Dialogue with Sane forum Forumites

It is good to have a simple thing to do each day ... I used to cram too much in and was wound up like a top ... manic ... I guess.

I've been that way in the past too. These days there are at least some days in the week where the only time I leave the house is to go to the letterbox!

What do you do to occupy yourself at home? Hobbies ..interests

To be honest I feel I don't do enough. I like to joke and say "I do lunch!" when I get asked that. I read a lot and love to cook when there are others to share with. I like to watch cooking shows on TV too, I confess. Sometimes I do adult colouring books. And I live alone so I get to take care of all the domestic chores of any residence.

What kind of reading? I love books

Fiction of various styles. I do love a good mystery. But I also enjoy almost anything that's well written and keeps me engaged. Recently I read The Light Between Oceans by M L Stedman and loved it. And I just finished Adultery by Paul Cohello (not nearly as good as The Alchemist in my opinion).

I havent read Paul Cohello ... but I did enjoy the Stedman ...the story about both 'mothers' attachments to the baby was huge for me ... very triggering but good to read about.

I have been focussing on Australian literature in the last few years ... eg Elizabeth Harrower and Carrie Tiffany ... but concentration is poor lately so not reading as much

This is following on from @PeppiPatty's earlier questions about what has helped us in our journey (and following on from @chookmojo's post about this too). Here are just some of the people who have helped me:

• Mum and Dad for giving me the experience of life in the first place and loving me despite everything we went through
• Teachers who encouraged my curiosity in learning and creative activities
• Friends at school who gave companionship when I mostly felt socially lost
• The social worker who happened to be out on the street at 11pm just as I was running away from home at 16. He provided crucial assistance to both me and Mum.
• The friend I moved in with who I feel a deep life bond with even though we are far apart in other ways
• My first long-term boyfriend for being such a wonderful partner, travelling companion and continuing friend
• The people of Melbourne arts culture for bringing color, fascination, inspiration and a sense of vocation to my life
• My ex-husband for being a loving and inspiring partner despite my physical and mental illness and bad treatment of him
• My first psychiatrist for the years of creative talk therapy and other help, he may even have kept me alive
• The surgeon who finally gave me extended relief from the painful extremes of Crohns Disease

I'm only up to about the age of 35 and have missed reams of people but I think that's a start, @PeppiPatty. It's good to think about things in this way.

Hi all. @Appleblossom did you manage to go out as planned this morning?

I really like the conversation about who has helped people.