Ashamed.

Baggy lives in the country of the "stiff upper lip". The British way is to suppress emotions. Counselling - really? What's wrong with you? Just get on with it. Snap out of it. Don't live in the past. Clever Bird gets the impression that if Baggy lived in the USA things would be different. It may just be the reality programmes that she watches, but it seems that your weird over there if you haven't had counselling - or rather, therapy, as it's called. One goes to therapy for the health of one's mind in the same way as one goes to the gym, for the health of one's body. It's nothing to be ashamed of. So why is it so "shameful" over here to admit that actually, you need some help? But it is. There's a terrible stigma still attached to mental health issues over here. Clever Bird is the first to admit that Baggy is slightly ashamed of herself for seeking help. She still feels as though she doesn't warrant it. But that is all part of the problem - she recognises that a great deal of the damage caused to her mental health is because she doesn't think she deserves anything! Yep, she's sharing to the entire world that she is getting help, but that's because she hopes it might help somebody else to face their own need, and not to be ashamed of admitting it. Why should anyone be ashamed of admitting they need help? Or of telling people that they are depressed and on medication to help? It is nothing to be ashamed of.

In fact if you think it is, then perhaps you should be ashamed of yourself. Things that people should be ashamed of: being judgmental; being unkind; being cruel; making others feel ashamed. There is so much to genuinely be ashamed of in this world - being depressed is so not one of them! And making someone feel as though it is, is frankly just nasty. But that's exactly what Baggy's Step-Mother did to Baggy for years. And you can see it in some people's eyes, if you admit it to them. "Why are you talking about it? Aren't you embarrassed? You should be ashamed of being so weak". No actually, quite the opposite. To admit to a weakness is a strength. To recognise a problem and to try to sort it out, is a strength. To admit that you need help is a strength. To not feel ashamed about it - okay that's not so easy, but Baggy's trying.

So having survived this morning's counselling session, Baggy needed fresh air. Furry Mama obliged. She decided to take Minty Mutt on Baggy's favourite walk through the water meadows. But there were cows in the way. "No problem", thought Clever Bird, "they're all lying down apart from one". Furry Mama set off, with Minty Mutt at heel. The cow watched them and munched grass. Then it decided to come over. Right over! It sniffed Mint's nose. Freda Fretter froze. What to do? Minty seemed quite content that this giant "dog" was saying "hello", Furry Mama wasn't so sure, especially when it started towards Baggy. "Okay Mint, let's get out of here". "Really Mum? But I've got a new friend". The cow snorted. Freda panicked. "Mint, let's go". As they turned round, the cow tried to sniff Mint's bottom. "Mint, MOVE!" "But Mum, she's nice". "Mint she could kill us!" said Freda Fretter in a strangled voice. Baggy's heart rate had doubled, and she couldn't decide whether to run, or saunter. In the end she had no choice as Minty was sauntering. The cow followed with her nose on Mint's back.  They made it to the other side of the kissing gate safely - just. Well done Clever Bird. The detour added twenty-minutes to the forty-five minute walk, but at least they lived. Minty didn't know what all the fuss was about; Baggy was terrified.........