Beneath the Surface- June Reflections

🌊 Beneath the Surface – June Reflections

I love writing the blog at the start of my weekly emails. It's where I get to share what’s really on my mind and in my heart. But as with all things email, once it’s sent… it’s gone. Read or missed in the busyness of life, these reflections often feel like fleeting messages, when really, the thoughts behind them hold far more longevity and meaning.

So, I’ve started collecting each month’s reflections into one place, to see where my head’s been at, what’s shaped my energy, and where the focus has had to be… all in service of making this one precious life one of thriving, not just surviving.

Enjoy these moments from June 💚

June 6^th

Time to 'Bloom' in June

"To us sea swimmers, June Bloom is Mother Nature's cruel trick.

Just as the weather warms in May and we get excited for longer sea swims, the algae bloom happens, turns the sea into pea soup or actually as it more accurately looks like diarrhoea coloured and it sticks to everywhere and smells disgusting. You, your cozy, hair and everything stink of fish too! Sounds pleasant right, believe me when I say it is worse than I can describe, and we get a bit grumpy!

However, that does little good, it happens every year, admittedly earlier each year and at least it's warmer and as with every bad thought, worry, hard thing .... you stick with it, sit with it and it passes and this year as if by magic on June 1st, when my beautiful swim sister Claire and I stepped into the sea, it had gone and our first 1km sea swim of the year took place. We saw fish, huge crabs, clams, scallops, diving sea gulls and the mild westerly made it flat and fabulous, especially because I got to share it with one of my lovely friends.

Another 'great day', like our wedding day, where too we hit the sea on day one and it was freezing and we only stuck it for about 5 mins, by day 5 we were all in for hours playing catch, surfing, swimming and just laughing, having fun.

Enduring the tough moments makes me appreciate the good ones more.

Choosing to be brave reaffirms my potential and capability time and time again and makes sure I don't sell myself short.

Sitting with difficult times and enduring them, knowing it's all part of the plan and that they will pass builds resilience, strength and appreciation of you and everything around you.

Michelle."

Weekend Listen Recommendation

I found this guy on Instagram and have loved watching and listening to him, he's all about positive empowerment and building resilience the right way.

Check him out....

https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithtim?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=Z2NtaGV1enE4YXV5

https://www.threads.com/@coachingwithtim?xmt=AQF0IUrpwlZncdhUox4bjAR_DJ_DUJrwUWXlfJ1MCHNPSrU

And if you haven't watched the 2022 Film The Swimmers, omg it's a must watch, and makes you realise the plight that people go through for a better life.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swimmers_(2022_film)

Friday 13^th June

'Your day can change as quick as the British weather'

"I've talked a lot about building resilience this week, and a bit like the author writing the book he/she needs to read, I've been constantly forging resilience this week too, relying on it and seeing the benefits of it.

Even today as I read back through my pages from this morning and the rain hammered down...

"It's wild and windy and I have not got the energy today, mentally or physically...."

That was at 6am, but by 3pm as I write now, the sun is shining, the day has calmed, I've regrouped, regained my peace and pace, caught up, been to the gym and physio and been able to chat things through with my friend (Vent, yes!).

So, my day has changed as quick as the British weather and I did it, no pill, no outsourcing, because I can control my 'weather', with a few deep breaths, resilient focus and by allowing the emotions to be and to pass, staying present and honouring them.

Unsurprisingly I've gained energy, capability and competence from facing it, owning it, experiencing it, strength comes from resilience and is an underrated superpower.

Michelle."

Weekend Listen Recommendation

If one in 4 women are taking an antidepressant and one in 5 people in the UK are, we all know someone who is, or we could be and if we are or as friends we need to listen and hear what Professor Joanna Moncrieff and Dr Rangan Chattergee discuss to learn and share it with those we love.

Obviously, the pharmaceutical industry like all industries use marketing as a powerful tool, but what's the true cost.

Rethinking Mental Health: What The Science Actually Says About Depression, The Side Effects of Antidepressants & Finding Balance with Professor Joanna Moncrieff

Friday 20^th June 2025

'Signs and Mirroring Mother Nature'

"For the 4th time this week, I wrote, "it's so still outside, the trees aren't moving" I stopped, put down my pen and Mirrored Nature and was still, I  just watched the stillness, not really in expectation or anticipation of anything, just because, well I suppose I needed to and nothing else felt right and this did and what I found when I stopped was a bit of inner peace, 'the off feeling' has gone off!!....

Thursday Thought 19.6.25

I've just read two incredible books these past two weeks

Imperfect Courage — Jessica Honegger

Listen to Imperfect Courage by Jessica Honegger on Audible. https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/052563357X?source_code=ASSOR150021921000V

And

Breath By Carly-Jay Metcalfe, which I was lucky to get on Borrow Box at the libraryhttps://dorset.borrowbox.com/product/BOL_5581992/

They are definitely books that are deep and make you think about 'signs', 'purpose', 'meaning' and going out there and making life happen.

What with all the awful, inhumane, violent stuff going on in the world at the moment and on top of it all, this week starting with the devastating plane crash killing all but one of the passengers and the heart breaking story of that poor family who were finally coming over here to live, only to have all their hopes and opportunity just stripped from them so cruelly, it's such a stark reminder, life is finite and we just don't know what is around the corner, we really don't.

So maybe my brain is in overdrive this week and 'the off feeling inside' was my intuitive self-telling me I needed to take Mother Nature's lead and 'still', stop fixing and be still, to feel the feelings and let them be and pass.

So, here's a little insight

"It’s 5am, I feel like I've hardly slept and just been waiting for what seems like hours to get up as dawn starts to break and that's my cue and I do.

I get up and I'm thirsty and drink three large glasses of water which has a slice of yesterday's lemon in it... It tastes so good, and I really do taste it and although I've put the kettle on I'm not ready to drink green tea yet (another sure-fire sign of my 'feeling off'.)

I write a bit but it's just a dump nothing helpful. 

So, I look out the window to the trees in the back garden and they are perfectly still, last night's swim stuff too, no wind no nothing. 

And it draws me in, I put my pen down and I look.

I sit with it and the nothing changes, it's not nothing there's so much busyness when I look, it's like a real ordered busyness, different birds flying this way and that, the crows aren't just noisy, if I listen hard enough, they craw and there's a return call.

I decide to go outside and as I open the back door, I really hear the wings flap of a passing gull and then an odd sound, which I recognise but is so unfamiliar here in the garden in the still of early morning. It's a train, I never hear the train it's too far away but today I do and it's reassuring, repetitive, then the tap of a bee on the window and I see two cormorants flying away in the distance, where are they going I wonder.

Then I notice a bit more movement in the tree, it's like the day is stirring and I smile, go inside boil the kettle and take my green tea outside to drink it there with bare feet slowly wandering round, seeing even more, with senses really heightened like those of the animals we are, supposed to live in nature, be at one with nature.

Why do I tell you all this waffle, because life is hard, how we as humans are asked to live life now is not how it was intended and it's against the grain but we always have our roots to return to and Mother Nature guided me today and that feeling of "off", well that did one, thankfully.

Why? Because I respected it, remembered my place in the world and allowed it to help me by intuitively listening and being still to allow myself to 'be', recalibrate, recentre and realign.

Michelle."

Treat yourself to one of those audibles to listen to and if you want a podcast, well this is a great reminder too of the power of awe.

Mother Nature is a great non offensive guide for me, a constant and one I trust in and today, once I opened my eyes, I saw as she'd shown up to help me.

Science of Awe - Dr Dacher Keltner / Feel Better, Live More Podcast

Friday 27^th June 2025

Wake up, appreciate and do the right things'- The Halfway Point in 2025

"I've been thinking loads this week on 'why do people really struggle to either keep to their health goals, lose weight and put weight on so easily during summer'. It's such common conversation among friends, family and customers currently, when really the beautiful weather and longer days encourage a much more active lifestyle and a greater desire for salads!

But summer also brings more meals out, spontaneous takeaways, BBQs, and social get together and while those moments are so important and special, they can make it harder to stay on track without even realising it.

The big question, do we really know what we’re eating when we eat out?

Things like where the meat and fish come from, what oils or sauces are used, or how ultra processed the ingredients might be. It's so easy not to think about it and I’ve definitely been there.

I remember gaining a lot of weight when I first moved out on my own, suddenly my Mum’s homemade meals were swapped for takeaways and jars of sauce. And that cycle of weight up, weight down continued for years until I finally made the connection and stopped Ground Hog Day by making the choice to eat real, honest food. The next stage being starting The Clean Cook, so everyone could experience the benefits.

These days, I still love going out, but I’m just a bit more mindful. Sometimes I’ll eat beforehand, ask a few questions about ingredients and sourcing, or go for veggie options if I’m unsure. There are some amazing places out there though, like The Portland Pizza Company, where we had the loveliest fresh pizzas last week, sat enjoying the evening sunshine and tunes on Chesil Beach. Simple, tasty, and no food hangover in sight!

You don’t have to miss out and deprive yourself, just be aware, ask a little more, and make the choice that feels best for you. 💖

Michelle."

I talk about this lovely podcast in Thursday Thought. Eliud Kipchoge's words really moved and inspired me this week and I've been thinking on them in many situations and ways and found it very helpful.

As Dr Chattergee says "his wisdom goes far beyond running" have a listen and be inspired too, humbled and reassured by his beautiful nature.

Letting Go of Perfection: The Power of Process, Presence & Planning with Eliud Kipchoge

Here's to July...

If June was about noticing what lies beneath the surface, the algae, the stillness, the “off” feelings, then July is the invitation to move forward from that place.

With strength. With presence. With intention.

And always, always with kindness. 💛

Michelle x