gratitude

Timber Festival July 2024

| Sheree

I was invited go participate in this year’s Timber Festival by All the Elements. “An incredible weekend festival of celebration, debate and reflection in the National Forest. Timber invites you to stand up and be counted as we rethink our relationship with trees and forests.”

Frankie and Soraya, directors All the Elements

I facilitated a visual journaling workshop which I think went down really well. There wasn’t enough space for everyone who wanted to take part so I had to turn people away. I kept it simple and laid out a step by step approach for creating the visual journal but of course once you know the steps you can do them in any kind of order. You can suit yourself with this practice.

When we’re out in the field, literally here, exploring visual journaling we use just sheets of A4 paper and cover them in paint. Once we’ve got enough we fold them into a book and start searching for images and text.

We kept in mind the thought about what seeds we were willing to plant this season. It was still summer, still time to map out the way we wanted to feel and be during this season.


Each participate went away with their own visual journal, resources and ribbon to tie it all together.

What was so good for me during this festival was the community. All the Elements created a warm and welcoming space and I got to meet people I had only met online before this. I made new contacts too.

I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be part of this festival.

I also got to interview Jess Day a solo long distance hiker as well as be part of a panel discussing creativity as activism with Becky Lyon, Francesca Turauskis and Ani Barber .

I had an amazing few days away.

Summer. Summer. Summer.

| Sheree

Are you seeking security or adventure?

The Return of the Goddess

I’m got that summer feeling.

I’ve been sky writing from time that come 14 July I’m on holiday. I’m away from work. I’m not answering any of your emails, WhatsApp messages, demands or urgencies. I’m off the clock.

Because of the weather, this holiday time has come a day early. And I’m bubbling with excitement.

I’m having no leaky boundaries here. I’m gonna protect my down time. I’m gonna have a complete switch off to recharge my batteries.

This feeling of excitement reminds me of when I was a kid and the summer holidays stretched out in front of me. So much time to explore and play and just be.

I embrace this feeling now with so much joy and gratitude that I’m open for what adventures lie ahead. Adventures of my own making as I’m the adult now not the kid. I’m not beholden to anyone else’s whims or demands or plans. Whatever happens over the coming month or so is all of my own doing. And I love the sound of that. The feel of that.

Summer. Summer. Summer.

To See Myself

| Sheree

Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.

There are some days when I get into a funk. When I allow things to get on top of me.

Responsibilities, commitments, inadequacies. Boredom, shame, guilt.

This is when I know I need to get into my body and get into a loving relationship with self. I need to silence the crap rolling around in my head about my self and this world we live in and start loving on myself.

Taking myself on a Photowalk outside as well as inside brings me joy.

The act of moving and recording it, making a record of it brings me right back into the present and helps me to realise what a blessing life really is.

A life not to be wasted away on useless, soul destroying negative self- talk and that crippling sense of failure.

Nah looking myself in the eyes and still being able to smile at myself for myself brings me joy.!

Rest is a Revolution

| Sheree

How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?

When I start avoiding people. Start avoiding those conversations, connections with other people. Not being able to muster the energy to just look someone in the eye, I know it is time to unplug, unwind and retreat.

When my mind becomes a jumbled mess of to-dos, guilt-tripping myself galore with feelings of not being good enough. Then I know it is time to unplug, unwind and retreat.

When I no longer receive pleasure from the things I love to do, like writing, creating, eating. {BEING}. I know then, time to step away from the tasks, the commitments, the noise, the violence and the ruin and hide.

Stop. Breathe. Lick wounds. Apply water inside and out. And come back to centre. My centre. Me, being just me.

No actions or words in attempt to prove myself. No singing and dancing routine to grab your attention. Nothing wise or in service here.

Just someone unplugging from the system unsure whether or not she wants to plug back in on someone else’s terms.