I am utterly convinced that we are all stronger than we think. We just need to trust that our body knows best…

Hello hello 👋!

It's been a while since many of you have seen me without a mask on and some of you may never have actually seen my whole face before, especially my newer patients, so here i am, this is me 😃! 

I wasn’t sure about posting a full on smiley photo of me at the moment as i usually hide my brace face behind a camera angle or a mask as I’m pretty self conscious about it. 

But i really wanted to send a Christmas message and couldn’t really do it without a bit of a cheesy grin, so here it is!

More to the point, happy Christmas to my wonderful social media community, lovely patients and gorgeous friends.

To all those i have treated or helped in some way this year, a huge thank you to you. Thank you for giving me the trust and huge privilege to accompany you on your healthcare journey.

I learn more about myself, my profession and the capacity of the human body through you, than any course or lecturer could ever give me, and for that I am hugely grateful.

This year has been another wobbly old year in more ways than one, but here we are, still standing, resilient as ever.

I am utterly convinced that we are all stronger than we think. We just need to trust that our body knows best. It is there for us if we can just feel it, see it, believe it. 

Instinct, intuition and innate trust in our minds and bodies is being eroded and undermined by the constant pressures of what we should or shouldn’t be doing or thinking.

One size does not fit all. What feels right for another may not be right for you.

It is fundamental to our well being that we respect and honour our own thoughts and feelings as much as it is that we respect those of others.

In these unique past few years, the collective strength of opinion and rising stress and emotion has been quite extraordinary, creating such peculiar simultaneous division and unity.

Whether you have been separated through restrictions, geography, politics, bereavement, illness or opinion, or brought together by theses circumstances, there is no doubt the physical and emotional effect is taking its toll.

Through my own experiences and that of others this year, I have a greater sense of awareness of what it is like to be in the minority, to feel vulnerable, to feel anxious and afraid.

It is a deeply unsettling feeling, but one I try to sit with, embrace and am ultimately grateful for this insight.

I come back to the word ‘trust’. I too have to work hard to trust and believe in myself at times.

But I am ultimately an optimist, and I believe the human condition is also that of optimism.

Go deeper to your innate skill of survival, trust all will be well, fill that cup half full, do your best to remain positive, we are survivors, you are stronger than you think.

So, my buddies, check in with yourselves, what do you need to feel restored and nourished at this time? And what do those closest to you also need?

Trust what your body is telling you.

Take care of yourselves and those that you love most.

I’m wishing you a very gentle and peaceful Christmas this year.

Lots of love, Brace Face (AKA Emma!)