Cloud Thoughts

Windows~ Haiku Throw open windows Of your mind, let fresh air in And let the clouds pass…

I have been thinking a lot about the overlap between the following conditions~ Bipolar Disoder ( previously known as Manic Depression) Borderline Personality Disorder and Autism, (ASD)particularly in females. There are a number of fascinating, thought provoking articles and blogs on this subject and I have been trying to learn all I can about the overlap between these conditions and the possible misdiagnosis that sometimes takes place. On  aspertypical.com  there was a great blog post that raised this very issue and later a follow up blog was written that really made me think. It discussed the challenges associated with supporting people and raised this essential point: ' they are asking people to discuss their thoughts and feelings who have difficulty trusting and relating to others and understanding these feelings in the first place. Relentless and unconditional perseverance, reliability, and reassurance are the key.' This strikes me as the way forward. If you are ai

Wow it has been quite a day. I was very sorry to hear of the passing of Stephen Hawking. he was a true inspiration to so many. His passing gave me the idea for a new Cloud Thought. I love this quote from him: 'Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.' Greg James of radio One definitely had to do that when he attempted a massive challenge for Sport Relief. In an attempt to raise money to support young people suffering from mental health problems Greg cycled and walked in extreme conditions. The challenge had to be called off due to unbelievably dangerous weather conditions but Greg didn't give up and now the challenge is back on!! https://www.sportrelief.com/news-and-tv/gregathlon Today I came across some great sites that help young people experience better emotional well-being  and mental health. One is Milife: https://www.milife.org.uk/ It is a project created by young people for young people. 'My Mind' offers information on resources available t

Ask for help and it will appear as love is the antidote to fear! A Haiku by Cathy

This thought cloud contains a blog intended to help people working in school to get the most out of their role. If you click on the link you will be taken to the blog. Please feel free to share it with anyone that you think may benefit from reading it. Thanks! http://100freewaystohappierdayswithyourteen.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/100-free-ways-to-happier-days-in-school.html

This blog is all about life bringing up teenagers. It is an exciting but sometimes challenging time! Click on the link below to be taken to the blog. Please feel free to share it with anyone that you think might be interested. Thanks! http://100freewaystohappierdayswithyourteen.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/100-free-ways-to-happier-days-in-school.html

This story is about a girl called Heidi who makes her mark on the world! If you enjoy this story please feel free to share it with anyone you think may be interested. Thanks! Click on the link below to be taken to the story: http://100freewaystohappierdays.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/changes-story.html

This book is my first published book. It offers 100 tips to help people live happier lives. The tips are either free to follow or very inexpensive. If you click the link below you will find details on my amazon page. If you enjoy the book please feel free to share this post so other people can find out about it. Thanks! https://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Free-Ways-Happier-Days/dp/1504340752/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1520087936&sr=8-3&keywords=cathy+shuter&dpID=51EUfMpCcEL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

This book is about a boy called Jim who hates school. He meets a teacher who helps him to feel happier. The book offers tips to help other children feel happier about coming to school. If you click the link below you will be taken to my amazon page. If you enjoy the book please feel free to share the blog post with anyone you think may be interested. Thanks! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jims-Fears-Cathy-Shuter/dp/1980298165/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1520087936&sr=8-2&keywords=cathy+shuter&dpID=41q2N0ao6lL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

This story is about a little girl called Lily who is afraid that there might be monsters under the bed. It is available via amazon. It includes tips to help children who have similar fears. The illustrations are a little blurry. I am looking into ways to add clearer illustrations to my books.If anyone has any tips I would be grateful! If you click on the link below you will be taken to amazon where you will find the book. I hope you enjoy it! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lilys-Fears-Cathy-Shuter/dp/1980213569/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520087936&sr=8-1&keywords=cathy+shuter&dpID=41jsGvWLHTL&preST=_SY291_

This book was written to raise money for a brilliant animal sanctuary called Wanderers Haven. It is a children's story inspired by my lovely dog Ollie The Wally who sadly got run over. His memory lives on! If you enjoy this book please feel free to share this post so other people can read it. Proceeds from the book go to the sanctuary. The link to my amazon page is in the blog post below. Thanks! http://mylifecoachsaidwoof.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/42-oh-ollie-my-new-book.html

This story is about a woman called Megan who meets a man called Simon. He reveals that he has created a computer game with the capacity to change the world. Click on the link to my blog post to read on. If you enjoy this story please feel free to share the post with anyone you think may be interested. Thanks! http://todaybrought.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/emboldena-short-story-by-cathy-shuter.html

This story is about a boy called Bob who discovers that he has autism. I hope you enjoy reading it. If you click on the link below you will be taken to another blog post which has a link to my amazon page. The book is available on amazon. If you enjoy reading this please feel free to share this post with anyone that you think might enjoy it. Thanks! http://todaybrought.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/my-top-secret-diary-one-with-wonky-eye.html

I wrote a book for people who live with or work with children who have ASD. (autism) It is available on amazon. If you click the link below you will be taken to my original blog post and on there is a link to my author page. I hope you enjoy reading it. If you know someone who might be interested please feel free to share this post. Thanks! http://todaybrought.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/asd-supporting-supporters.html

4. I love this song. It is by Johnnie Ray. I first heard it sung by Marc Almond. The lyrics are inspiring: I went walking down by the river Feeling very sad inside When all at once I saw in the sky The little white cloud that cried He told me he was very lonesome And no one cared if he lived or died And said sometimes the thunder and lightning Make all little clouds hide He said "Have faith in all kinds of weather" "For the sun will always shine" "Do your best and always remember" "The dark clouds pass with time" He asked if I'd tell all my world Just how hard those little clouds try That's how I know I'll always remember The little white cloud that sat right down and cried (The little white cloud that cried) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBtn079MDng

I decided to write a children's story with the message that we can all spread a little happiness to others. If you enjoy reading this story please feel free to share it with anyone who you think may like to read it! I would welcome your feedback in the comments at the bottom of the blog. If you click on the link you`will be taken to the story in one of my other blogs: http://todaybrought.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/sammys-story.html

I wrote this story after thinking back to my own teenage years and remembering how exciting yet challenging they can be. Laska is an alien who is sent down to Earth with 2 friends. Her mission is to see what she can learn about being Human in 100 days... If you enjoy the story please feel free to share it with others. I would love to hear your feedback, so if you would like to, please add a comment at the bottom of this blog. To access the story please click on the link below and you will be taken to another of my blogs: http://todaybrought.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/the-story-of-laska-teenage-alien-by.html

1. I woke up in the night and had one of those light-bulb moments. I have been learning a lot about thought lately. I am reading a brilliant book by Michael Neill who said that thoughts are:  "...no more solid than clouds and no more powerful than the power we give them..." This statement is profound if you think about it. If I choose to focus on a thought I can add to it and create something from it or I can choose to let it pass and drift away. If I add to the thought I can create great things from it or I can create fear and negativity. It all depends on what the thought contains. If I choose to let the thought pass I can move onto a new thought. That thought may contain the ingredients of something great or something not so great. What I choose to focus on is up to me. I have the power and not my thoughts. With this thought in my mind for the past three days I chose to hang onto this cloud-thought concept in order to see where it took me. It has given me ideas