It’s incredibly inspiring to read about all the amazing work being done in Redcar and Cleveland to support those in need. Dark times always bring out the brilliance in people.
On a personal level, leaving college early has been jarring. Everything has become a little more uncertain. We’re all searching for something to put our minds at rest.
One thing I have found to shed a little light, as strange as it may seem, is bird watching. My version of bird watching is quite unconventional: I have no real fascination with Latin names and I don’t have a special notebook to write my findings in. I doubt I would be able to pick a sparrow out of a line-up.
What I do know is that when I’m sat in our small garden or at an open window, I feel calm. It’s crucial to look after our mental health. Having something simple to occupy the mind and feeling the fresh air on your face helps to break up the day and reset the mind a little bit.
We have a particularly fat pigeon called Jeremy who once ate so much birdseed that he couldn’t fly for the rest of the afternoon. He likes to tuck his little head under an ivory tipped wing. When the wind blows, it ruffles his grey feathers. I sit, drink my tea, take some deep breaths and start to feel better.
Check out the Self Isolating Bird Club to connect with other people or the RSPB website to find more information. There’s plenty to do, from a Breakfast Birdwatch to daily Wild Challenges. What have you been doing to look after your mental health?
Do tell us at Ambassadors@Redcar-Cleveland.gov.uk. We’d love to know.
