Thinking about creativity and autism, two particular experiences common to autism and neurodiversity stand out: visual learning and special interests. This is World Autism Acceptance Week, following closely on Neurodiversity Celebration Week, an opportunity to explore these themes. Why visual learning? I’ve seen one or two people share how they and many other neurodivergent peopleContinue reading “Creative Spectrum”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Well Spring
The other day I heard someone say how boredom can become a real issue when struggling with mental health issues, and how being interested by nature and seeking out new species can be a help. It made absolute sense I thought. If mental health issues oblige you to take time out, to step back fromContinue reading “Well Spring”
Carefree
Behind the term “young carers”, there are so many individual stories, lives and everyday experiences. Young Carers Action Day, 16 March 2023, feels like an opportunity to think what might enrich young carers’ lives across their very different situations. We imagine childhood and youth should be carefree, fun, relaxed, even as we remember that growingContinue reading “Carefree”
Talk To The Trees
Remember lockdown? As so many in-person gatherings moved online or, in time, outdoors, I read about therapy being held outdoors. Some counsellors and therapists were seeing patients or clients outside, maybe in a garden or park or by going for a walk together. Patients reported feeling more at ease and relaxed during these outdoor sessions.Continue reading “Talk To The Trees”
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”
Medley 