By Published on

Tuesday 3rd June 2025

A bright yellow 'Self-Care Bingo' card featuring a 5x5 grid of wellness activities. The squares include simple acts like 'took a shower', 'got dressed today', 'ate food', and 'brushed my teeth', alongside emotional care items like 'sat with my feelings', 'let myself cry', and 'asked for help'. The center square says 'STAYED ALIVE' in larger text. Other squares mention 'moved my body joyfully', 'went outside', 'did a hobby', and 'got 7-9 hours of sleep'. It's designed to celebrate small wins and basic self-care achievements.
Because sometimes 'stayed alive' deserves a gold star. - Credit @alyserurianidesign

Small Wins! Life is Like a Game of Spoonie Self-Care Bingo

After much coaxing from himself - I left the house for the first time since Bearded Theory. Bloody hell, that feels like a lifetime ago!

General mood: Teary, grumpy 'kincowbag.

Just getting ready was like completing a full bingo card -
Get washed ✓ Brush teeth ✓ Get dressed ✓ 
Write mental shopping list (massive fail that one) ✓ Coat and boots on ✓

BINGO - full line!

Sounds dead simple, right? WRONG. It's all so flippin' exhausting and painful and, well... crappy. Simple tasks that used to be a doddle are like running a marathon on days like these. Even being this grumpy is mentally knackering.

I didn't want to go out. I STILL don't want to go out. (imaginary foot stamping in mild defiance à la Bonnie Langford as a child) But I did it.

We went to the supermarket - YAY, WHOOP WHOOP! Paul, bless him💜 (he knows all the best places to take a girl when she's feeling pants). He pushed me around in my chair with one of those terrible, ridiculous clip-on wheelchair trolleys. I hate those bloody things. Pretty sure he hates them more than I do!

Quick shop, I didn't have to people ....much - blessing #1 🙏

Today, 8am: Visible tracker says... drumroll ... 2

Which means I've only just woken up and I'm already overcooked. Brilliant. Rest is definitely the best plan today.

I only have a GP appointment this afternoon, but that means I've got all day to work myself up about it. Currently cwtched up warm, listening to the stormy weather outside, trying to drown out my tinnitus. Only one awake in a silent house - bliss (#2) 🙏

I'm actually getting to quite like my own company. No expectations, no pressure to be "on". I've still got loads of fun things I want to share about the festival... but my energy levels are seriously in the toilet. It'll come, though, I promise.

Today's mantra: Peacefulness is a blessing 🙏 (#3)

Three Good Things:

  1. My mind this morning is quiet (foggy and empty - but it's near enough!) What day is it?
  2. I'm going to take things slow today, I promise (imaginary fingers crossed behind back - far too painful in real life)
  3. Painkillers and rest is best. That's all.
Me lying on the sofa with my bright red hair, wrapped in a cosy green jumper and mustard yellow blanket, cuddling with Mykavark, our fluffy Maine Coon cat. The sofa is covered with colourful cushions and throws in cheerful patterns. It's the perfect picture of a restful moment - the kind of therapeutic cat cuddle that makes everything feel a bit better.
Cwtches with the best furry therapist.

Evening Reflection:

Today's been alright, actually. Spent most of it cwtched up on the sofa. Yes, with whatever cat honoured me with their presence rather than sunbathing outside. Had some small wins - answered a few emails, ate lunch and kept it down, and tried to be creative on Canva.

I made it to see DW (our family GP), and, as predicted by the box of tissues already waiting for me, I sobbed all the way through our consultation. More tests are incomining. He always tries to make me laugh about the fact that seeing him makes me cry every bloody time, then gratefully wheels me back snotty-nosed, red eyed and crying to Paul and makes his escape. Only joking; DW is a fantastic GP.

I had to wait ages at the surgery, and you know when Facebook brings up your memories? Mine was a film of me driving my old wheels - my favourite car, Ferris my Figaro.

I waited 10 years to be blessed with my automotive beauty. Right now though, he's sitting in the garage, wasting away. He is, in many ways, a reflection of me. Broken, rusty, with a knackered soft top, flat battery, probably beyond repair. Maybe not even worth spares.

Shit... just realised I saw DW in the same clothes I wore yesterday and fell asleep in last night. Proper skanky 'kincowbag, me!

I grieve my old life. We both want to get back on the road. I miss driving Ferris.

BINGO: Full house = not really winning at life

What small wins are you celebrating today, lovely people? Drop them in the comments - I love hearing about your victories, however tiny they might seem 💜

#WheelyHappyDays #ChronicIllness #FND #SpoonieBingo #SmallWins #RestIsProductivity