I work in Mental Health & have done since 1994. I work with Addicts who have mental health issues and people with mental health issues who have addiction issues! It’s all wrapped up together, it’s a tough job, sometimes a sad job, we listen to so many difficult stories, supporting people with difficult lives and encouraging them to ‘self- care’ & ‘mind themselves’. Mostly it’s a privilege to be part of the solution to helping people find their way back to themselves, back to a happier version of themselves & their lives.

After the death of my Father suddenly last year and the emotional fall out in my family, my home my heart……I realised I wasn’t attending to my own ‘mental health’ or heeding what I might need to ‘feel’ better, be better. A better wife, mother, sister, friend, colleague, Nurse.

I decided to do something for myself. To take the advice I dish out daily to others…….I saw the Dragons advertised and thought wow that’s something different something new. I made a decision to go to the group and see what happens….

I love Dragon Boating, the women are fab all kinds of glorious women from differing backgrounds. Most of them are older, retired, good on them! Some can’t swim, some are quiet and some talk a lot, a bit like myself. They show up every week for the pool paddle and then the river paddle. We chat a bit, we laugh, there’s no competition between us we are all there for our own reasons.

Being on the river gives you a sense of peace in these bewildering times. There’s no pressure just to keep in step with the beat of the drum, to be truly present and mindful hearing nothing but the gentle ‘slosh’ as the paddle hits the water in timely unison. It really is a quietly beautiful sound, it brings me great peace, peace for my own mental health, my heart, my family and the family of Dragons around me.

Thank You to all my fellow Dragons & Dragon Leaders

Susan McCready