Magic Moments, Catching Sight of the Beatiful

The last week  has been one of Starts and Ends, Firsts and Lasts, Highs and Lows.

My emotions, which are delicate at the best of times (!) have ensured that I have laughed, cried, shouted, withdrawn, worried and celebrated!

So this afternoon,  I am trying to catch up with all those things that need to be done which I don't really find very exciting! Housework, paperwork, parceling up presents for Nieces and Nephews, washing and cooking dinner! (yes,  definately a domestic ungoddess!!!)

So while I do all these things which are preventing me from writing my blog, I have been taking photos of those little moments that have made me  smile, laugh and feel like I'm going to burst with pleasure! What I cannot take a photo of is the music I am listening to which are some of the favourite sounds of Karin Davis who has the Captivating, Dreamy, Floaty, Enchanting and Magical blog Moonlight and Hares. http://moonlightandhares.blogspot.com/

So here is a snapshot of what is going on around my place this afternoon!!! 

MY DOGS RELAXING, SNOOZING AND WATCHING!

COME ON MUM, ENOUGH HOOVERING, WE WANT A WALKIE!!!

THE WAY THE SUN IS SHINING GIVES THE VIEW OUT OF  MY BEDROOM WINDOW A WARM GLOW.

A REFLECTION ON THE WALL FROM THE SUN SHINING THROUGH THE COLOURED GLASS ON THE FRONT DOOR

A ROSE AND TULIPS THAT LOOK EVEN BETTER NOW IN THEIR DRIED AND SHRIVELLED UP FORM AS THEY DID WHEN THEY WERE FRESH 3 WEEKS AGO!

 GETTING OUT FOR THAT WALK IN BETWEEN "TASKS". WHEREVER WE GO, WHENEVER WE GO, STORMBY ALWAYS FINDS A BALL!

WHAT MORE CAN MAKE ME BURST WITH ANTICIPATION, EXCITEMENT AND JOY BUT THE EVIDENCE THAT SPRING IS HERE! EVEN IF I DO HAVE TO GET BACK TO MY "TASKS", SPRING IS STILL OUTSIDE THE DOOR WAITING FOR ME!


SO, I AM SIGNING OFF TO FINISH OFF WHAT I NEED TO DO BECAUSE THEN I CAN COME BACK TO MY BLOGASPACE WHICH IS WHERE I REALLY WANT TO BE THIS AFTERNOON.

THANKYOU TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE READING AND FOLLOWING! I AM COMPLETELY
DELIGHTED AND HUMBLED THAT I HAVE GATHERED A FEW FOLLOWERS. I HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN AND YOU ARE ALL AMAZING WRITERS WITH CREATIVITY FLOWING FROM YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS. YOU HAVE CAPTUREED MY IMAGINATION AND FILLED ME WITH A DESIRE TO WRITE, CREATE AND ACT UPON MY WORDS.

REX, KAREN, ARLEEN AND MAURA, THANKYOU FOR GIVING ME THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND INSPIRATION TO MAKE THIS INTO SOMETHING!

YOUR BLOGS ARE PROLIFIC, PROFOUND AND PURE PLEASURE TO READ. THEY ARE ENGAGING, EXCITING AND ENCHANTING.

AT LAST, I FEEL I AM REAPING THE REWARDS OF KEEPING A BLOG. MY FIRE IS FUELLED BY ALL THE OTHER BEAUTIFUL BLOGS I HAVE DISCOVERED AND WILL BE FOLLOWING AND I KNOW THERE ARE MORE OUT THERE TO FIND!

 MY CREATIVITY IS DESPERATE TO EXPLODE AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR EVERY MOMENT I HAVE TO SPEND DEVELOPING IT!

I WROTE IN MY LAST POST AND POSTS BEFORE IT, THAT I STRIVE TO BE AN ARTIST AND AN ACTIVIST.
AT LONG LAST, I FEEL THAT I AM ON THAT PATH AND NOT STRAYING OFF WHEN IT ALL FEELS TOO MUCH. 
 I BELIEVE I AM THERE, I'M DOING SOMETHING MEANINGFUL AND REACHING OUT TO OTHERS ALONG THE WAY THROUGH WRITING AND ACTING UPON MY BELIEFS.

 LAST WEEK I RAN A VEGAN COOKERY WORKSHOP AND AM DOING ANOTHER TOMORROW.

TO ALL MY FELLOW DETERMINED, CREATIVE, PRODUCTIVE BLOGGERS OF SUBSTANCE -

YOUR CREATIONS ARE INFLUENTIAL AND STIMULATING.

THROUGH DRAGONFLYASPIRATIONS AND MOONLIGHT AND HARES, LILAC COTTAGE, STARTING OVER, ACCEPTING CHANGES, A SCULPTURED LIFE, ONE JANUARY DAY, ACORN GATHERER  AMONG MANY OTHERS, I HAVE RECONNECTED WITH MY CREATIVITY AND FEEL THE OVERWHELMING URGE TO WRITE, MAKE AND CRAFT!

THERE IS SO MUCH I WANT TO DO AND LEARN. I AM SO EXCITED BY THE PROSPECT OF WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND HERE IS A SPACE TO DOCUMENT IT!

MY LIFE IS SPILLING OUT THE CUP, SO MUCH IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW BUT I AM GRABBING IT WITH BOTH HANDS AND TAKING EVERY CHANCE I HAVE.

AND NOW, I MUST GO AND MAKE DINNER!

Sunrays, Moonbeams, Light, Love, Peace & Hugs

JENx

Recipie for a Daily Diet of Happiness!

I have finished work early today because I am starting to wind down in preparation for leaving a position I have been in for nearly 5 years. I feel a mixture of sadness and excitement for myself but I feel a great deal of worry for my clients with whom I have developed effective working therapeutic relationships and for whom this ending will be hard and unsettling.
Many of my clients find it hard to see anything to smile about. They feel there is nothing to feel joyful about and feel that they may never climb out of the black hole they are in.
These people are remarkable individuals with so much to offer and I strive to help them release that potential. I hate to see anyone in pain but I know there is only so much I can do, the rest is up to them. We all have to take control of our lives, not matter how huge the obstacles in our way are. Much of the time, our perception of the challenges we face are far greater than the actual reality, but we are scared to step out of our comfort zone so we go round in the same old cycle of pain and self destruction. Our opinions are not based on fact but we fool ourselves into believing them and so we never actively do something different to test our theorys.
Much of the time, our mental health affects us so greatly that we are consumed with negative emotions such as anxiety and depression which stand in the way of us being able to function properly, think clearly and make changes that can ultimately only help increase self esteem and self belief.
I see people stuck in this rut all the time, and it is sad, frustrating and heart breaking.
But I truly believe that if we can all just incorporate 1 of the activities below in our lives daily with the goal of increasing them, we can lead a better quality of life. I know, I'm living proof that it works! and I know because I have seen my clients slowly recover as they put these small challenges into place.

Here are a few thoughts gathered from my own experiences and other sources about how we can all enhance the quality of our lives and make the most out of every moment we are blessed to be given!

• Walk for at least 20 mins every day and SMILE!

• Sit quietly for at least 10 mins every day

• Write down a list of your goals each night for the next day. This can help you to feel organised which frees you from that feeling of not knowing where to start!
• Listen to relaxing music, it is good nourishment for the soul

• Dance!
• Live the 3 "E's" - Enjoyment, Enthusiasm and Empathy
• Tap into your Silly Self and make your kids laugh!

• Read thought provoking, interesting and life changing books
• Look at the sky at least once daily and appreciate the majesty of the world that surrounds us

• DayDream!

• Eat more Plant based foods
• Eat less manufactured foods
• Drink plenty of water
• Eat dinner as a family and make a toast every day to something good that has happened that day
• Try to make at least 3 people laugh every day

• Don't spend your precious time immersed in negative thoughts or things beyond your control. Instead, concentrate on what you can change. It is better to invest your energy in the postive present
• Life is a school and we are here to learn. Problems are lessons that come and go. What we learn from them will serve us for the rest of our lives
• Always eat breakfast to give you energy to face the challenges the day may bring. FOOD IS MOOD!
• Elimate clutter in your home and let a new energy enter your life
• Smile and Laugh More Often

• Do not let the opportunity pass to Hug a Friend

• Life is too short to waste time hating someone
• Don't take yourself too seriously, No one else does!

• Make peace with your past, so as not to ruin the present
• It's not neccessary to win every argument. Assertiveness is about being heard not gettig what you want.
• Don't compare your life with others. You have no idea of the highways they have travelled during their lives. Walk in their shoes before commenting!
• Nobody is responsible for your happiness except yourself
• Remember that we have no control over what happens to us, only what we do
• We cannot change how someone else behaves, only our reactions towards them.
• What others think of us is not completely under our control. We cannot be liked by everyone!
• Learn something new every day, a new word, a new fact, a new activity, a new song etc...

• Appreciate your body, it's marvellous
• Remember, hard times WILL pass. Situations WILL change
• Stay in touch with Friends. They will always be there for you.



These are my 2 OLDEST Friends!! Pen is on my left and she is the photographer responsible for the photos in this post and for many of the pictures in previous posts! Rach is on my right and she has the MOST adorable 2 little girls!

• Reject everything that is not useful, beautiful or amusing
• Don't loose time. We already have all the things we need
• Don't be afraid to Cry. BE EMOTIONAL, it's good for you!


• The best is yet to come

• Do something for someone EVERYday


• Each Day, before going to sleep, Acknowledge something postive that has happened that day
• Remember, we have too much that is good to be stressed

 

• Your health is your most important gift. Look after it
• Don't miss the Beautiful

• Enjoy the voyage. There is only 1 chance to be successful
• Life is beautiful, You must appreciate it as much as possible
• FEED THE BIRDS!

• Have a wonderful journey!

Valuable Virtues

Since getting back into the blogasphere, I have documented my decline into the Winter Woes and my ascent back to the New Year Hope!

I thought I'd do some research into what some of the Values that help me to appreciate what I have, actually mean.

Here is what I have come up with:

HAPPINESS

When one's spiritual needs are met by an untroubled inner life.
Happiness comes when your words and deeds are of benefit to yourself and others.

TRANQUILILTY

The Peace that comes when energies are in  harmony and relationships are in balance.

LOVE

An inspired form of giving, love breathes life into the heart and brings grace to the soul.

COURAGE

Not the absence of fear or despair, but the strengh to conquer them.

WISDOM

Knowledge, intuition and experience combine to guide us in thought and deed.

PEACE

To bring peace to the earth, Strive to make your own life peaceful.

I feel that these explanations sum up what I strive to achieve.

I believe that Happiness and Peace are  by products of GOODNESS, and that GOODNESS is:
Honesty; Truthfulness; Compassion and Kindness.

Courage is fundamental in enabling us to act kindly even when we're afraid; to be able to exercise good and steady judgement even in the midst of confusion and panick; to continue to do what we believe is right even when loud voices are urging us to do otherwise; To take risks; To boldly go and that the greatest danger in life is not having the courage to take in the adventure.

Everyone needs to be Loved and to Love.  Without that, people have no purpose or hope.
I know this because I have met people in my field of work, who truly have No-One.  For them, Life is extremely Bewildering, Lonely, and Painful.

I recently read that nationally, 21,000 elderly people are left needing paupers' funerals each year because they have no money to pay for their burial and no one else will pay or organise the ceremony. These people are buried in unmarked shared graves.

Love gives you a sense of self. Love is solidarity and cooperation. Love Nurtures us and gives us Strengh and Hope.

Wisdom comes from learning from life's experiences. Not being reactive and self protective but having foresight and self-critical awareness. Being Active, Curious and Enquiring of mind.

I am not wise yet, but I have learnt so much from my life experiences, both good and bad, and I use my knowledge to enhance my life now. I also have a fascination and love of  discussion although I enjoy listening more than taking part. I try and stay neutral in the face of opposing forces and from the centre, I can see clearly, consider calmly and Act desisively.

, I guess happens when we have all of the above. I'm getting there but still have much to learn in my quest for living a fulfilling life.

CARING FOR MY FAMILY is MY guiding Principle which incorporates ALL of the above and I value the Tranqulity that this brings to my life.

My family help me make definate choices about things and my obligations are clearer.  I have a responsibility but that necessity is in no way an obstacle to creativity because, actually the discipline of necessity is a very good creative spur.

Is IS because of my Husband and My Children that I am who I am.  I still want to be so much more and I know that the strengh they give me will ensure that I keep striving for self actualisation through living these values and practising what I preach.

And now I am going to wrap up warm and go and wonder at the Beautiful, Clear Night Sky that we have tonight, Full of twinkling stars and Frosty Underfoot and it will not be hard to Value all of the above Virtues and Many More.