100 Days of Wonder – #16
Following yesterday’s post on Fun, I thought it was worth tackling something I haven’t covered yet in this series. The photo is of me and Eyore. We have something in common. We both suffer from depression. Disney has been critical in helping me manage my depression. The escapism when actually there helps hugely to completely re-set my brain but it is more than that. The planning for a trip gives me focus and a way to immerse myself in the escapism in the run up to a trip. The photos I can scroll through (or flip through in the photo books we have created) allow me to reminisce and reflect and to create some of the Disney Bubble at home. Sometimes we have Disney Days where we watch a sunrise series on Disney Plus drinking coffee from our resort mugs, ‘go on’ a ride or two with the help of YouTube and re-create some of the food options we like from the parks. My depression is now pretty well managed and I am very aware of my triggers and the signs it’s coming. I can’t always stop it but I am better able to escape to Disney literally or metaphorically and re-set. Depression for me is about brain overload and not being able to process properly so embracing Disney films and TV series that require no brain power, escaping to the familiarity of Disney characters and enforcing rest (for the brain rather than physical rest) – and allowing the inner child time to play are my antidotes. Understanding that my love of Disney is not silly and childish (in the bad sense) or ridiculous but something that is an important way for me to look after my brain because it nurtures the creativity, story telling and imagination that lights up my soul has been a really important realisation in my depression journey and it, alongside running (more on that in another post), has made staying mentally well much much easier.
100 Days of Wonder – #14
Fun. Why do we so often think of work and fun as 2 different things that never really come together? I’ve had a really busy work week with my teaching, teaching cover, a workshop in Worcester, meetings, head of school stuff and general administration plus an Open Day today. Looking at my calendar and the lack of gaps suggests anything but fun. I’m tired, sure but I had soooo much fun this week. I taught something I didn’t think I knew anything about or understood and I loved learning it, I had a really great discussion about Constitutions with our LLM students, I had references to and pictures of the Disney Castle, the Avengers and Figment in my keynote on Wednesday. Many of my meetings gave me chance to check in with wonderful humans and hear about, plan and reflect on exciting things to come. When we get caught up in the busy-ness of life, it seems to me to be even more important to stop and consciously look for the joy and fun in what we’re doing. Pause a minute, stare out into your life in wonder and I hope something makes you smile!
100 Days of Wonder – #13
The picture is of the Contemporary Resort taken from the ferry that connects the Magic Kingdom to the Ticket and Transportation Centre. It was taken in January 2006 and the now familiar sight of the Bay Lake Tower which would be to the left of the building is missing. I talked about familiarity and it’s importance in previous posts but looking at this photo made me think about it more. It’s not just that our brains need something familiar (my base camp in the 100 acre wood) to go explore (learn from), my brain needs the familiar to focus and also sometimes to recharge. I am actually quite happy at the limits of my comfort zone and I like change and new and different. But I also like familiar. I like it to rest my brain and also to focus. I go to the music I listened to over and over and over when I was younger when I am writing. I like writing in my Mum’s house with its mix of things I remember from being little, some of mine and Kath’s old furniture and some new bits and pieces and as much as I like exploring new places and having adventures, I like going back to the Contemporary. The smell as you walk in, the sounds, the knowing where things are. Familiar doesn’t necessarily mean ‘the same as it was’. It’s more about how a place, music, book or whatever makes me feel. I don’t mind Bay Lake Tower now being there, I don’t mind there being new things to discover every time we go. It doesn’t make it any less familiar. I think maybe it’s about not having to think too much about things and just feeling at home in a space or moment.
My Conversations 