Thursday Thirteen : Canadian Facts About Depression

1. About 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men will suffer from depression at some point in their life 2. Almost 1.5 million Canadians have serious depression but less than 1/3 of them seek medical help 3. 54% of people feel that depression is a sign of weakness 4. Depression/anxiety is the leading cause of disability among women 5. About 15% of women with serious depression will commit suicide 6. About 10 % of women will experience post-partum depression in the months following the birth of their children 7. Depression in women generally occurs most frequently between the ages of 25 and 44 8. Men with serious depression are three times as likely to commit suicide 9. 1 in 7 men will experience depression within three months of being unemployed 10. Children who experience depression are more likely to have a family history of depression 11. Depression/anxiety occur about 15% in those over 65 12. In Canada it is estimated that the costs of depression is upwards of $25 million 13. Depression is the result of complex interactions between life situations, thoughts, emotions, physiology and actions http://www.bayridgetreatmentcentre.com/facts_statistics.html http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=2743&channel_id=155&relation_id=3970 http://www.comh.ca/antidepressant-skills/work/resources/factsaboutdepression/

Team-Up Thursday : Color

You can find out about Team-Up Thursday here on the Mental inventory Blog . You can find the Team-Up Thursday Flickr pool here I am so very lucky to have paired up with the lovely and talented Kyla from The Kreative Life . The theme we chose for this week was color. We both took photographs representing the theme and now we are showing those photos in a diptych. It was neat to see that we both were thinking along the same lines in choosing the subjects for our photos. I think this is going to prove to be a fantastic challenge - one that will get me out taking more pictures and thinking outside the box from my usual photo subjects. Kyla's photo is the top one of the crayons and mine the bottom of the pastels.

Before & After Thursday

To edit this photo I used two actions the first was Radiant people from Artistic Actions VII and the second was Slightly Lighten by Pioneer Woman. Photo was shot with Canon D60 on automatic.

DYNAMO: Currents

The idea originated from the blog life love paper . Seems like such a wonderful way to share and record those things that are going on in our lives this very moment. Thought I'd try it out as well and Wednesdays seem to suit me the best. So, here goes. listening: to If we Are The Body by Casting Crowns eating: just coffee drinking: as much coffee as I can stand wearing: p.j. pants a t-shirt and sweater feeling: like getting stuff done weather: beautiful - sunny and -2 degrees wanting: to stop feeling so sad all the time needing: to hurry and and get my apt with the psychologist to change my meds thinking: about my dad and all that's to come in the next few months enjoying: some quiet time alone wondering: if I will go for another walk today

Wordless Wednesday

Finding the Magic: Creative Journaling Challenge

I came across this creative journaling challenge on the ABCcreativity blog. You can sign up on Andrea's blog for her free Creativity 101 e-course. It's fantastic. Here's the creative journaling page I created for Finding the Magic.

Glass Blowing

My Best Shot Monday

Love this little guy. Emily gave him to me one day as an apology gift. Too cute.

Spiraling (Monday Madness)

I feel like I am spiraling out of control once again and I hate it. I hate feeling out of control. I hate the changing moods, the anger, the depression I hate it all. At the beginning of this year I really thought I was doing well. I felt more centred, more grounded, happier than I have been in a really long time. Then we found out how sick my dad really is and everything went out of focus, I lost control of it all. I wake up each morning feeling a sadness beyond belief. It stays with me each and every day. I have fleeting moments where the girls make me happy. But that's all just fleeting moments.I'm not usually one for anger and I am angry all the time, angry at everything. I have less patience with the kids and I know they don't understand it. I just can't cope. I can't deal. I want to crawl back into my shell and hide. All I want to do is sleep. All I want is to be alone. I am even having trouble leaving the house again. Couldn't even manage to drive the kids to school last week made them walk everyday because i couldn't make myself walk out that door. I hate that this is happening to me. I hate that I have to hide it all the time and pretend like everything is fine. I have to act strong even if I'm not in front of the kids, in front of my parents. They keep telling me that I am there strength right now and that they rely on me so much and all I feel is pressure to be what they want and need from me right now.I don't feel strong, all I feel is weakness.

You can come along and join me in the Monday Madness blog hop over on the Words In Sync blog. It a blog hop for those suffering with or dealing with mental illness in an way, shape or form. A wonderful resource.

Spiraling Image by Ken Timm

Digi In Deep: Lesson 4

Beautiful Sunday - Supermoon

This was the clearest shot I could get of the Supermoon - man it was beautiful. Just wish I had a better zoom for a shot like this.

Know Me As A Person (The Weekend Creation Blog Hop)

You can follow along with The Weekend Creation Blog Hop at Words In Sync

In one of my many random Google searches I came across the photo below. I really liked the idea of it and being creative and a scrapbooker as I am I wanted to create something to the same effect about myself. Something personal.
So here's the scrapbook page I came up with.

Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC)

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things is this photo that one of the girls took of my mom & I at the restaurant in Kingston. I have few pics of mom & I together so this one's special.

Friday Fill-Ins

You can play along with Friday Fill-Ins on their blog. And...here we go!

1. Why does it have to be so cold in here brrrr.

2. coffee is equal to a life substance.

3. My favorite breakfast includes lots and lots of coffee and sometimes cereal or yogurt with a granola bar.

4. Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts was the last book I read and I couldn't put it down..

5. I am SO glad that it is finally the beginning of Spring.

6. Cold medicine would make me feel better right now.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching Emily playing with her friends, tomorrow my plans include maybe going to a skating show with mom and the girls and Sunday, I want to maybe go to church!"

Thoughtful Friday : Explore. Dream. Discover.

Digi In Deep: Lesson 3a & 3b

This right hand page was done during a class tutorial for lesson 3a.

Lesson 3b was to create an accompanying left hand page.

Digi In Deep: Cre8ive Challenge Lesson 3

Disability

Thursday Thirteen : Thirteen Positive Affirmations

1. I am not limited by any past thinking. I choose my thoughts with care. I constantly have new insights and new ways of looking at my world. I am willing to change and grow.

2. When I believe in myself, so do others.

3. My home is a peaceful haven. I bless my home with love. I put love in every corner, and my home lovingly responds with warmth and comfort. I am at peace

4. I easily forgive myself and others, knowing that this allows my body, mind, and emotions to relax. Forgiveness and clearing work prevents disease and allows healing.

5. My heart is open.

6. I am beautiful and everyone loves me.

7. I am in the process of making positive changes in all areas of my life.

8. I am a joyous, creative loving expression of life.

9. I have unlimited choices. Opportunities are everywhere.

10. I am thankful for all the love in my life.

11. I always come from a loving place in my heart.

12. As I trust in the process of life what I need comes to me and I give grateful thanks when it does.

13. Today I choose to experience abundance.

Wordless Wednesday

Currents

The idea originated from the blog life love paper . Seems like such a wonderful way to share and record those things that are going on in our lives this very moment. Thought I'd try it out as well and Wednesdays seem to suit me the best. So, here goes.

listening: to Who Am I by Casting Crowns
eating: nothing yet
drinking: a nice cold glass of water
wearing: track pants a t-shirt and sweater and warm socks
feeling: sleepy just took cold medicine a little while ago
weather: partly cloudy about -5 degrees
wanting: to get caught up on projects and cleaning
needing: sleep
thinking: about my many years of blogging as I am giving my blog a spring makeover
enjoying: listening to some quiet music
wondering: how the next few months are going to work out

The Anger Inside Me

Those who know me well know that I am not usually one to be angry. I don't stay mad for long, I don't hold grudges. I forgive easily and I try to forget. Lately though I am filled with so much anger that I don't know what to do with it. I am almost scaring myself with the intensity of the anger I feel. Anger for something I have no control over. Anger over a sickness I do not fully understand. Anger that someone I love with all my heart can be so sick and that I may loose them. Just anger at everything right now. Not sure what to do with it, how to respond, how to cope. I know that it is showing in front of my girls and that is the last thing I want. I need to learn to control what's inside me right now.

When I'm Hurting

"WHEN I'M HURTING
It's easier for you to walk away, than it is for you to reach out to me.
It's easier for you to look away, than it is for you to see the depth of my despair.
It's easier for you to look through me, than it is for you to see 'me.'
It's easier for you to distance yourself, than it is for you to really care.
It's easier for you to hear, than it is for you to listen.
It's easier for you to judge, than it is for you to understand.
It's easier for you to label, than it is to get acquainted.
It's easier for you to bask in your joy, than it is for you to feel my pain.
It's easier for you to bewilder at my mysteries, than it is for you to probe deeply into the depths of my soul.

It's easier for me to look away, than it is to let you see the feelings betrayed through my eyes.
It's easier for me to cry, than it is for me to talk.
It's easier for me to walk alone, than it is to risk rejection.
It's easier for me to push you away, than it is for me to be held.
It's easier for me to distance myself, than it is to trust that you won´t hurt me.
It's easier for me to die, than it is for me to face life's challenges.

It's hard for me to smile when I am hurting.
It's hard for me to talk when you won't understand.
It's hard for me to reach out when I need help the most.

If only you'd really look at me and see who I am.
If only you cared enough to reach out when I push you away.
If only you'd hold me, without asking why.
If only you'd acknowledge the validity of my feelings.

But it's the easy roads that are most often taken.
And so I hurt alone.

--Jo A. Witt
Copyright 2000

I came across this poem the other day and it just seems to fit what's inside my head right now. I always take the easy road. Maybe it's time to try the hard roads instead. Maybe then I'll fly.

Digi In Deep: Cre8ive Challenge Lesson 2 (part 2)

Digi In Deep: Cre8ive Challenge Lesson 2 (part 1)

Color Combos Galore #182

You can play along with this color combination at the Color Combos Galore Blog . The colors are: Beige Burlap, Silk Grey, Crisp Linen, Mystery Meat.

Here's my layout using these colors:

Color Combos Galore #181

You can play along on the Color Combos Galore Blog.

Challenge #181 colors are: Turquoise Tracery, Yellow Furbelow, Alabaster Arabesque, Filigreen

Here's my layout using these colors:

Digi in Deep Assignment 2B

Choose a VERY limited color palette of three colors. Pick a main color (typically I'll choose a color that is a complement or coordinating color to the main color in my photos. For example, if my son's shirt is red, I'll choose blue or green as my main color), then choose a secondary color, and then an accent color. Typically the main color in the photos is also the accent color. With a blue/red color scheme, you could choose green, yellow, or orange as secondary colors. Neutrals used as backgrounds don't count as these colors. Play with cream, white, black, brown, and kraft backgrounds, too!
Add in one large photo.
Add in a couple of smaller secondary photos next to or below your main one.
Now figure out how you'd like to lead people into and around your layout. Create the 'leading lines' from here in the form of shapes or lines (remember that these can be very subtle
Now choose two of the following techniques from Lesson 2 to add to your assignment layout:
- create the focus of your layout to add some white space
- add a gradient masks between two photos to blend them together
- fill a large letter with patterned paper
- pop a journaling card or other item off the page with a custom drop shadow

Here's my completed layout

Dealing With The Unexpected

It's amazing how one thing can change everything about your life. This past week I have had an unexpected family crisis come up. One that has taken every ounce of my time both emotionally and physically. One that has changed the very core of who I am and who I want to be. Everyone keeps telling me that things happen for a reason. I have yet to uncover any reason for this. I need to trust in myself now that I have what it takes to cope, to encourage and to love. I need to trust that I can deal with what has come our way. I need to believe.

{creativity 101} lesson two: explore your creative genius

Your creative genius wants to be heard and has amazing things to say.

{creativity 101} lesson two has us learning about journaling and how it helps us to get into contact with our creative geniuses. We answer journaling prompts and just see where they take us. The bonus homework assignment is to take the inspiration which comes from our journaling and use it to create something new. Here's what I created, what came to be from my journaling.

Journaling reads: I want to live a creative and inspired life. I want to surround myself with people and things that inspire me. I want to be a photographer, an artist, and inspiration to others. I want to create everyday.

Visit Andrea at www.ABCcreativity.com to find out more about {creativity 101}.