This weekend I was unbelievably JOYFUL.

(Alright, Joy, don’t rub it in)

I laughed so much.

I had a beautiful time with my mum and stepdad.

On the coach back to London, I was smiling.

I had a moment in which I thought,

‘SHIT! I’m really HAPPY!’

The next thought was …

‘When is this going to end?’

I looked at the thought.

Contemplated it.

And chose to let it GO.

Even when I was bed bound with tonsillitis for over a week,

when my friends asked me how I was doing I would say,

‘Physically, I’m ill. But my spirit is POSITIVE.’

I’ve had a fair few weeks of GOOD DAYS.

I’m not saying I won the lottery.

Got my dream job.

Bought a motorboat.

And had multiple orgasms as all that happened.

But for the most part, the GOOD is outweighing the negative.

And when I’ve had a panic attack.

Or anxiety has risen.

Or I’ve woken up sad.

I’ve not let it SWALLOW my day.

I’ve worked hard,

I’m working hard,

And I’m feeling the benefits.

As someone who relapsed from anorexia multiple times before fully recovering,

And has lived with and managed depression for a long time,

I could easily say to myself

‘OH MY GOD, HOW CAN I BE HAPPY RIGHT NOW? IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN SOON. THE BLACK DOG IS GONNA COME BACK.’

And cause myself to live in FEAR.

We can NOT anticipate bad things happening in our lives.

We can NOT anticipate human suffering.

We can NOT anticipate bumps in the road.

However, we CAN anticipate good mental health.

I don’t believe in any form of mental health illness you can be FULLY RECOVERED.

Because that suggests that you don’t have to continue in engaging in awareness and care for your mental health.

Every day is a day of engaging in RECOVERY.

Engaging in SELF CARE.

Engaging in SUPPORT.

Engaging in the things YOU LOVE TO DO.

Cutting out the toxic things in your life that make you feel CRAP.

Engaging in what makes your SPIRIT SOAR.

Engaging in the small acts that ease anxiety or mental health illness relapse.

When you have a good day, do not anticipate the bad day.

When you do this you are REACHING into the FUTURE, and FORTUNE-TELLING.

Rather than living in the PRESENT.

In the PRESENT, you have had a good day.

You have looked after yourself.

You have spoken to yourself kindly.

You may well have laughed.

And hopefully laughed HARD.

Live today.

Live now.

Look after yourself.

Be kind to yourself.

Engage in the things that feed your spirit.

Engage in the small acts that keep you afloat.

One of the acts of self care that I engage in is feeding myself WELL.

With tasty, nutritious whole foods that keep my brain and body FUELLED.

I’ve found recently with snacks that most grab and go snacks are PACKED WITH REFINED SUGAR and CHEMICALS I don’t even bloody recognise.

And a lot of the bars that are wholesome, are more expensive.

So I’ve made a tasty snack which is SUPER EASY to make.

Really simple ingredients.

Can be eaten for breakfast paired with some yoghurt, nut butter and fruit.

Or as a quick and satisfying snack.

Walnuts contain tryptophan, the amino acid that helps your body absorb SEROTONIN.

Bananas and oats both contain SEROTONIN, the happy hormone.

Happy Banana Bread Flapjacks 🍌

Ingredients –

• 250g oats
• 3 bananas
• 80ml of maple syrup
• 100g of smooth/crunchy peanut butter
• 1 tsp of cinnamon
• 1 tsp of nutmeg
• 50g of crushed walnuts
• 50g of raisins
• 2 pinches of salt

Method-

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
• Blitz bananas in food processor/blender or with hand blender.
• Mix in maple syrup and peanut butter till fully incorporated.
• Mix in cinnamon, nutmeg and 2 pinches of salt.
• Add oats, raisins and walnuts. Mix until fully incorporated.
• Grease a baking tray and pour in mixture.
• Press down mixture with a wooden spoon till it has a smooth top and is evenly spread.
• Bake for 25 minutes.
• Remove from oven and leave to cool for 30 minutes before slicing into squares.
• Take some time for yourself to mindfully enJOY your tasty happy banana bread flapjack.

Live today.

Live now.

Look after yourself.

Be kind to yourself.

Engage in the things that feed your spirit.

Engage in the small acts that keep you afloat.

Much love,

Joy xx