There’s an old 1970s hostess trolley been left abandoned, outside of a house, at the end of my road.  Every day I have watched this long-lost icon deteriorate, sadly sitting and waiting to be pillaged.  Only no one wants it.  it’s still there: a constant on the daily dog trek.  

This piece of beach walk detritus, is the only constant in my daily folly onto the wild North Sea coast.  Where, and quite simply wonderfully, the landscape can metamorphosise into something so incredibly different every day.  A rolling palette which stretches from the steeliest grey to a mirror of brilliance; a myriad of blues to soothe the soul, and the shoreline showing the spoils of Davy Jones’ locker.  A distinct picture of life and death.  A daily reminder which boosts the mind and energises the soul.  Nothing is constant.  Nothing lasts forever.

But I’m digressing and becoming distracted and ahead of myself.  

So…back to the lonely trolley.  Once, this 1970s piece of sophistication, was the only way to dinner party.  Keeping the  Boeuf Bourguignon warm and gently killing any vegetables in its brown plastic prison, was only to be found in the most affluent of households.  Proudly standing at the side of the room,  you weren’t successful if you hadn’t bought into this stylish trend of the ‘modern household’.  Dinner party sophisticates would produce: A prawn cocktail to start; a congealed mess from within the trolley for main;l.  Followed by an arctic roll from the freezer…

For the first time ever, women were able to have it all!  Working all day and entertaining their husband’s clients in an evening.  The Hostess Trolley had arrived!

But that wasn’t all.  Trending alongside it there would be a fondue set powered by cheese and wine.  Fuelling up the later entertainment of swapping partners with keys in a bowl (If they weren’t already attending a tarts and vicars party) and spinning everything around on a Lazy Susan.  

Fast forward and we all think: What were they doing? From the sexual revolutionaries of the sixties we got nothing but crap food and inappropriate party games thereafter.  A Benny Hill interlude that benefitted the perverts in society (now to be found cat fishing on Tinder etc. And hiding behind a screen and not a moustache).  Thankfully, these ridiculous 1970s follies were just, like most silly ideas, all just a trend.  Unfortunately though, making feminism and the sexual revolution something we continued to fight for, and still do, forty plus years later.  Yet again m wandering off topic…

I like a trend as much as anyone.  They keep things moving, interesting and stop us growing a film of dust on our lives.  A trend is:

Trend

Noun

A fashion

Therefore, we follow it in a fickle way.  Picking and choosing and chucking out last season’s cast offs without a moments hesitation (The fact that the landfill gets higher and that there are refugees running around in ‘Gina’s Hen  t-shirt,  is testimony to our throwaway society).   And along with the clothing trends, we follow others.  We follow in a herd mentality to a certain restaurant; engage in a new film hype; or download some new app to fill our free time.  But sometimes, what is heralded as a new trend can sometimes evolve into something interesting – life changing.  It becomes a turning point:

Turning Point

There’s an old 1970s hostess trolley been left abandoned, outside of a house, at the end of my road.  Every day I have watched this long-lost icon deteriorate, sadly sitting and waiting to be pillaged.  Only no one wants it.  it’s still there: a constant on the daily dog trek.  

This piece of beach walk detritus, is the only constant in my daily folly onto the wild North Sea coast.  Where, and quite simply wonderfully, the landscape can metamorphosise into something so incredibly different every day.  A rolling palette which stretches from the steeliest grey to a mirror of brilliance; a myriad of blues to soothe the soul, and the shoreline showing the spoils of Davy Jones’ locker.  A distinct picture of life and death.  A daily reminder which boosts the mind and energises the soul.  Nothing is constant.  Nothing lasts forever.

But I’m digressing and becoming distracted and ahead of myself.  

So…back to the lonely trolley.  Once, this 1970s piece of sophistication, was the only way to dinner party.  Keeping the  Boeuf Bourguignon warm and gently killing any vegetables in its brown plastic prison, was only to be found in the most affluent of households.  Proudly standing at the side of the room,  you weren’t successful if you hadn’t bought into this stylish trend of the ‘modern household’.  Dinner party sophisticates would produce: A prawn cocktail to start; a congealed mess from within the trolley for main;l.  Followed by an arctic roll from the freezer…

For the first time ever, women were able to have it all!  Working all day and entertaining their husband’s clients in an evening.  The Hostess Trolley had arrived!

But that wasn’t all.  Trending alongside it there would be a fondue set powered by cheese and wine.  Fuelling up the later entertainment of swapping partners with keys in a bowl (If they weren’t already attending a tarts and vicars party) and spinning everything around on a Lazy Susan.  

Fast forward and we all think: What were they doing? From the sexual revolutionaries of the sixties we got nothing but crap food and inappropriate party games thereafter.  A Benny Hill interlude that benefitted the perverts in society (now to be found cat fishing on Tinder etc. And hiding behind a screen and not a moustache).  Thankfully, these ridiculous 1970s follies were just, like most silly ideas, all just a trend.  Unfortunately though, making feminism and the sexual revolution something we continued to fight for, and still do, forty plus years later.  Yet again m wandering off topic…

I like a trend as much as anyone.  They keep things moving, interesting and stop us growing a film of dust on our lives.  A trend is:

Trend

Noun

A fashion

Therefore, we follow it in a fickle way.  Picking and choosing and chucking out last season’s cast offs without a moments hesitation (The fact that the landfill gets higher and that there are refugees running around in ‘Gina’s Hen  t-shirt,  is testimony to our throwaway society).   And along with the clothing trends, we follow others.  We follow in a herd mentality to a certain restaurant; engage in a new film hype; or download some new app to fill our free time.  But sometimes, what is heralded as a new trend can sometimes evolve into something interesting – life changing.  It becomes a turning point:

Turning Point

Noun

A time at which a decisive change in a situation occurs, especially one with beneficial results

Beneficial.  That word is not used enough.  For the first of many years of my life, I ran at 100mph, to juggle all the balls and to work towards ‘winning at life’.  Winning, to me, and many others, was being successful in all matters of materialism.  To have your own home.  To have a happy and healthy family which you could provide for.  To have a successful career.  To have all the trappings…it’s not greed, it’s just human nature.  We want the diet which is fed to us through the media.  We strive for bigger and better.  We just don’t want to be left behind.  

But was any of it beneficial?

Well…house, family, job are always important.  They are our bedrock.  But how do we measure success and is it beneficial to us?  I don’t think it is.  Although having a regular wage helps me sleep at night, it’s never been what’s motivated me to get out of bed in the morning.  If it did, I’d be very worried about my emotional well-being.  Instead, I push myself out of my really comfortable bed (which I craved for in my early twenties) and think about the positives for the day.  I think about my family, my students, and just recently, I think about myself.  Is that selfish? 

Well no!  It’s called self-care.  

Self care is the new buzz word.  A trend which has sprung from the need for highlighting the importance of mental health awareness.  Everywhere I look: emails, magazines, Instagram…everyone wants me to be mindful of my self-care.  And I am!  Guess what?  I’ve needed no persuading.  

You see, once upon a time my plate was very full.  There were times that I never thought I’d get to where I am without killing someone or robbing a bank (but I don’t want to go into that).  All I need to say is that until you are forced to really think, you have no idea what is good for you.  Instead, what I have learnt is that self-care is not selfish, and should be everyone’s priority.

Learning about loving ourself s and our own Self-care, should be a turning point.  Looking at what makes us tick is important.  Isn’t life too short?  It soothes us.  Keeps us calm and happy.  There’s a lot to be said for contentment – I personally think it’s underrated and extremely beneficial.  

So what am I doing about it?  Well, the usual list of: mindfulness, exercise, eating clean (you should see the chicken and kale broth on my job at the minute) etc.  But whats caught my eye is the new trend of cold water therapy.  And this is, in a rambling type way, is what I really wanted to talk about – it’s revolutionary!  After many celebrity endorsements and  reading about the health benefits (mental and physical) I’ve embarked on a daily cold shower.  And at first I thought – trend!  But I’m thinking not and that takes me back to the Norrh Sea…

So…as much as I love the Ionian, I do have a love for our rolling, iron seas (see the earlier lamenting about the North Sea) as I walk daily along the beach, with the water calling me.  Over time I’ve become an all-weather-Walker, who balks at the fair-weather people who only make the trek on a sunny day.  I’ve grown to love the Baltic wind and the icy skies.  The sea just continues to call me.  And bit by bit,  I’ve seen a trend emerging: a number of  swimcapped heads bobbing above the swells – and I think: can it be any different to a cold shower?

Pretty soon I intend to find out. I’ll have to let you know.  And if it’s a trend?  So what.  I’ll be fulfilled, happy and living.  

In the meantime:

Whilst I buy my wetsuit and cap, I’d like you all to think about what you could change.  Make it beneficial for you and see where your new journey takes you!  It might be a hostess trolley, fondue, or a flirtation with joining a gin club.  Whatever it is, make sure it’s about you.  What benefits you and is all about your self-care.  After all, it’s allowed now.  So quieten the noise and make this a turning point for your future.  

A time at which a decisive change in a situation occurs, especially one with beneficial results

Beneficial.  That word is not used enough.  For the first of many years of my life, I ran at 100mph, to juggle all the balls and to work towards ‘winning at life’.  Winning, to me, and many others, was being successful in all matters of materialism.  To have your own home.  To have a happy and healthy family which you could provide for.  To have a successful career.  To have all the trappings…it’s not greed, it’s just human nature.  We want the diet which is fed to us through the media.  We strive for bigger and better.  We just don’t want to be left behind.  

But was any of it beneficial?

Well…house, family, job are always important.  They are our bedrock.  But how do we measure success and is it beneficial to us?  I don’t think it is.  Although having a regular wage helps me sleep at night, it’s never been what’s motivated me to get out of bed in the morning.  If it did, I’d be very worried about my emotional well-being.  Instead, I push myself out of my really comfortable bed (which I craved for in my early twenties) and think about the positives for the day.  I think about my family, my students, and just recently, I think about myself.  Is that selfish? 

Well no!  It’s called self-care.  

Self care is the new buzz word.  A trend which has sprung from the need for highlighting the importance of mental health awareness.  Everywhere I look: emails, magazines, Instagram…everyone wants me to be mindful of my self-care.  And I am!  Guess what?  I’ve needed no persuading.  

You see, once upon a time my plate was very full.  There were times that I never thought I’d get to where I am without killing someone or robbing a bank (but I don’t want to go into that).  All I need to say is that until you are forced to really think, you have no idea what is good for you.  Instead, what I have learnt is that self-care is not selfish, and should be everyone’s priority.

Learning about loving ourself s and our own Self-care, should be a turning point.  Looking at what makes us tick is important.  Isn’t life too short?  It soothes us.  Keeps us calm and happy.  There’s a lot to be said for contentment – I personally think it’s underrated and extremely beneficial.  

So what am I doing about it?  Well, the usual list of: mindfulness, exercise, eating clean (you should see the chicken and kale broth on my job at the minute) etc.  But whats caught my eye is the new trend of cold water therapy.  And this is, in a rambling type way, is what I really wanted to talk about – it’s revolutionary!  After many celebrity endorsements and  reading about the health benefits (mental and physical) I’ve embarked on a daily cold shower.  And at first I thought – trend!  But I’m thinking not as it’s a game-changer… and that takes me back to the Norrh Sea…

So…as much as I love the Ionian, I do have a love for our rolling, iron seas (see the earlier lamenting about the North Sea) as I walk daily along the beach, with the water calling me.  Over time I’ve become an all-weather-Walker, who balks at the fair-weather people who only make the trek on a sunny day.  I’ve grown to love the Baltic wind and the icy skies.  The sea just continues to call me.  And bit by bit,  I’ve seen a trend emerging: a number of  swimcapped heads bobbing above the swells – and I think: can it be any different to a cold shower?

Pretty soon I intend to find out. I’ll have to let you know.  And if it’s a trend?  So what.  I’ll be fulfilled, happy and living.  

In the meantime:

Whilst I buy my wetsuit and cap, I’d like you all to think about what you could change.  Make it beneficial for you and see where your new journey takes you!  It might be a hostess trolley, fondue, or a flirtation with joining a gin club.  Whatever it is, make sure it’s about you.  What benefits you and is all about your self-care.  After all, it’s allowed now.  So quieten the noise and make this a turning point for your future.