It’s been a glorious day. I’ve handed in my final large assignment for my grad cert in public health. We’ve passed our rent inspection. I took the day off and went to the zoo with my family. It’s the first day in about 6 weeks I haven’t woken up feeling hideously anxious. I’m happy.

I’ve taken up embroidery again because I find it helps when my mental health is rough, and I’ve been grabbing onto everything that helps. Darling Rose is dealing with a lot of trauma stuff, which means I am too. My doctor put me on an antidepressant to try and reduce my anxiety, the starting process of which has been absolutely brutal with severe side effects including ironically enough severe panic attacks where my body goes into shock and chills. They are finally starting to ease off which is such a relief. I’m starting to embrace my life balance of part time work, part time study, and part time looking after my family – along with play and rest and hobbies and friends. Getting out of my obsessive focus on work is very difficult but so rewarding.

I’m absolutely thrilled that I’ll be graduating. I now have so many further education doors open to me and I want to do all of them. I’m taking my time deciding.

My week still contains holding the fort after trauma therapy, preparing for a family holiday, my studio opening, and face painting. I feel so relieved and joyful after every goal we nail. At some point I’ll finally empty my inbox again and all will be well with the world. In theory.

Embroidery is something I initially took up when very ill. I’ve loved doing it again, the little bird is a sampler of useful stitches to use as a guide for other projects. There’s a major art series I’d love to do one day in embroidery so honing my skills will help with that. Right now it feels like I’ve been battered on rough seas for weeks and I’m finally resting blissfully on an island in the sun. Soaking it in.