The Castle

Come on guys, hurry up! It was the middle of the school summer holidays and Jenny had taken the kids out for the day to visit a castle.

The children, who had been playing on the castle lawn ran towards her, smiling.

Jenny set out the picnic and they all sat in the bright summer sun, eating and talking about what they had seen.

Ben chatted about the dungeons. Mum, they were so dark and smelly and damp! I wouldn't want to have lived down there!

Jenny smiled and agreed, saying that she didn't think that anybody would want to live there out of choice.

Chloe told her Mum that she had been looking at the dresses in the big hall.

Mum, she said, I was looking at a really pretty dress and I saw a little slip of paper poking out, so I took it.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out the small piece of paper and handed it to her Mum.

Oh, it's a receipt from the castle restaurant, said Jenny.

She took the piece of paper and turned it over. Something is written on the back, she said.

She put on her glasses and peered at the writing. It's a phone number, she said! And a note saying how much the person had enjoyed their tea and chat yesterday.

Hmm, I wonder if we should ring it! It could be important.

The children clamoured. Yes, yes, go on, ring it!

Jenny dialled the number. An elderly man answered. She explained about the receipt and how her daughter had found it tucked into the dress.

The man laughed and explained.

He was a volunteer at the castle and every day, an elderly woman visited and always stopped and admired the dress.

He had admired her from a distance for quite some time, and they had met up the day before in the restaurant for a chat and a cup of tea.

He knew that she would be back, as usual today, so he had written his telephone number on the back of the receipt and tucked it into the dress that she so admired before he had left for the day.

Jenny smiled, thinking about how romantic the note was. She assured the man that she would put it back where Chloe had found it.

There, it was tucked back, safe and sound.

A short time later an elegant elderly woman walked into the hall. She stood admiring the dress. She saw the edge of the paper poking out, and curiously pulled it out.

She looked at the receipt, turned it over and read the back.

A smile formed on her lips. She put the slip of paper into her pocket and walked away.

Take time out

Our days are filled to the brim with things that need to be done.

We rush from task to task, trying to get it all completed.

But we must remember to take some time out, to rest and recharge our batteries.

Time out is not wasted time, it is necessary for our well being.

If we do not take some time out from time to time, we will find that we tire easily, become less happy.

What we do in our time out is up to us. As long as it is something that we like and that rejuvenates us, then it is good.

Some people like their time out to be filled with action and adventure, while others prefer to take it easy.

So whether it's bungee jumping, mountain climbing, a visit to the spa or simply reading a good book, enjoy your time away from your normal routine.

Relax, revive, refresh.

What will you do today?

Each day is a new chance to fill your life with meaningful things.

How we fill this day is up to us. We could fill it with routine, mundane things, or we could fill it with exciting adventures.

If in a years time we looked back upon this day, what would our thoughts be?

Would we be happy with what we had achieved, or would we think that it was just a normal, boring day.

We can't change what we did yesterday, how we filled our day, but we can give conscious thought to what we are going to do today.

So instead of just drifting through the day, use it as a chance to make positive memories, to create joy.

Make today a day that you can look back on, knowing that you made it the best that it could be.

Make their day

How often do you take the time to make someone's day?

The chances are that is isn't very often.

We rush through our days, filling them with what needs to be done, which often doesn't give us much time or inclination to do anything else.

But the simplest of acts can really make a difference to those around us.

A smile to a stranger, a random act of kindness, doing something for a friend just because we can.

These small acts can bring so much joy, both to the recipient and to yourself.

These acts should not be done in order to make yourself look good, or to recieve something in return, but just for the sheer, heartfelt joy of making a difference to somebody's day.

So go on, make somebody's day today. Be the one that makes the difference.

The changing of the seasons

On my walk this morning, I noticed that the the weather has taken on a distinctly Autumnal feel.

The spider's webs are bejewelled with dew, showing their delicate intricacy and the leaves on the trees are starting to turn beautiful colours.

Crane flies are dancing their waltz, filling the lawn with movement.

Children will soon hunt for conkers amid the fallen leaves, kicking through them in glee.

Very soon the mellowness of Autumn will turn into the crisp coldness of Winter as the cycle of the seasons continues.

How very quickly the years roll by in this fashion, showing our wonderful planet in its infinite beauty.

Our lives also rush by, changing, evolving, just like the world around us.

Time is relentless, it will pass no matter how we use it.

It is our choice to either use it fruitfully or to fritter it away.

But whatever we do with it, one thing is certain, we can never reclaim what has passed.

So use your time wisely, for this lifetime is precious and can never be relived.

How do you keep going?

When times get rough, when everything about you is falling apart, how do you keep going?

You could hide away, hoping that the bad things will pass, or you could fight and keep moving.

But how do you keep going, when all you want to do is give up?

The answer is to take small, meaningful steps forwards.

Even when life is at its worst, when everything is bleak, it is still important to take those baby steps.

By doing so, you will become stronger, motivated to see what comes next.

Trust in yourself and your abilities, your strengths.

Don't give up, keep moving, after all you have been doing so all of your life so far, and you have come a very long way, growing and evolving along the way into the person that you are today.

Keep going, keep moving, keep growing.

Grab them while you can

Each day brings new opportunities, more ways to have fun, grow and learn.

But these opportunities are often fleeting, appearing and disappearing rapidly.

Often we shy away from new things, because we have failed or been hurt in the past.

But we should see these past events as an opportunity to learn and grow, rather than as a negative thing that hurt us.

It is natural not to want to try something again if it didn't work out last time, but if we do not try again, how do we know if we can succeed second time around.

If we do not challenge ourselves, embrace change, then we will never move forward into new and exciting chapters of our lives.

So if one of these fleeting opportunities comes your way, instead of being afraid, give it a go.

There may not be anything to lose, but plenty to gain.

5 ages of love

We've only just met,
In the first flush of love,
We fit together,
Like hands in a glove.

T'is easy right now,
When we're newly two,
Gazing so lovingly,
To say I love you!

We've been together a while,
A few years at most,
Holding hands and chatting,
Over Mum's Sunday roast!

Maybe a little more thought,
A present or two,
Some roses and chocs,
To say I love you.

We're married now,
Two years to the day
Got our own home,
Bills to pay.

Like ships in the night,
We pass each other by,
To say I love you,
On holiday we fly.

Ten years more,
Children have come,
We are so tired,
Our brains have gone numb!

A kiss and a cuddle
Is all we can feel
To say I love you,
We go for a meal!

Many years more,
And the children have flown,
A pensioner couple,
They creak and they groan.

They visit the Grandkids,
Smile with glee,
For without their love,
They wouldn't have me.

You deserve it!

When we have had a busy day, got a lot done, finished a task, we deserve a treat, something to reward ourselves for a job well done.

Sometimes we feel guilty for indulging ourselves this way, but why should we?

By giving ourselves a little pleasure as a reward, we set up a positive feeling and are more likely to take the time and effort to do good work in the future.

These rewards do not need to be expensive and indulgent. Small things can work just as well - a bar of our favourite chocolate, watching a favourite film, enjoying a glass of something nice.

We can also set ourselves a reward in advance for when we finish a task. This way we are more likely to stay on track and finish the task because we have something to look forward to.

So don't feel guilty about treating yourselves to a treat or reward - you have earned it!

Inner knowledge

This morning, I got up, turned on my computer brought up my blog and thought - I don't know what to write about!

I sat here and thought about my life and what knowledge I had that I could share.

I realised that I have so much to share, so much that will hopefully be of comfort and help to others.

Everyone has this wealth, this store of knowledge within them, we all have much to share.

Even in the most desperate of  moments, we can draw on this internal knowledge to help us through, to help others through.

So if you are sitting here, reading this thinking that you have nothing to give, think again.

You are special, unique, with your own store of invaluable knowledge.

Even on the darkest of days, you can use it to bring a bright beam of light into the darkest corners of your life.

Look beyond

It is very easy to get wrapped up in ourselves and forget about what is going on in the wider world.

When times are difficult, we retreat into ourselves, cutting off from the outside world.

But its at just these hard times when we should remember to look beyond, see what is out there.

By looking beyond ourselves, we may well find help and guidance in the most unexpected of places.

This help and guidance could be the very thing that we need to get us moving forward again.

We all deserve to get the best out of life, to enjoy ourselves, and if we do not reach out, we may be missing out on so much joy and knowledge.

So if you have isolated yourself, make an effort today to look beyond yourself and to reach out.

Stretch yourself and your possibilities and be the best that you can.

Forgive

How often have you held on to a grudge? How does it make you feel? Does it make life feel better?

Holding on to a grudge requires a lot of effort - we have to constantly think about it, relive it.

Often we hold a grudge because we think that someone has taken advantage of us, benefited at our expense.

We feel angry.

But should we continue to use this negative energy to keep the grudge alive?

Life is short, we have a very limited time on this Earth and we should not waste time and energy in holding on to grudges.

We should try to forgive, to move on.

Forgiving somebody is very liberating. It means that we let go of the negative feelings, lighten our life.

This does not mean that we will forget what happened, but merely that we have learned and let go of our anger.

So try to forgive those who have wronged you, liberate yourself, and leave yourself free to enjoy life once more.

Pain

We think of pain as a negative thing, something to avoid.

But pain is there to teach us, which can be seen as a positive thing.

If we touch something hot, it will burn us. Pain has taught us a valuable lesson.

Never again will we put ourselves in that situation, thus avoiding further pain.

Pain can also be a warning within our body.

If we feel pain, then it is a sign that something is wrong.

We address the root of the pain and help our body to heal.

And then there is the pain of the loss of a friend or relative.

Although the pain feels bad, it is a sign that we have loved.

Without love, life would be a sad and barren place.

So we should see pain as a positive thing, something that can teach and guide us.

Although we can never embrace it, seeing its good side can make it easier to bear.

Goodbye

Michael sat in the dim house - his Mother's house!

He had put off the task of sorting through her belongings for too long. It was time to face up to it.

She had passed away a few months back, quietly in her own bed. If there was a good way to go, then that was it, he thought.

He opened draws and cupboards, making piles -  one for the charity shop,  one for the family to sort through, one for everything else.

A sound came to his ears. He stilled. It's just the house settling, he told himself.

He busied himself again, trying to keep on track and not let his emotions get the better of him.

Bang!

Surely that was Mum's bedroom door slamming?

He cautiously got up and walked upstairs.

The door was closed. Surely he had left it open earlier.

He opened it slowly and entered the room.

A scent wafted around him - Mum's perfume. But how? Where was it from?

He stood in the centre of the room, the hair rising on his arms, as he felt a breeze behind him.

He turned!

A golden mist swirled in the doorway. He watched in fear as it coalesced, took form - his Mother's form!

He stared, feeling confused. Fear and love mixed within him in equal measure.

She smiled at him and spoke.

'I love you son, I always will. Look after your sisters for me'

He smiled 'Yes Mum, of course I will. I love you'

She smiled back at him, and her form began to fragment back into twisting, golden mist, which hung in the air for a few seconds before evaporating into nothingness.

Michael stared at the place where she had stood, shaking with emotion.

'Goodbye Mum' He whispered, wiping the tears from his face.

Get on with it!

How long is your to do list? Does it ever get smaller, or do you just keep making excuses not to do things.

By not tackling all of those niggly little jobs that you have to do, you will feel more cluttered, and the more cluttered you feel, the less likely you are to be in a frame of mind to tackle things.

So instead of putting things off for another day, make today the day that you start to tackle that list.

Write down your tasks, with the important things at things at the top, going down to things that you would like to get done, but can wait a while at the bottom.

Once the list is made, get cracking.

Each time that you tick something off of your list, you will feel good, as another piece of mind clutter is swept away.

Keep at it, eating away at that list, don't let it get the better of you and before you know it, it will be down to a far more manageable size.

So what are you waiting for? Hop to it and get started.

A new start

Angela closed the door behind her, rubbed her aching back and looked around at the multitude of cardboard boxes surrounding her.

A house of her own! How long had she waited for this day.

She was looking forward to making it her home, surrounding herself with her special things.

But first things first! She went into the kitchen and made herself a cup of tea, carried it back into the lounge and sat on the floor.

Absent mindedly, she tore open the box nearest to her.

There, inside were her childhood mementos – the doll that her aunt had given her for her fifth birthday, the photos of her school friends, the teddy bear that she used to carry everywhere.

She sipped her tea, delving into her past, smiling as she pulled out each item.

Glancing around at the house, she smiled. Yes this place would make a perfect home, one that she could make her own.

The sudden death of her partner had certainly been well timed. The insurance money meant that she could move out of the tiny, damp rented flat that the had shared!

The police never did find out why he had died – but she knew!

Does it matter?

Quite often we can find ourselves getting wound up about things that are happening in our lives.

We can find ourselves feeling stressed and angry about all sorts of things and often the smallest, inconsequential thing can set us off.

At times like this, we need to take a step backwards and ask ourselves if this situation is really worth getting stressed about, does it really matter in the grand scheme of things?

Ask yourself, if I don't do this or walk away from this, will it still matter to me tomorrow or next week?

Often we will see that it will not, and that we have just over reacted because we are having a stressful time elsewhere in our life.

Move on and forget about it, don't focus on things that aren't important, don't worry about them.

So don't sweat the small stuff, relax, go with the flow and enjoy life.

Bedtime

When I was young,
I could party all night,
Then go to work,
Feeling alright!

But now that I am older,
If you can ken,
I like to be in bed,
At not long past ten.

There's a film on the telly,
I wanted to see,
But it finishes at eleven,
That's to late for me!

I go to a party,
I'm checking the time,
It's time for my bed!
I'm so past my prime!

I sip at my chocolate,
So sweet and sublime,
But there's times when I hanker,
For a nice glass of wine!

But one glass of wine,
On this I can swear,
I'll be up in the night,
To go you know where!
 
So with gown and with slippers,
Upstairs I do creep,
Longing for rest,
And a comfy long sleep!

A touch of sunshine

As we go through life, it seems as though at times we are bombarded with nothing but negativity.

Over time, this can drag us down, make us feel unhappy and negative.

It is important that we make a conscious effort each day to see the positive things and to add a touch of sunshine both to our lives and the lives of those around us.

Small, positive thoughts and actions can add light and positivity to even the most overcast, dour days.

Maybe it can be as simple as looking back at photos of happy times, or smiling and talking to somebody.

Being happy is something we can choose, despite bad things happening around us.

By giving ourselves a daily dose of happiness and positive thought, we will find that life is so much better, so much happier.

So go on add a touch  of sunshine to your life today and everyday.

Be positive, be bright, be happy.

I'm feeling fed up!

I'm feeling fed up!
Really I am!
I've got a bug,
And I'm sat on the sofa,
Wrapped in a rug!

My nose is blocked up,
My head it does ache,
I really do need,
Some aspirin to take!

I sniff and I sneeze,
My nose is so red!
My other half says,
Oh please go to bed!

But I've got things to do,
Tidying and stuff,
Although very soon,
I'll have had quite enough.

I stand and I shuffle,
Feeling so grotty,
Perhaps I should cuddle,
My favourite hot botty!

Oh, I'm feeling fed up,
I need a big hug,
But first, can you pass me,
Some tea in my mug!

I'm going upstairs,
To lie, have a rest,
Maybe a nap, 
Would be for the best!

For tomorrow I am busy,
I have lots to do,
So come on bug,
I think we are through!

I give up!

I give up! How many times have we said this?

But should we really give up when the going gets tough?

In order to learn and grow, we need to push ourselves, but if we give up at the first hurdle, how will we know if we can actually succeed at the task.

Instead of giving up, we should see the difficulty as a challenge for us to meet and conquer.

By changing our mindset from exasperation and anger, to determined we will be in a much better place in order to succeed in our quest. For a positive mind is a powerful mind.

So instead of saying 'I give up' when the going gets tough, get tough with the task and get stuck in.

The exhilarating feeling of succeeding will make the effort feel so worthwhile in the end.

Don't give up, see it through - be strong, become strong.

Play

As children we used to fill our days with play.

Through this play, we learned about the world around us.

We learned how to interact with other people.

But as we get older, our desire to play becomes less.

We learn in other, more formal ways, from books and school.

Does this mean that we should no longer play?

No, it doesn't. As adults we can still enjoy play, can still learn from it.

We just have a different way of playing.

But we are still playing.

To play is not frivolous or a waste of time, as we are still learning, both about ourselves and the world.

So don't be afraid to play, to have fun.

Play, learn, enjoy.

The escape

The piercing scream woke Sara with a start!

She sat upright in bed, trying to clear the muzzy feeling of sleep from her head.

She heard the scream again. She looked at the bedside clock - 6 a.m! And it was Saturday!

She climbed out of bed and padded across the landing to the children's room.

She flung open the door - 'Stop shouting!' she yelled in frustration.

The two children stopped what they were doing and turned to look at her. 'But Mum!' They began.

Sara had had enough, she thumped downstairs, made herself a mug of coffee and thought.

After draining the cup, she stomped upstairs, packed a bag and left the house!

Just some peace and quiet, she thought, that's all that I want!

She headed to the station, bought a ticket and boarded the next train.

She sat and watched the world stream by the window. How would they cope without her? Would they miss her?

She arrived at her destination, unpacked her things and headed for the pool.

Her day passed quickly, and soon she felt the first pangs of her conscious pricking her.

Maybe she should go home now.




Sara opened the front door, wondering what sort of reception would be waiting for her.

Would they be happy? Would the house still be in one piece?

A sudden whirlwind of activity hurled itself down the hall towards her.

'Mummy, Mummy, you're home! We've missed you so much!

Behind them, Carl walked towards her, a tea towel draped over his shoulder.

He kissed her and smiled. 'How was your day at the spa darling, I hope that you enjoyed yourself'

Light and Darkness

Many people believe that light conquers darkness by pushing it aside, so that there is no room for it.

But I prefer to look upon it as the light transforming the darkness into positive energy.

Darkness will always be present, will always be ready to suck the positive energy from us, often when we need it the most.

Darkness feeds upon darkness, draining us until we are in danger of falling into it's negative embrace.

But if we shine our virtual light into this blackness, we infuse it with our own positive energy.

With a healthy dose of positive attitude, the darkness stands far less chance of taking us over.

So instead of struggling with the darkness, change it, infuse it with your own brilliant internal light.

Use this positive light, fill yourself up with it, and be a shining light, a beacon in a sea of darkness.

Be a guiding light, be positive, be in control.

A day at the spa

What to do?
The sun it does shine
I think we'll go to the spa,
That will be fine.

Down to the station,
We did walk,
Boarded a train
Sat, had a talk!

We got to Bath,
Then to the spa,
From the train,
It isn't that far.

We changed,
Stowed clothes and shoes,
Walked down the stairs!
Which pool shall we choose?

Oh, the water,
So warm and so clear,
This lovely place,
We do hold so dear.

We bob and we float,
Drift round and round,
Until on the steps,
We do run aground!

Up the stairs,
To the steam rooms now,
Oh, they are hot,
Oh golly, oh wow!

But they clean the skin,
And relax my poor back!
Time for a shower,
And then a nice snack!

Up to the cafe,
For tea and a bun,
Then where to go next?
For some watery fun.

Up to the roof,
To bask in the sun,
More floating and bobbing,
It's got to be done!

But, oh woe,
Our time here is done,
We shower and change,
We've had so much fun.

But one thing is certain,
We can not deny,
Give us some time,
And back we will fly.

The true you

We all have a face that we put on for others and we can act quite differently to our true self at times.

This can be because we want to hide our true feelings from others, or maybe we want to appear 'better' than we actually are.

For whatever reason we choose, there is always one person who knows the true you - and that is yourself.

We should not be afraid of who we really are.

We are all unique and special individuals and we should be proud of who we are, of what we have achieved.

Those who have known us for a long time know who we really are, know what makes us tick.

And they love us because of who we truly are and not because of a facade that we are hiding behind.

So be the true you. Wear your true self with pride, because you have nothing to hide.

Be true to both yourself and those around you and your life will be filled with love and joy.

Serendipity

A few years ago, I was sitting at home, feeling bored, looking for a new direction when I came across an article about blogging.

It just appeared out of nowhere, and I thought that I would give it a go, see where it led me.

Now to think of a name - finding the post was a chance event, serendipity! Hence this blog was born.

As I have gone through life, it has often been the case that the best things in it have appeared suddenly, in a totally unexpected way.

Life has so many twists and turns, there is always something unexpected around the corner.

This constant change keeps our lives fresh, brings us new possibilities and opportunities.

We should embrace these changes of fate, these swerves of direction because they could bring us something wonderful, just when we least expect it.

Sometimes these events can be frightening, because we don't know what to expect, how to react to them, but each of them brings with it an opportunity for something fresh and different.

So enjoy these sudden, unexpected opportunities, grab them whilst you can and keep your life fresh and exciting.

Enjoy serendipity, today and always.