Rachel M does not consider herself to be an artist as such, but her creative activities are very important to her. She lives in “survival mode” most of the time due to severe ME/CFS, and finds that to notice and capture happenings or feelings with words or photographs, serves as a coping tool and allows her to focus on and remember these precious moments.

Sometimes she is so ill that her brain won’t work properly and it took her 5 minutes to remember how to turn on the camera, in order to take a picture of the beautiful rainbow coloured Lorikeets that visit her garden.

Rachel  M loves to write haiku and finds that this art form suits her short attention span and energy levels, she finds that she thinks in terms of “Haiku moments” to describe a special sight or experience, even if the poem never gets written. This helps her to focus on the small positive or beautiful things that may happen in a day, rather than her limitations and ill health.

“Technically, I can have a Haiku moment even when I lay in my bed as long as i can use my imagination.” 

She has to take opportunities to be creative when they arise, for example, when her sleep cycles are reversed and she is awake in the night, she has photographed the dawn and dusk, and also wrote about them, creating an effective pairing of word and image.

Dawn

 

I love witnessing the beginning of new day.

Although it is complete serenity,

the whole universe is filled with energy that is about to burst.

The noise from highway carried by the breeze.

Thick orchestra of crickets.

Different birds are singing their first song of the day.

Between dark sky and black shadow of mountain,

there is a dash of orange light.

 

 

 

 

I just have to take a deep breath to feel the fresh air.

 

Dusk

 Royal, Denim, then Midnight Blue

Dusk of magic that gives me peace

Household noise, smell of summer

Her blog is where she tries to visually capture happiness and peace in her life with severe ME/CFS. She is always searching for the perfect Shade of Blue, and drinks from her blue coffee mug while she ponders this quest…