Em Colley
  • Home
  • Homeopathy
    • Homeopathy - what can it treat?
    • The Homeopathic Consultation - what should I expect?
    • Testimonials
    • How to take a remedy
    • Homeopathy Awareness Week
    • Homeopathy and Wikipedia
  • Laughter Yoga
    • Laughter Yoga feedback
    • Laughter Yoga Sessions
    • Laughter Yoga Exercises
  • Supervision
  • Food
    • Food Intolerance Testing
    • Testimonials
    • Recipes >
      • Breakfast Ideas >
        • Banana Boats
        • Breakfast ice cream on fresh fruit
        • Granola
        • Smoothie bowl
        • Sunrise Smoothie Bowl
      • Dips, Dressings & Appetisers >
        • Carrot, Orange and Ginger Soup
        • Cheese-less cheese dip
        • Guacamole
        • Hummus (oil free)
        • Mango and Cucumber Dressing
        • Ranch Dressing
        • Seedy 'Slaw
        • Summer salad dressing
        • Wild Garlic Pesto
      • Mains >
        • Cashew Cheese-y Kale Salad
        • Creamy Avocado Noodles
        • Green Mango Soup
        • Lasagne. Scrummy, yummy, vegan lasagne.
        • Mango Spinach Salad
        • Middle Eastern Inspired Dinner
        • Moroccan Inspired Salad Dressing
        • Raw Coconut Curry with Cauliflower 'Rice'
        • Raw Curry
        • Simple, Tasty and Nutritious Romaine Wraps
        • Spiralised courgette, chopped tomatoes, celery, spring onion with an red pepper, garlic, lemon and cashew cream sauce
        • Squashy Mac n Cheese
        • Sundried Tomato Tart
        • Sweet Mango Noodles
        • Sweet and Sour Noodles
        • Sweet potato, chilli mixed veg with cauliflower and kale 'rice'
        • Vegan Carbonara with Vegetables
      • Desserts >
        • Almond butter and date toffee stacks
        • Anyone for (low fat, high carb, raw vegan) Blueberry Pie?
        • Apple and strawberry crumble with salted caramel nice cream
        • Banoffee Ice Cream Pie
        • Banoffee Pecan Pie
        • Birthday cake pie!
        • Carrot Cake Balls
        • Chocolate almond sundae
        • Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pudding
        • Chocolate Extravaganza Ice Cream
        • Chocolate Ginger Brownies
        • Chocolate Orange Cupcakes with Raw Chocolate Icing
        • Chocolate orange fudge
        • Christmas Energy Balls
        • Christmas pudding 'cheesecake'
        • Cinnamon, vanilla pud
        • Coconut Happy Bars
        • Ice Cream Cake
        • Lime Cheesecake
        • Mango and apple tart
        • Mango and Raspberry Tart
        • PBJ Ice Cream
        • Peanut Butter Banoffee Pots
        • Peanut Butter Bar
        • Pecan Date Bites
        • Plant power pancakes
        • Pumpkin Pie (raw vegan)
        • Raw Bilberry Pie
        • Raw Chocolate
        • Raw Chocolate Brownies
        • Raw Coconut and Sultana Brownies
        • Raw Energy Balls
        • Raw Ice Cream
        • Raw Raspberry Cheesecake
        • Raw Rolos
        • Raw Snickers Joy
        • Rocky Road Raw Vegan Style
        • Salted Caramel Almond Nice Cream
        • Summer Fruit Nice Cream with Mango Sorbet and Fruit Coulis
        • Super Cookies
        • Vegan chocolate chip cookies
      • Smoothies and Juices >
        • Banana Free Smoothies
        • Caramel chocolate smoothie
        • Juices
        • Smoothies (featuring the brilliant banana)
  • Me
    • As a Speaker
    • Leonie Dawson courses
    • Mindfulness >
      • My Children's Meditations
    • Links
  • Availability/Fees
  • Get in touch
  • Events
    • Introduction to Homeopathy
    • ARH Conference
    • Homeopathy Marathon
    • Shamanic Ceremony
    • Ceilidh at Christmas
    • Inspired by Homeopathy
    • Retreat
  • Blog
07734 861297

Thoughts on the world, homeopathy, mindfulness and food...

A collection of blog posts - feel free to respond with your thoughts and comments - I love to have feedback - thank you!

The Lost Art of Pottering

5/6/2021

3 Comments

 
I've been musing over this today. And thinking over the opposite, the contrast to pottering; our rushing, busy, often chaotic, achievement driven society. 

From the Cambridge Dictionary:
potter: verb [ I usually + adv/prep ]
(US usually putter)
 
to move around without hurrying, and in a relaxed and pleasant way: 
I spent the afternoon pottering around the garden doing a few odd jobs.
He doesn't drive very fast - he tends to potter along.

The 'relaxed and pleasant way' is interesting. After an afternoon or even (it doesn't happen often but my goodness!!) a day of pottering, I feel like a weight has lifted, I feel more expansive. I feel like I've been massaged, treated and gifted with space and time. It's fair to say I'm not the most high maintenance kind of girl! Or at least that's my opinion anyway. And yet I frequently forget just how important it is to me. I easily pack the diary full, study, learn, do courses, walk, do fun stuff, yet I need to remember the joy of pottering.

My favourite way to do it is with an empty house. And perhaps a few jobs on the list, but the flexibility to choose when I do them, what I do. Don't get me wrong, I'm not sat feet up watching Netflix all day. There may be a TV break, but for me it's about the joy of gradually, gently getting things done. Instead of rushing, with a time limit. It may help here that currently the school runs are off the menu for me, so instead of between 90 minutes to 3 hours driving a day, there's a little more space.

But speaking of the school run, of the trip into the office, I do wonder if we've lost some pottering, day dreaming time along the way with our home-working lifestyles. I used to love the drive together, chatting about the day ahead, or even before that, walking to school stopping off to pick daisies, or have an impromptu cuppa on the way home. Going further back to a commute for work, the driving time provides something of a butter between one world and the other. And now we are out of the frying pan and into the fire. No, that's Meatloaf. Out of the study and into the living room. And onto the next thing.

I wonder if pottering could be introduced to schools? Made a National Curriculum worthy study. Instead of punishing day dreaming, invite it. Have a day dreaming lesson once a week? Oh I like the sound of this! It feels like it's so good for my brain, I'm sure there's enough neuroscientific research to back me up. I can't believe that we are made for constantly being ON.

So with something of a rebellious feeling, against the fast pace, against the do, do, do, world that I've found myself in, I'm planning to study pottering more, definitely from an experiential angle, maybe even learn more about research into the art. Perhaps the occasional immersion technique day is the way forwards. I hear people talking of building a life you don't need a holiday from and feel I'm moving way closer towards that than I used to be. 

It's not to say I don't want to achieve, I've plenty I want to do, write, explore, learn, and I love doing all that. But stopping, pottering and just being is vital to me too.

I'd love to know what you think.

Potter on, my friends,

​Em x
Picture
3 Comments
Tamsin Shendi link
5/6/2021 10:22:25 am

The art of pottering, could be a course in it! But probably much better to find your own way of doing it, to be okay at just being in and around your house and garden, getting jobs done without any pressure. Love pottering myself!

Reply
Em
5/8/2021 06:40:51 am

I think you're right about finding your own way... I guess otherwise it defeats the point ha. Though maybe more encouragement and support of the art is needed 'out there' :) xx

Reply
Laura Byrne
5/8/2021 12:52:55 pm

I love this Em! & I do love a good Potter, like you, preferably with an empty house but that is extremely rare for me. One day, maybe when my kids have flown, but no doubt I'll be pining for the noise & chaos 😉

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I'm a Homeopath working in the Skipton (North Yorkshire) area. I am also able to offer food intolerance testing using Kinesiology and advice around diet and lifestyle.
    My blog is a reflection of thoughts, collection of recipes, suggestions of self help remedies and more.

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Categories

    All
    2014 Calendar
    Absolute Specialists
    Animals
    Apple
    Avocado
    Ayuvedic Medicine
    Banana
    Banana Free
    Bowen
    Breakfast
    Byron Katie
    Cancer
    Carrot
    Challenge
    Change
    Charity
    Chocolate
    Coconut Oil
    Dairy Free
    Dates
    Date Toffee
    Diabetes
    Diet
    Dynamis
    Epidemic
    Exercise
    Fish
    Focussed Mindfulness
    Food Production
    Food Production
    Forks Over Knives
    Gerson
    Green Smoothie
    Hayfever
    Headache
    Health
    Healthy
    Holiday
    Homeopathy
    Homeopathy For Health In Africa
    Homeopathy For Health In Africa
    Homeopathyhour
    Homeopathy Research
    Homeopathy Worked For Me
    Horse
    Ice Cream
    Ilkley
    International Diabetes Federation
    Juice
    Juicing
    Kale
    Kuvings Juicer
    Love
    Make A Difference
    Mango
    Migraine
    Milk
    Mindfulness
    Mouth
    Naked
    Neal Bernard
    Ngo
    Nutrition
    Oil Pulling
    Oral Hygiene
    Orange
    Peach
    Philips Juicer
    Pineapple
    Protein
    Pudding
    Raw Chocolate
    Raw Food
    Raw Food
    Raw Ice Cream
    Remedies
    Remedy
    Research
    Running
    Russell Brand
    Santa Fun Run
    Selfies
    Skipton
    Smoothie
    Spinach
    Strawberry
    Studio Pilates
    Studio Pilates
    Sundae
    Sustainability
    Talks
    Teeth
    The China Study
    The Snooks
    Treat
    Tumeric
    Vegan
    Vegan Smythe
    Vegetarian
    Water Fasting
    Water Fasting
    Watermelon
    Weight Gain
    Weight Loss
    Weight Loss
    World Aids Day
    World Diabetes Day
    Youtube

    RSS Feed

07734 861297   
em@emmacolley.co.uk


Em Colley MARH, Practitioner of Classical Homeopathy
BSc(Hons) Psychology and Neuroscience
Laughter Yoga Leader
Focussed Mindfulness Practitioner
Dip (SNHS) Kinesiology
Dip (SNHS) Holistic Nutrition
Certificate in Whole Food, Plant Based Nutrition
Picture
Picture
www.findahomeopath.org.uk
Member of the
Alliance of
Registered Homeopaths
  • Home
  • Homeopathy
    • Homeopathy - what can it treat?
    • The Homeopathic Consultation - what should I expect?
    • Testimonials
    • How to take a remedy
    • Homeopathy Awareness Week
    • Homeopathy and Wikipedia
  • Laughter Yoga
    • Laughter Yoga feedback
    • Laughter Yoga Sessions
    • Laughter Yoga Exercises
  • Supervision
  • Food
    • Food Intolerance Testing
    • Testimonials
    • Recipes >
      • Breakfast Ideas >
        • Banana Boats
        • Breakfast ice cream on fresh fruit
        • Granola
        • Smoothie bowl
        • Sunrise Smoothie Bowl
      • Dips, Dressings & Appetisers >
        • Carrot, Orange and Ginger Soup
        • Cheese-less cheese dip
        • Guacamole
        • Hummus (oil free)
        • Mango and Cucumber Dressing
        • Ranch Dressing
        • Seedy 'Slaw
        • Summer salad dressing
        • Wild Garlic Pesto
      • Mains >
        • Cashew Cheese-y Kale Salad
        • Creamy Avocado Noodles
        • Green Mango Soup
        • Lasagne. Scrummy, yummy, vegan lasagne.
        • Mango Spinach Salad
        • Middle Eastern Inspired Dinner
        • Moroccan Inspired Salad Dressing
        • Raw Coconut Curry with Cauliflower 'Rice'
        • Raw Curry
        • Simple, Tasty and Nutritious Romaine Wraps
        • Spiralised courgette, chopped tomatoes, celery, spring onion with an red pepper, garlic, lemon and cashew cream sauce
        • Squashy Mac n Cheese
        • Sundried Tomato Tart
        • Sweet Mango Noodles
        • Sweet and Sour Noodles
        • Sweet potato, chilli mixed veg with cauliflower and kale 'rice'
        • Vegan Carbonara with Vegetables
      • Desserts >
        • Almond butter and date toffee stacks
        • Anyone for (low fat, high carb, raw vegan) Blueberry Pie?
        • Apple and strawberry crumble with salted caramel nice cream
        • Banoffee Ice Cream Pie
        • Banoffee Pecan Pie
        • Birthday cake pie!
        • Carrot Cake Balls
        • Chocolate almond sundae
        • Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pudding
        • Chocolate Extravaganza Ice Cream
        • Chocolate Ginger Brownies
        • Chocolate Orange Cupcakes with Raw Chocolate Icing
        • Chocolate orange fudge
        • Christmas Energy Balls
        • Christmas pudding 'cheesecake'
        • Cinnamon, vanilla pud
        • Coconut Happy Bars
        • Ice Cream Cake
        • Lime Cheesecake
        • Mango and apple tart
        • Mango and Raspberry Tart
        • PBJ Ice Cream
        • Peanut Butter Banoffee Pots
        • Peanut Butter Bar
        • Pecan Date Bites
        • Plant power pancakes
        • Pumpkin Pie (raw vegan)
        • Raw Bilberry Pie
        • Raw Chocolate
        • Raw Chocolate Brownies
        • Raw Coconut and Sultana Brownies
        • Raw Energy Balls
        • Raw Ice Cream
        • Raw Raspberry Cheesecake
        • Raw Rolos
        • Raw Snickers Joy
        • Rocky Road Raw Vegan Style
        • Salted Caramel Almond Nice Cream
        • Summer Fruit Nice Cream with Mango Sorbet and Fruit Coulis
        • Super Cookies
        • Vegan chocolate chip cookies
      • Smoothies and Juices >
        • Banana Free Smoothies
        • Caramel chocolate smoothie
        • Juices
        • Smoothies (featuring the brilliant banana)
  • Me
    • As a Speaker
    • Leonie Dawson courses
    • Mindfulness >
      • My Children's Meditations
    • Links
  • Availability/Fees
  • Get in touch
  • Events
    • Introduction to Homeopathy
    • ARH Conference
    • Homeopathy Marathon
    • Shamanic Ceremony
    • Ceilidh at Christmas
    • Inspired by Homeopathy
    • Retreat
  • Blog