We may not notice it yet because of the nice weather last week, but in the end we can’t ignore it. The days are getting darker, the leaves start to change colour and you start to wear your winter coat more often: it’s autumn. You may also experience certain symptoms related to autumn every year. Do you, for example, generally not feel like getting up in the morning and starting your day? Would you prefer to stay in bed until spring? Who knows, perhaps you are at risk of developing an autumn depression. If that is the case, keep on reading!
How often does it occur?
An autumn depression, also called a seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is not uncommon in the Netherlands. About 3% of Dutch adults say they are affected by this, while 1% suffer so much that they can no longer function normally. Especially women suffer from this type of depression: the risk is 3 to 4 times bigger than for men. There are of course also people who suffer from milder seasonal complaints. In this case, you can’t speak of an autumn depression yet, but you are a bigger risk.
What is it exactly?
A seasonal affective disorder is a recognized condition and can therefore be found in the DSM-V, the most widely used diagnostic manual for psychologists and psychiatrists. There are several criteria that must be met before someone actually suffers from a seasonal affective disorder. Various symptoms are described, for example, a persistent feeling of emptiness or distress, problems with sleep, problems with appetite, concentration problems, and a lack of energy. These symptoms must be related to a specific season, mostly autumn or winter, if you want to speak of a seasonal affective disorder.
What are the causes?
The exact causes of an autumn depression are not yet known. However, it is suspected that it is mainly due to a lack of daylight and sunlight. One is more sensitive to this than the other. Therefore light therapy can help a lot: about 60% of people with autumn depression say that light therapy has helped them.
What can you do against it?
Do you suffer from such seasonal complaints? Then there are a number of things you could try. First, spending more time in daylight could help enormously. Try to be outside for fifteen minutes every day at daylight, and especially when the sun is shining. There are also certain light therapy lamps for sale. Talking about it can also help you tremendously: it can be a relieve and raise awareness, which is the first step towards change. Furthermore, exercising regularly can help a lot.
NiceDay app: Plan 15 minutes every day in the Daily Planner to walk outside. Register your feeling before and after walking, do you feel better after a walk?
Every year on October 10th we pay some extra attention to the subject of mental health. The World Health Organization has named this day World Mental Health Day. In this year’s theme: young people and mental health in a changing world.
In the Netherlands we do pretty well regarding mental health. From age 12 and older, almost 89% say they feel psychologically healthy. Young people: between 12 and 16 years old are doing even better, 95% say they feel mentally healthy. These are nice percentages, so why is such a dedicated day still needed?
What does ‘mentally healthy’ mean?
The percentages sound positive but they don’t tell you everything. The concept of being ‘mentally healthy’ is difficult to describe. For example, you may not feel well but you still feel mentally healthy.
Furthermore, you don’t necessarily have to suffer from mental health problems your whole life. In the Netherlands, 43.5% of the population ever struggled with mental health complaints. Also, no less than 34% to 50% of the Dutch population has an increased risk of developing an anxiety disorder or depression. It is good to be aware of this so that something can be done about it!
Young people and mental health
Many young people suffer from mental health complaints such as stress, worrying and sleep deprivation. This could be caused, by for example, being ‘online’ all the time via social media like Whatsapp and Instagram. Also, more and more of Dutch youth suffer from a game addiction or problematic social media use. And did you know that half of all mental disorders start around the age of 14? Therefore, prevention at a young age is important. Recognizing the problem and talking about it is the first step.
A special day
It’s not surprising that there is one special day in the year to reflect on mental health. An international day helps to discuss mental health issues and break the taboo. On top of that, it helps to create awareness regarding these problems. It’s a good time to reflect on your own mental health, also at times when you feel well. We can be grateful for that!
NiceDay: Pay attention to your mental health, for example by writing down in the diary in the NiceDay-app how you are doing. Also write down the positive things!
Cleaning up: does anybody really like it? I don’t think that many people will volunteer to clean up, yet it’s good to do it. Not only when you’ve people coming over; but also on a regular basis. Sometimes it can even be enlightening to clean up! And cleaning up is more than just cleaning the furniture in your house; you can also tidy up relationships with friends. In this blog post I will explain it to you.
Cleaning up your home
If you’re depressed or burnout, or just not happy in general, you might not have enough energy to clean up the house. There is too much chaos. Chaos in your house but also chaos in your head. However that’s exactly when it’s most important to tidy up your house, since it can also affect the chaos in your head! If my room is a mess, that means that first of all, I have no energy to clean up and second, that I’m worrying too much. It sometimes happens that I feel the desire to clean-up. Then after cleaning up I feel more calm and relaxed!
It’s probably obvious that you feel better when your home is tidy. But I recently came to another insight that helps you feel better: cleaning up your circle of friends.
Friendships
Cleaning up your circle of friends may sound intense, but sometimes it’s necessary. If you take time to think about it, you know exactly who is and who is not there for you. Everybody knows the kind of friend who only comes to you when he or she needs something from you. Do you want to keep these people in your life? Or do they cost you a lot of energy? If you are in recovery from mental health problems, you have to put yourself first and maybe let go of these friends.
Toxic people
In addition, there are also the toxic friends. The friends who only bring you down, make you feel even worse. This also takes a lot of energy! From experience I can tell that it’s very difficult to get the toxic friends out of your life. Not because they stick to you, but because you stick to them. It’s difficult to break with them. However, see what happens if you don’t contact these people for a while, most likely you will never hear from them again…
And family?
When it comes to family, cleaning up is a bit harder. After all, you are connected to each other by blood. Try not to allow yourself to let family members take your energy.
Quote with this story: You’re the CEO of your life. Some people need to be fired – The Female Hustlers
Love, Ghyta
Trees change color, temperature decreases and the days get shorter: autumn. To be honest, I am not a big fan of this time of the year. All those colors are beautiful but I don’t like the rain and the cold! Many people experience autumn blues and find the prospect of half a year of bad weather difficult to cope with. They experience lower energy levels and feel less happy.
Some people have to cope with serious depressive complaints in autumn and winter: a seasonal depression. It’s a serious problem since every year there is autumn. The good news is that there is certainly something to do about it! Here are four tips:
Move, preferably outside
Although you might prefer to chill on the couch under a blanket, it is really more helpful to get outside and exercise regularly. There is less daylight during the winter and autumn, however, daylight will be good for you especially during this period. Your body produces endorphins while exercising, which makes you feel better immediately. So run, cycle or walk a few times a week and do it outside! The best time to get outside is in the morning. At this time of the day there is relatively more blue light, which inhibits the production of melatonin. This will make you feel less tired and drowsy during the day.
2. Eat healthy
In the summer(vacation) you might have let yourself go lose on barbecues, wine and pizza. Now it is the time to start eating healthy again. By eating healthy you will feel better, you will be less prone to cold and experience higher energy levels. Avoid eating foods high in sugar and carbohydrates, eat enough fruits and vegetables and take multivitamin supplements.
3. Get some rest!
Autumn is also a perfect time to get some rest! Plan time to relax and make sure to get enough sleep. Go offline and read a book by the fireplace, you don’t need to be ‘on’ all the time. Be nice to yourself. This ensures a mental balance, reduces stress and will spice up your energy levels.
4. Seek for help
Do you suffer from a recurring depression every year as soon as it gets darker and the first leaves fall from the trees? Then you might benefit from professional help. You can think of light therapy, running therapy or maybe you would like to talk to a psychologist. There are plenty of possibilities that might make you feel better.
What do you do prevent the autumn or winter blues?
Last weekend I went to Achouffe in Belgium with my in-laws for a few days. It was exciting to stay in a house with 7 people for 3 days and nights, however having breakfast, dining and spending the days together can cause some friction.
Passion for cycling
Fortunately, we all love cycling except for my mother-in-law. On Saturday afternoon we went for a ride in that beautiful area. After about 20 kilometers with some climbs and a nice descent we stopped at the beautiful La Roche-en-Ardenne for a drink.
Give up or continue?
After the break we got back on the bikes. The first three kilometers were easy but then the climbing began. After sitting our muscles cooled down considerably, so my thighs got sore immediately.
The climbing was never-ending. Everyone was pedalling at their own pace and after a few minutes I found myself cycling alone. My love and his youngest brother were somewhere ahead of me. My sister-in-law, brother-in-law and father-in-law were dragging behind. One turn was followed by another, and there seemed to be no end. After many mental ups and downs (athletes know that feeling) I really needed to take a break. I stood on the side for a minute or three, drank a bit and then continued again. “Just go! You can do this!” I saw my love on the top of the mountain. “The end is in sight!” The last 100 meters were almost a breeze, I was so happy and proud that I finally got there! It turned out to be a big mountain — 2 kilometers without a single flat spot.
The descent
After a short break we started descending and I found a nice rhythm. My father-in-law, however, was exhausted. He decided to stop. My brother-in-law decided to cycle back to the house at his own pace and then return by car to pick up my father-in-law.
Giving up?
Then I started to doubt: “Do I have to give up or shall I try to continue cycling?”. The first 24 kilometers were behind, it was then only 17 kilometers to the house. But there comes a but — another big climb. I decided to give up. Disappointed I threw my bike against the fence and sat down next to my father-in-law on the bench at a Bed and Breakfast. I was whining. Emotions went in all directions and grief prevailed.
I started to cry in the car and as soon as I saw my partner in the house I cried even harder. I was asking myself: “Why am I so weak, why could not I do it? Why did I have to give up?”
Was it giving up or something else?
My partner hugged me tight. He knew how difficult it had been for me, but he also told me that I had to be proud of what I had achieved. That long climb on my own and I was the third one to get up there! Do not forget that it was my first time in the Ardennes.
We had a long talk about all that at home. I was in tears again, with a sense of failure. I annoyed my partner because he totally disagreed. He said, “You did not give up, you stopped. These are two very different things. You are so much stronger by knowing when to stop than by continuing and breaking down!”
You can not see it yourself yet
Of course I am proud about that I cycled those 24 kilometres. And also about that I did that climb on my own. I got on top of that mountain! But why cannot I see that stopping might have been even better than the ride?
I see it as a failure. The others said I had done an outstanding job for someone doing it for the first time, and even though it felt like they meant what they said, in fact it probably wasn’t the case.
I am a perfectionist. Everything has to go well, even for the first time. That’s how it goes at my work, at school and at home. For example, I did all my exams the first year at school in one go. I would not do a resit. Unfortunately, I did not get my motorcycle license in one go. Not entirely my fault, but I felt terrible for that I had failed. Making a mistake at work feels like the “wall of shame” to me. Even my employer says that I now have the right to make mistakes to get better at my job.
Someday I will succeed
I am impressed by how my partner deals with giving up, stopping, and how he handles mistakes. I can learn a lot from that and I also take a good example from him. For me, I am not there yet but I am sure I will succeed one day so that I will be able to say proudly that my limit was reached. Thinking about that motivates me to get better . In anything.
This is also something I really want to give to you, even though I myself am not there yet. Stopping is something completely different than giving up. And everybody makes mistakes. Give yourself a chance to get better, for yourself. Indicate your limits. During exercise if you need a short break from your work, take it anytime. Take care of yourself. There is only one you, so protect yourself.
The song of this week is “Afraid of water” by Marco Borsato. With my partner I am who I am: with my mistakes, limits and points for improvement. All together. In the lyrics you can hear “I’m afraid of water, but I was not here with her.” With him next to me, I get to know myself. And I dare to stop when I need to. Soon I’ll be able to do it without him having to help me, and you will too!
Love, Renée x
We all experience negative feelings from time to time. These feelings mostly occur in short episodes and pass by after a certain period. However, for some people, that is not the case. They keep feeling blue and have low energy for a period longer than two weeks. When this happens, we speak of a depression, one of the most common mood disorders. If this is the case, it is wise to take action and do something about it. Fortunately, there are different types of therapy that can help in the battle against depression.
What is depression?
Depression is a mood disorder that can express itself in different ways. This disorder is mainly characterized by feeling blue or experiencing a loss of interest and pleasure in everyday life. Other common symptoms are: insomnia, recurrent thoughts of suicide, fatigue, lack of energy and problems with concentration.
It’s more than one cause
Depression rarely occurs spontaneously. Often it’s a combination of factors that cause depression. The combination of genetic predisposition, personality, hormonal changes or negative experiences during childhood make a person vulnerable for depression. Social- and environmental factors, often significant life events, trigger the depression. Examples of life events are: losing your job, death of a loved one or conflicts.
A vicious circle
It may also involve problems that have been going on for a longer time, but gradually cost a lot of energy over time. As a result, people become tired and dreary. This is often associated with the emergence of negative or dark thoughts. These three processes reinforce each other, leading to more and more (social) withdrawal of the person in question. A result of this withdrawal is that this person will participate less in social events and enjoyable activities. This lack of positive reinforcement strengthens the negative thoughts and dreary mood (MacPhillamy & Lewin Sohn, 1974). A vicious cycle arises of more dreary feelings, less pleasurable experiences and less energy. To break this vicious circle, therapist saw the relevance of behavioral activation(BA).
Getting active again
Behavioral Activation is an effective treatment for people with depression. It focuses mainly on the behavior of the client whereby avoidance, withdrawal and inactivity are tackled (Jacobson, Martell & Dimidjian, 2001). The goal is to get the client to become active again so that he or she will experience more positive reinforcement. This way, you break the vicious circle.
NiceDay: Plan an activity in your Daily Planner to break the vicious circle of negative thoughts. Explain in your diary what effect it had on you.
You probably know them, quotes like: ‘Life starts at the end of your comfort zone’ and ‘great things never came from comfort zones’. They advise you to get out of your comfort zone. The idea is that you grow by doing new and exciting things. But what happens if you continuously operate outside of your comfort zone? If you keep striving for better performances? Constantly crossing your boundaries? Do you still find the way back to your comfort zone? Or do you lose yourself? To be honest, I get annoyed by these well-meant quotes and pictures.
Stay true to yourself
Of course I understand the essence of those nice quotes. For me, I regularly have to step outside of my comfort zone to make my company successful and to grow. Yet I always try to keep doing what feels right to me, exciting or scary; it has to fit me. A while ago, for example, I gave a presentation at an event. I doubted whether I would want to do it; why should I do something that I am not necessarily good at and really don’t like? Yet I did it because I knew it would bring me something: visibility for my company and a learning experience for myself. And it fits me because I could tell about my passion! Mission accomplished.
Comfort zone and burnout
Last week someone told me that she got out of her comfort zone for her work. She had to do things that didn’t fit her, but she thought she should do it anyway because it came with the job. She had too much work. In addition, the nature of her work was in itself quite stressful. This exhausted her emotionally and physically. She didn’t know anymore who she was or where her comfort zone had remained. Even at home and in her private life she began to feel rushed and uncomfortable. Eventually she got a burnout …
Sports and your comfort zone
During my work as a running therapist, I pay a lot of attention to listening to the body and indicating your limit. With running and exercising it’s all about pushing your limits and stepping outside of your comfort zone, to get better and faster. And with running therapy, we look for that boundary very consciously, what is still comfortable and what is not?
Try this yourself. Be aware of your body, ask yourself the questions: what do I feel? Is it difficult or is it still comfortable? What happens in my body, with my heartbeat and my breathing? Put a ‘mental flag’ on a difficult moment, that’s your boundary! Then examine what you can do not to cross that limit. For example: slow down, start walking or breath consciously. It’s not about getting better or faster (that will come naturally, step by step, really!) but about investigating what you can handle.
Very often I notice that participants in daily life do the same as when running: not listening to what their body is trying to say (fatigue, flu, shortness of breath, excitement, insecurity), but they are going out of the comfort zone continuously, until they lose it. With all its consequences. Do you recognize this?
I believe that growth is being conscious about your boundaries and respecting that limit.
I felt it for a while already. An imbalance in my atmosphere. Warm feelings of re-settling in the Netherlands, my friends and the lovely summer weather, collided with the cold insecure feelings of starting over. Nature solves this imbalance with a storm. I do too.
Back in the Netherlands
I knew, it had to happen sooner or later. It had to come out. The tension and insecurity, that were slumbering inside of me. That they are present, is logical. My atmosphere here, after three years of traveling, is everything but stable. On my travels I have taken my time to really think about how I want to live and work, and why, but the road to that goal is insecure and unpredictable. I am looking for a job, a place to live, and just my place in the Netherlands again. Those are huge things and take time. And because these are huge things, this journey is a little scary too. It concerns your life, your foundation. You have to believe in yourself and your goal.
A challenge
A big challenge for me. Insecurity often unleashes negative feelings about myself and life. When I feel good I don’t want to address these feelings, but the less I pay attention to them, the bigger these feelings get. Just like nature, my mind wants to get back to balance. And, slowly but surely, the wind will built up from high to low pressure areas. How strong that wind becomes, and in that respect how big the storm will get, depends on how much I let the pressure difference built.
The storm
My pressure difference, unfortunately, was very high last week. For too long (months) tension slumbered in. I didn’t give positive attention to it, didn’t take care of it. And then, a trigger, followed by the worst storm since long. Hell.
Now, in the calm after de storm, it is more peaceful and thus time to clean and reflect. The wind died down and we can assess the damage. Give yourself that time. You cannot live in a storm scarred house, rebuilt it and make it stronger.
Reccuring themes
Often pressure differences built around certain recurring themes in our lives. They can originate from things we experienced or things we need in life. How we deal with pressure is also important. Do we internalize or externalize things that happen to us?
Focus on you
Ask yourself, what gives you stress? Or, if you went through a storm, big or small, what caused it? What was at the foundation of that storm? Take your time to figure this out. When you know, you can try to adjust your behavior and/or life to prevent storms from growing into larger storms or to form at all. The bigger the underlying issue, the more time you need to figure things out. For me, one of my biggest underlying themes is security. I often feel insecure and unsafe, because I attack myself. And in this respect, I am overly wary of attacks of others on me. Attacks that state that I am not good enough, nice enough or capable. Afraid I won’t succeed in this life. Now that I am starting over in the Netherlands, this insecurity and unsafety has a lot of breeding ground to grow. And that’s totally valid, because these are big things! You have to believe in yourself, and be forgiving and kind, to start over.
The signals
You do not always have to know where things originate from to help yourself. You can also pay attention to signals; expressions of stress and imbalance. React to those signals, to not let the pressure built any further. For example, when you notice you are rushing everything. You can obligate yourself to 10 minutes (or more 😉 ) of relaxing. Do something you like or do nothing. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that you need it. After that the world can turn again.
Nature is built this way
Nature is built in a way that she will always try to establish balance, over and over. We are too. So, keep in mind, that when you are out of balance, there, inevitably, will be a counter reaction to balance. We can often influence this process, more or less. Or not. Anyhow, nobody is without storm. This is our nature.
The house underneath mine has been empty for a long time. That was nice and quiet, with behind it a lovely large, wild garden on which I looked. Now new neighbors, a young couple with a child, have bought it from the social corporation. And they have grand plans.
New neighbours
I come home from shopping and see them standing in the front yard. My heartbeat speeds up, my breath stops, shoes filled up with lead and I change into Pinocchio. I put on a smile and walk on to my house. “Hello”, I said compulsory. They greet me kindly and then the mandatory chit-chat follows. I feel very uncomfortable but do not let it show. As soon as I close the front door behind me, I blow out a sigh. Pfff, it’s safe again.
Suddenly it completely dawns on me: my world is broken, disturbed, in tatters. I am visible to strangers again. I can not ignore them; I have to deal with these people. I have known my current neighbors for more than ten years and are therefore no longer alien, even very familiar. But I do not know these new people, do not know what they think, what they see or what they will think of me. I feel trapped by their presence. The others are the hell, said the French philosopher Sartre so eloquently pessimistic. After all, they are the ones who make you visible and will judge you. I know, in the long run, others can also be your heaven – every now and then.
Living environment
Because these new neighbors are going to renovate and are going to make a huge expansion in their backyard, their presence also materially affects me. A large part of my view on green gardens will disappear and a big black roof will take its place. I experienced that earlier with the neighbors next to me. Suddenly every day I look out on a large lifeless, messy surface of asphalt. My oasis of peace is being replaced, bit by bit.
This has been going on for a while now. I live in a big city and there has been a lot of construction activity. Numerous individuals buy houses from the social housing corporations, make it their private property and do what they want without regard for others. I used to live in a nice working-class neighborhood, now it is becoming a luxury yuppy neighborhood. People become each other’s competitor, each claiming a piece of living environment for themselves. Well, then indeed, the others will become the hell.
The outside world
Little by little, the outside world is closing in on me, touches deeper into me, tighten itself more firmly around my body. To shut out the world it is no longer enough to close the door behind me. Construction noises are constantly penetrating walls, children’s sounds until late at night, and the TV’s murmurs mutter their programs from the left and right. Inevitably the outside world flows in.
Life in this neighborhood has always been well balanced. My home sufficiently shielded me from the outside world. It was my place where I could be myself, unseen or troubled by others. Lately, my house is more like a stay-in, a temporary shelter, waiting for me to relocate.
A home is a way of existence
A home is more than a house made of stones, glass and wood. It is more than a roof over your head. Ask people who have lost their homes due to money problems, natural disaster or war. They are displaced, lost their way and continuously waiting to start living again. Ask people in asylum centers. They do not live there, although they stay there for years. The people in their surrounding are not their neighbors, only foreign asylum seekers who are also waiting. I almost feel like an asylum seeker in my own home.
A home is a way of life
A home is a way of life, it creates a place in the world, your place in the world. A home is like a safe haven from where you can leave, from where you can enter the world with peace of mind, to work, school, the store or to your friends. It is a place where you can return safely, with the certainty that it is still there since you left. My home is an anchor for my existence, a landmark around which my world spans.
A home is a private space
A home is a private space, for you and only you. It makes you feel welcome, and gives the certainty that it protects you from the chaotic world. It is a space that offers you the room to be unseen. My home is an opportunity to relax, to hang out unabashed on the couch, to walk around in my bare ass, to dance like a moron without being judged.
A home is a self-expression
A home is also a self-expression, a business card, a friendly reception area where you can welcome your family, friends and neighbors into your home. My home is a part of myself, of who I am. The way I arranged it, the colors, the smells and the things here and there. Typically Rogiér, people say. This is me, here is where I live, this is my existence.
Everything is changed
For a long time my house really felt like a home. It was my safest place on earth, my anchor point, my being. Now there are new neighbors, a change in environment and suddenly everything is changed. I live in a lively city, I know, between people and new circumstances. The world is always in constant change. I know, and yet I feel disturbed, I have a huge need for peace, stability and order.
And my new neighbors? O well, they must also create their home of course, make their place their own. By renovating, shaping the stone, glass and wood according to their personal preferences. By letting their presence be noticed, by pushing their sounds into the air and displaying their personality to their neighborhood. By making a ridiculously large extension under my window in their garden! Agrrr… Living is and remains a difficult interaction between people, space and matter. That’s what they call life, I guess. Pfff …
As I write this, I look at a beautiful tree with dark green leaves. I look back on the past four years and see myself as the tree; a tree of personal growth.
A young tree
When I started studying on the other side of the Netherlands, I was still a small tree. Just planted, with thin twigs and small leaves. I really liked that I could finally leave high school! I came in as a freshman and didn’t know anyone. Luckily I wasn’t the only one who came alone, so making new friends was easy. Every week the young tree grew a bit. Sometimes barely visible, but a lot of good things happened inside. Months passed and the tree continued to grow, it became visible on the outside too. The leaves multiplied and got larger. The trunk grew thicker and could handle more.
Personal growth with tears
Still, the tree trunk had a few cracks. These cracks consisted mainly of insecurity and the fear of failure. I wanted to perform, but couldn’t always deliver. The cracks of the tree were camouflaged with decorations and paintings so that no one could see them. I disguised my faults by keeping up appearances. Eventually, more cracks appeared in the tree trunk. This time it was due to a storm that had not shown itself so violently for years. In addition to the cracks in the tree trunk, the leaves also got affected. They were blown away and the tree got a gray color.
Gray
The tree got grayer and grayer, while the other trees didn’t suffer from the consequences of the storm. While the other trees continued to grow and the leaves got buds from which beautiful flowers bloomed, the small tree was left behind. I felt less than anything and everyone. This was due to bad experiences and negative thoughts. My concentration was gone, I didn’t sleep well and I didn’t want to study because it cost me too much energy. And there you are, with your heavy luggage on your back. The feeling that you want to crash into a ravine so that you don’t have to think about that luggage anymore. Meanwhile, the little tree looked worse and worse. The tree bark began to break down and there was no leaf left. But then something miraculous happened.
And she lived happily ever after?
A little girl with two braids came to the tree and embraced it. She whispered, “Don’t worry, tree, I’m going to help you recover.” She grabbed a stone from her coat pocket, made a hole in the tree trunk and put the stone in it. After two weeks she came back and you know what? The tree started to get some color again and there were leaves growing. Every week she sat by the tree and whispered positive things. After two years the tree looked better. The leaves grew, the trunk got thicker again and it had also grown in height. The little girl is not done yet. She will continue to help the tree until it no longer needs her.
The little girl inside me tries to help me every day. Some days accept her help, the other days I don’t feel like it and I push her away. Yet she insists. Because she also feels the pain. Together you are stronger than alone.
Quote with this story: Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop – RUMI
Love,
Ghyta
