02/09/2026
Sometimes we need reminding to put ourselves back in the picture. 💚
Last night we welcomed GaiaSoul Ascension and the lovely Charlotte to our Barnsley Carers & Loved Ones Affected by Cancer Social & Support Group for a really different wellbeing session, and what a lovely evening it was.
So much of life when cancer affects somebody you love can become about giving your all to other's.
Appointments, worry, caring, practicalities, being there, keeping going. And, for some of us, navigating life and grief after the person we cared for has died.
Last night's session gave us an hour to turn some of that attention back towards ourselves.
We started with 'Buh Bye', thinking about the things we carry and the expectations we place on ourselves:
We wrote those things down, folded them up... and then ripped them apart. 👋
Next came 'Flip It'.
If you could give yourself permission to have a little more of something in your life right now, what would it be?
Fun? Peace? Rest? Confidence? Adventure? Connection? Creativity? Laughter?
We thought about what that might actually look like, what gets in the way, when we feel most like ourselves and the small steps we could take towards getting some of it back.
Then came 'Main Character Energy', which I absolutely loved the meaning behind: Putting ourselves back in the picture. 💚
There was no pressure whatsoever to share. People could write privately in their books, join the conversation, listen or simply reflect.
Charlotte also introduced us to a selection of crystals, including rose quartz, flower agate, amethyst, red jasper and carnelian. She was very clear that crystals aren't for everybody, and this part was completely optional. For those who wanted to take part, they could choose one that connected with what they'd been reflecting on and use it simply as something tangible to hold and focus on. 🌿
Finally, I Choose asked us to turn our reflections into something we could actually choose to do for ourselves. We finished with a gentle meditation and breathing exercise, breathing alongside that choice and giving ourselves a few quiet moments to focus on it.
That's exactly why evenings like this matter. Carers and loved ones can spend so much time concentrating on the person they love that their own needs disappear somewhere along the way. And bereavement doesn't necessarily mean that suddenly changes.
Charlotte brought her own understanding and experience of caring for loved ones into the room, which made the evening feel incredibly relatable. A huge thank you to Charlotte at GaiaSoul Ascension for giving our members that space. 💚
The feedback was lovely, the session was really enjoyed, and I think it's safe to say... we'd love to welcome her back! 💙🌿
Barnsley Essentials Barnsley Community Barnsley Community Alliance Barnsley Council North East Area Team South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Cancer Alliance - NHS
