Self Care Update From Me.

I can do this!

Welcome to Denyse Whelan Writes Here.

It’s Monday 17 February here in Sydney Australia and the HOT and HUMID weather conditions have abated and left us..for now…with cool mornings and evenings where sleep comes more easily.

The weather does have a big impact on us, no matter where we live, and I see many of my Northern Hemisphere readers very much “stuck in snow” and cold conditions for a while to come.

Here I am today, and I do take a selfie each day which helps me…

Dressed with purpose for short visit to local shops

Self care is going well.

I need to have some small challenges.

Today I went to local big shops for some items and it went well. I enjoyed being out for a while and coming home again.

I also need to know my physical and emotional limits and this is going better for me with my acceptance and using tools to help me through:

• My inner guides…from years of past teaching and learning

• My husband for his observational thoughts and wisdom

• I always do my Calm meditation and reflections…have for over 5 years

• I have a wonderful on-line (secure) journal called Day One

• I re-subscribed to the Compassion App for this year and its help has been invaluable

• And a new-one-top-me and very good is the Clarity app. I have not used something like this before with AI being part of its program and it has surprised this ‘sceptic’ very much.

I accept that the next 10 or so days will have some memories that will be triggering and grief-centred but I am aware of them and that’s the way I can self manage.

1st Anniversary of Dad’s death coming up 27.2.25

I really make a point of going outside, noticing nature and its changes. It’s a delight for a visual person like me.

Looking down.

Looking Up.

I also walked around the neighbourhood on the weekend specifically to see the changes of season beginning in the trees.

The Crepe Myrtle slowing down producing colour.

I spy an autumn leaf

This is our 2nd change into Autumn here…and we are in our 3rd year of renting. We know the owners like how we care for house that we call home, and it’s a weight off my mind to know we are here till at least March 2026.

Rest, Recreation, Creation and Fun.

I am really taking advantage of more time to ‘rest’ and actually ‘read’. Not as much scrolling happening.

It is keeping me honest too about self care because time on news and “SOME” social media sites is not helpful AT ALL right now.

I found an app called Zinio with incredibly inexpensive annual or one off magazines from around the world and I now have 4 new sources of reading, enjoyment and fun:

Oldies but goodies:

Womens Weekly and Readers Digest

New-to-Me

Seniors Mindfulness

Mindful: Annual 2025. Power of Compassion

1Twenty80

The Power of Gratitude

And let me never forget my art creation fun.

Making and completing designs is the best because I am using materials, hand and eye co-ordination and planning. I am SO fortunate to have a wide range of media so have no frustration in my selections and choices. I shared more here.

Completing, over time, some art via the ipad and using the apple pencil. Very mindful of an evening. Paid app called Zen Colour. The owls took the longest…

And of course, Audible. Learning, listening and enjoying.

Best part of this self care right now is I am a far better judge of what I can do and won’t …and have adapted more to the notion of boundaries.

How are you going?

Thanks for reading.

Denyse x