@Former-Member could you please maybe swing by and simply let me know you are here with me in this storm?
@Former-Member Thanks for stopping by on this gigantic wave. My favourite type of exercise is swimming, which I guess makes sense, given I'm a sea turtle. 
I think the thing about swimming is that it forces me to regulate my breathing (cos, you know, otherwise you drown!).
My dog lives across the Rainbow Bridge. He re-located there almost five years ago. For most of his life we lived in a beachside unit and we walked thousands of miles along that beach across his lifetime. I super love being near the ocean (again, makes sense, given I'm a sea turtle!). Sadly, Sydney house prices pushed me inland further, although I do still have a couple of super nice rivers nearby. Sometimes I get an overwhelming urge that I HAVE to get to the ocean. I am only an hour from it outside of peak-hour and I know I could never move further from it.
My cat who re-located across the Rainbow Bridge last November was super good at helping me with mindfulness and slow breathing. He used to sit sphynix-like on my chest and we would have a staring competition as I watched him go up and down with the rise and fall of my chest. My old boy who still lives with me is super cuddly. He TRIES to be supportive...but his idea of helping with my big feelings is to lie across my face such that he nearly suffocates me. My young boy is ridiculously hyperactive. He is not into the cuddle thing at all, but his hyperactivity makes me smile.
@Faith-and-Hope I super love the picture you posted. Right now I'm in the middle of the ocean far from Forum Land, but it is super nice to know there is a teddy bear waiting for me when I finally make it ashore.
Hope you managed to do a bit of violin and sitting in the sunshine @Phoenix_Rising. I certainly did not retrieve my old violin from the cupboard today because I haven't played it in forever and would sound disasterous. My favourite thing used to be to play with the back of the bow (I can't remember the terminology, it's been almost 20 years!), mainly because it was much quieter and less disturbing to my own ears. 
I am about to bunker down in my very leaky shell for another night out on this oh-so-tumultous ocean. I'm not totally alone out here, right? Even though it is very dark and the waves are super big, I'm not as alone as I feel right now, am I. Night. @TheVorticon @Faith-and-Hope @outlander @Former-Member @Former-Member @CheerBear
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.