Let go of resentment

We have all felt resentment at times during our lives.

Sometimes it is because we feel that someone has wronged us, or it may be that we feel that somebody has been given something in a way that displeases us.

It is what we do with these feelings of resentment that is important.

We could hold them within ourselves, letting them grow, letting them suck away our joy of life.

Or we could acknowledge them and simply let them go, leaving space for joy and happiness to fill their space.

Carrying this burden of resentment saps us of energy, eats into our precious time, poisons our souls.

It leaves us feeling tired, fed up and we don't enjoy our day to day lives as much.

It is not easy to let go of these resentful feelings, but we must try, for the sake of both our own happiness and those around us.

Resentment will give us nothing. So let it go, and be free once more.

Happy Easter

Good morning to you all on this very special day, Easter Sunday.

What does Easter mean to you?

To some, it is about the new life that springs forth after the bleak coldness of winter.

For others it is a weekend to spend enjoying the company of their families and friends. To enjoy good food and good conversation.
 
To the little ones, it's all about the chocolate eggs - another symbol of new life. There will be Easter Egg hunts and all sorts of fun and games today, providing that the weather isn't too bad.

But the real meaning of Easter has been lost to so many people. They have forgotten that Easter Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion.

The day has been commercialised, like many other special days and festivals, reduced to little more than a money making exercise for shops.

So whilst you are eating your family lunch and tucking into your eggs, spare a minute to contemplate what today is really about.

But above all, enjoy your day, whatever you have planned.

Happy Easter.

The curse of the many lights!

I am all for saving energy, both to help our wonderful planet and also because I don't like paying more for my bills than I have to.

But why, oh why do I have to put up with so many lights?

As I am typing this, sitting comfortably downstairs on the sofa, the home hub upstairs is blinking and winking with a myriad of coloured lights. I can't see them from here, I know that the internet is working, because I am using it. The only purpose of these lights seems to be to rob me of sleep if I go to bed before the rest of the family.

Then there is the TV, with its solitary red eye, taunting me: If you want to watch me, just press this button, just here, the one with the light on, and I will spring to life and entertain you! Do the manufacturers think that I will forget where the 'on' button is if it hasn't got a light on it to remind me?

The thermostat has a little winking light on it, reassuring me that it is alive and working. The boiler in return has its own blue light to confirm that it is still on talking terms with the thermostat! But I am warm, so the heating is indeed working, I don't need two lights to tell me that.

If I come downstairs in the night, the front room is lit up like Christmas! The game consoles, laptops, tablets all have their little blinking lights to say that they are still alive and well, even if they are on standby mode.

The last person to bed could unplug and shut down everything, but in the real world, it doesn't happen and some things cannot be turned off to quench their lights, such as fridges, freezers and heating systems.

So come on manufacturers, either stop with the unnecessary lights, or give us an option to turn them off when they are not needed – for the sake of the planet, our bank balance, and our sanity!

How is your mood?

Yesterday, I went for a routine Doctor's appointment. Part way through the consultation, he asked me how my mood was.

My reply was that I was fine thank you. And I am.

Over the last weeks, I have realised what is important in my life.

What needs to be addressed, what I have to be thankful for, what a blessed life that I have led up until now, and that I hope to lead for many years yet to come.

We do not know what fate has in store for us, or how long we have left on this Earth.

The most important thing that I have realised is that life is to be enjoyed, to be lived.

We should grab it, enjoy it, run with it.

Many people, when they find themselves at an uncertain or difficult point in their lives, turn in upon themselves, ask why me?

They can become depressed and withdrawn, they can't see any joy in their lives.

Dwelling on the unfairness in our lives does no good, it poisons our souls, makes life a dull, dark and stressful place.

Instead we should focus on what we do have, what is good, what we have achieved, and what we can yet achieve.

We should, literally, count our blessings.

See the good, see the blessings, be happy, be free, live.

Homonym Homage

Our language is rich,

We use it each day,

But it can be confusing,

To those from away.

Words that sound the same,

Like there and also their,

To use them correctly,

We must spell them with care.

Then there's bow,

A most tricky word,

With many meanings,

So I have heard.

There's the bow of a ship,

Or tying a lace,

Or used to fire an arrow,

At a far away place!

What about two,

The number of a pair?

Can I join too?

Is it quite fair?

How about bark?

The noise of a dog,

But it's also a covering,

For a tree and a log!

When hanging a picture,

You might hammer a nail,

But mind the nail on your thumb,

Or you surely will fail!

Fancy a jape with a friend,

How about pool?

To swim or the game,

Get it wrong, you're a fool!

It is a fine season,

Spring is now here,

And salt on your food?

Is tasty, I hear.

I could go on,

With many a line

But I think I'll stop here,

It'll do me just fine.