal herb garden
Growing your own set of herbs is a perfect way to bring more prosperity to your life. While herbs are great for garnishing your food, the medicinal properties and presence in your home make medicinal herb gardens one of the most rewarding practices to cultivate. Read on to find out how to grow a medicinal herb garden and give yourself a little pick-up at the same time. Luckily, growing herbs is a great fit for any skill level. Herbs often grow much faster than vegetable gardens, using less space in the process. If you are nervous about getting started, these […]
Continue reading
Coping with disappointment – the stepping stones to success
If like me, (an Englishwoman) you have just experienced the most excruciatingly tense, amazing, uplifting, stressful, and ultimately disappointing 3 hours of your life whilst watching the English football team beaten again on penalties in the final of the European Cup, you will understand some of the feelings I am nursing right now and how I’m trying to find ways of coping with disappointment: 1. Pride – that we got to our first major championship final for 55 years (I was 2 weeks old when England won the World Cup in 1966) 2. Anger – that it all came down […]
Continue reading
Four Indoor Plants for Healthy Living
So many people are unaware of the benefits a house full of plants brings when it comes to mindful living. Besides the decorative and aesthetic appeal, there are dozens of hidden health benefits behind growing indoor plants. They can help you create an atmosphere in your house which pleases you, so here are four indoor plants for healthy living that anyone can cultivate. Here are some of my favourite physical and health benefits of indoor plants, with the research studies linked if you would like to read more. Reducing Stress (Source) Cleaner Air (NASA Clean Air Study) Higher productivity and […]
Continue reading
How to Start a Vertical Garden
Wall PlantersHave you ever wondered about how to start a vertical garden? Growing your own plants is one of the best mindful practices to connect yourself with nature. Unfortunately, this can be difficult to achieve when we feel like we do not have the time, money or the means to do so. And yet, with everything in life, if you have the desire and the will to succeed, you will find a way to achieve it no matter what your available space or your budget. This article contains affiliate links. So how do you grow as many plants as you […]
Continue reading
Yoga for Beginners Over 50: How to Start Practising
If you are here, you want to start practising yoga, but chances are you may still feel hesitant to do it. Completely understandable! Here in the West, we see pictures of yogis who are fit and young all the time. And this makes people believe that that is how you need to look to practice yoga. But if you are looking for yoga for beginners over 50, then this article will show you how you can start practising. If you hear yourself say, “I don’t think I can do that. Maybe yoga isn’t for me”, then throw that belief out […]
Continue reading
Celebrating the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere
One month of the year that we all look forward to is June – warm weather, lighter evenings and hopefully, a long-awaited summer holiday! But we love June in our house because It is also the month of the Summer Solstice – a ‘magical’ day called ‘the longest day of the year’ which officially marks the start of summer. Read on to find out about celebrating the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Here’s the astronomy bit Sometimes, we humans can be a little ‘slow to catch on’. It was only in 1543, that the astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus, explained his […]
Continue reading
30 ways to celebrate International Friendship Day
Celebrate International Friendship Day this year! If there is one thing the pandemic showed, it was that we need our friends – not just the ones we know, but the ones we have yet to meet! As many of us were locked down during the pandemic, we began to realise that it really is the little things that mean a lot – a hug, a genuine smile, a friendly pat on the back. These things matter because these are the things that really make us feel good – not our car, our house or our status; but our friends, loved […]
Continue reading
Simple ways to have fun with food this summer
Hooray, summer has finally arrived here in the UK, and thermometer mercury levels are on the up faster than a third-wave COVID graph! And somehow, through it all, we are all still looking forward to enjoying a cool beer after work as the nights get warm and balmy. So why not have fun with food this summer, whether you’re in Italy, Australia or having a ‘staycation’ here at home? Looking on the bright side, in the summer months, many of us hope to take our children outside and just enjoy the great weather and let them feel the magical warmth […]
Continue reading