keep learning

As we go through our lives, we should always keep striving to learn, to grow.

There is always more to learn, and each new day is an opportunity to find some new piece of knowledge, learn a new skill, be it big or small.

The mind is a powerful tool, which seeks stimulation. The more active that you keep it, the more active it will stay.

Never assume that you know everything that there is to know, because nobody ever can, even though there are those people that insist that they do.

Keep learning, keep growing, keep exploring, keep living.

What is Love?

 It sounds like such an easy question to answer, doesn't it. Or is it.

Does the word love mean the same to everybody?

We say that we love to eat chips. But is that the same feeling as the love that we feel for our children? No, it's quite a different meaning of the word love.

And if something annoys us, we sometimes say 'Don't you just love that!' Meaning that we don't love it at all.

So it would seem that the word loves means many different things.

But there is one certain thing. Without love, our lives would be much less fulfilling.

So whether it's the love of food, the love of our families, our pets or the love of the world around us, love is something that we should celebrate and enjoy.

Never be afraid to love, never be afraid to live.

Gratitude

Every one of us has a multitude of blessings in our lives for which we should be grateful.

No matter how hard or difficult our lives are, there is always somebody who is worse off, who has less.

They would be very grateful for what you have.

When we take these things for granted, because they have always been there, we lose sight of just how blessed our lives are.

Each of us should take the time to look and show gratitude for what we have, what we have achieved.

Examine your life, your family and count of all those wonderful people, things and situations that have come your way over the years.

Show gratitude for them each and every day, and feel the joy at how blessed you really are.

Our beautiful world

This world of ours is such a beautiful, wonderful place.

There is so much to see, experience and enjoy.

Right from the smallest wonder of, for example, the perfection of a drop of dew on a flower, up to the biggest wonders of the world. Mountains, oceans, forests, waterfalls.

It is so easy to forget to appreciate this beauty in our daily lives. We are just so busy with our daily routines, so blinkered that often we do not see the beautiful things around us.

We should all take the time to appreciate this world and all that it has to offer us. To take care of it, nurture it, enjoy it.

Whether this is in your local neighborhood or if you are lucky enough to be travelling to new places, look around you and take in the wonder of the world surrounding you.

Enjoy it and let it fill your soul with joy.

When computers fail

A while ago, I went to make a routine appointment and the receptionist replied 'I'm afraid the computer is down at the moment, so I can't make you an appointment. You'll have to come back later'

In a moment of frustration, I asked her 'What's wrong with a pen and paper?'

It struck me how much we actually rely on technology. If a computer system fails, then it seems as though the whole company just grinds to a halt.

It seems that gone are the days where appointments were written in books, or people talked to each other and sent letters.

My children text each other when they are in the same house!!! What's wrong with walking upstairs to ask if the other wants a cup of tea!

So as wonderful as technology is, it does cause huge problems when it fails.

People seem to have forgotten how to do things without a computer, internet or smartphone.

I'm old enough to remember a time when there were no computers. How ever did we cope.

Now where is that paper and pen to jot down my thoughts?

 

An ode to Pringles

 

 

Oh Pringles, how I love you!
your tubes I do view.
Should I have green, or maybe the blue?

I pop you open,
You gorgeous big pack.
I grab a large handful,
Such a big tasty stack.

I eat you all up,
You are very yummy,
But somehow you just never,
Fill up my tummy!

So back for more,
I must go,
Maybe just one, two,
Oh ok, maybe four!

I lick off your flavor,
Oh, How I do savor!
Then, crunch, crunch,
I chew and I munch.

Oh woe, they're all gone!
I shake out the tube.
But, no, there's not a one.

Out I do wander,
In the cupboard to look,
I think there's more tubes?
No, I must be mistook!

No, there are no more!
I've eaten the lot.
Down the shop I will wander
And more will be got.

 

Thoughts

 

Everybody thinks, everybody has thoughts.

These thoughts are unique to you.

They are a mixture of your hopes, dreams and the situations that happen around you.

Thoughts are wonderful. We can use them to build a world of our own inside our own mind, we can use them to entertain us without the need for television, radio or the internet.

They can also help us to rationalize things, work our way through troublesome situations.

But whatever these thoughts are, they are ours, and ours alone.

It doesn't matter if a though appears to be so trivial that it appears not to be of any consequence.

The fact that it has happened means that it is important to you on some level.

So let your thoughts run free. Use them to entertain, problem solve and to enable you to learn more about yourself and the world around you.

 

Practical learning

 There are many different ways of learning. Through books, listening to lectures and through practical experience.


Different people learn in different ways, but practical learning is one of the best and easiest ways in which to get a true understanding of a subject.

Whilst learning the theory of a subject is necessary, by getting on and doing things, we learn the best way to figure things out and learn what is the best way for us to tackle things.

Hands on, practical learning is also fun. So get in there and have a go and learn.

Swimming with the fish

Ah, this was the life. I had both the sofa and the house to myself.

I stretched out, sipping the last of my glass of wine. Just a few minutes more and I would get ready for bed.

I lay, watching the fish swimming in the tank, smiling at their antics. My eyes grew heavy and I began to doze into sleep.

As I watched, one of the fish swam out through the glass of the tank and lazily swam towards me. I blinked.

That can't be right - fish can't swim through glass, and they certainly can't swim without water!

One by one, the other fish swam out and drifted around the room.

Hang on, I thought, I'm dreaming! Maybe I can swim with the fish.

So off of the sofa I swam, joining the fish.

Oh I felt so free. I wonder if I can swim upstairs.

Yes! Up I swam, my finny friends joining me as I went. I thoroughly enjoyed my swim around the house.

With a jolt, my eyes opened. I was back on the sofa. I rubbed my bleary eyes and stared at the tank.

All of the fish were present and accounted for in their tank.

I yawned, stretched and headed for bed.

 

Doorways are memory sucking portals!

Really? I hear you say. 'But they're just doorways'

But let me give you an example:

This morning I was in the kitchen, and I needed to ask my daughter a question. I walked through the doorway to the sitting room and...................................

I couldn't remember what it was that I wanted to ask.

So yes, it's true. I'm sure that everybody reading this has suffered the same fate at some point.

Not all doorway portals are as strong as the kitchen/sitting room one.

Take the toilet to bathroom one. We seldom forget to wash our hands as we pass through the portal.

Some will lull you into a false sense of security for weeks or months, and then bam! They hit you quite unexpectedly.

So I urge you all to take care when passing through these portals. Especially the one on the front or back of your house.

It has a habit of making you forget your house keys, thus preventing you from returning through the portal - sneaky!

 

Be your own expert

The person that knows you the best, knows what your strengths and weakness are is yourself.

You know what your hopes, wishes and dreams are, you know what you need to do in order to attain them.

But in order to be your own expert, you need to be true to yourself, not make excuses for inaction.

You have a lifetime's worth of knowledge, experience and interaction with others to draw upon.

Instead of letting other people tell you what you are and are not capable of, draw on your own expert knowledge of yourself.

Use the expertise within you to live, learn and attain your goals.

Have fun

Life is special, life is short, life should be enjoyed.

Sometimes we spend so much time working, providing for ourselves and our family, earning money, that we forget to have fun!

Yes, we need all of the above things to survive, but we should also allow ourselves time to just enjoy ourselves.

What is fun varies from person to person. Some people find jumping out of a plane fun, whilst for others it is splashing about in the sea.

As long as you enjoy it and it makes you smile and feel good, then it is fun!

So make some some time for fun, schedule it onto your calendar if you need to, for fun is as important to life as work.

The drowning pool

 The world is closing in around me, dark and cloying. I feel as though I am losing my identity, my purpose.


There is no light at the end of the tunnel, it is just one day, following on from the last. No beginning, no end.

One day blurs into another, there are weekends to look forward to, but they are so fleeting, full to the brim with the things that I cannot do whilst I am in the drowning pool.

There are people who's pool is bright and clear. They are the lucky ones. They spend their days swimming in azure warm water enjoying each day with relish.



Years pass by. I strive, I work. Hoping upon hope that I can finally draw closer to my azure dream............



Now, I can see the light - the barest glimmer of bright blue!

I can finally leave the drowning pool.

I haul myself out of it's dark prison to join the lucky ones in the clarity of their crystal pool.

Where do the odd socks go?

I've just done the laundry. The washing basket is empty, but still I have an odd sock!

Where do the partners to odd socks go? I've scoured the house from top to bottom and I still can't find them.

Sometimes I can have an odd sock in the basket for months. Nobody seems to know where it's partner is.

They look in all of the usual places, such as down the back of the linen bin, under the bed, inside the duvet cover (yes, they do sometimes hide there) but no, it is nowhere to be seen.

And then suddenly, out of the blue, it reappears, but nobody seems to know where from.

Is there a hidden world somewhere that they visit for a while, like some sort of sock holiday resort? Do they get abducted by aliens? Can they make themselves invisible?

I don't think that this conundrum will ever be solved. But in the meantime, my poor lonely sock will wait patiently in the linen basket until it's mate re-appears.

Make a start

How many times have you put off doing something?

How many times have you said 'I'll do it soon'

Often, getting started on something is the hardest part. Once you get going, it often turns out to be a quicker and easier job than you thought.

Just starting is putting you on the way to success, because, after all, if you don't make a start, then you'll never finish!

So instead of making excuses or finding reasons not to, get started today and power through your to-do list.

Once finished, you will be able to enjoy sitting down and congratulating yourself on a job well done.

The curse of the dripping tap!

Oh the annoyance! There I was, having a nice quiet bath when..............drip............drip.............drip!

It won't turn off, unless you turn it off really hard, and then the next person can't turn it back on again.

So off I trudged to the D.I.Y shop to get a new washer. But, oh no, you can't get a washer for that sort of tap, it takes a cartridge, whatever that is. And, they don't have one for that particular tap.

So, what to do. There's nothing for it, I have to buy a new tap. But I can't just buy one, I have to buy a set.

So what would have been a simple job costing pence is now costing a whole lot more - and I don't know how to change a tap.

So on the phone I went to a plumber friend..........................help!

So he is now changing the taps for me as I type. Tonight I will be able to have a bath without the curse of the dripping tap, because it is no more, it has been consigned to tap heaven.

 

The art of complaining

When you go out for a meal and it is cold when it arrives, do you complain?

If you buy a dress and it has a stain on it, do you take it back?

Rather than calling these sort of things complaints, we should call them constructive criticism.

If you don't tell the restaurant that the meal is cold or that the chicken is undercooked, how can they be expected to learn from their mistakes.

If you don't tell the shop that the clothing is stained, how can they be expected to realize that there is a problem with their stock.

Sometimes we feel awkward when we complain, as though we should somehow feel guilty for somebody's mistake.

If we look upon it as constructive criticism, then maybe it would be easier to complain effectively.

By looking at it this way, we are also more likely to put our point across in a calm, concise way, rather than going in with all guns blazing.

Complain constructively, make things happen, improve your world.


 

Life is for living

 It is an inevitable fact of life that we will all grow older with the passage of time. But that does not mean that we can simply sit and become 'old'.

We should carry on embracing life to the best of our ability. Life is so short, we should enjoy every moment of it.

Our bodies and mind should be kept active, because if we don't use what physical and mental ability that we have, it will wither and fade more quickly.

There are many ways of staying young and enjoying life, from the very simple to the more challenging. If it makes you feel good and you can do an activity, don't let age get in your way - get out there and enjoy yourself.

Life is for living - make every second count.

Don't hit back!

When somebody hurts you mentally and make you feel sad or angry, it is natural to want to hit back. But is this right?

The answer is usually no. By fighting back, you just make the bad feelings worse, and you will never win a fight like this, when emotions are running so high.

Rather than fight and shout, try talking calmly, working out differences rather than throwing blame and hurt.

Rise above petty and useless squabbles. By doing so you will grow more confident, stronger within yourself.

Life is too short, to precious to harbor grudges and bad feelings. State your feelings calmly, try to work it out and move on.

Love each day

Each of our days is full to the brim with joy, worry, tears and hope.

Although each day is different, there is one thing that is a certainty, and that is that we will never get the chance to live this day again.

So we should make a point of loving each day, making sure that we make the most of the time given to us and to appreciate it whilst we can.

Try to make each day special. Even if that is by doing a very small thing. Such as admiring the beauty of flowers, doing something that pleases you or contemplating the wonder of the world around you.

Love each day, for you never know which will be your last. Don't waste precious time.

The easy way to save money!

In these days of credit cards and loans, it is all too easy to spend more than we can afford.

We also live in a time when having the latest phone, or another pair of shoes seems to feel more and more important.

But do we really need to buy these things? Will they really make us happier in the long term?

When money is tight, we should think before each and every purchase. Do we need this item or do we just want it.

Often, if we hold back on a purchase for just a few days, we can find that the 'need' to buy it just goes away.

Need and want are two very different things.

Do you really need that pair of shoes? Do you really need the latest phone when the old one works just fine?

The trick to saving money starts with not spending on things that are unnecessary.

It is simple, but something that often gets overlooked. Buy through need and not through want and your savings will grow.

What is stopping you?

 We all have goals, wishes, dreams.

We all have a to do list of things that we plan to do 'one day'.

How many times have you said to yourself 'I'll start on that tomorrow'. Only tomorrow never seems to come.

So what is stopping you from doing these things?

The simple answer is that you are stopping yourself.

Start on that to do list, work towards your goals, wishes and dreams right now.

Tell yourself that you will no longer put things off until another day.

Instead of making excuses and finding reasons not to start, find the reasons why you should.

Stop thinking and wondering and start doing - right now.

See the good

Some situations, no matter which way you look at them are not pleasant.


They have to be done, but there is generally not a way that you can enjoy them - think of that dentist appointment to fix a tooth, or visiting the doctor for a test or diagnosis.

But if we look hard enough, there is always something good to see somewhere.

When the tooth is fixed, it will no longer hurt.

When you have a diagnosis you can then seek treatment.

Obviously these are simple scenarios, there are many others.

But if you can see the good in a situation, it will help you to cope, help you to move forward without bitterness or feeling a degree of self pity.

So search out that glimmer of good and turn the situation into something a little less daunting.

Believe you can

When we start a new project, it is normal to worry about if we can succeed.

But if we believe in ourselves, tell our ourselves that we can do this, then we are far more likely to succeed.

If, on the other hand, we doubt our own abilities, then a negative mindset starts to creep in.

The way that we think really can influence our ability to do something. If we think that we can't do it, then we are setting ourselves up to fail.

But if we believe that we can do it, then we are more likely to succeed.

So instead of starting that project being sure that you aren't going to be able to do it, go into it with a positive outlook.

Believe in yourself and almost anything is possible.

Fighting for escape

She ran, her bare feet pattering on the lino floor of the hospital corridor. Her thin cotton hospital gown flapping against her chilled skin.

The door, her means of escape drew closer. Her breath came in ragged gasps, as she finally reached her goal.

She could see the outside world, the sun, the trees, the freedom.

She tugged on the handle, but the door was locked. She screamed, the sound rising within her like a tide of rage!

She beat on the door, over and over. Her hands bruised and bleeding.

Finally she admitted defeat, she turned, another long corridor stretched before her.

This one was lined with doors. She ran to the first door, shook the handle. It too was locked.

She was sure that the secret to her escape was hidden within the room. Frustration and rage grew once more.

She tried another door, and another, all locked. She ran on, finally reaching a dead end.

She sank to the floor, head in hands, heaving sobs wracking her body. She would never escape from this madness..............




The medical orderly entered the room. She was sleeping. At least she was free of the tormented thoughts that plagued her waking hours.

In the bed she lay, her body paralyzed by the drugs, but inside, her mind was clamoring for escape - running, seeking a way out of this madness. Night after night, year after year! When would this nightmare ever end.

 

Can do attitude

There are times when we doubt ourselves, doubt our ability to be able to achieve what we want to.

But unless we try, we will never succeed. If we doubt ourselves and think that we cannot do something, then the chances are that we will fail.

But if we go into it with a can do attitude then we are far, far more likely to win out.

The difference between people who achieve very little in life and those who fly high is mainly down to attitude.

Those that do well are those who have a can do attitude to life.

So rather than failing before you start, grab that can do attitude and get stuck in.

Do your best, flourish, learn and grow.

Spring cleaning

Now that the days are getting longer and the sun is warmer, we often feel the urge to clean and tidy our homes.


It's as though we have been in partial hibernation and we are now awake, and feel the need to bring order and neatness to our life.

As well as Spring cleaning our homes and gardens, we should also think about Spring cleaning our lives.

Are there things that we used to enjoy, but now do because it has become routine?

Are there things that we would like to start but we don't have the time to do so?

By doing a Spring clean of our life, we can discard the clutter that has built up, make space, feel free.

We can gain time, time to start something fresh and exciting and say goodbye to the old.

Open the windows of your mind today and give it a good airing to bring in the new and blow away the old. Spring clean.

I love you!

When was the last time that you told somebody special that you loved them?

When was the last time that somebody that you love told you that they loved you?

When we are in the first flush of a relationship, we say those magical words often 'I love you'. And it makes us feel so special, so precious to the other person.

But as the weeks, months and years go by, we begin to take each other for granted. And we forget to say those three special words.

It doesn't mean that we love the person any less, we just assume that they know it, so we don't have to remind them.

But when we do say it, or have it said to us, it makes us feel loved all over again.

So don't forget or take it for granted, tell somebody special today, say those three magic words: 'I love you'.

Keep on track

 When our interest in a task wanes, we can easily become distracted by things and people around us.


These distractions will only serve to increase the time that it takes to finish the job in hand.

Although breaks are important, as they increase our productivity overall, getting distracted whilst we are supposed to be working does quite the opposite.

So turn off that TV, find somewhere without distractions so that you can finish that task.

Then you will be free to give in to the distractions and enjoy them without guilt.

Every day is special

 Often we think that to make a day special, we have to do something out of the ordinary.

But the truth is that every day is special in it's own right.

The world that we live in is an inspiring place, from the smallest ant to the largest ocean and everything in between.

If we look around us, we can always find something new, something special.

Even our normal day to day activities can be made special with a little imagination.

By looking for and creating these special moments, we live each day in a fresh and inspiring way, adding diversity and interest to an otherwise 'normal' day.

So make today and every day special and enjoy it.

Choose your outlook

The way that you see your life and the way that you feel about it is down to your own outlook.

If things go badly in your life, there are two ways of dealing with it. You can either say 'What did I do to deserve this? It isn't fair'

Or, you could say 'OK, it's happened, what can I do to learn from this and go forward'

In any situation in your life, you have the power to change how you feel by changing the way that you react to the circumstances around you.

By seeing things in a positive, strong way, you will empower yourself to make a stronger, better future.

So don't limit yourself by a negative outlook, choose to see things in a positive light and go forward with strength and positivity.