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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

~ credo2014 ~ 1 Comment

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!

 

 

May is Purple month for Stroke Awareness

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bluebell a

I have no hesitation in helping The Stroke Association to promote their purple month again this year. This is a subject and cause dear to my own heart. What better way to celebrate purple than with spring bluebells. Photo taken at Ashridge last year.

Anybody wanting to get an action pack can do so at stroke.org.uk/makepurple

or call 020 7566 1500.

Over the years I have had cause to seek their advice on many occasions to help stroke survivors (they are not victims!) and The Stroke Association are absolutely brilliant. Their literature for people recovering from having a stroke is amazing too.

To quote their own purple leaflet:

‘Stroke is the second biggest killer in the world and the fourth biggest killer in the UK’

Please visit their website for ways in which you can help and/or donate. Remember the FAST signs to watch out for too:-

Face, Arms, Speech..time to call 999

 

Cascading Reminiscent Bumps

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I know I have posted about cascading reminiscent bumps before but today I experienced a great one.

My daughter bought a small bottle of cream soda and when I smelt its creamy aroma it transported me back to being a child great times and memories of ice cream floats.

Ok.. so this was a good one; but we also know that our senses can send us back into memories that may make us sad too. But hey that is not such a bad thing so what if we shed a tear or two as we remember a loved one no longer with us?

Remember that is the mind’s way of slowly releasing some of that stress and sadness still remaining in our body. Embrace it, feel it and treasure the memory.

I remember being on a London bus once sitting next to an elderly lady who smelt of lavender; I was instantly transported back to summers in the garden with gran making lavender bags -the memory was of course positive but the feeling/reminder that she was no longer around did make me feel a bit sad. So the bump did its job!

As I always say;

‘We keep our loved ones alive in our minds and our hearts’

and

‘Death does not end a relationship.’

 

Magic moments..sharing goals

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Yesterday I shared a few magical hours with my lovely spiritual niece and my extremely adorable, witty and bright four year old great nephew… who kept us entertained and our two cats bemused and intrigued.

I am often telling people to say what they mean and mean what they say to avoid confusion. However, when having fun with small children I am reminded that what we say as a joke can be quite worrying to a little person.

Long tale…

Whilst reading a story where all the characters were animals I made a silly comment about the Doctor who was sporting a great long tail..I stupidly said ‘My Dr doesn’t have a tail like that’. I was met with the smart reply ‘Your Dr isn’t an animal!!’ True.. followed by ‘Oh you were joking.’   This boy will go far.

As always my niece and I shared our enthusiasm for our latest projects and discussed future goals with her agreeing we are never too old to expand our knowledge..she is so like me and at her happiest when evolving spiritually. The second generation in my family are very in tune with their spiritual selves and possess a healthy hunger for answers.

Posted on twitter earlier today and fitting for how I view my advancing years:-

‘You are never too old to set another goal or to dream another dream.’ C S Lewis

 

 

Beautiful young people

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I was going to stay off the blog today, but in my email box came a lovely message from a young lady I had a chance meeting with just two weeks ago. This encounter prompted my blog April 14th ‘Coffee with a stranger’. It just reminded me how easily we can all touch people we meet with kindness or just a simple word of encouragement at the right time. I now have a new friend, and blog fan. hello Ashleigh!

I am surfacing following an extremely emotive but beautiful day yesterday. Attending the funeral of an amazing young woman who made such an impact in her nineteen years and touched people by her simple acts of kindness.

As sad as it was to see so many young people upset over the loss of a such a special friend I was also in absolute awe of not only her mother’s beautiful address, but how three young people, her lovely sister, boyfriend and best friend had the courage to also speak and I know that is not easy.

I was also overwhelmed by the love that filled the church which just confirmed what a difference one person can make to so many lives they touch along the way. This particular young woman was kind and compassionate far beyond her years. Few lines from one of the poems read out:

You can shed tears that she’s gone;

‘You can shed tears that she is gone or you can smile because she has lived.‘

‘You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, or you can do what she would want; smile, open your eyes, love and go on.’

For those they knew and loved her that is exactly what she would want for all her friends to follow their dreams and do well.