It’s All About Balance: Gary’s Take on Festival Life in Edinburgh
Living in the heart of the world’s biggest arts festival comes with both excitement and challenges. For Gary, the Edinburgh Festivals are a reminder of how lucky we are to have creativity and culture on our doorstep but also how important it is to make choices that support your own wellbeing. Whether it’s diving into the buzz or stepping back from the crowds, Gary shares his approach to navigating festival season in a way that works for him.
Festival time reminds me that I am lucky to have the world’s biggest arts fair in my home town. It’s a great opportunity to experience shows and culture that you may not ever had the chance to, both in the shows themselves and from all the people attending them that pack out the city during the period and give the place a vibrant and exciting feeling.
It doesn’t really impact my mental health. I know a lot of residents don’t like this time of year and all the things like traffic, busy streets, inflated prices, flipping fireworks every night at the tattoo lol but it is what it is. You get used to it being on every year after a while, it’s just part of Edinburgh life.
The only thing you can really do is look at the programmes early and decide if there is anything on that you want to see or take part in. If not, then there is always next year. You can choose to dip your toes in it as much or as little as you want. If you don’t do anything, then that’s ok, there is lots of people having fun and that doesn’t stop you from doing something you would prefer to be doing. If nothing else be happy that you have this choice, the biggest arts festival on your doorstep. Embrace the fact that you do.
It’s simple, its here ever year, you have the choice to get involved or not. If you do then you are choosing to have fun at the shows etc, if not then you are choosing to have fun in other ways and how to spend your time. It’s all about you and what you want to do. The festival isn’t what is important. It will go on regardless of you and how you feel. You are what is important. That should be your focus.
Photography is one of the ways Gary supports his mental wellbeing. Here’s a look at the world through his eyes.
Do you live and/or work in Edinburgh and want to share your own experiences of mental health and wellbeing and the different ways keep you well? If you would like us to share your story, please email ithrive@health-in-mind.org.uk.