I slept through the night last night for the first time for ages. My sleep has been improving gradually but this is the first full, didn't leave my bed, night. And it was wonderful. The feeling of achievement, pleasure and sense of rest this morning is incredible.

This is noteworthy because, over the past five years or so my sleep has been very disturbed with long periods of wakefulness and difficulty going to sleep in the first place so much so that I've been waking up tired and grumpy, sometimes wondering what it's all for.

Sarah LaytonOctober 27, 2021Comment

On the Murder of Sarah Everard

My heart has been heavy and my chest filled with rage this week as Sarah Everard's 'Police Officer' murderer was convicted only a week after the body of Sabina Nessa was discovered in a London park.

I was growing up in Leeds aged 11, when Peter Sutcliffe, the so-called 'Yorkshire Ripper' murdered his first victim, and was attending school a mile from where he operated. And I just accepted it as normal that I mustn't walk alone at night, or in a dark place. I still do and I've taught my daughter the same.

Sarah LaytonOctober 13, 2021Comment

It's Blue Monday - how are you feeling?

Today is so called ‘Blue Monday’ (a PR exercise for a travel company it seems, dating back to 2005 but useful all the same) and I’m wondering how you’re feeling.

I’m not feeling too blue actually but I did have a bit of a melt down at the weekend and which me realise that I’d been tolerating too much without expressing it. There’s a lot to tolerate at the moment and the rats in our roof are just one more thing!

wellbeing and growth, inspirationSarah LaytonJanuary 18, 2021Blue MondayComment

Pots & Planters for your Front Door

I often write about the pleasure I get from the pots I display by our front and back doors. They’re a collection of evergreens, small shrubs and seasonal lovelies and I love creating, caring for and admiring them. However this post is about the containers, my collection and where I find them.

On stoicism, anger and women

Stoicism is not a virtue - so said a wise woman recently and I felt something inside me chime.

So many of us live, often unconsciously, by an outdated, patriarchal, and plain unhelpful (if not dangerous), edict that there is merit in our keeping quiet, not ‘making a fuss’ and being stoical; that we should be ‘sweetness and light’ and get on with life without creating a disturbance; that women are supposed to be ‘ladylike’ and that it’s unattractive to be angry.

Well stuff that!

on grief, self care, being gentle with myself...

As someone with a history of depression, anxiety and panic attacks I’ve found ways in my normal life to manage myself well - to be as good as I can be for my family, and myself of course, and many of these activities involve being out making daily contact with others, getting support, being part of a community.

inspiration, wellbeing and growthSarah LaytonMarch 29, 2020wellbeing, grief, self care, isolationComment

six things to think about before you dig

If radical change is needed in your garden and you want to create a space that is gorgeous; cohesive, functional and easy to maintain there are lots of things to think about before you even pick up a spade.

Supporting your wellbeing in winter...

If it wasn’t for Coronavirus we’d all be beginning to celebrate spring and this morning I was musing on this as I walked and feeling annoyed. We’ve all survived the winter and normally this would be the time for heaving a great sigh of relief and hefting off the shackles- there is so much that is lovely going on out there. Instead we’re having to dig even deeper to maintain our equilibrium and protect our mental and physical health and loved ones.

wellbeing and growthSarah LaytonMarch 17, 2020Comment

Six winter flowers to lift your heart...

We’ve had a series of grey days but I’ve kept my eyes open to the small joys that are around. In this post I’m sharing six winter-flowering plants that are doing their thing right now in deepest January.

my garden, wellbeing and growthSarah LaytonJanuary 26, 2020winter flowers, winter wellbeing Comments

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