The Health Guru – Looking Forward To Spring

Welcome to March, where we are definitely more Spring-like and looking forward to lighter evenings and Spring weather. Spring is also a great time to enjoy the trailblazing fruits and vegetables that appear first in our gardens and farms.

Spring vegetables and fruits are colourful, delicious, and packed with healthy nutrients to refresh your mind and body during this season of change. Asparagus, broccoli, carrots, radish, strawberries, peas, rocket and other spring fruits and vegetables are rocking our supermarket aisles and an abundance of produce starts to spring-forward after a Winter of root vegetables. It feels better to be outdoors and definitely, helps with our mental and physical health. We also feel compelled to Spring clean at home and spruce up our gardens.

As usual, we have some ideas for you and hope you will try a few tips or suggestions.

I have been focussing on mental and physical health lately, after being bullied by colleagues on the Kidwelly Wellbeing team. Although I am a professional, many keep quiet when they are bullied and their mental health is affected. I was told to keep quiet after I told participants who I have been alongside for months, and threatened with breaching data. I replied that these people are my friends and I have done nothing wrong by messaging to say how my mental health has been affected by bullying. I also aim to write about it.

I had been shouted at before in my own home by a guy with whom I set up Kidwelly Wellbeing, where I held my café and did very well. I also ran the workshops and did very well for no monetary gain. I was blamed when, a colleague did not send out the timetable for workshops and so, I did it myself. Apparently, I am ‘not allowed’ to do this and that’s why I had been shouted at but this is not a boss, employee situation but a bunch of volunteers setting up a monthly event. They then had a meeting without me discussing the situation, blaming me, including the person who has nothing to do with it – the hall manager. There was a whole lot else to blame me for and sadly, the whole thing I helped set up will eventually fizzle out.

However, upon reflection and looking after my physical and mental health I will probably be looking to set up somewhere else and bring in the community spirit. I do not do things for financial gain but do need to live and am seeking other opportunities within the community.

I work from the heart and examples of this are where, a woman looking after three children lost a large amount of money whilst, out in Carmarthen this, was a discretionary grant that she had only just withdrawn. She was so distraught I organised a collection for her and was able to give her the same amount of money the next day. If anyone is in need I will be there. We have also taken in a Ukrainian refugee and she is getting on very well, currently working and enjoying her stay in Kidwelly. My Great Grandfather was Ukrainian, who came over to London over one hundred years ago. I met him when I was very small and he was in his eighties. I remember how kind he was and his memory lives on inside me.

Sadly, we lost my mother-in-law last month and had the funeral in March. She was a lovely, kind and sweet, Welsh lady who will be sorely missed. It leaves such a big hole when you have a bereavement. Although, we spent Christmas day with her, taking all the food up there so she could have a nice day. She stayed in bed and was so happy when we took up cups of tea. She then needed a carer who took ages to arrive by the council and was happy to have someone with her. However, the carers suddenly stopped as they said she was able to use the bathroom alone. This led to a very quick decline and distress and the Doctor calling upon an end-of-life nurse who was so kind that, when she passed she was comfortable and not alone. We will miss her, always.

It was nice to get to the gym again, however, there is still no air conditioning that is not pleasant with overheating menopausal women like myself and sweaty people working out. This could all be minimised with the right air con! I can only go for three months and after that will wait until October.

It is important to get out into the fresh air, the beach is great for this and free!

I hope you have a wonderful March, full of the joys of Spring! My advice is to look after your mental health, stay away from those who make you feel bad and seek help if necessary.

Have a wonderful March!