Bathroom Floor Brilliance: A Late Night Thought on Mental Health and Ingenuity
“There are nowhere near enough mental health workers in Africa, I admire this kind of ingenuity.”
AI artwork of a woman dreaming about bright ideas; a reflection on mental health and ingenuity
Ok, full disclosure. It’s 00:01. I am sitting on the bathroom floor whilst running a bath trying to finish everything I needed to get done today. This short blog post being the final task. So, with one eye open, I wanted to share this quick story.
Mental Health is still a taboo topic.
More in certain parts than others. I read about an initiative in Africa over my morning coffee, where they are training hairdressers, salon owners and the like in counselling. How to spot domestic violence, depression and what to say or do when people confide.
Brilliant solutions to complex problems.
There are nowhere near enough mental health workers in Africa, I admire this kind of ingenuity. I’m no expert, I read this in passing but thought these are the kinds of things we need to see, not only in Africa, but arguably everywhere there is a need to upskill those already in a position to do something about it. An inspiring idea that so far seems to be working. Pleasant dreams.
Chasing confidence down the rabbit hole.
“Despite having tons of ideas and projects upcoming and a to do list longer than Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall; I still sit here staring at a blank page for two hours and wonder what the hell I am doing.”
AI artwork of a multicoloured rabbit inspired by Alice in Wonderland, symbolising creative confidence
Confidence is never a constant companion. It’s like a magical rabbit that appears occasionally and then vanishes, leaving behind the smell of rainbows. Confidence is hard and no one can do it for you.
Self-help or imaginary rabbits?
I was the type of person to read every self-help guru out there. In my fixation I have been down more rabbit holes than I care to admit. Positive affirmations are cute. But they will not change your monthly income. Doing something about it will though.
When I started The Pavement Special, I didn’t put my name up. I didn’t post photos. I had no confidence in what I was doing; because I had no idea where it was going.
I was extremely fed up of thinking about all these ideas that I couldn’t fund. I was sick of thinking that I can only start something when…when I have the money, when I have the right job.
I’m still waiting for those things, if I had continued to wait, there would be no Mongrel anything.
Confidence isn’t always flowing
I am not sitting here the other side of a bank balance that affords me this opportunity, dictating to you. Quite the contrary, I’m sitting here fighting for it. I work 7 days a week.
My husband always says, “You need to chill, you never chill”.
Despite having tons of ideas and projects upcoming and a to do list longer than Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall; I still sit here staring at a blank page for two hours and wonder what the hell I am doing.
If I am doing it right, if I said it right, should I have done that instead, turquoise or amethyst? Confidence isn’t always flowing, and I literally can’t afford for it not to.
That clock doesn’t slow down for anyone, not even a magic rabbit.
When you realise you put your laptop-stand upside down.
My husband might not be wrong.
Case in point; I spent the past few months using my laptop stand upside down. Don’t ask, but yup. You know that feeling when you realise you are an idiot?
Rainbow coloured rabbit droppings
While the magical rabbit Confidence is not a mainstay feature. It’s crucial to learn off that rabbit and be your own cheerleader. No one is going to tell you that you are magical, and if they do, well, lucky you. (Now I’m thinking of Aurora, the singer not the borealis, lol)
So, I guess I’m hunting rabbits.
Metaphorically speaking. That’s the only rabbit hole worth playing in. Confidence isn’t “I think my cap is the best in the world”; it’s working to design the best cap in the world. I might not do it, but maybe, that bloody rabbit pops up while I’m working on it.
Chase the work. The rabbit shows up when it wants.
How to stop listening to Sleep Token
Do you wake up in the morning and immediately; “I dream, in phosphorescence…” Yeah, me too. Here’s the (semi) cure.
AI artwork titled ‘The Sound of Metal’ a visual companion to the Sleep Token post
Do you wake up in the morning and immediately; “I dream, in phosphorescence…” Yeah, me too. Here’s the (semi) cure. “We dive through crystal waters”
An antidote to hypnosis… is more hypnosis.
1. Start with Turisas - Stand up and Fight, listen to the whole album.
2. Follow with Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition.
3. Finish with Jane’s Addiction Three Days (bonus points: roll into any album from the late 80’s to the 90’s straight after)
That’s how you flush Sleep Token from your brain.
You’re welcome. “Reflected in light, refracted in sound”
…Fuck.