Ride with us.

I haven’t written a blog for a little while…

To be honest, I haven’t been able to find the words.

I don’t want to sound trite or relentlessly positive, spouting feel good quotes which turn a blind eye to what is unfolding in our world. But I also don’t want to give my energy to negativity or hopeless politics … there are enough people perpetuating that already.

Being an independent craftsperson right now is a challenge. I’m not going to sugar coat it.

In the last 12 months or so we have dealt with new EU regulations which have stopped us trading with Europe, new US tariffs causing confusion and pushing prices up for our lovely American tribe (with the constant threat of more to come), unscrupulous websites stealing our artwork and designs and selling wildly inferior copies, and of course the silver crisis pushing the price of silver to an all time high, more than trebling in price in the space of a year.

It’s a lot to navigate.

Tiny businesses such as ours are simply  swept along in the global political landscape, left to work out how to best survive with little help or advice from the powers that be.

There must be thousands of UK micro businesses like us who contribute to the nations economy who are being overlooked and who are having impossible laws imposed on them which cost a fortune to comply with.

So I’ve been a little quiet on the blog front.

Every time I open my laptop I just stare at the page and gentle close the lid again.

It’s not that I don’t have anything positive to say… you know me… that’s not a thing!!

It’s just that I am so aware that so many people are struggling and I don’t want to sound contrived or dismissive.

But ….

It stuck me, as I lay in bed last night, listening to Al quietly sleeping and Millie purring next to me as she cuddled up to me for warmth…

That ..

So much of our fear and stress is centred on what might happen. Looking ahead to possible outcomes of this headline or that conjecture.

Imagining that if this happens, then that will follow and then maybe we’ll have to survive the other …

On a global scale.

We aren’t built to carry the weight of the world.

I’m not suggesting we should be ignorant to current affairs but I wonder if it’s about balance and self care too? The old adage of taking care of one’s self so that you are able to care for others ?

It’s so easy to listen to the news and feel overwhelmed with helplessness.

But maybe, if we turn our attention back to kindness within our own local communities we can begin to feel empowered to make a difference?

Sometimes I think the internet has allowed us to imagine everything and reach everywhere which is wonderful but have we, in the excitement of reaching followers in Peru, forgotten our next door neighbours?

For me, the uncertainty and chaos we face on a daily basis from the news reports is calmed a little by drawing in and looking to my local environment.

Taking each moment, each day as it unfolds and actively seeking connection within my local community.

Random acts of kindness… small gestures which create a smile.

I have learnt that throughout history there has always been chaos. All that we see happening today has already happened historically in some form or another.

I find this comforting.

A kind of ‘this too shall pass’ …

Ride the wave.

And ride it with the unequivocal understanding that as the brilliant Dr David Hamilton said … ‘kindness is the opposite of stress’ (see my previous blog ‘The opposite of stress is kindness’, March 2022)

Being kind is literally the antidote to stress.

Dr Hamilton explains that even just thinking kind, positive thoughts releases chemicals into your body that are the opposite to the hormones and chemicals released by stress.

You can literally lower your stress levels by simply just thinking about kindness.

So if the world is feeling overwhelming… the single best thing you can do to feel better is a random act of kindness.

So what do I take from these midnight musings as the family around me sleep soundly?

That I don’t find this easy.

I’m not suggesting for a moment that I or anyone should just be able to switch it off and be at peace.

But I do believe wholeheartedly that our access to all information, from all over the world every moment of every day is, at best, exhausting and I think probably very damaging to us as individuals.

We have a choice to be selective. To prioritise our own health along with keeping informed. We shouldn’t feel guilty about switching off for a while and walking in nature.

Rebalance.

Grounding.

Reconnecting.

Finding ourselves again amongst the noise and remembering where we are and who is around us. Our local environment, our local community.

I think I’ve mentioned before that I don’t buy into New Year’s resolutions. But I do begin my year with intentions.

And for 2026 I am looking to take care of myself. To make sure that I am grounded in the reality of my surroundings so that I can take care of the things I have the ability to control while redirecting my fear and worry from the things I can’t.

I have the power to be kind and potentially perpetuate that within my family, friends, community and through my work.

Which brings me to gratitude.

Always gratitude.

Remembering each day that I have so much to be grateful for in my world.

Including, of course, immense gratitude to you, our wonderful wild hearted wolf pack who continue to support us on our little journey and who enable us to create magic which we hope makes a small difference in the world.

Every piece of jewellery we make or picture we paint is laden with loving intention and kindness.

Pass it on.

Pay it forward.

Be kind.

Imbolc is coming.

A time to celebrate the beginnings of Spring, new life emerging, and to honour Brigid, patron saint of metalsmiths. … I think we will send some extra love her way this year just to make sure!!

Next month is also the beginning of the year of the horse which brings with it a power to forge ahead after a year of change and of shedding our skins as snakes last year …

Along with the new growth of spring, I know that all will be well. Change is coming and new growth is emerging from the cold earth.

We’ve got this.

Ride with us.