Reflective decluttering

We are living in temporary accommodation at the moment, while we wait for a house sale.

New Year 2025 and I decided to look through a plastic tub with all my psychotherapy material in it. Most of the contents were from 2005 -2013 and provided the background to the publication of the book, 'Are you Chasing Rainbows?' There were years of memories. Some of the material could be thrown away, which was idea of looking inside the tub.  These were my conclusion after the first filter, which I posted on Facebook.

Book Tub Declutter Part 1. Completed.

Discovered from background reading and newspaper cuttings from 20 years ago.

1. Media was full of problem children and problem parenting.

2. Doctors were over prescribing medications.

3. Medications could have serious side effects.

4. Adults were behaving like children.

No change there.

5. Experienced and survived some serious workplace bullying.

6.Had some wonderful supportive colleagues - Wendy Amey Gail Rhodes and local paper The Press in York

7. The initial ideas were the right ideas, but in the wrong format.

8. Didn't give up.

9. It is nearly five years since the last entry on my blog.

10. Am motivated again.

#areyouchasingrainbows #emotionalintelligence #wisewords

#nevertooold #nevergiveup

A week later I started another filtering and posted again on Facebook.

Book Tub Cull Part 2. Completed

How a book evolves...

2001-5 -Increasing awareness that clients admitting they felt like children.

2005 - Create a visual timeline illustrating an emotional hijack.

2006 - Mention timeline to Wendy Amey, who uses it successfully with clients. Together with Wendy Amey and John Amey we develop an idea for a workbook to accompany the illustration. Create draft series called ‘Act Your Age’. Not popular. Change to 'Chasing Rainbows...'. Change of plans due to logistics.

2007 - Last minute conference replacement. Call presentation, ‘Chasing Rainbows’.

2008 - 2013 Peer group opposition, family bereavement, work relocation and house move intervene.

2013 - Stick to my guns. Find supportive and motivating publisher, Ed Peppitt. Create pen name Alison R Russell. Publish book.

©AlisonRRussell2025

Karma or just life?

There is irony in the following situation.

Writing a book for consumption by the general public about emotional maturity, containing suggestions on how to manage the challenging events in life and then life deciding to test the author, at the same moment as publication.

It almost feels as if life is saying, "Ha! Not so easy is it? Na, na, na, na, na!

October was not a great month. It should have been. On September 28th, life was okay, with the promise of a busy, but fun October ahead. A first book publication, two book launches with family, friends and colleagues, four birthdays to celebrate, a big family weekend and finishing with a conference to attend.

John Lennon was  right: "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."

Sunday, September 29th started normally. Then my husband developed a stomach ache. We thought he had a bug. Twelve hours later he had been taken to hospital in an ambulance. Twenty-fours hours later he was having a major operation and the doctors and nurses were saving his life.

October 1st was spent by my husband's bedside on an Intensive Care Unit. I was in shock.

I experienced the emotional arousal of a major life event, in two ways. One as the participant and another as the observer and analyser.  So while I was initially moving and thinking in a state of shock, I was also fascinated by what it was doing to my mind and body and how I was reacting. After the initial shock comes post shock and the consequences.

It's now the beginning of November and I can report the good news that my husband is on the road to recovery, but it's a day by day lifestyle at the moment. There are few plans being made.

So what are my conclusions? Do I retract anything in the book? No, I don't. Does the recent experience confirm some of the contents in the book? It does.

We can only reflect on any given situation if we have a level of self-awareness. A sort of internal CCTV camera. Chapter 19.

In shock we are unable to think rationally, although we often think we are. Chapter 10. 

The support of friends in good times is great, in difficult times it is priceless. Chapter 6.

Though we need to have times of privacy too. Chapter 20.

Using food and alcohol as comforters is normal. Chapter 20

Knowing when to stop is crucial. Introduction. Chapter 12. Chapter 
8.

Knowing how to deal with anger and frustration is helpful. Chapter 4.

Managing thwarted expectations takes effort. Chapter 4. Chapter 13.

The specialist nurse was correct in saying that attitude plays a large part in healing and recovery from major, life-changing surgery.
Chapter 2. Chapter 13. Chapter 17.

Our personal needs changes according to the circumstances. Chapter 1.

Small steps can make big differences. Chapter 13.

The imagination can run riot and be badly misused. Perspective is helpful. Chapter 15.

The book is now at the distributors and should only take a few days to be delivered, despite what the websites are saying at the moment.

The Kindle version can be downloaded immediately.

The audiobook will be available later this month.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Are-Chasing-Rainbows-Alison-Russell/dp/1907798358/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381915085&sr=8-1&keywords=are+you+chasing+rainbows

http://www.balloonview.com/product/chasing-rainbows/

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/alison+r-+russell/are+you+chasing+rainbows3f/10050627/

©AlisonRussell2013