Author: credo2014

Feet firmly on the ground

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Body language as we know reveals a lot of how we are feeling and what we are thinking all the time. When we are nervous we can quite easily become foot twitchers.

One of the simplest things any of us can do is keep control of our feet. I learned many years ago that if one keeps both feet placed firmly on the ground we are as they say ‘grounded’. I know a lot of holistic practitioners apply this simply theory when working with children and it helps. This not only improves our concentration and focus but it gives us a feeling of confidence in a situation where we may feel nervous or out of our comfort zone.

Summer is exam time for a lot of students of all ages; for many it has started already. Aside of my continuous tips to keep hydrated and those sugar levels up. Try and think about what you are doing with your legs and feet. Tying one’s legs in knots or worse still sitting on them will not help blood circulation.When our body is under stress and the old adrenaline racing we need the blood pumping at its best.

My tip today to all students is to keep your feet firmly on the ground…try it and see!

Would I fib to my young followers? No!

You know this stuff you can do it good luck to you all.

Knowing our limitations

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I know like many I am terribly hard on myself and always setting the bar high to achieve and be the best I can be.

However, there are some days where we may not be so full of energy and our dynamic streak seems to be having a little nap. So on these days do we look at the list of things to do and cherry pick? Yes, why not!

I have always maintained that at times we may not be able to deliver our very best so recognising that isn’t an admission of failure but more of a case of knowing our limitations…even if for one day.

Tomorrow will be another day and not only will we achieve that higher level but we may be inspired to do something a different way…and perhaps that breathing space is just what was needed.

I am applying this to my own projects today, one is very demanding and I am thinking my level of chocolate intake may not be high enough to cope! My torture instead will be the neglected admin stuff. Ugh!

Now knowing one’s limitations where chocolate concerned is a whole other subject for a blog…another day.

Remember followers please keep hydrated we all under-estimate the value of water balance in our bodies..I am certain I was a mermaid in another life.

 

A Mother’s Love

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Never a day goes by where I don’t treasure a memory shared or a few words of wisdom from my amazing mentor.

Being a mother is the best job in the world although I didn’t realise this until quite late in life when my beautiful daughter arrived. Life has never been the same…it’s been better!

Daughters: We share in their achievements, watch over them, support them through life’s ups and downs and admire them as they develop into young confident women.

Grumble like crazy when they take our best handbag and create a floordrobe of the clothes we have just ironed but best of all we just love them.

Looking forward to mine coming back from university so is our maisy cat currently fretting for her furry sibling.

 

Third time lucky…believe achieve

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How much of our life’s achievements are based on luck? Good question, but often people say third time lucky and today it was for me I passed my driving test.

With huge thanks to Nigel Smart my driving instructor for his patience and positive encouragement. As a mature student who had put off driving for ages I needed all the encouragement I could get. I would highly recommend Nigel to anybody of any age; http://www.nigelsmart.co.uk

Also to my wonderful friends that came out driving with me and some of them are still friends!! Joking aside, my female friends have been brilliant with ‘you can do this’ mantra and a special thank you to Mr Twocups… who prompted me to start driving again.

Even very positive people who are not normally nervous are nervous on their driving test it’s  a fact. I made the examiner laugh as I confessed to being nervous, but have passed five counselling qualifications…explain that one!

But today I went armed with a photo of my amazing mum for luck and I would like to think aside of my safe driving skills that she was with me today and helped me bring home my certificate.

Believe achieve; as my favourite young friend says! Today I wrote that down before leaving the house and it was the first thing I said to my instructor.

 

 

 

 

Brightest light

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It is no secret to creative types that the brightest light may come from the darkest place.

Artists, writers and musicians will often reveal how some of their best work has been inspired by something which may have had a great emotional impact on their life.

An ex-boyfriend who was an amazing talented composer and musician found music his escapism and his sanity through difficult times.

Art therapy helps many people express themselves and this is something often used in helping children overcome bereavement and trauma.

Writing as an example can of course be therapeutic the book shops are full of poetry for example written by the broken-hearted.  When I ran my writers group a lot of hidden emotions revealed themselves on paper.

I know my blog posts are sometimes inspired by something that has tugged at the old heart strings – maybe an injustice and driving me to support a worthwhile cause.

On a more positive note romance is an excellent aphrodisiac to get the ink flowing from one’s nib!

But remember what William Makepeace Thackeray said about that:-

‘That’s the way with poets, they fall in love; jilt or are jilted. They suffer and then cry out that they suffer more than any other mortal’

 

 

 

Parenting…working with aliens

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Parenting as my Mother used to say is a very rewarding if not challenging job and one that you cannot hand your notice in!

In all seriousness, yesterday I helped my niece by looking after her amazing four year old son. In my mind I thought a nice break away from the screen and a relaxing time. Had I really forgotten how demanding children can be?

In the nicest possible way my great nephew kept me fully occupied and on my toes from 11.30 til 5.30. We built Lego castles, played every game box available, read four books, played obscure pretend games and spent happy hours drawing. All was going splendidly.

Until…I volunteered to make paper dolly chains. Been a while and wasn’t sure if I was folding and cutting in the right places but by more luck than judgement the row of dollies came out fine. Of course my lovely boy wanted another row and somehow a row of aliens looking creatures appeared. This was not a problem and we soon set to giving them one eye and painting them green! I was  reminded how in all aspects of life we have to adapt to what we are given..even if it wasn’t quite what we wanted.

As I had only discussed with his Dad earlier; in business there is rarely anything which we do that is not a complete waste it is all experience. Further on we will see its value and that applies to any martian type clients we have to endure who may come from a completely different planet.

As my Accountant brother always says ‘the client is always right even when they are wrong!’

 

 

Exam time…keep hydrated

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All over the country students of all ages have started to sit their exams. A stressful time and I always feel sorry for those students who suffer with hay fever too. The nicer weather has arrived finally and aside of feeling flushed with anxiety  students will be working through these difficult times even more hot and bothered.

Keep cool, keep calm, balance studying as best you can with getting your rest.

Stay focused…you know this stuff!

My first tip is to keep hydrated: stating the obvious but water in-take is grossly under-estimated. Ensure you drink plenty of water leading up to exam schedules and don’t forget to take your clear plastic water bottle (labels removed) into exam rooms/halls.

If you start to feel overly stressed during an exam; breathe slowly  and imagine for just a few moments you are paddling your feet in cool sea water…now that your heart beat is becoming more regulated time to re-focus and calmly read your next question.

For those of you that know yoga or have tried meditation this can come into its own.

Wishing you all luck…they will soon be over and you can begin to party, holiday and enjoy the summer.

 

 

Innovate My School

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I occasionally donate articles to Innovate My School’s website  – a brilliant procurement tool for teachers and any professionals working within the education sector.

They have had a bit of a website face lift recently and I really like the new format. Thought I would just circulate the newer links to my most recent articles on bereavement and cyber bullying:-

http://www.innovatemyschool.com/ideas/bereavement-helping-pupils-and-towards-recovery

http://www.innovatemyschool.com/ideas/how-schools-can-tackle-cyberbullying

Anything we can do in terms of advice to help CPD within schools as supporting professionals is well received and promoted.

Had enough of you…thank you!

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Another amazing adventure with my favourite four year old friend sooooo cute and prettier that words can describe. I really love to dip into children’s imaginary world where curiosity is working at its very best.

Yesterday we were treated to her looking for her imaginary baby chicks and asked ‘to form a circle’ Leftovers from her morning at nursery school apparently.

A magical age where any question answered is followed by the question ‘why?’ Reminding us how we take so much for granted and what people say on face value whereas they want and need to know more. Casual use of words are received by children as though we are speaking another language and confirms just how daft and confusing certain aspects of the English language are.

It is also that stage where everything we say is repeated back several times. The phrase of the day was ‘I’ve had enough of you!!‘ Followed by a very high pitched loud ‘Thank you!‘. This was repeated more times than I care to count and directed at the whole household  – including a bemused Cat who probably was just wondering if that would be followed by  food of some description! Meanwhile her nine month old brother replied to her in a language all of his own equally as intriguing.

During one of our many cuddles I was told ‘You smell lovely.’ Gee thanks kid!

Meanwhile back in the real world the proactive within the community were out casting their votes. In my village the right man was re-elected proving that our village and ward had not ‘Had enough of him’ and expressed ‘Thank you’ for all his hard work by putting that all important X in the correct box!

**No animals were harmed in the research of and/or writing of today’s blog.

 

‘Good grief…Dancing in my Dreams’

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Some years ago I started working on a bereavement project close to my heart;

‘Good Grief…Dancing in my dreams‘ tells about the personal experience of loving and losing two fathers. The first when I was just aged 7 suddenly and the second a great Stepfather to cancer when I was 30.

I have spent years studying and researching bereavement and collating material. This is now being considered by my publisher working with me on ‘A Mother’s Love’. Here’s hoping these are soon out and available giving some comfort and help to others going through the difficult journey of bereavement especially the loss of a parent.

To my fellow struggling writers out there keep at it, keep writing and don’t give up. It takes as long as it takes for a good reason.

To my best pal and writing mentor Debs Durbin thank you for your constant encouragement and advice.Love ya!