There is a field where we live. It’s just an ordinary field, with brambles thickening the hedges and birds swooping overhead. A field that slopes gently up, until suddenly you’re confronted with a view of the valley, all sky and earth and green. This field is one of my safe places.
I walked in it on the very toughest days. On those days when it felt like I couldn’t physically leave the house. On those days when it felt like I couldn’t mentally leave the house. On those days when I knew I had 14 long hours on my own with a tiny baby and a (giant!) dog. On those days when it was like a military operation to get us all out of the door… but as soon as we stepped outside, the world was transformed. Rain or shine, we went out every morning. I grew stronger with every walk we took. I walked further, beyond the field, through the woods, along the river. I grew stronger mentally, too. Being out in open space, with no expectations, no pressure, the worry melted away.
Fresh air heals. It’s a reminder that there’s a whole expansive world out there, full of possibilities and new futures. Look up and breathe deep.
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What helps get you through? Pandas UK recently asked on Instagram what we found helpful when we discovered we were suffering from more than just the ‘baby blues’… It’s made me think about my own coping strategies for PTSD and birth trauma, and this is the first of a series of posts exploring them. I hope they help you, too.
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