WELCOME...

 WELCOME...

Perhaps what most people look for and appreciate, is to be welcome...  someone to say, come in and make yourself welcome.

This could well be an Irish way of saying it,  make yourself welcome... and yet it is so true in many ways, especially if we are a bit unsure of ourselves and treading on new ground.  

By nature, we can often feel 'strange' and unsure of ourselves when visiting a new place, meeting new people and new surroundings etc.  As is often said, we feel like a fish out of water, uncomfortable, and it can take a little while to find ourselves and feel at home.

Such a good word to use...   HOME...  that lovely feeling of freedom and unawareness of ourselves.  We so love to feel at home, even in another person's home.  It may depend on the welcome we receive, and yet a lot depends on ourselves, to simply be who we are, without fear of any kind.

Welcome... come in and rest yourself. Feel at home in my home. Oh what a lovely feeling to be at peace and relax.  No apprehension, just to simply be, me!

COMPASSION...

 COMPASSION... with passion...

To become a compassionate person is quite a challenge. We are asked to step away from ourselves and our aches and pains, and take on the suffering of others.

Of course, if we have some inkling or awareness of loving another, then it becomes a positive challenge, nevertheless a challenge. How do we learn to switch off from our own suffering and put the suffering of another person first?

Perhaps the easiest way to do this is found in our ability to put love first. This is where compassion will shine, and we will grow in our desire to love and care for others.

The only real obstacle to love is fear.  We become afraid to suffer / afraid to fail. Somehow we wind back on all our good intentions and play safe.  We are programmed to protect ourselves, and this becomes most important in our lives. More important than being compassionate and caring and loving.

Yet, if we have got this far, then we will begin to see opportunities to care and share. Little by little, we see the positive reward that comes from loving.

This wonderful feeling called love will transform us into a person who wants to move forward / who wants to care and share / who enjoys the challenge of becoming a compassionate and loving person.

By grace we are transformed!

ADVENTURE...

ADVENTURE...

For some, life can be very mundane with plenty of chores to be done, especially if one lives in a large family with children, or an adult community of individual people.

Yet, the whole idea of an adventurous life is necessary if one is to be true to being  original and honest to oneself. We can be like others, yet never a copy-cat of their personality.

This is where an adventurous spirit becomes essential, teaching us how to be our true selves. For the spiritual mind, this can be easy to grasp and to follow with a willing spirit.

A simple example that comes to mind is to write according to how we are prompted by our inner being. We are elevated to a World of creativity and especially, an adventurous spirit.  

We may even find it hard to hold ourselves back, because we become driven by the adventurous spirit which continually pushes us forward to become a truly original person.

Keep fear out, let adventure become our way of life! 

CHOICE

 CHOICE...

Choice is always ours, even if and when it is difficult to choose. When we look back in History, we see how heroic it can be, yet still the choice is there.

From what I know and have heard about the 1916 Leaders here in Ireland, they decided to go ahead, knowing that they would probably fail. The choice was heroic.  They were faithful to their commitment, no matter what.

The same is said of the early Christians at one time, knowing that they must face death for their Faith. I wonder if that was the case, would I be willing to stand up for my beliefs...  Can only hope I would.

The freedom to believe we always have a choice, and so we have!

CHOOSE...

CONCLUSION

 My desire to write about the Healing Power of Creative Writing came about because of my own anxieties and fears.  For years, I've enjoyed writing Plays and Stories and Blogs, allowing my love of poetry and prose to give life to my creative endeavours.

A time came when it became more difficult to find inspiring ideas to write about. I was confused and worried as to what could be done  Surely our imagination is limitless, living in a World of such immense beauty and wonder?.

Reality struck home when I made efforts to love all that came my way, each day. Special moments can be highlighted through poetry and prose.  

Time spent reading and writing, especially efforts at writing poems can be great fun, and very rewarding.  I hope this Book will inspire all who read it to capture the spirit of creative writing, and write!

   

CONCLUDE...

 CONCLUDE...

It can happen that one is pushed to find a Conclusion to a creative work, especially when it spans almost two years.  This is my dilemma at present...

It began as a desired longing to write about dealing with my anxiety and changes within myself, almost becoming a different person.  The image I had of myself was one of 'happy and able to enjoy challenges as they came my way',

This new person was like a new me, one that was anxious and afraid to move on in life, unable to be decisive and positive in my outlook on life.  Why..?

Perhaps a lot had to do with my failures and inability to face the truth of just who I am, an ordinary person learning to know and love God. Instead of Faith, I was swamped with doubts...  All that I have known and believed since childhood seemed unreal... WOW!

All of this, coming from a person who had vowed to have a positive outlook on life, and a firm belief in God's love for me...  What was happening?  Am I just kidding myself, believing that I am a good person, even though my thoughts and actions seem to deny this.

Not so.  At last reality has come into the picture and I realise that I am not the victim of my emotions / I am not the victim of feelings that change when I feel a little unwell, or hurt or whatever.  

Each one of us is guided through life by a loving Creator who prompts us to do what is honorable and right.  Our job is to respond / to listen to that inner voice which is always available, and not to allow our misguided feelings to get in the way.

Give time to listening to the Voice of Truth, to our Creator and ignore those silly feelings and emotions that come and go like a bad cold. 

Life is about living and having fun,

 see the Light and blow the cobwebs away!

COMFORT...

 COMFORT...

What a comfort it is to be at peace and happy to be just who we are, as if there wasn't a worry in the World!

Comfort can be found in many ways, a job well done / a friendly smile / the innocence of a child etc.

To be comforted depends really on ourselves and our approach to life in general. It can happen that we become worried and even depressed about something, then learn later, there was no need. The situation is resolved and our peace is restored.

Perhaps this is where we can learn to be at peace, comforted by our ability to see a positive side to things that may worry us. We learn to be comforted by the awareness of the power of positive thinking,  especially the comfort in knowing that we are loved!