Positivity is the theme of this week's 5 Favourites, from fragrance to poems, small ways of adding an extra dash of happy to your everyday living .
Poetry Pharmacy - the power of poems. The Poetry Pharmacy started in 2011, then known as Emergency Poet, they dispensed from the back of a vintage ambulance anywhere from festivals to care homes and schools. The idea was to deliver poetry to people who may not otherwise have encountered it. To share the joy of poems in an accessible way, breaking down barriers that the genre may otherwise have attached.
The pharmacy has evolved into 2 permanent homes - cafes in Shropshire and London, both dispensing poems alongside tea, coffee, cakes, and books as well as hosting regular events.
Why not take a look at the link to find out more - https://www.poetrypharmacy.co.uk/home
Happy Fragrance was launched in 1997 by Clinique, and after 27 years is still a best seller for the brand. Is it any wonder? With a name like that, it's such a clever hook. Along with its claim that 97% of people feel happy after smelling it, it's a strong call to potential purchasers; it must have been every advertising agent's dream job to push this one.
I fell under the spell of Happy in 1997, as I was a hairdresser at the time in a busy salon. I figured if I wore it, the happiness vibes might transfer to my clients. It really did seem to do the trick; people often remarked on my perfume! I can't say it changed my life, but it certainly enhanced it.
I strongly believe in the power of scent in all sorts of forms to enhance our moods and sense of well-being.
Positive News
If you fancy a change from the usual stream of news, which sadly is often lacking in positive and happy stories then Positive News promises to deliver, the magazine is published 4 times a year.
If you prefer a listen, you could also try Happy News , podcast broadcast from BBC Sounds, this is a weekly dose of happy stories from around the world to lift and inspire.
Recycling: I bought a fresh batch of Vitamin D tablets, and instead of arriving in a plastic bottle, they came in small bag. This made me feel inexplicably happy !
My enthusiasm for recycling has at times caused hilarity in my household and after doing some research I was not surprised to find out that recycling has been proven to have a positive impact on people's mental health.
My vitamin pills in a bag are a new initiative to save waste, claiming to cut plastic waste by 60%. Customers can order a free reusable bottle.
I have also noticed that plastic bottles now have caps attached that are designed to stop them from becoming detached? This new EU directive is addressing the problem of caps not getting recycled.
Gardening I have been doing a spot of gardening , the rain has made everything grow like mad so lots of cutting back and chopping up for composting .
My mood has improved, and I have slept better. It made me reflect on how being outdoors amongst nature in any form can help both our physical and mental health.
I found a great article on Gardening and mental health in House and Garden https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/gardening-for-happiness-mental-health
The strongest advocate of this theory I have ever met is Jens, who works every day on and in the not-for-profit project he created, The Onion Community Garden.
“The whole project is built around kindness, positive thinking and healthy living, connecting people with nature. Through which you can be healed and get new energies ”Jens Jakobsen.
Jens believes in the power of nature to heal, having experienced it firsthand in helping him to recover after a very serious road accident.
You can see and read more about Jens, nature's healing, and the project on the website https://www.theoniongarden.org/vision
I hope you enjoyed this week's list of positivity. If you are enjoying the series, please drop me a line or perhaps share it with someone who you think would appreciate it too?
Thank you for reading.
Until next Sunday
Cheerio x
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