Taking time to be outside

It's January. Not normally a time associated with sitting outside in the garden. But, I've decided as part of my art gap year, that I'll sit outside with a cup of tea and make the most of the calm before the rigours of the day begin. I've been taking an interest in the birds that visit my neighbour's bare cherry tree. Mostly starlings, which I've always thought were a bit dull, but I've enjoyed watching them for the last few days. This morning saw a min murmuration as they moved as a bird wave across the sky, and yesterday I was fascinated by the way they drop from the branches like wet, black cloth. I'm trying to get better at weather forecasting, instead of simply going on my weather app. This morning it was breezier than the last few days, meaning fewer birds, but also presaging a change in temperature, today being colder than of late.

I'm aware that taking this sort of time out in the morning won't always be practical, but it's a better way to start my day than going straight to my phone and checking my emails!

#mentalhealthjourney #morningmindfulness #artandanxiety #mentalhealthjournal