Creating pleasure

Looking back and reminiscing on pleasures of the past is a wonderful thing to do.


Every time that you think of them, it brightens up your day and brings joy and pleasure.

This is wonderful, but it is also important to remember to make new, joyful memories that will give you pleasure in years to come.

It is very easy to get lost in the memory of past pleasures, to the extent that you forget that there are many more experiences available in your life that will give joy not only today, but in the future.

Don't limit your joy, seek out new things, new directions to bring freshness and fun to your life, giving you more richness and depth to your day.

So get out and find that joy today and make memories for today and your future.

Asking for help

Have you every pretended that you know more than you do?


Have you ever boasted about what you have achieved?

We have all done it at times. Some people do it more than others.

We have all met a person that knows everything, has done it all and brags endlessly. Would you offer to give them help and guidance? The answer is probably no.

If you are trying to learn something new, and brag about how easy you are finding it, people will be less likely to help you, because they assume that you already know it all.

But if instead of doing this, you live with humility, admit when you have made mistakes, and don't brag about your achievements so much, those around you will find you more approachable.

You will then find that help and guidance will be given more freely by those around you, giving you the chance to grow and learn.

I am strong

Each and every one of us has strength inside us.


Often we do not realise this until we are placed in a position of adversity. It is only then that this hidden strength comes to the surface.

But we should be careful to use these strengths for good, to use them to help both ourselves and those around us.

When we doubt ourselves, feel that we are not strong enough, we should look within ourselves, knowing that the strength is indeed there.

We should not be afraid of this inner strength, for it helps us to achieve our full potential and to learn more about our own abilities.

get on and do it!

How many times have you said 'I'll do that tomorrow'. Only when tomorrow comes, there is another reason for not doing a task.


Sometimes things can sit around for ever and a day and still not get done because there isn't enough time, you don't have the right tools, you don't know where to start, or you simply can't be bothered.

Take the time to write down a list of all of those little tasks, and the not so little tasks that need doing.

Then, get on and do them. Having a list means that you can tick them off as you go. Seeing each item being ticked off gives a great sense of accomplishment.

So don't wait until another tomorrow - do it today.

Imagine success

Often, when we are finding a task or situation hard work, we feel like giving up and walking away because we think that we will never succeed.


At times like these it is useful to use our inner strength and imagination in order to improve our chances of a successful outcome.

If we see ourselves failing, then we are more likely to fail, as we are subconsciously setting ourselves up for failure.

However, if we do the opposite, and imagine ourselves completing this task with ease and imagine how happy we will feel when this happens, then we will be putting ourselves in the correct mindset to succeed.

So instead of looking on the negative side, imagine yourself sailing through this task, succeeding in the best of ways.

The mind is a powerful tool when used in the right way, so use that imagination and see yourself enjoying success today.

Work at it

There is a saying that you don't get something for nothing, and that is true.


You will never get anything, or get anywhere unless you work at it.

And the harder that you work, the more likely that you will succeed.

If you work half heartedly on a project, then the chances are that you will get half hearted results.

But work hard at it and you will be more likely to be rewarded by success and excellent results.

However, there does come a point where you can work so hard, concentrate for so long, that your productivity diminishes.

So don't forget to take regular breaks to keep those results coming.

Work hard, play often and reap the rewards.

Focus on the good

When things are going badly it is easy to dwell on the negative side of what has happened.


But in every bad situation there is always something good if we look hard enough.

Through trouble and strife we learn, we grow and evolve.

These hardships make us who we are, let us find out more about ourselves.

So in this sense, these hardships can be seen as a good thing.

By looking at it this way, we set our minds to a more positive mindset.

In this way we are less likely to be bogged down and be held back.

So look hard at the bad situation that you are in, find something good. Learn from it and grow.

Put the past behind you

When things have gone wrong in the past, it is very easy and natural to allow our lives to be clouded in a negative way by these events.


But the past is just that, the past. We should try to move on without fear into a better future without these memories holding us back.

Some people use these past events as a solid barrier, beyond which they can not move.

But this barrier is of their own making, so they can also make the choice to tear it down and to surge forward.

The past will never be forgotten, but we must try to fulfill our lives, hopes, dreams and wishes with positivity, rather that dwelling and living in a negative and destructive mindset.

So put the past behind you and move forward with purpose and a positive mind.

Prolific Academic review

I came across Prolific Academic last year. It is a site where you can earn money for completing studies.


In it's own words, Prolific Academic is a website where you can 'Earn rewards while helping to advance human knowledge.'

Studies are posted by university academics to help them with their course work.

These studies are quite different from the usual survey offerings.

They are always varied and interesting and often give your brain a real work out.

They are also better paid than the usual run of the mill surveys. Most studies pay a minimum of £5 per hour, some pay more.

The studies vary in time from just a few minutes, up to longer ones that may take an hour or more.

Payment is via Paypal at £5. They do charge a small fee for payments, although if you wait until your account reaches £20 before cashing out, this can be avoided.

I have been paid numerous times with no problems so far.

The studies do keep you on your toes. Many contain quality control checks, to ensure that you are paying attention and not simply clicking through randomly.

As these studies are for academics, I don't mind this, because it ensures that the data that they receive is of a good quality and can be used for their coursework.

Overall, Prolific Academic is one of my favourite sites. They pay well, the studies are always interesting and I also get the satisfaction of knowing that I have helped somebody with their studies.

If you would like to join the Prolific Academic family, please click here:

Prolific Academic

But still I feel lonely

It's a brand new day. I sit in my chair, Watching the children on their way to school. They look at me brightly, waving and smiling. I wave and smile back.


But still I feel lonely.

The carer comes, brings me tea and biscuits. She sits on my bed. We chat, about what life was like when I was a child. So, so many years ago, it's like another life. She goes about her work.

But still I feel lonely.

It's visiting time. My family come, grandchildren running and laughing. They jump on my bed, give me kisses and hugs. Soon it's time for them to go.

But still I feel lonely.

The nurse comes. Take up a hobby she says, maybe knitting. But my eyes are tired and my fingers are stiff. She stops and she talks, about hobbies she has. Then off she goes.

But still I feel lonely.

Next week I'll be ninety, a good age, so everyone says. But sat in this home, with nothing to do, What's the point in living so long? I sit and I think about the wonderous life I have led. I look out of my window, see the sun set.

But still I feel lonely!

Spring cleaning your life

How many times have you got to the end of a non stop day, looked back and wondered what you have achieved?


You've been busy, but have you actually done anything meaningful and important?

Often, as we go through life, we 'collect' activities and they become ingrained in our daily routine.

As time goes on, these activities can begin to take over, to dominate our lives.

We can get to a point were we just don't have enough hours in the day to do it all, and we can begin to feel completely overwhelmed.

We spring clean our homes, clearing the clutter, making it feel light and airy.

So why not do the same with our lives.

Examine the things, the rituals that you do each day.

Are they still important? Do they achieve anything meaningful? Would you really miss them if you stopped?

If the answer to any of the above is no, then maybe it is time to let the activity go.

By letting go of these redundant rituals, we leave space to breathe, space to rest, space to just be and enjoy life.

So set to and spring clean your life, give yourself permission to stop doing unnecessary things and enjoy a new, more uncluttered life today.

Give to receive

As we go through life, we will often come across a situation where someone asks for our help.


Often, as we give this help, we can't help thinking about what benefit it will bring to us.

Our aid can bring much needed help and comfort to somebody, so it is right to feel the need to get something material in return?

There are times when this can be appropriate, but for the most part, we should give for the pleasure of helping, embracing the warm feeling that comes from helping others.

If we live a life of love and compassion, giving help where needed, then we will be rewarded well.

Not in the material sense of being rewarded with 'things', but in the spiritual sense.

By selflessly giving, we will have lifted our higher self into a different realm.

We will become rich with compassion, our lives will benefit, we will become better people with better souls.

So give today, enrich both your life and the lives of others.

Give, grow, flourish.

I need a new laptop!

I need a new laptop!
No word of a lie.
For I think that this one,
Will very soon die!

All through the day,
It crashed and it froze!
No longer a young un,
It adds to my woes!

Ten years old?
Said the man in the store.
It's past it's best date
You need something more.

Line upon line.
I look and I stare,
At many laptops,
On the shelf over there!

So young and so clean,
Fast and pristine!

Oh, such a cost!
But without a new toy,
I'd surely be lost!

Windows 8,
That's what they're selling,
They say it's quite good,
But on the price I'm still dwelling!


I look and I puzzle!
All tiles and blocks,
My old, addled brain,
This system it mocks!

I part with my money,
And take home my baby.
But will I now use it,
Well perhaps, just maybe.

It's purple you know,
A colour I love,
Can we get on?
Will we fit like a glove?

I cry with despair
Oh, windows 8,
How do you work!
You I'm starting to hate!

Perhaps in a day,
Maybe a week,
I'll get you well trained,
And then you'll be meek.

I'll try and I'll suss,
Which will be quite a plus!
Then some clever young men,
Will upgrade you to ten!

The Dentist!

No, I must face my fear,
Sit in the chair!
To cancel now,
Would not be quite fair!

So down I sit,
Oh, what a fright!
That light above
It is far, far too bright!

A pair of glasses I do don,
To dim the glow,
So we can get on!

My teeth are sound,
But the dentist has found
Some scale and grot!
She says,
Healthy it's not!

So out comes the cleaner,
Boy it is loud!
And the water is cold!
If I may be so bold!

But now it's all done,
My teeth are more white,
And just for a while.
I have a dazzling smile.

I rise and I go.
relieved that it's done!
Going to the dentist,
Isn't much fun!

Encouragement

When we are trying to do a task that is challenging, it is lovely when somebody gives us kind words of encouragement.


It makes us feel loved, worthwhile and gives us a warm glow of pride.

Next time that you see somebody struggling, worrying that they can't do a task, remember how you felt when you received those words of encouragement.

Give the person encouragement in a loving, kind way.

Instead of telling them that they can not do a task, give them positive words, share the feelings of hope and love.

Encouragement is such a strong thing, it gives a mindset which sets us up to succeed in our quests.

So encourage both yourself and others and see productivity and self worth soar.

Cloud watching

I flop down on the cool, lush grass. I turn my face to the sky, drinking in the warmth of the summer sky.

My mind wanders, my body relaxes. The fluffy, fine weather clouds scud across the endless blue.

Shapes form and change within the clouds. There's a bunny! It fades and changes.


Now it's a fire breathing dragon, flying high in the blue. Faces, animals, they come and go.

I could lie here all day, making up stories in my head with the forms that I see.

My imagination runs amok, a smile plays on my lips as a dolphin jumps and plays in the azure sea.

But I must leave, I have things to do in the real world. I must share my thoughts with like minded people...............like you dear reader.

Switch off!

In these days of technology, we always seem to be connected, available.

Whilst this is good in some ways, it never gives us a chance to truly relax.

Text messages, telephone calls, e-mails, television and radio. They all bombard us, demanding our attention.

It is important to switch off all technology occasionally, because this is the only way that we can be truly alone.

This may be a difficult thing for us to do, as there is always the worry that we may miss out on something important.

But will we really? Text messages, e-mail and voice mail will still be there, waiting for us on our return.

Take some time out, enjoy being by yourself, without the interruptions.

Rediscover peace and quiet, it is something that we rarely have in this technological age.

Filling surveys!

 

I turn on my laptop,

And smile with such glee!

Lots and lots of surveys,

Are waiting there for me.

I start with a gusto,

Some money for to make,

I'm going to enjoy this.

But that was a mistake!

Half an hour has passed,

This is becoming quite a bore.

My fingers they are aching,

My head's become so sore!

Yet another pops in,

Do you clean your oven?

Not if I can help it!

Just call me a sloven!

I've nearly finished this one

93% there!

The screen flashes SCREENOUT!

Oh surely, that's not fair?

On I do type,

Thinking of money!

Will I make lots?

Oh that is so funny.

Because filling in surveys,

A millionaire won't make,

But they just might pay,

For a nice slice of cake!

So I sit and I type,

Until I get bored,

A few pounds today,

I have just scored!

Be an inspiration

 In life it is natural to look up to people that we admire, to be inspired by them.


We see the good things that they have done and it inspires us to try to achieve more in our own life in.

In return, we can then inspire others.

Inspiration is a powerful force. It gives us the drive to achieve our dreams. And when others see us succeeding, we can become their inspiration.

If we go through tough times in life and come out of the end of that dark, long tunnel into the light, we show others that anything is possible.

So don't just be inspired by others, be that person that others look to for inspiration.

Be a positive, bright light in the darkness to light the way for others.

Helping others

By helping others, you also help and learn about yourself too.

When you teach somebody, you learn yourself.

When you encourage somebody, it also encourages you.

By helping others, not only will you make a difference to somebody else's life, you will also be enriching your own.

You will be helping to make the world a better place, and making yourself a better person at the same time.

It doesn't have to be something big, even the smallest of things can make a big difference to both yourself and those around you.

So reach out and help others today, and every day.

Aloneness and Loneliness

They sound similar, but are they?


When we are on our own, we can be happy.

For example if you live a life of hustle and bustle, when you get a chance to be alone it can be a happy experience to treasure.

Therefore, being alone in itself is not necessarily loneliness, although if a person does not like being alone, then it can lead to it.

Loneliness, however, can happen even if we are surrounded by people.

How many times have you felt lonely in a room full of people?

This is usually because we find it difficult to interact with these people. Which may be because we have nothing n common, or just because we do not want to interact with them.

Aloneness is an important part of our lives. It allows us to grow and learn about ourselves, whereas loneliness is something that we should try to avoid if possible.

The climb

Her breath came in ragged gasps, her chest burned with each breath. But she could not stop, she had to keep climbing.

How she longed to stop, to rest. To take a long draught of cool water to ease her parched throat.

The loose shale moved and shifted beneath her feet, causing her to stumble and fall. The pointed shards grazed her hands, making her cry out with pain.

On she climbed, the top growing ever nearer. A few minutes later, she reached her goal – the summit.

She stopped! She turned and looked back. They were right, the view from here was fantastic.

She pulled her camera from her backpack and started to take photos, smiling with joy.

She looked at her watch! Time to start back.

Why, oh why didn't she catch the earlier cable car up the mountain. Then she wouldn't have had to run the last 100 metres to the summit before the light failed.

Natural highs

When you want to boost your mood, feel better, wake you up, what do you do?

Reach for a glass of wine? Smoke a cigarette? Have a cup of coffee?


In the short term, these things make us feel better, stimulate or calm us make us feel more alive, but in the long term, if we abuse them, they can lead to ill health.

There are other ways of boosting us that are much better for us and even have a beneficial effect on our bodies.

Putting on some music and dancing around the house or going for a walk, for example.

These sorts of activities release happy hormones in our body and also make us fitter through exercise.

So instead of relying on drugs, get a high naturally, live life, enjoy better health and care for your body.

We are who we are

There are times in life when people make snap judgments about us.


This may be about how we look, how we think or the abilities that we have.

Often these judgments are incorrect, and this can lead to resentment and bad feelings.

We know who we are and what we are capable of, and we should not let people intimidate or bully us into doing something that we either know that we cannot do or that we do not want to do.

We should also stand up for ourselves when we know that we are capable of carrying out a task and somebody tells us otherwise.

We should find our inner courage and confidence to say no to something that is either wrong or unfair.

We are who we are, and we should hold our heads high and be proud of who we are and what we have achieved in our life.

Choose wisely

Every day we are faced with choices.

These could be minor, inconsequential choices, like what to have for tea, or which chocolate to choose from the box.

But there are other choices which are far more important and could have a big impact on our lives.

It is import, therefore, to try to choose wisely.

Whilst it doesn't matter if we chose a coffee cream, only to find that we hate it, choosing to do something that endangers our well being should be thought through thoroughly.

So instead of choosing quickly, without thought, weigh up your options, choose carefully and get the most out of your life.

The passage of time

How the years fly by. It doesn't seem as though it was many weeks ago that it was Christmas, and here we are with the Summer fast approaching.

I'm sure that as we get older, the passage of time speeds up.

When I was young, days seemed to stretch ahead, unraveling themselves slowly and delightfully.

But now, they seem to be over in the blink of an eye.

No sooner have I got up, than it seems that it is bedtime once more.

We must remember to enjoy each day and live I to the full, because we never know which will be our last.

So, instead of spending the day doing mundane tasks today, I intend to get out and enjoy the world.

Hopefully I have many, many years left yet, but somehow, today, it seems the right thing to do.

Freedom

We are lucky enough to live in a time when most people on this Earth have a good deal of freedom.

But just because we have this freedom, it does not mean that we should use it without thought.

We should use it wisely, being mindful of how our actions will affect both ourselves and the people around us.

We should also never get to the point of taking our freedom for granted.

It should be seen as a way of enriching our lives and the lives of those around us.

Freedom should not be used as a weapon to hurt others without reason.

Just because we have it, it does not mean that we have the right to abuse it.

Use freedom constructively, to enhance your life and give you the opportunities to grow and learn.

Heat!

The sweat trickles down into my eyes, stinging and burning. The sun is just so hot! I push on, striving, struggling.

My body aches, my legs feel like lead. But I must go on, I cannot afford to stop! People are relying on me. I must keep going.

I have a headache from the heat radiating down upon me. My throat feels so dry. I need a long, cool drink to soothe my parched mouth.

I imagine stepping into a cool stream, feeling the water refreshing and revitalizing me. Ah, that would feel so good.

My feet are burning. Bare feet on hot sand! The sun ripples off of the white sand, looking like water. Oh, how I wish it was real but it is just a cruel illusion.

I can see my destination now. Just one last push and it will be all over.

I reach the end. I flop down, my body craving release.

Immediately I am beset. They pull at my arms, my body, wanting, wanting.

I give the children their ice creams, they retire to the cool darkness of the beach tent, happy smiles on their faces as they devour their treats.

I sit and smile, enjoying my own lolly.

Oh, I so love summer holidays at the beach

Let go!

 We all carry around a lot of thoughts, feelings and emotions that colour our everyday life.

Often these help us along our way, shaping the way in which we live our lives.

But sometimes we carry around thoughts that hold us back, stopping us from reaching our true potential.

There comes a time when we should consciously make the decision to let go of these thoughts, feelings and emotions.

They hold us back, drag us down with their weight, make us angry or sad, poison our life.

Although we should not forget, because valuable lessons will have been learned from these situations, we must learn to let go of this excess baggage, to set ourselves free, feel light.

So make that choice today.........let go!

Dreams, goals and wishes

We all have a dream, we all have wishes, we all have goals.

Each day, we should set aside a minute or two to remind ourselves of what it is that we are reaching for. To set ourselves back on track.

These dreams, these goals are some of the things that keep us motivated in life, keep us moving forward.

Without these dreams and goals, we can easily slip into a state whereby we get through each day, existing, rather than living.

Keep hold of that goal, that dream. Keep it fresh in your mind. Keep it within arms length. Never let it go.

That way, each day, it will come closer and closer until finally you can grasp it firmly within your hand.

What are you doing today?

What have you got planned for today? Anything special?


Each and every day is special and precious and today is no different.

It is a chance to make a fresh start and put old regrets behind you.

It is up to each and every one of us to make today count.

To live it in a way which is uplifting and filled with joy.

We should stop waiting for something special to come along and go out and find that thing ourselves.

The only thing stopping you from making today count is yourself.

So go out there and grab the day and squeeze as much joy and positive action out of it as you can.