A proper "hello"

From me 💜

Considering this is a new space for me, I should probably introduce myself properly.

I’m Ruth, and I have a creative soul. I don’t think it has to be any more complicated than that. I was born with the desire to make things. It may have started with lego and finger painting, but it quickly moved into other crafts and at 8 years old I was introduced to journal writing (though back then it was a diary - more on this another day!)

I have continued to journal in some form or another over the years, but at 33 I took a course run by Susannah Conway called ‘Journal Your Life’ and since then I have been catapulted into a new, more freeing type of journaling. I haven’t looked back at all. It is now a daily practise that I look forward to at the end of each day. Sometimes I write pages and pages, and other times I just write a few words and spend time decorating the pages. There is something incredibly meditative about sticking stickers into a journal, and if you haven’t tried it - do! I truly believe we could all do with ‘playing’ more, and doing things that don’t necessarily achieve anything, but flex our creative muscles and give us the chance to just be.

Writing in general has been an extremely healing part of my journey. It has been my way of processing the most difficult of feelings, and giving those things the space that they need. At the end of 2019 I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, and a few months later in 2020 I was told I also have Axial Spondyloarthritis (a type of arthritis that affects my spine & peripheral joints). Being faced with the reality of a lifelong illness was really really difficult. There was a sense of relief after suffering with unresolved back pain, fatigue and growing anxiety and finally knowing what was happening, but it also completely winded me.

For 2 years I lived through the grief of losing myself, and the life that I had hoped I might live, all the while struggling with pain and fatigue. It hasn’t been easy, and I had to have that time to just be ‘in it’ before I could see where I might find a way forward. I still feel grief when my illnesses flare up, or when I see someone doing something that I’d like to do. But it’s also gifted me the ability to see the joy in the small things, and to appreciate more what I can still do. It has also given me the opportunity to really understand the impact of a chronic illness on an individual and the people around them. Often when we receive a diagnosis we are given some leaflets, new medication and sent on our way. There is no preparation for what’s to come, or the reality that the mental health impact will often be worse than the illness itself.

Looking fotward, I am beginning the process of writing a book. It’ll take a while, but I want to offer people a support while they go through the tumultuous journey of illness and ‘being ill’. It will include some of the things that have helped me, and also offer some journaling exercises so that the reader can explore their own journey. I would love to eventually offer it in a ecourse as well, and this may end up coming first so that I can get real-time feedback. I would love to hear what you think about this! Does it feel like something you might be interested in? What would you like to see included?

In the near future I will be building a business that incorporates all these elements, and gives me a place to share my message from. It feels exciting to be creating something much bigger than anything I've done before, but it is also a scary new adventure, and one that I know will have challenges. It is really important that I find a way of creating something authentic, and that works with and alongside my illnesses, rather than against them.

I am going to sign off here for today, but I hope it’s given you more of an idea of who I am, and what I do (or will be doing anyway!)

It's been so good to share with you. Thank you for reading 💜