Raising The Vibrations

On telling happy stories, of creativity and kindness with a tin of chocolate HobNobs on the side.

I posted a note in the new year, along with two photos of some homemade chocolate HobNobs I had just made, and a knitted owl just off the needles that I had finished knitting for my one-year-old grandson. Then I deleted it. The news was just in of the first ICE shooting in Minneapolis, and one of my followers in the US shared privately how afraid everyone was. My post about chocolate biscuits and hand-knitted owls seemed trite, trivial and privileged. Here I was, in my comfy home in rural Northumberland, baking homemade biscuits, and sitting in front of the fire doing my knitting and sharing photos while the world was going to hell in a handcart.

I deleted the photos, apologised for them and then got a message to say, ‘Oh no! Your post was one of the GOOD things happening this weekend! And holy crap do we need some good things over here.’ I put my pictures back up. Here they are:

Homemade HobNobs and a Handknitted Owl

Sure, the news is grim, and goodness knows, as a victim of childhood sexual abuse, I was massively triggered by that photo of the ex-prince Andrew kneeling over the body of a young woman shown on the news this week. BUT I don’t want to dwell in the mire of bad news. I want to hear about the good that is happening in the world. I need to have my vibrations raised, not lowered.

One of my very favourite Substacks comes to us from the Isle of Skye in the Western Isles in Scotland, where Lesley bakes baguettes and all manner of delicious homemade goodies, leaving them in the honesty box on the roadside for their community to feast on. Lesley’s Substack is an absolute delight, as are her bakes. In fact, I suggest we go and have a Substack picnic gathering on Skye when the weather is warmer, but before the midgies arrive. I only half jest!

Lesley’s Honesty Box full of homemade and homegrown goodness

My point is though, that Lesley’s posts raise my vibrations, and maybe my chocolate hobnobs did the same for my subscriber who took the time to get back and say that after seeing my choccie biccies, she and her husband were inspired to make hot fudge sundaes.

I wish I’d restacked or made a note of whoever had posted all the stories of love and care and community that were coming out of Minneapolis, of the shops and spaces opening up to support those afraid and in need. Perhaps someone can share this with me? It was absolutely wonderful. If it’s you and you're reading this, do pop a link to your post in the comments below, and I’ll edit this piece to include it.

I’m going to share a story with you right now, of how I was shown some love:

After five days of being unable to leave the house due to a bad attack of Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (one of the downsides of ADHD), I went for a walk along the lane and into our little shop and tea room here in Bardon Mill. It’s a safe space for me, small and unthreatening. When the shop emptied of other customers, and after being asked how I was, I shared with Louise and Sarah, who run the place, about how I had been struggling. Louise stopped clearing tables and chatted for a while, and then hugged me and said the delicious lentil and bacon soup and ham and cheese toastie I had just enjoyed were on them. So kind. That small act of kindness brought tears to my eyes, and saw me leaving the shop with a fuzzy feeling, warm and loved.

How did my sharing that make you feel? Did my telling of their generosity raise your vibrations just a touch?

I want to say here and now that while I do care about the world and what is going on, I also want to hear of all the good things that are happening. The news, if we lean into it, can be overwhelming. It is huge. BUT there is so much good going on in our communities, in our homes. I know where to go if I want the news, but I want my feed to be filled with positivity: small acts of kindness and homemade bakes, of gardens full of the blooming of Spring or if you’re in the Southern hemisphere, of your late summer sunshine, of paintings and drawings, of handknitted socks and owls, and all manner of arts and crafts. We need to see and hear the good.

Don’t be like I was, afraid of sharing what is good, what is whole and simple and pure. Share with generosity of spirit.

Share something good that has happened to you. Share something beautiful.

Let’s collectively raise the vibrations!

Louise and Sarah, who run Bardon Mill Village Shop

Thanks for reading!

Do share your stories of kindness and positivity in the comments below, and tag me in your photos on your feeds. I’d love to see them.