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I think it is easier to "sieze the day" and to live in the moment
when you enjoy what you are doing. Often when one is caught
in eating distress it is difficult to even have opinions on
subjects let alone know what you enjoy doing, what your hobbies
are, what makes you enthusiastic! Finding out what you enjoy
doing really helps in recovery. It allows you to discover more
about yourself, it occupies your mind giving you a break from
your negative thoughts, it allieviates boredom, it can relax
you. Finding out what you enjoy means a bit of detective work.
You won't enjoy everything you try but that doesn't mean you
are a failure, you just keep searching, it can be fun! Remember
also, you don't have to be the best at a hobby to enjoy it!
The following contains sufferers' opinons on what hobbies have helped them. |
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Photography: Me And My Camera
I have always had an avid interest in photography, but it
is only recently that I took the plunge, and bought myself
a decent camera. Even though it cost more than I would have
liked, it has been so beneficial for me. Photography is so
therapeutic. During times when I have felt as if I were drowning,
and went out with my camera, it did pick me up a little, even
though it was only for a short while. Granted, it did not last,
but aren’t those few seconds of peace of mind worth it!?!
Personally, I prefer taking landscape pictures, than pictures
of buildings and/or people. Photography really does make you
focus on the task in hand, despite what else is going on.
Peter Lik, an Australian photographer, is fantastic! I admire
Peter Lik, and his work so much. I will never be of the calibre
he is, but I still enjoy photography. Photography can indirectly,
make you appreciate the finer things in life – but it can make
you hate some of the simple things too! As a photographer
you can come to hate the sun (even in the Irish climate),
because it can ruin what would have been a nice picture,
by coming out at inappropriate times!
For photography you really do need patience. Some of the
best photographers in the world (Peter Lik, for example) do get
up in the wee hours of the morning, and then wait patiently for
that “ever perfect” picture. Patience is a requirement
of photography, especially if you take a picture of something
that has been taken countless times before you - you want to
give it that extra something. Peter Lik took a fantastic
picture of the “Golden Gate Bridge” in San Francisco. He
said himself that there are numerous pictures of the
“Golden Gate Bridge”, so he wanted to give it something
else, that would make his picture spectacular. This particular
picture was taken in the early hours of the morning, and it
truly is a fantastic picture!
I think that hobbies are so beneficial in recovery. Hobbies,
can take you away from whatever is going on with you for the
moment. Granted, some say that is avoidance, and that it
will need to be tackled sooner or later. But by taking some
time out for yourself, it might actually better prepare you
for dealing with the muck. If you feel better internally,
isn’t it natural that you would be better prepared to face
whatever is going on head on. At least, that is my viewpoint
anyway!
irishamethyst41@hotmail.com
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Nature
"Why do people like to go out in nature?
Because it's natural!"
I love nature. I couldn't live in a city
without at least once or twice a week going
out to the countryside for a walk and be
surrounded by nature.
As a small child my mother used to take us
to the beach or to the woods at the weekends.
I can remember running through the woods
searching for fairies or pretending I was one
myself. I strongly believed in fairies and angels,
often I still do!
As I am going through recovery being out in
nature is becoming more and more important to
me. I need to go out to the countryside just like
I need to sleep. I get grumpy and irritated if I
can't get outof the city at least once a week.
I go out for a walk as often as I can, whatever
the weather. That's the great thing about the
countryside, it's always beautiful no matter
what the weather is like. I love when it's windy
and you come home totally windblown and refreshed
or when it's really warm and you come back
soaked full of the sun's heat and light.
I don't like going for walks with people
who talk the whole time. I like to look around me,
listen to the sounds and smells.
It's amazing what you will discover.
In the summer I started picking small flowers
and leaves and then pressing them. I never realised
before how varied the vegetation was. Even when
I bring the dog out for a short walk around the
neighbourhood, there are so many different kinds of
plants and insects living in peoples gardens.
Going out for walks always inspires me to be
creative. I always return full of new ideas for
my artwork. I'm often bursting with ideas for what
I could make or what I could undertake but then I
realise I simply don't have enough time.
I think it's only natural that I enjoy being
out in nature so much. After all humans originally
used to live out in nature and not in cities like
most of us do nowadays.
For me going out in nature is an important part
of my life. I need it for my wellbeing, it is
like medicine to me.
Lillie |
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Dancing
12 months ago I finally got up the courage to
go to a dance class. Excuses like I'm not good
at it, I'm not the right body shape, I'm too
old, prevented me from trying it out earlier.
I've always loved dancing, both watching it and
partaking in it. When I was younger I would run
eagerly to the local ballet school for classes
but when I realised I'd never be great at
it I gave it up. I couldn't tolerate not being
the best at it, not having a natural talent for it.
Then my eating distress became my full time
occupation and study was my pass time so I
didn't need hobbies and I didn't want to enjoy
life. However,in the last two years I've being
trying to establish what I genuinely do enjoy
doing. What does a person do when they don't
have behaviours? How do you fill the gap? How
do you physically express how you feel when
you can't find the words? While hobbies are
for enjoyment purposes I also needed
hobbies that helped me express myself
physically. In the first year I joined a theatre
group, did pottery classes, joined a yoga class
but they just didn't click with me. Last January
I joined an adult jazz ballet class
and a hip hop/contemporary dance class. I loved
them straight away. The classes are made up of
adults from 18 years up to middle age. The
experience ranges from dancing teachers
(minority of the class) to people with no
experience at all. The first half of both
classes are a warm up but the second half
you concentrate on learning a dance routine.
Because you have to concentrate so hard on
learning the routines all your worries do
disappear and the rewards at the end when
you complete the routine together are immense.
The two teachers who I go to are excellent
choreographers and love what they do so even
the simple steps when put together in a routine
look good. It's great to be in a class where
you have plenty of space, and are able to dance
to great vivacious music with others. Everyone's
adrenaline is rushing and there is an excited
smile on most people's faces. Physical activity
in the past for me has been lonely and done under
the control of eating distress so being with
others in a class is a new venture for me.
In addition, while body acceptance is a hard
challenge to overcome for me, dancing does
help me with this aspect of recovery.
Every body part gets involved in dancing
and you can appreciate how the body moves.
As well as this, you realise that everybody's
body is unique and that there are so many
different shapes and sizes you really can't
compare yourself with others.
The people I've met at these classes are
fantastic and it has become more a social
occasion than anything else. An added bonus
is that where pass-times are concerned
we're very like-minded and I've found a new
social circle with whom I go to shows,gigs,
and plays.
Overall, dancing has been great for me. I've
realised I don't have to be the best at
something to do it or to like it. I find I'm
very positive after a class and full of energy.
I've met great people there who have
similar interests to me and it is effective for
venting feelings.
Orlaith |
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Horse Riding
When I was younger, I used to go horse riding every week. God forbid if I dare miss it! At the time, my life evolved around
my weekly trip to the stables. I do not believe that I was very good at it, but to me that did not matter. When I used to
go horse riding, all my other troubles were forgotten about, at least, temporarily. I used to love cross-country best. It
did not matter to me that afterwards there would be muck all over me – my face and hair included ! That was all part
of the fun! When horse riding, it was as if the horse and myself became one (or united). I loved riding outdoors as well,
because when cantering through the fields and going over the various jumps and feeling the wind against my skin to me, was
so calming.
I would not just stay at the stables for the hour of the lesson. I used to stay there till dinnertime, helping out with the
various tasks. I also used to spend my summers helping out there too. Did anyone ever tell you how much fun cleaning out
stables could be!
I used to love competing in competitions – yes, I have a few rosettes to my name, but I was never one of the best! But it
was not getting an award that mattered to me, what mattered, was the sense of accomplishment I used to feel afterwards. Just
the mere fact that I competed (regardless of how I did) was what counted. Competitions have always given me that sense.
It’s true what they say it’s not the winning that counts, but the participation. I remember a time, when I was competing
in a cross-country competition, and was going over a small water jump, and the horse decided that he was thirsty. The horse
stopped to get a drink, I was already in the jumping position. Naturally, I fall – but I landed standing upright in the water.
That was funny!
Also, at another point, at the beginning of lesson we were all waiting in line. The horse I was on decided he was getting
fed-up and tired of waiting. Hence, he decided to lie down – with me on his back and all ! I gave him a nudge to
stand up, which he did. When he was standing up though, was a bit scary.
Every summer I used to go on a pony camp that was organised by the local stables. It was on a beach – they were such fun!
Riding bareback is something that I highly recommend everyone to do, because with the saddle you are taught (indirectly) to
grip with you thighs – but with bareback riding, you basically forget most things that you were taught – they just do not
apply. Long legs is the most important factor of bareback riding. Just let your legs hang loose. If you try to hold on
with your legs (even when jumping bareback), you have a greater likelihood of falling. But falling is something that should
not be feared. It is great to fall, and to just hop back up again! For the most part, it is the fear of falling that is
worse than the actual falling. Swimming on a horse is such great fun too, it is not something that is easily explained, unless
you have tried it.
The downside of horse riding, has to be the fact that my feet will never be what they used to be. I have had my toes trodden
on by horses, on a number of occasions. Yes, as you can imagine – that was quite painful! Even these minor incidents did
not matter to me. I loved horse riding, with such a passion it would have taken a lot to make me stop. Even the fact that
I was bullied, by some of the other people who rode there, did not deter me from going.
At some point in the future, I do sincerely hope that I can venture out, and go horse riding again. Maybe the further along
the path in recovery I go, I will be able to just forget all my inhibitions, and go for it! Only time will tell…
irishamethyst41@hotmail.com
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