Martin Baker
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martinbaker.bsky.social
Martin Baker
@martinbaker.bsky.social
68 followers 46 following 270 posts
Fran & Marty live 3k miles apart. Our book HIGH TIDE LOW TIDE inspires others supporting a friend with mental illness. Posts are Marty's. He/him/his.
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Martin Baker @martinbaker.bsky.social · Nov 11
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Martin Baker | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
Mental health author and blogger
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martinbaker.bsky.social
On our blog tomorrow I have a new post for #InternationalMensDay - From Joe 90 to Marty: Celebrating the Boy I Was and the Man I Would Become. In the meantime, here's last year's #IMD post, Six Qualities and Twelve Men I Admire.

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2024/11/six-...
Six Qualities and Twelve Men I Admire: Positive Thoughts for International Men’s Day
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:54 AM
martinbaker.bsky.social
#MondayBlogs [new] An Instrument for Living: How Am I Using My Words?

--
It’s no hyperbole to claim that our words can change lives, even save lives.
--

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/11/an-i...
An Instrument for Living: How Am I Using My Words?
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:08 PM
martinbaker.bsky.social
[new] An Instrument for Living: How Am I Using My Words?

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/11/an-i...
An Instrument for Living: How Am I Using My Words?
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:22 AM
martinbaker.bsky.social
Tomorrow on our blog I'm sharing my response to reading Colin Wilson's "The Outsider." In the meantime, here's another look at Occasional Spikes of Mayday: The Power of Analogy When Talking About Mental Health.

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/07/occa...

#mentalhealth #analogy #TimeToTalk
Occasional Spikes of Mayday: The Power of Analogy When Talking About Mental Health
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:16 PM
martinbaker.bsky.social
Content warning: discussion of tragedy including loss of life

#MondayBlogs In a Solitude of the Sea: Exploring My Fascination With Disaster Documentaries

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/11/in-s...
In a Solitude of the Sea: Exploring My Fascination With Disaster Documentaries
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:19 AM
martinbaker.bsky.social
Tomorrow (Wednesday) on our blog I'll be talking about my fascination with disaster documentaries. In the meantime, here's another look at Only Partly Clueless: The Secret to Being a Supportive Friend.

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2024/08/only...

#MentalHealth #friendship #support #FriendshipGoals
Only Partly Clueless: The Secret to Being a Supportive Friend
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:22 PM
martinbaker.bsky.social
#MondayBlogs Forward or Back? Thoughts on a Steam Train Ride from Heatherslaw to Etal

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/10/forw...
Forward or Back? Thoughts on a Steam Train Ride from Heatherslaw to Etal
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:25 AM
martinbaker.bsky.social
Tomorrow (Wednesday) on our blog we have a new post inspired by a steam train ride on the Heatherslaw Light Railway. In the meantime, here's another look at managing hope and expectation when you live with chronic illness.

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/05/ever...
Everything Is (Not Always) Possible: Managing Hope and Expectation With Chronic Illness
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:53 AM
martinbaker.bsky.social
#MondayBlogs Miserable Places: My Welsh Nightmare

Do you have "miserable places" you never want to revisit and can scarcely think about? Here's one of mine.

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/10/mise...

#holidayFromHell #Wales #carRental
Miserable Places: My Welsh Nightmare
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:06 PM
martinbaker.bsky.social
[new] Miserable Places: My Welsh Nightmare

Do you have "miserable places" you never want to revisit and can scarcely think about? Here's one of mine.

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/10/mise...

#holidayFromHell #Wales #carRental
Miserable Places: My Welsh Nightmare
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
October 22, 2025 at 7:27 AM
martinbaker.bsky.social
#MondayBlogs "Yes! Exactly!" When You and Your Friend Are on the Same Page

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/10/yes-...

#friendship #support #FriendshipGoals #mentalhealth
"Yes! Exactly!" When You and Your Friend Are on the Same Page
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:13 AM
martinbaker.bsky.social
[new] "Yes! Exactly!" When You and Your Friend Are on the Same Page

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/10/yes-...

#friendship #support #FriendshipGoals #mentalhealth
"Yes! Exactly!" When You and Your Friend Are on the Same Page
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:42 AM
martinbaker.bsky.social
Tomorrow (Wednesday) on our blog we have a new post about how great it feels when you and your friend are on the same page. In the meantime, here's Looking Out: An Open Letter to My Best Friend.

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/03/look...

#letterwriting #adventure #mentalhealth
Looking Out: An Open Letter to My Best Friend
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:45 PM
martinbaker.bsky.social
#MondayBlogs So What If You Don't Have a Workplace? WMHD Is for You Too

#WorldMentalHealthDay is focused on mental health in the workplace but what does workplace mental health mean in a world where not everyone has or wants a traditional workplace?
www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/10/so-w...
So What If You Don't Have a Workplace? WMHD Is for You Too
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
October 13, 2025 at 9:17 AM
martinbaker.bsky.social
Do More of What You're Good at and Keep Good People Close: What I've Learned about Prioritising Mental Health in the Workplace

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2024/10/do-m...

#WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealthAtWork #WMHD #WMHD2025
Do More of What You're Good at and Keep Good People Close: What I've Learned about Prioritising Mental Health in the Workplace
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:02 PM
martinbaker.bsky.social
So What If You Don't Have a Workplace? #WMHD Is for You Too

#WorldMentalHealthDay is focused on mental health in the workplace but what does workplace mental health mean in a world where not everyone has or wants a traditional workplace?

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/10/so-w...
So What If You Don't Have a Workplace? WMHD Is for You Too
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
October 10, 2025 at 9:47 AM
martinbaker.bsky.social
[new] So What If You Don't Have a Workplace? #WMHD Is for You Too

Your day may not begin and end with a commute to the office. Your week or month may not begin or end with a paycheck. Nevertheless, your mental health and your needs are important.

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/10/so-w...
So What If You Don't Have a Workplace? WMHD Is for You Too
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:56 AM
martinbaker.bsky.social
On our blog tomorrow (Wed) we have a new post ahead of #WorldMentalHealthDay. In the meantime, here's another look at "I Wish Our Friendship Could Keep You Safe But I Know it Can't. And That's Okay."

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2024/01/i-wi...
I Wish Our Friendship Could Keep You Safe But I Know it Can't. And That's Okay.
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:36 PM
martinbaker.bsky.social
#MondayBlogs Seven Hours on Sun-beds (I'm Not a Beach Person)

Sometimes, being a supportive friend means sitting with them through their darkest moments. And sometimes, it means sitting with them on a beach helping them relax.

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/10/seve...

#Poros #Greece #SelfCare
Seven Hours on Sun-beds (I'm Not a Beach Person)
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
October 6, 2025 at 2:48 PM
martinbaker.bsky.social
[newish] Seven Hours on Sun-beds (I'm Not a Beach Person)

Sometimes, being a supportive friend means sitting with them through their darkest moments. And sometimes, it means sitting with them on a beach helping them relax.

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/10/seve...

#Poros #Greece #SelfCare
Seven Hours on Sun-beds (I'm Not a Beach Person)
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
October 4, 2025 at 7:58 PM
martinbaker.bsky.social
[new] Our Top Blog Posts of the Month (September 2025)

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/10/our-...
Our Top Posts of the Month (September 2025)
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
October 4, 2025 at 7:56 PM
martinbaker.bsky.social
On our blog tomorrow (Wednesday) we'll look at why it's not always easy to relax, even when you're sitting on a beautiful beach. In the meantime, here's a related post: "Togetherness Apart: Walking on the Beach With Friends."

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2024/11/toge...
Togetherness Apart: Walking on the Beach With Friends
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:00 PM
martinbaker.bsky.social
#MondayBlogs Every Grey Hair Is a Badge: Fifteen Life Prompts by Holly Hatam

"Every grey hair is a badge. Every wrinkle, a receipt for the life I’ve lived." (Holly Hatam)

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/09/ever...

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #BloggingPrompts
Every Grey Hair Is a Badge: Fifteen Life Prompts by Holly Hatam
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
September 29, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Martin Baker
achronicvoice.com
“Don’t say, ‘Let me know if there is anything I can do.’ People rarely feel comfortable saying, ‘Yes, my laundry.’ Instead pick something you are willing to do & then ask her permission.””: buff.ly/DmJSaF7

via @themightysite.bsky.social
#support #ChronicPain #ChronicFatigue #disabled #support
31 Tips for Helping Your Chronically Ill Loved One
12. "Allow them to use humor to cope with their illness, but be careful about joining along."
buff.ly
September 28, 2025 at 8:30 PM
martinbaker.bsky.social
[new] Every Grey Hair Is a Badge: Fifteen Life Prompts by Holly Hatam

"Every grey hair is a badge. Every wrinkle, a receipt for the life I’ve lived." (Holly Hatam)

www.gumonmyshoe.com/2025/09/ever...
Every Grey Hair Is a Badge: Fifteen Life Prompts by Holly Hatam
No one is too far away to be cared for or to care. Inspiring those who support a friend living with mental illness.
www.gumonmyshoe.com
September 24, 2025 at 7:24 AM