A positive frame of mind

When we are in a positive frame of mind, we are much more likely to succeed in our endeavors.


If we see only the downsides and the negative aspects of a task that we are working on, then we are more likely to fail.

It is important, therefore, to enter into tasks, with the mindset that we will succeed.

If we see ourselves succeeding or solving this situation in our mind's eye, then our brain will automatically see that things are are able to work out well.

If we see ourselves failing, we put ourselves in a losing situation before we even start.

So remember, before you start any endeavor or project, focus on having a 'can do' attitude and you are much more likely to get things done to your satisfaction.

Physical relaxation

When we hear the word 'relax', we often envisage sitting or lying down and doing nothing. That, of course, is very nice on occasion.


But it is also possible to relax whilst being physically active. Take for example swimming, or dancing.

Both of these are mentally relaxing, but will also stimulate the body.

Rather than relaxing idly, think about ways in which you could relax actively.

Even a simple walk will relax your mind, whilst giving your body some needed exercise.

So try some physical relaxation today – it's good for both body and mind.

Don't waste a second

Our days upon this Earth are numbered. Time will pass. Whether we use this time wisely or just fritter it away is up to us.


Once time is gone, it is gone. There is no going back.

As we cannot reclaim time, we should begin to use it wisely in order to get the most out of our lives.

Everyone has a different idea of what is important to them, but the most important thing is to make the time to do the things that matter to you and your loved ones.

It is easy to put things, off, say that we will do it tomorrow, but we never know for certain if that tomorrow will ever come.

So use that time, fill it with memories, happiness, joy and love. Don't waste a second.

What a lovely day!

What a lovely day.
It makes me want to go play.
The sun is high,
The washing is dry.

The birds they do fly,
High up in the sky.
Those two are happy...........
Oh my!

My book I do read,
Until a cuppa I need.
Then outside I run,
To watch kids having fun.

I sit in my garden
And ponder a bit.
Can I write a poem,
This day perhaps to fit?

Yes, with much ease,
I hope it will please.
Will it make you think, Fun!
I hope so....
then my job here is done.

A day in the life of a beach

The inky blackness of night gives way to the first glimmer of dawn Sea laps against sandy shore, whispering of the promise of a new day. The sun rises, it's golden tendrils hinting at warmth yet to come. The day feels washed clean. The only witness to this daily miracle is a lone man walking his dog


Mid morning - the sun is high and the air is warm. People swarm, like ants, bringing towels and shelters. Babies feel the cold caress of the ocean on their feet for the first time. Toddlers run and scream, playing in the waves.

Mid day – sandwiches and sausage rolls. Cake and crisps. Energy is needed for more fun and games. Maybe an ice or two, just as a treat.

Early afternoon – Lazy languishing. Magazines and books are read. Children and parents snooze in the afternoon warmth.

Surfers arrive. Paddling out into the blue of the ocean. Like artificial seals, clad in rubber. They catch the waves, feeling the wind against their faces as they hurtle to shore.

Mid afternoon – people begin to leave. Chattering excitedly about their evening plans. Children are tired, some cry, because they want to stay here for ever.

Dusk – lovers walk hand in hand talking about their hopes and plans. Sitting side by side, watching as the sun slips once more towards the sea.

Night – The last golden rays fade. Darkness falls once more. Nobody is there, the beach once more whispers it's secrets. Tomorrow is another day, come and play, come and play!

Just one minute more!

The water is hot, The bubbles are sweet.

I'm taking my time, Relaxing is neat!

The children are out, The door it is shut. But..............

Is that a knock that I hear?

Who's that at the door?

This is my time, Oh this is so poor!

Can't you give me Just one minute more?

My body is clean, Should I get out?

No, I don't want to, I'm being quite mean.

My bones were so sore, But now they feel better. I stay and I soak.

Just one minute more!

I sigh and I think, About chores I must do.

I must wash the floor, Tidy the house!

But please, Can I have, Just one minute more!

Stepping out of your comfort zone

We are creatures of habit, doing things that we feel comfortable with, things in our own personal comfort zone.


But if we never step out of this comfort zone, we will find it more difficult to learn and to grow.

Stepping out could mean doing something new, or even listening with an open mind to somebody with a different idea or perspective on life.

Or even something as simple as cooking a new recipe for tea or trying out a new look.

All of these new things will give us great opportunity to learn more about ourselves, what we are capable of and could point us in a completely new direction in our life, that we hadn't previously thought about.

So step out of your comfort zone today, and try something new, you may be pleasantly surprised.

My love

I look deeply into your eyes. They are the colour of cornflowers. So beautiful.

You look back at me, smiling, your lips looking so red, so luscious.

I just have to kiss them.

I nuzzle into the warm softness of your neck, breathing in your smell.

It makes me happier than I can express to be in your presence.
 
I look at your body. So perfect.

I stroke your hair. It's so soft - the colour of ripe corn.

I plant another kiss on your head.

You hold your arms out towards me.

I gather you to me, wanting to feel your embrace.

I love you baby girl, more than words can say.

Bit by bit

Sometimes the amount that we have to get done in a day seems too daunting.


We don't know where to start, or even if we want to start it at all.

But if we break things down into bite sized chunks, it doesn't seem so bad. Instead of seeing a project as a whole, look at how you can break it down into several smaller elements.

This makes the job look much easier, more attainable.

So instead of feeling overwhelmed by all of the big jobs that need doing, break them down and tackle them bit by bit.

Get going, and start clearing that to do list today - bit by bit.

Cleaning the floor!

I'm cleaning the house.
What should I listen to,
I thoughtfully think.
How about a bit of Pink!

The music makes the housework fly.
I sit and think And then I sigh!
Is that a speck of dust I spy?

Up I get, Oh, have a care.
There's yet more,
Under the sofa,
Over there!

So out it comes,
Oh, my how much fluff!
That really is,
Too much stuff!

Out comes the hoover,
To suck up the grot,
I never knew,
There was such a lot!

I think I'm there,
When under the piano,
I do stare.

There's dirt And there's dust!
Up again, of course I must.
It's a never ending chore,
When you're cleaning the floor!

Regrets and missed opportunities

What do you regret in life?


Do you wish that you had taken that better paid job when you had the chance, do you wish that you had taken a different course of action in a certain situation.

Do you wish that you had done that boring chore yesterday when you had the time?

Not acting on things can lead to regrets in the future. We will regret those missed opportunities, those things that you never got around to doing, those things that you let get away through inaction.

We should live each day, fill it with effort, grab opportunities and work towards a better life wherever possible.

At the end of each day, we should be able to look back, knowing that we did the most that we could.

We will have the sense of satisfaction in knowing that we have cleared the way to a better tomorrow.

Seeing beauty

The world around us is a beautiful place if we just stop and take the time to look.


There is beauty in the smallest of things. The way a droplet of water sparkles in the sunshine.

The perfection of a flower, right up to the biggest things, like the majesty of the mountains, the blue of the ocean.

Instead of going through our lives unseeing, we should take the time to marvel in these beautiful things.

No matter where we are, where we live, there is always something beautiful to see.

All we have to do is open our eyes and take the time to look.

So take the time today to stop and look and find beauty in the everyday life around you.

Keeping on track

Sometimes, when we are working on a goal, we get side tracked and lose sight of what needs to be done to achieve it.


It is a good idea to take a step back from time to time, and check that we are actually still on the right track.

If we deviate too much, we will find ourselves straying away from our main aim.

Sometimes we learn from these deviations, but sometimes they just waste valuable time that could be spent better elsewhere.

Time is precious and needs to be spent in a way that gains us the most.

So evaluate your goals often and keep on track. Enjoy the journey, but never lose sight of the destination for too long.

Be kind to yourself

Everybody fails at some point in their life, or doesn't do as well at something as they would have liked to done.


But being angry with yourself for a long period of time will make it harder for you to move forward and learn from you experiences.

This anger is a negative emotion and it will hinder you from growth.

So be kind to yourself. Admit that you made a mistake, or didn't do as well as you would have liked, put it behind you and learn how to do better the next time.

When it comes to trying again, or finding yourself in a similar situation, you will be in a more positive frame of mind about things and will be more likely to succeed and do your best.

Do you believe in mediums?

There are people in this world who claim to be able to talk to those who have died and to pass on their messages to the living to give comfort and hope.


Some people believe in what mediums do, others see them as preying on the vulnerable to get money from them.

I have been to see many mediums in action and I have seen some that are, quite frankly, fishing for clues and snatching at every small piece of information that the living give them and running with it.

I have also seen mediums who give meaningful, exact messages and minute details that they could not have known unless they had researched the person in depth.

Personally, I do believe in mediums, because I am one.

But I would say to anyone that is looking to use one, be very careful, do your homework and make sure that you are choosing a good one.

A local Spiritualist church is a good place to ask for advice on good, local mediums, as they will have seen both the good and the bad.

Choose wisely and you will get a true message, providing that the Spirits are in a talkative mood.

Explore the possibilities

As we go through life and grow older, we begin to worry about what the future will hold for us. Will we be able to care for ourselves? Will we be in poor health?


But instead of dwelling on the problems which might occur, we should explore the possibilities that it brings to us.

There are many new and exciting paths that open for us as we grow older.

New friendships, new hobbies, more free time to enjoy ourselves.

No matter what our situation is in life there are always new experiences waiting for us to find.

So instead of looking at growing older as a negative thing, we should explore the possibilities and look forward to it with joy.

Storm clouds

I love this place. It's just a short walk from home, but it's so quiet, it's my respite from a busy, noisy world. My place to recharge my batteries.


I sit upon the top of the hill, looking out at the view. In the distance I see dark, heavy storm clouds growing. They are brooding, hinting at their inner power.

The wind begins to rise, it's warm tendrils playing and teasing my hair. I turn my head towards it, revelling in it's coolness after the heat of the Summer afternoon.

I hear the first distant rumble, answered a few seconds later by another, louder crash. Then the sky is rent by the electric blue dart of lightening.

I feel the first light pattering of rain upon my face.

The storm grows, drawing ever closer. The thunder rumbling like a bad tempered lion. I sit and watch. I love to watch storms, but this one is growing into a prowling monster. It's strength builds by the minute.

I feel a harsh, icy sting, then another and another. Hailstones!

I decide that I have stayed long enough and turn to run towards the sanctuary of home.

The voices

She lay quietly in her bed, waiting, wishing for sleep to come. If only the voices in her head would still themselves. Whispers taunted her, speaking about things that she knew nothing of.


She was so sleepy, wanted peace and quiet so badly. Why me, she thought. Why is this happening to me?

She had heard the voices ever since she was a tiny. They had been her constant companion throughout her life.

As a child, she had learnt to keep their presence to herself, for fear of being thought mad by her parents.

But now that she was older, she understood. She was listening to the voices of the multitude of souls that had left this Earth.

Many had said that she was lucky, that this was a gift. But it was a gift with mixed blessings. Yes, certainly, she never felt alone, there was always someone to talk to, but, oh how sweet it would be to hear only silence.

She laid, watching the hands of the clock tick by yet another hour. She pressed her hands to her ears, although she knew that it would not quieten them, for the voices where within her, not without.

Finally she dozed into a fitful sleep, finally falling into the dark, quiet abyss of slumber. Tomorrow was another day. And as sure as the sun rises, the voices would be waiting for her.

Time

When I was little, the school summer holidays used to stretch out before me, long and exciting.


They seemed to last forever. Each day was filled with fun. Playing outside with my friends, going on bike rides, playing on the swings.

Family holidays also seemed to last a long time, with endless days spent playing on the beach and in the surf.

But as I've got older, things seem to have changed. Days, weeks, months, years seem to rush by.

Its' the start of July, and to me, it doesn't seem many weeks ago that it was last Christmas!

Family holidays pass in a blur. It seems that no sooner have we arrived, that it's time to go home again.

So, does time really speed up? Or are we just so caught up in everything that we need to do each day that it seems that way..

Time is time, a minute has always lasted a minute. No more, no less. Maybe it is our perception of it that changes as we age.

Mum

You gave me breath,
You gave me life.
In my darkest hours,
Through trouble and strife.

You mopped my brow,
Wiped my tears.
Comforted me,
Throughout my fears.

You smile,
You care,
You laugh,
Are always there.

When days where dark,
And fear took flight.
Your arms comforted me.
In the darkness of the night.

As I grew,
You supported me,
You gave me joy.
Made me feel free.

You made me think,
You made me learn.
A special, love,
A special link.

And throughout the days
And endless night,
You gave me love.
My ever guiding light.

So today,
And every day,
I say I love you Mum
And hug you tight.

Wealth

What does the word 'Wealth' mean to you?


Does it mean having a full wallet and a large bank account?

To me, wealth means the richness of my life and the world around me.

A person could be a millionaire on paper, but still be poor.

Money is necessary, but it doesn't make you life wealthy.

Only the way in which you conduct your life can do that.

Living a life of novelty and change, helping others and being a good and kind person will bring you wealth beyond your wildest dreams.

Start making deposits into your wealth bank today and reap the rewards of a rich and full life for many years to come.

The hunt

 Over fields and woods she flies, as silent as a falling snow flake. Her bright, sharp eyes scan the ground, looking for her prey.


She soars and swoops, seeing everything, hearing the slightest whisper through the long grass below.

She spies a mouse, weaving it's way through the forest of green. The tiny creature sees her, it's eyes as bright and shiny as ripe blackberries.

It runs for it's life, as she grows nearer, ever nearer. On and on it runs, it's tiny legs scuttling. It is within sight of it's home.

The owl grows larger swooping down, it's talons extended before it. Reaching, reaching for it's supper.

Nothing else exists in the lives of the owl and mouse but the instinct to survive. The world around them stands still.

The mouse is within inches of it's home, it's breath comes faster, with a hope renewed. The owl races towards it! Who will win?

The mouse reaches within itself, finding one last reserve of energy and it leaps forward, to safety.

The owl grasps at thin air, lets out a shriek and flies back into the inky black of the sky, once more hunting for it's next meal.

Grow through challenges

As we go through our lives, we meet many challenges.


Some of these challenges are joyous, bringing us happiness and love, and others are quite the opposite, bringing hardship and upset.

How we rise to these challenges shapes us into the person that we are today and helps us to grow and learn.

With every challenge, we grow stronger and gain confidence in our own ability to cope.

We should view each new challenge as an opportunity and tackle it to the best of our ability.

View each challenge as a positive action, even if it involves trouble and hardship.

Because even if we do fail, we will have still learned a valuable lesson and will cope better next time we encounter a similar challenge.

Dirty dog!

Sitting on the sofa,
I'm having a ponder.
What's that smell!
It's coming from yonder.

I look across,
And what do I see,
I big smelly dog,
Looking at me.

A bath now is needed,
With soap and a hose,
Then perhaps you'll be kinder,
Upon my own nose.

To the garden we go,
To soap and to wash,
The water's so dirty,
Oh dear and oh gosh!

You now look quite clean,
I'll give you a hug.
Ewww, what's that stuck there,
Oh no, it's a slug!

I towel you quite dry
You don't seem too bright,
For to a dog,
Being clean is not right!

So, you smell now so sweet.
But how long will it last?
No, I think I can bet!
That you'll roll in the mud,
And get rather wet!