With International Forest Bathing Day falling on 12 September, I thought I would explore this intriguing idea, which for many people has become a way to improve wellbeing. The expression “forest bathing” is memorable and striking, but could also be confusing. Not only is there no need to get wet, but you don’t even haveContinue reading “Immerse Yourself”
Author Archives: medleyisobel
Another View
Creativity and a feeling of community are central to Medley’s goals, so it’s no wonder that recently hearing of a project called Creative Communities: New Perspectives sparked my imagination. I decided to learn more about one of the lead organizations, Look Again. Mindful photography is the focus of Look Again’s work and growing impact. FoundedContinue reading “Another View”
Sea And Shore
Nature is so diverse that saying “nature improves wellbeing” could be too vague. Maybe all nature has one common impact in that it is different, “other”, so it opens up new ways of looking at life and reconnects us with the elements. But in many ways one impact will be totally distinct from another. TimeContinue reading “Sea And Shore”
Going With The Flow
As overthinking has worsened during pandemic and lockdowns, so this may have contributed to more people experiencing OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Art therapy can be helpful for people who have OCD – there’s great scope for creativity to play a part here. Integral to OCD are what are known as intrusive thoughts. These might alsoContinue reading “Going With The Flow”
And All That Jazz
Hearing a tribute the other evening to Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong (marking 120 years since he was born and 50 years since he died), I thought I would focus this blog post on jazz and how it can help health and wellbeing. It’s another in my occasional series of posts on different music genres’ impacts, fromContinue reading “And All That Jazz”
Clear Air, Clear Mind
Maybe, like me, you heard that last Tuesday was Take Your Houseplants For A Walk Day. No, I haven’t (so far) headed throught the door with my trusty spider plants…but it got me thinking about the importance of house plants, and how they help wellbeing. Houseplants link us to nature and to the great outdoors.Continue reading “Clear Air, Clear Mind”
Crafting A Different World
Craftivism is growing. Just lately, an upsurge in creativity during lockdowns and a renewed commitment to justice issues has fired many more people’s imaginations to take part. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines craftivism as “the activity of using crafts…to change the world”. And I believe that craftivism may not only help change the world, butContinue reading “Crafting A Different World”
Landscape Through The Lens
As lockdowns have reconnected many more people with nature and with its impact on wellbeing, so many are also looking to deepen that connection in new ways. These might be sports or wild swimming – or photography. I’m focusing here specifically on landscape photography, and another time hope to write about other kinds of natureContinue reading “Landscape Through The Lens”
Innovate To Integrate
With the Paralympics only a month away, and Wimbledon’s Para Championship starting today, I remembered Paraorchestra, an ensemble I heard of recently for the first time, and thought I would focus my blog post on this. Paraorchestra was founded ten years ago by Charles Hazlewood, with the goal of integrating disabled musicians further into theContinue reading “Innovate To Integrate”
In More Ways Than One
As I’m writing during Deafblind Awareness Week, this blog post seemed an opportunity to reflect how people living with sight and hearing loss might find nature, art and music helpful in all different ways. Running this year from 27 June to 3 July, Deafblind Awareness Week is focusing on telling other people, sharing the experiencesContinue reading “In More Ways Than One”
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