Preferred Pursuits

I started this blog at the end of Summer last year.  I knew I had at last found a creative space to express my thoughts, feelings, emotions, values and beliefs and I started to dedicate time to creating posts that I felt were interesting, thought provoking and meaningful.

I hoped people would read them, but I believed those "people" would be my Friends.

Now,  I love my Friends, I have wonderful Friends as I have spoken about in so many other posts.
So I wondered why they didn't read my posts. Why they didn't comment and why they didn't become followers?!

I didn't really take it personally. My Friends know that I am an "ideas" kinda girl, in that  all the time they have known me, I have always talked about my ideas, all the new projects and tasks I am going to undertake!

As I have written about previously, I am striving for self actualisation and I have not been afraid to try out lots of different things to get there!

Over the last months however, I believe I have finally found my true vocation after travelling down many roads. I know now what I want to concentrate my efforts on. What I want to focus my attention on. 

I have reached this conclusion through the help of so many wonderfully descriptive, creative and imaginative blogs that I have had the pleasure of reading and becoming a follower of.

So now I understand why my Friends haven't really become avid readers of my blog.

Blogging is self expression, it's a form of creativity and productivity. It's a forum to meet other like minded indiviuals, and...................... it's kinda adddictive!!!

So I understand now, that although I share a deep connection with all My Friends, it doesn't mean that we are neccessarily like minded in everything we feel.

I have really only now started to invest the time and energy into this "blogging" world.

Ultimately, as I mentioned in previous posts, when I realised that no one else wanted to read what I'd written, I decided that keeping a record of my thoughts and activities, values and beliefs was important anyway and that the blog would just be for my benefit.

I realised however, that it would encourage me to write better and be creative if I thought someone else might read it too!

So I started to really look around the blogasphere and boy, have I found some Beautiful Blogs. Blogs that I relate to, blogs that I want to relate to, blogs by people I want to meet, blogs by people I wish I knew, blogs by people that I strive to be like and blogs by people who I feel I should have been more like.

I have learnt that, at longlast, I have a project - DragonFly Aspirations that I enjoy, that I won't get bored of and that will encourage me  to pursue the other projects that I am passionate about, because I may develop an audience of like minded individuals who will share the same beliefs.

One of the reasons I started this blog, was to highlight the issue of Animal Welfare to the attention of any readers. To get the idea of Veganism out there. This my biggest project and I am now very much involved in campaigning in any way I can.


So, that is two pursuits,  DragonFly Aspirations and AnimalAid.
I am also  going to pursue my crafts which I have been leaving on the sidelines while I try out other pursuits, that seem to  have fallen by the wayside.

After looking at all the other Fabulous Blogs, my creative juices are flowing and I am needing to "create" some recycled art projects.

I have been inspired by the artists I have come across who are using their blogs as a showcase for their work.

DragonFlyAspirations is giving me the motivation and incentive I need to get back to my Art Room, Sort out my lids, corks, ribbons, string, old clothes, old CD's, boxes, jars among others and get creating those recycled Art models that I haven't done for so long.

Two years ago, I started to make a Rather huge dragon. I moulded it out of Chicken Wire, and covered him with Paper Mache. The idea was to cover him with the many years worth of bottle tops that I have collected. This project never got finished because I went onto something else!

The wonderful photography displayed throughout many of the blogs I am following has motivated me to take a Course in Learning how to use my Camera properly! So this will be another pursuit, one that I have been procrastinating about for too long.

So there I have it. My Preferred Pursuits that sit nicely  alongside my main interests that are my Family, Dogs and the Natural World!

I am finally settled and relaxed and certain about what I will spend my spare time doing.

A long time ago, Rob and I turned away from striving after wealth and possessions to free us to pursue work for more profound reasons and to have more time and space for creativity and interesting and enjoyable activities. However we are still striving for more time and space but we know it is coming, we are heading in the right direction.
http://dragonflyaspirations.blogspot.com/2011/10/consumer-blitz.html
Like me, Rob has his Preferred Pursuits of rock climbing and pottery and yearns to be able to give more time to them. Unlike me, he has less time because he works longer hours but we can see the end to this way of life in sight now.

We Aspire to lead a sustainable, self reliant life where we can make time for the intentional activities we choose, our work, our hobbies and interests, community activities and interpersonal relationships.
We are choosing to find activities and a way of life that will improve our wellbeing -
Creative Arts, Gardening, Taking Action for Others and the planet and being at one with Mother Earth will add meaning to our lives and help us to become more fulfilled.


Here are photos of some of my creations for our"Joyfest".

And here are a Few creations that were made for us By our wonderful Friends!

 Rob made over 40 Flower holders and Lanterns:

THANKYOU TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE STARTED TO KEEP ME COMPANY ALONG MY BLOGGING JOURNEY AND TO THOSE OF YOU WHOSE BLOGS INSPIRE AND ENTERTAIN!

JENX

Renewed and Restored (for the wonderful Sue H)

It is the 1st March. It is Animal Aid's Veggie Month!

The Sun is REALLY shining! The birds are REALLY singing and sound happy!

Could Spring finally, really be here?I went out for a walk earlier with the "pack" and saw a pair of bluetits chasing after each other. I immediately thought of the term "twiterpating" from Bambi! Thats what they were doing, TWITERPATING!

The Great tits were singing their distinct call to each other, the robin was singing his beautiful song and our resident sparrows are definately in the process of building their nest!

 The days are getting longer, it's still light at 6pm. Spring is definately peeking over the horizon! and only 3 weeks ago, I was enthralled at all the tiny footprints left by all these birds as they foraged in the snow for food in the garden.

There are lambs in the fields and this is the time when our incomprehendable and brutal treatment of animals is most evident. These gorgeous little creatures are destined for only one place...............
The slaughter house, just so they can end up on the plates of millions of individuals for Sunday lunch.
I drive past some of these beautiful bundles of innocence and legs every morning and my heart swells with joy,warmth and happiness, feelings which are closely followed by an all consuming sadness and a real CUTTING  pain in my heart when I think of their fate.

WHY DO WE CALL THESE DEAR, GORGEOUS, LEGGY BUNDLES OF JOY, SYMBOLS OF SPRING WHICH IS ABOUT NEW LIFE AND LIFE REBORN,  WHEN WE ARE ONLY GOING TO SEND THEM TO A TERRIBLE, TERRIFYING AND INHUMANE SLAUGHTER?
WHY?

WHY???

The Dawn chorus is edging out of an empty black space, at the moment, it is tentative and almost fragile but it is definately getting stronger and earlier!

And I am feeling an alien feeling which I haven't felt for what feels like a really long time!

I have a positive energy that has been a stranger to me for what feels like an eternity and I have a vague anxiety that it won't last.

Although, I feel differently this time. More enegised and focused, inspired, optimistic and determined than I remember feeling before. I am determined to dedicate my spare time to being part of a movement campaigning to make a better, safer and compassionate world for the other beings that share my world.

Any of my close friends and certainly my husband and kids will say that I am like a wheel and that I go through these cycles of highs and lows; however, this last low, has lasted rather longer than I would have anticipated.

I have functioned, as described in my last posts but, it has been a continuous battle and  I have not always been the ray of light and beacon of hope that I strive to be! Far from it actually! More the voice of doom and the grim reaper!!!

I would like to take this opportunity to say to all my wonderful friends and to my beautiful family......

THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU!!!!#

Unfortunately, none of them read this apart from the Very Special SUE H who has not only supported me while I've been Mrs Morose, but has been there for me even when she has been dealing with so many of her own health concerns.

SUE H is my biggest and 1 of 2 supporters and readers of this blog. For that I am so truly grateful and honoured. SUE H is a friend who  REALLY seems to  understand what I am trying to achieve in my life and why! SUE H shares my Values and Beliefs and that is why she reads the blog!

 And here I am STILL, with no readers apart from the Beautiful SUE H AND the Very Lovely Vikki with whom I have shared a lovely morning with today and who was the creative genius to whom I owe the beautiful ivy embroidery and all my lovely dragonflies and butterflies that covered my JoyFest Gown,Headress and button bouquet!

Vikki's husband to be is a fellow Vegan and concerned other about our lack of respect and compassion towards our fellow world inhabitants.

We have been invited to share a Vegan dinner with Vikki and John and I am so looking forward to meeting a fellow vegan IN my community and WITHIN my circle of Friends!!!

And so, with my newly restored energy, which feels sustainable and creative, I have decided that the time has come, to dive even deeper into the 21st Century and join  Facebook so that maybe in this way I can:....
1- Link this blog to it and actually find some like minded individuals who won't be bored stiff by reading it!
and
2- Most importantly, connect with local, national and international Vegans, and individuals who share my concerns about the way we treat other members of the Animal Kingdom, and who are part of the biggest movement in the world: The Animal Rights Movement.

So, here I go, into the world of social networking. I hope it won't be the FaceAche that my Adorable Friend Anna calls it!!!

I'm doing it for my Fellow Sentient Beings whom I share this world with, and for whom I want to make it a safer, more compassionate and completely cruelty free place.

I write this blog as a record for myself,  but also in the hope that someone, somewhere, someday, WILL log on because they share some of my views and may become a blogasphere Friend!

So, I end on the same old note.

I am off to get some readers!!!!

INSPIRING INDIVIDUALS

These ladies are truly 3 of the most remarkable, resilient, strongest and inspiring people I am proud to know.

I am priviledged to work in an environment where I meet truly remarkable people daily. I am humbled every day to be in the presense of such incredible individuals, some of whom are extremely affected by past events. For some, these experiences have made them strong and resilient, others have very low self esteem and little confidence. Being in a position to support these people to find peace and move forward feels very special. Yesterday I met an absolutely lovely 69 year old lady. This wonderful woman has suffered in ways that no human being should have to. However she has survived because she has an irrepresible spirit and zest for life. She is not bitter at what has happened to her, just disappointed, confused and hurt. She has enourmous resilience and an infectious personality that touches everyone she meets, it has certainly touched me.

 As I write this, I feel very emotional and helpless because I cannot change what has happened, I cannot make it OK. I also feel so angry that a person should have to be subjected to this behaviour from another human being, and I feel terrified and powerless to know that there are so so many others, right now, being harmed.

"Perhaps the point of living is not to be placid and happy and untouched by the world, but to be deeply, painfully sensitive to it, and to see its cruelty and savagery for what they are, and accept all this as readily as we accept its beauty. To be touched by it, moved by it, hurt by it even, but not to be indifferent to it"
John Simpson, Foreign Correspondent

If someone is damaged, frustrated, offended or oppressed, everyone's humanity is diminsished. Empathy, not individuality is key to humanity. We have to build a conscious relationship with ourselves, find the goodness within and take action to support others through the companions of human existence: - illness, poverty, death, hurt, desire and love. Unfortunately, it seems that for too many, their exsistence also means abuse, violence, prejudice and neglect.

"There is too much hatred in this world and children are the innocent victims. Having witnessed its destructive consequences on humanity I am convinced that love is the only power that can defeat it"
Mark Cook, Humanitarian
"The Candle Mark and Caroline (Cook as above quote) have lit seems to offer a precious little light in the darkness that threatens to envelop many of the worlds children. But if others light similar candles, it will grow less dark. There is no knowing what the love" Hope and Homes for Children" seeks to arouse in the human heart might achieve in a hard world"
Lord Deedes
http://www.hopeandhomes.org/?gclid=CPOOuua1_KoCFcFP4QodzR5r1A

We can all support our fellow human beings living by the values of humility, generosity, kindness, compassion, honesty and not being afraid to take a risk.

"Live Boldly, follow your dreams, take risks, look after your friends and smile when the mountain is steepest"
Bear Grylls, Professional Adventurer

"Love, Family, Hope, Goodness, Faith, Dedication, Sacrifice, Trust, Committment, Friendship, Belief and Action"
The Values of the Salvation Army

The people I meet every day, not just through my work, but my friends and family inspire me to live my life according to these simple values. I do this by trying to  follow these simple rules: ( I am not always successful)

• Appreciate  the simple things in life
• A freedom from material desires (have not been so good at this one in the past, but I am getting much better now, as I move towards my goal of living a simple life - it's just stuff!)
• Avoid waste
• Teach economy to my kids
• Avoid greed, fear and peer pressure
• Generosity and Sharing
• Putting others first with kindness, openess, purity and without expectations and conditions (JoyFest cemented these values!)

I also draw inspiration from nature and the natural world. Today I have been inspired by a beautiful September day; watching the birds in the garden, picking the apples and plums off the trees, picking blackberries when we took the dogs out. Now, I am appreciating this first September evening, knowing that we are now on the count down to shorter days, which makes me determined to relish every moment of the last days of Summer 2011 especially because it has been such a Super Summer!

These are some people in the public eye that inspire me and you can read more about some of them in the book by Oliver Chittenden, INSPIRE, Courageous People of Our Time.

"This book is all about people who capture the imagination. People with extraordinary determination and enthusiasm. People who are committed to changing their worlds. People who make us proud. People with no particular natural advantages - and sometimes great burdens - who made the most of what they had and emerged victorious"

Camilla Batmanghelidjh, Champion
of Child Rights
"Love is all it takes,
We aim to return children to their
Childhood
"http://www.kidsco.org.uk/

Mohandas Ghandi (known as Mahatma meaning
"Great Soul"
"Live Simply, so that others can simply live"

David Attenbourgh, Naturalist and Broadcaster
"An understanding of the Natural World and what's in it, is not only a
source of a great curiosity but of great fulfillment"

                                          

 Chris Peckham,A Naturalist, Wildlife photographer and Broadcaster who's knowledge and passion is so uplifting and inspiring.

Bruce Parry, Presenter and Adventurer
"Many of us in the 'developed' world see some sort of global disaster coming. But as modern societies, presently at least, we seem to be continuing in the same vein, feathering our expensive nests, raiding our natural resources, while simultaneously looking romantically over our shoulders at 'how it used to be'"



Eddie Izzard, Actor, Comedian who ran 43 marathons in
51 days!



 

 Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Global Explorer

"My advice  to people wanting to live their dream is encapsulated in a quote from Goethe: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can.................begin it" "

Lone Droscher Neilson, Wildliife Conservationist, founder of the Nyaru Menteng Orangutang  Reintroduction Project.

A Century ago, there were over 230,000 orang-utans in Borneo and Sumatra. But, within the last decade alone, their numbers have fallen by between 30% and 50%. and now only around 7,500 survive in Sumatra and 55,000 in Borneo.

 http://www.savetheorangutan.co.uk/

Waangari Muta Maathai,  founder of the Green Belt Movement, an environmentalist, a civil society and women's right activist and a former parliamentarian.

"In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear, and give hope to each other

"http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/w.php?id=59

 I love this description of this book because it describes so well, not just the  people in the book, but many whom I have been lucky enough to meet in my life.These are the people who lift my spirit and warm my soul and whose presense on the planet, make it a better place. So, this post is to all of you who have faced such huge challenges and won, you ARE amazing!

Claire Lawrence, Heidi Hill, Ingrid Warren, Rachel Clark, Pete Ewing, Richard Marks, Diane Long, Emma Joynson, Danyell Stimpson, Christine Ewing, Hamish Ewing.

Robbie, Bleu, Matthew, Pen, Sue(s), Kate, Jo, Rach, Ju, Shuna, Rach, Amanda, Lou, Gillian, Jane, Sara, my extended family and so many more who have touched my life and shared their gift.

 



This post is especially dedicated to my Granny who died 16 years ago, but who I think about every day and who inspired me while she was alive, and who continues to inspire me to be a better person every single day of my life. She was the love of my life until Robbie and my children came along, and now I have 4 loves of my life.
She believed in me, didn't judge me and loved me unconditionally, she was the strongest, most wonderful woman I will ever know.