COURAGE...

Courage is often regarded as being fearless, and acting without fear of any kind, a real Hero!  A good image, yet perhaps, flawed.

It takes Courage to face our fears, and not to run away.  This might well show us what it takes to become a Hero.  The person who is willing to face their fears is someone with a courageous heart, willing to face the trials that come, and not put off by feeling fearful.

The other day, a little blackbird flew into our home.  He crashed against the windows, trying desperately to get out, and even though the door was open.

 Again,  he crashed against the window with a bang.  I thought he had surely killed himself.   I was afraid to touch him, yet when I realised he would probably be killed, I had to step in, out of pity for the poor thing.  I grabbed hold of a cloth, managed to throw it over him, bundled it around him and ran out the door, holding him tightly.   As soon as I was outside, I pulled away the cloth and he flew away, hopefully not too hurt.

A little lesson for me.  Courage is found when we face our fears and do it anyway!

FRIENDSHIP...

True friendship is of a spiritual vein. A true friend will be one who knows how to care and share, yet also able to step back and allow freedom above all.

St. Francis De Sales is quoted as saying... 'Let your charity extend to everyone, but limit your friendship to those with whom you can share virtuous things.  The more perfect they are, the more perfect will your friendshp be.'

This could well be a tall order in today's World, and yet when practised, it works. We need to value the gift of friendship, and believe that when we are drawn to another person, it is a wonderful grace to respond to our hearts.  

A positive mind will always triumph, and it is good to know, a friend in need is a friend in deed!

ELEVATE...

 

There is a famous Song... You raise me up... which gives a good description of what it means to Elevate, to raise someone higher.  This could even relate to a prayer where we praise God for loving us..

We can Elevate ourselves to become a more able-minded person, simply by choosing to give of our best, at all times.  It is a mind-conscience awareness of how great Life and Living can be.

Often, we may have an experience of a child with a parent who wisely knows how to Elevate the child with praise.  If I work hard to write a poem, and am successful, then I can become elevated by honest praise.

Also, I can elevate another person by praising their efforts to create something good. This is a wonderful gift to use, especially when people are wounded and vulnerable. Just as God elevates us by calling us His children, we too can be a force of good that will elevate others.

Positive praise is always welcome.

FORTIFY...

 To Fortify... to make stronger / better, will demand effort and concentration. It means an examination of ourselves and learning about our strengths and our weaknesses.

Fortifications are used a lot in buildings where weak points are found, and so must be strengthened and fortified against future damage. 

The same can be true of ourselves. Having a positive mind helps us to know our strengths and work on them, yet also it is necessary to examine ourselves and be honest about our weak points.  This is where we must fortify ourselves from falling into bad habits and weaknesses that will cause us to become discouraged.

The Jesuits, an order of religious, have a whole rule book called, ' Examination of Conscience'.  It involves a list of known weaknesses, and remedies that will help a person to become more able, and more aware of being a Truthful person.

Putting it simply, it is such a brave and clever thing to Fortify ourselves in relation to everything we do.  This way, we protect ourselves from negativity, and learn to become a truly positive and happy person.

DIRECTION...

In life we often get invitations to move out of our comfort zone, and this can be stressful.  Already, we are at a loss, facing the unknown, yet with the right help and direction, we are saved a lot of pain and anxiety. 

This is expecially true when it comes to relationships, and the invitation to open our heart to another person / another way of living and being.

The invitation that stepped into my life, so many years ago, was huge / life changing. It meant giving up the way of life that I was used to / giving up the friends I knew, and especially moving away from my family.

Could this really be a Providential invitation?  Surely God works through the ordinary and natural ways we have grown up with, and the commitments we have made in life?

I sought good advice and was simply told to 'try it out', which I did. Now fifty years later I am astonished at how my life turned around, with great happiness and graces.

I was directed to take a certain path in life, I tried it out and thank God it worked. 

CREATE...

During Covid lockdown, my younger sister, Goretta,  decided to take up knitting again. This time her new interest was in crochet. She began with scarves and hats, then bigger projects came to mind. I received a lovely gift of a bedspread. It has become my winter delight when the evening's are cold and chilly.

Then, a friend began to take seriously, her interest in photography. Although confined at first, opportunities came to go places, with camera.  She now has an Exhibition of her work on display in the local Library.

To me, this is a perfect example of how important it to be creative, and follow whatever we are inspired to do, creatively.  

My saving grace during Lockdown was my interest in Creative Writing. Even when inspirations seemed slow to come, I began writing about a girl called Josie, a young teenager. Each morning I would write her story.  After awhile, it became a necessity to add to her story, an enjoyable habit, and how sad I was when her story came to an end.

I was again faced with the desire and need to Create!

 

INTRODUCTION to CREATIVE WRITING:

INTRODUCTION to CREATIVE WRITING

 by Vera Cait

Creative Writing is an Art Form whereby  we use WORDS to express ourselves.       Poetry is a good example where the written words instil emotions and memories, moving us to find pictures in our minds of what the words are telling us. 

 At other times, we can find ourselves expressing passion by a selection of words, similar to Valentine Cards.  One doesn't often tell a person how much they love them, yet the written words on a card will do just that.  

Perhaps a little over the top, yet which one of us would not be impressed with receiving a Valentine Card? 

The Written Words can also be a form of Therapy.  By writing down the feelings or memories we have about a certain incident, the words can act as a Stress Buster, allowing us to become aware of hidden traumas buried in the depths of our minds

To be Creative with Words, all we need is Pen to Paper, and Time to write.