Never underestimate the strength of a single light in a dark place! Day 5 of my 12 Days of Christmas Life Reflections

Today mark’s 5 days until Christmas, so time for Day 5 of my 12 days of Christmas short Life Reflection posts. Each daily post is inspired by a Christmas photograph I have taken myself.

Today’s post was triggered by one of my Christmas photographs of an alternative type of Christmas Tree, a sculpted tree made out of gold wire swirls with a star on the top and Christmas lights wrapped around it. To some, it may not look special, but to me, it is super special as it was my Nan’s ornament and this Christmas will be the first without her here.

However, the thing that inspired me the most about this specific photo was how much the little lights show up in the darkness and also just how pretty they look. It was a reminder to me that no matter how dark a situation seems, a single flicker of light can bring the brightness you need, to stir up a fresh perspective and a reminder of hope.

7 Amazing World Wide Life Experiences

The following ‘7 Life Experiences’ will give you a sneak preview into where around the world my journey has taken me & just what my footsteps have gotten up to…

7 World Wide Life Experiences!

During harder times in life, it sometimes helps me to choose to focus on all the great life experiences I’ve had so far and the amazing places around the world I have visited – as when I reflect on these things I feel richly blessed beyond struggles, health issues, status, what/who is missing in life etc.

So for being interviewed for The Versatile Blogger Award and being asked to share 7 facts about me, I’ve chosen to draw from my bag of life experiences from all around the world to share with you and I’ve dug out the photographs to go along with them too…

Sunshine Blogger Award Interview – number 2!

It was a pleasure to be nominated again for a ‘SUNSHINE BLOGGER AWARD’ and answering questions so that you my readers, can get to know me more as the person behind the keyboard. I have been nominated for my second ‘Sunshine Blogger Award’ by Mishi pcm – “THANKS FOR THE NOMINATION!” Now for my interview…

Her questions for me to answer in this post are:

1. What made you start blogging?
2. What is your current favorite song?
3. Who do you look up to the most?
4. If you had the ability to time travel what year would it be, and why?
5. What is your favorite animal?
6. What is your favorite food?
7. What is your hobby?
8. What is your biggest dream?
9. If you could spend one whole day with your favorite singer who would it be?
10. What is your favorite topic to blog about?
11. What are you most thankful for?

Helen’s Journey Blog Nominated in the ‘UK Blog Awards 2019’ in two categories; ‘Wellness’ and ‘Green Eco’ blogs!

Hi Readers,

October 2018 marked Helen’s Journey Blogs 1st year of blogging anniversary! YAY! of course I wrote all about building my blog up over this first year to get over 10,000 views and over 11,000 followers – you can read it by clicking HERE!

Then in November, I got the great news that I have been nominated for two ‘UK BLOG AWARDS in the categories of ‘WELLNESS‘ and ‘GREEN & ECO’ = DOUBLE YAY!

So I want to share with you a selection of my top Wellbeing and Green Eco blog posts that got me noticed and nominated for these blog awards…

Touching Gift Ideas for your Loved Ones

Here are some handy ideas for getting touching Birthday gifts for your friends and loved ones…

There are so many gift ideas out there, sometimes you can feel confused and lost as to what to get your friends and loved ones for their birthday, Christmas, Valentines Day or any occasion when you get them a gift. Well here is a break down of some lovely gift ideas that will show your loved ones that they were chose from the heart. Let me also share with you a list of gifts I had for my Birthday this year, that helped to made it so full of love and effort…

3 day Quote Challenge – Day 1 of sharing a quote I love & the reasons why I chose it

3 Day Quote Challenge:

Day 1 of sharing a quote I love and why I chose it

I love a challenge, so being nominated to do a ‘3 Day Quote Challenge’ when each day you choose a quote to share and explain your reasons for choosing it – of course, I accepted!

Thank you to Shannon from the blog MSnubutterflies for nominating me for this challenge!

Here is my quote for Day 1:

I questioned if choosing a quote from myself was vain, but considering I’m used to putting myself in the limelight, I thought I’d go for it! 😉

How Twitter can help GROW YOUR BLOG and help you INCREASE BLOG TRAFFIC

First, let me explain this latest win for my blog via Twitter and then afterwards I will share my experience with gaining blog traffic from Twitter and opinion on how competitions in the blogging world can positively help your blog.

Helen’s Journey Blog chosen as ‘Feature Friday’ competition winner & the blog reviewed by competition founder ‘Journey of Life Continues’

Well, what a lovely discovery, as I see a tweet to say the competition winner has been announced, I click on the blog link to go and congratulate the winner and to my surprise It was me!!! *happy dance*

“Remember the small stuff” CHRISTMAS TIME REFLECTION and a LIFE LESSON for every day of the year!

So today’s countdown is 6 days until we wave in Christmas Day. For some, half of the fun is counting down the days. Then in contrast, others may find counting down the days really isn’t a fun activity as it brings on anxiety or stress. However it makes you feel, I invite you to join me each of the 12 days till Christmas, as I share daily Christmas Reflections to bring some life perspective – and of course an accompanying Christmas image! (I just love taking photos & sharing pictures so it’s only right each post is inspired by own own photos.)

Today’s chosen image is of a giant Ferrero Rocher I saw when Christmas shopping, although I’m not sure the photo does it justice? It really was super sized! But the question it raises for this post is “IS BIGGER ALWAYS BETTER?”

“EVEN SAND CAN STAND WHEN ITS DESIGNED TO FALL” So can we succeed when all the odds are stacked against us. A Christmas Reflection, but a Life Lesson relevant for every day of the year!

So the countdown to Christmas Day continues. Some people find counting down the days exciting, while others find it pressuring. However it makes you feel, I invite you to join me each of the 12 days of Christmas, as I share daily Christmas Reflections and of course an accompanying Christmas photograph! (I just love taking photos & sharing pictures so it’s only right each post is inspired by my own photos.)

Today’s chosen image that reminded me about keeping the HOPE of Christmas all year round, is a photo of presents under a Christmas tree. However this is no ordinary Christmas Tree, this Christmas Tree is actually made out of pure sand!!! This was part of the ‘American Sand Sculpting Championships’ in which no props were used to help this sand tree stay erect, off the ground and stay standing up high. These skilled sand sculptures use only sand, water & tools such as brushes, etc. I see them as skilled engineers 😉 Take a look, it is amazing…

3 TOP TIPS when deciding to go PLASTIC FREE! Encouragement & advice to start making easy changes…

If you are thinking of going plastic-free or interested in reading why people are being encouraged to –  then read on for 3 top tips from someone who’s made the changes bit by bit and can tell you how as well as the why…

The problems with plastics have been covered in mainstream news coverage more and more recently; from piled high dumps full of plastics that will take hundreds and thousands of years to decompose, to videos of animals tangled in plastic being set free. From David Attenborough’s netflix documentary ‘Life on our planet‘, to Governments and companies announcing their commitments to reducing their environmental footprint.

So it won’t be so much of a surprise why so many people are now deciding to become “plastic-free” or at least try to be more eco-friendly in their choices, life styles and purchases.

This post is to help you identify small changes that we can all start to make, but that can all add up together to make a bigger difference. Hopefully this post shows that we can all do something and to make a start – let’s be the change we want to see in the world!

Making Friends with Grief! How grief can sometimes be met in a more soothing way by making comforting choices.

Today marks the 1 year anniversary of my Grandad Mac dying. He lived to the mighty age of 99 years and 2 months old.

Today I had a choice. I could wake up and only focus on the heartache and pain from missing him and once again get dragged down into that dark pit of sadness.

Or I could wake up and make friends with the grief, in order to feel more than the sadness I already know.

How to deal with grief in a positive way:

Using Art Therapy and Music Therapy for Mental Health

So the 10th October marked another ‘World Mental Health Day’ aka WMHD. Although I assume some of you reading this, may not have know this… It’s okay you can put your hands up and admit it, as that is what makes awareness days needed = to do just that, make more people aware!

This year I spent my WMHD at a local community centre hosting an event by ‘Life Balance Arts’ a local Arts Community Investment Company who use their profits and assets for the public good. The afternoon was all about Mental Health and using different art forms to express ourselves, but also to create a comfortable atmosphere for people to openly and safely share their personal stories regarding Mental Health.

This post will give you a breakdown of the creative activities used throughout the day and how these types of sessions can be used to help mental health conversations. Art and Music can help create an open atmosphere to express ourselves in creative and fun ways. So let me tell you all about my ‘World Mental Health Day’ Spent With The Arts.