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Discovering Who I am
Using Creativity to heal
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lesleypynefindingjoy

Exploring the path to my true self, 1 step at a time.
Author of "Finding Joy Beyond Childlessness’ find on Amazon.

It’s 7 years since Finding Joy was published & I

It’s 7 years since Finding Joy was published & I’ve been thinking about the importance of owning & sharing my story & the huge impact that has had on me.

I’d shared parts of my story on my blog, but once Finding Joy was published it was all out there for anyone to read.

Initially, I needed to keep part of my story hidden to give me space to heal but once I was strong enough, I felt defined by the story I wasn’t telling, that I was being dishonest; after all how can people really know you if part of you is hidden?

It was such a relief to be finally open & honest about who I am.

I’d go further & say that sharing my story openly was the best thing I’ve ever done.

I am an only child who has lost both parents & who is childless. These things will always be part of me but no longer define me.
I love my life & am determined to squeeze the most joy out of it that I can.

What about you?

You can read more about Finding Joy https://lesleypyne.co.uk/finding-joy-beyond-childlessness/

#embracingchildlessness
#beyondchildlessness #joyfulliving #grief
#creative #creativity #loveyourself #gratitude #peaceful #happiness #healing #youareenough #iamenough #followyourheart #expressyourself #changeyourlife #createalifeyoulove

I know this is a long way from perfect but I’m p

I know this is a long way from perfect but I’m putting it out there…

I decided to make a hoop for the #TCM Spring season charting my life during that time. I love how it looks especially it’s the first time I’ve embroidered words (plenty of room for improvement 😉) & figures.

It started with the #TCM Wood symbol, the eclipse, & there had to be daffodils, lambs & cow parsley.

Much of the remainder is inspired by the #yin #Qigong & #yang teachings of the inspiring @Terry_coburn74 who I also work with 1-1 for strength training.

Seeing it all together gives me a great perspective of last few months.

3 words stand out:

How empowering it has been to SURRENDER to what is. Initially I fought against my dodgy wrist not allowing me to use weights, but once I surrendered to my body & with Terry’s support I found another way (hello wrist weights & resistance bands 😊).

Then TRUST - it was a(nother) big reminder to TRUST my body & teacher.

And mainly to TRUST the process. Patience is not a quality I claim in abundance 😂 & early on I struggled to get to grips with aspects of Sphinx Roll Ups, Side Plank & Turkish Get Up but I kept plugging away & have made great progress.

And also CELEBRATE – I love to CELEBRATE what I can do instead of dwell on what I can’t. I celebrate my progress & mostly I celebrate my body which can take me on longish walks with steep climbs which I know many of my age wouldn’t attempt.

I want to keep standing on the top of hills, surrounded by space & countryside for many more years & this is one of the reasons I keep exercising, stretching & continue the process of reclaiming control of my health.

A huge thank you to @Terry_coburn74 for your inspiration, patience & guidance ❤

#embracingchildlessness #beyondchildlessness #joyfulliving #creative #creativity #loveyourself #gratitude #peaceful #happiness #expressyourself #changeyourlife #createalifeyoulove
#handembroidery #embroidery #needlework #handembroiderywork

Isn’t it interesting how the Universe works? Yes

Isn’t it interesting how the Universe works?
Yesterday I was talking about @elizabeth_gilbert_writer ‘s book #Big Magic & I realise that it’s now exactly years since I attended her workshop.
Here's what I wrote at the time.

‘When you're in a large group of people & a question is asked, if you're a rule follower your hand goes up on its own without you any conscious thought.
If the person asking the question & she's standing 6' away, the next thing you know, the microphone is in your hand & you're telling your (raw & not very well written) story to the audience of 1000 strangers.
Then when you've finished the wonderful Liz repeats your last line & says 'it doesn't get better than that.' It did get better than that though; at the end several people came up to me & gave me their email address, telling me that their story resonated, & there were several similar comments also on Instagram. This happened to me on Saturday at the #BigMagic workshop @alternativesorg & it was one of those days that will change me fundamentally.
The wonderful Liz Gilbert modelled showing up in its fullest sense, courage, vulnerability, honesty & a fierceness, not forgetting a fabulous sense of humour. I have many takeaways & I'm sure more will come to me as my mind continues to percolate & absorb all that happened.' ‘
I wrote this blog about my experience. https://lesleypyne.co.uk/how-are-you-different-now/

#embracingchildlessness #beyondchildlessness #joyfulliving #grief #creative #creativity #loveyourself #gratitude #peaceful #happiness #healing #youareenough #iamenough #followyourheart #expressyourself #changeyourlife #createalifeyoulove

Signs of Spring, Yorkshire Dales (& my first insta

Signs of Spring, Yorkshire Dales (& my first insta reel)

Instagram post 18061354064087405

Instagram post 18061354064087405

I recently designed & made this embroidered lavend

I recently designed & made this embroidered lavender bag for a lovely friend.

To me butterflies are a sign of transformation as they shed their old ways so they can move into a new life, showing their true colours.

I also used this as a theme in my book, Finding Joy Beyond Childlessness (link in bio).

#handembroidery ##embroidery #needlework #handembroiderywork

#beyondchildlessness #creative #creativity #loveyourself #healing #followyourheart #expressyourself #changeyourlife #createalifeyoulove

I recently needle felted some sheep! The 3 on th

I recently needle felted some sheep!

The 3 on the left are from a kit by @felts_by_philippa

The one on the right is my own design, using the same pattern & as close as I can get to a Swaledale sheep, the most popular breed in the Yorkshire Dales. It turned out a bit bigger & I would have preferred a slightly curly wool, but it's is close enough (& yes I know there should be some black on the legs... ) 😀🐑🐏

#diycrafts #imadethis #felting #diysheep #needlefelting #diyproject #craftaddict #createandcraft #needlecraft #handmade
#beyondchildlessness #creative #creativity #loveyourself #healing #followyourheart #expressyourself #changeyourlife #createalifeyoulove

As we head into another year where there are so ma

As we head into another year where there are so many unknowns, you may be tempted to try & control those things which are in your domain & set yourself personal goals (or perhaps we should refer to them as New Year’s Resolutions).

This used to be me, I would make a list & start making big changes with a huge flurry… & then a few weeks later I’d be back at square one, well maybe before square one as, in addition to having stopped everything, I’d now be beating myself up for ‘failing’.
But now I know better.

Now I take the Chinese view of life, that each year is like a spiral, building on the one before. Winter is the time of Water & to quote John Kirkwood ’Water is the fundamental Element, the point on the cycle which is both a beginning & ending, a point of turning, the space between the ending & beginning.’

Each year is unlike any before it & so are you & you have the choice to begin the new year/new cycle in a way which is supporting who you are & what you want from life, or not.

Over on my blog I’ll give you some suggestions as to how you might do that.

https://lesleypyne.co.uk/how-to-start-the-year-in-a-way-that-supports-your-deepest-intentions/

#beyondchildlessness #joyfulliving #grief #childless #childlesssupport #childlessnotbychoice
#creative #creativity #loveyourself #gratitude #peaceful #happiness #healing #youareenough #iamenough #followyourheart #expressyourself #changeyourlife #createalifeyoulove
#TCM

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