💛 12 Dips for Pieta House 💛

This December, I’ll be doing 12 cold water dips to raise funds for Pieta House. An organisation that provides free, lifesaving support for people affected by suicide, self-harm, and mental health struggles across Ireland.

A few years ago, I lost one of my best friends to suicide.

It changed everything.

When something like that happens, it completely alters how you move through the world.

You start to see people differently, to listen closer, to notice more, to understand how fragile we can all be beneath the surface.

In the years since, I’ve seen other friends, acquaintances, and families face similar pain. Losses and struggles that often came with no clear warning. It made me realise how complex this really is.

Sometimes it’s quietness, distance, or withdrawal. Other times, it’s the opposite…laughter, high energy, a brightness that hides the heaviness underneath.

You come to understand that you can never truly tell what someone is carrying, and that’s what makes compassion and awareness so essential.

We’re also living in a time that feels heavier than ever. Where uncertainty, pressure, and comparison creep into every part of life.

For so many people, the future can feel out of reach; it’s harder to feel settled, harder to feel secure.

And beyond that, the world itself feels chaotic. From financial strain to conflict, to the constant stream of noise that leaves little space to breathe.

Doing this in December, in the run-up to Christmas, feels especially fitting.

While it’s a season filled with light, joy, and celebration, it can also magnify struggle.

For some, it’s financial…the pressure to give, to provide, to keep up, even when they’re barely getting by.

For others, it’s emotional…the emptiness that comes with missing someone who should still be here, or the loneliness that sits quietly beside all the festive cheer.

It’s a time that reminds us how deeply we all need compassion, connection, and support.

That’s why the work Pieta does is more important than ever! Meeting people in those moments when everything feels impossible, and helping them find a way to piece things back together.

Their work saves lives, but it also helps people begin to live again after loss, confusion, or despair.

The 12 dips are a small act to honour that resilience.

For those we’ve lost,

For those still struggling,

And for everyone quietly carrying more than they let on.

For me, the sea has always been a place of safety and release.

When life has felt chaotic or heavy, the water has been a constant…grounding, calming, and clearing.

There’s something about standing at its edge, watching the movement and feeling its pull, that reminds me to breathe again.

So dipping into it through December feels right. As a reminder of strength, of stillness, and of finding moments of peace even when the world feels unsteady.

If you can, please consider donating or sharing this page to help Pieta continue their incredible work.

Your support truly makes a difference. 💛

— Lydia x