LOVE,,,

 LOVE...

whatever we say to ourselves, or others, the one most precious gift we have is the ability to love.  Second to that, is being loved. Of course, these points are like a happy pair, one leads to the other, and can't exist without one another.

The extreme happiness that comes to mind is moments when we have been overcome with a sense of love.  We discover the joy of loving, and the wonderful joy of being loved. 

Two children joined prep school on the same day. Their parents settled them into the class and said goodbye.  Perhaps, being busy parents, they had no idea of the trauma inflicted on the poor little waifs, abandoned in a room with a dozen or so other children. What to do?

One of them, a little girl went up to the other, a little boy...  "Can I be your friend?" He stared at her, then said, "Okay."  They sat down together and began to chat.

Later in the day,  when the little girl's mum came to fetch her, she introduced the little boy, "This is my new friend, Jimmy. I asked if he would be my friend and he said yes."

How simple life could be, when we forget to be grown up, and act just like children would.

HEALING POWER...

HEALING POWER...

The Healing Power that comes from writing is both easy and difficult to explain. Every person is so individual, and inspired in so many ways, when we are free to respond.

 Some times our mind is almost blocked with the various interests and desires we have. Of course, it's great to be inspired and want to be creative,  yet unless one can find a way to give our mind a rest, we can be swamped with overload.

This is where our ability to be creative in writing down the necessary and even the un-necessary thoughts and difficulties that come our way, will leave us free to become truly alive! .

Lately, I've been introduced to an America poet, Mary Oliver, who writes constantly about the beauty of nature... a walk in the woods or a sudden meeting of a deer or some other creature of nature. Through her poetry and writings she allows us to respond to who we are, and where we are.

However, if our mind is clogged, we could well be surrounded by the beauty of nature, and not even notice it... such a shame...

This Healing Power that comes from writing down our thoughts is liberating and fun too. It may even lead us into the the World of Poetry.

For some, this is an easy step. For others, like myself, poetry takes time because it can be a way of meditating, pondering on the magic of words.

Perhaps, most of us have dipped into the works of Shakesphere, at school or with friends.  His ability to use words is almost biblical...

"Now is the Winter of my discontent..."

"To thy ownself be true, and thou will not be false to anyone..."

We may have found it difficult at school to make sense of the language of Shakesphere, yet if we have access to a good Library, it can become an interesting way to fall in love with the Healing Power of Words. 

PEACE of MIND...

 PEACE of MIND is a treasure made in Heaven, so it is said.

I truly believe this because the very essence of being true to ourselves depends on the value we put on our Peace of Mind. This way we work with grace rather than nature.

For myself, I am mostly inpatient and want to be able to understand life, without putting the work and time into 'creating' the life I value and feel compelled to have.

At the same time, I have a good imagination and realise how wonderful life can be when one is surprised at inspirations that come our way.  Being a Faith person, I attribute all this to God, the Creator of everything.

Peace of Mind is like a gift given to us when to are open and willing to respond to the wonderful Mind of God.  Things can be above our understanding, yet our willingness to have an open mind, can and will fill us with the grace necessary to acknowledge the wonder of creation, and the power of the Creator of the Universe.

We learn to be at peace with ourselves!

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!

BELIEF...

 Whatever we believe in becomes our reality...  I wonder. 

Perhaps more so, when we believe in ourselves and are willing to respond to the inspirations that come our way, we become a 'real' person, not swayed by public opinion or the latest fads being presented to us.

I know for myself, I can easily be impressed by others, especially those who believe they know best.  This could be good, yet also dangerous. We have only to look back in history when a man called Hitler came to power in Germany.  He offered a struggling Nation a way of becoming strong and invincible.  Oh how wrong one can be.

For those of us with Faith and a positive regard for Christian values, we can be horrified by the beliefs of others.  How could it be possible to have no regard for human life?  How can killing be justified?  Unfortunately, we can be easily swayed by what we believe are our needs and wants.

Therefore, our belief system depends on our willingness to be honest and truthful in all we say and do, no matter what.  Each one of us has a wonderful gift of a soul, an inner awareness of when we are being true to our selves.

Telling a lie for the sake of winning respect or acceptance by others, can never be right. To be true to ourselves and what we believe in comes at a price. Either we believe in something, or not. There is no grey area, simply black or white.

So, for me, believing in Christ and Christian values cannot be compromised.  My belief system does not lie, but of course each one of us is free to value our beliefs, or not!

 

ACTIVATE

 ACTIVATE...

The word, ACTIVATE denotes the ability to get started, to get things done. For some this can be hard because we may like to think about something before we actually go ahead and do it.

When it comes to writing, or works that demand immediate attention, it becomes imperative NOT to dwadle.  So, so important to go forward and do it, whatever is being asked of us. 

The way to do this is hard, yet simple when we learn NOT to procrastinate. Be deliberate, do what needs to be done, NOW!

Even as I write these words, I'm reminded of my own weakness in relation to over-thinking what needs to be done at times. Then I'm reminded of a friend to has this wonderful ability to act instantly.  No waiting / no over-thinking, just does it.

If and when we learn to activate our minds to respond in the present moment, we will be surprised and delighted at how quickly things will be done, NOW!

LOVE...

LOVE...

Whenever I look at a Film or read a Book, I am attracted by the love between the people in the story and how their love develops. Even more so, the challenges that they are presented with / the drama as it unfolds.

This is often the case when I write a Story or Poem and find myself interested in how the storyline will unfold.  Will the characters find love / lose love, or even betray love.

In a way, this proves to me, all that matters in life is how we love / find love and discover how love guides us in our decisions and opportunities in life. We are drawn to pursue the ability to love, no matter who or where we are.

If we are blessed with a certain spiritual life, then we become aware of the truth that God is Love.  This will encourage us to take on board the qualities of love and become a truly loving person.

KINDLY...

KINDLY...

Acting Kindly, taking into account the feelings and difficulties of others, can be heroic at times.  We may like to believe we are a kind person, caring for others and believing we are doing well.  

However, acting kindly is stepping into a state of heroic virtue, and may well show us up for the apparent unkind person we are. To know this is to be grounded in humility, or at least aiming towards being an honest person.

Our whole life guides us and moulds us into who we truly are, so no surprises when we find it difficut to act kindly at times.  Virtue does not come easily, especially the virtue of Humility. We are invited to become the best that we can be.

Acting kindly is taught and practised simply by knowing ourselves, and not being surprised at our failures.  A baby learns to walk by making the effort and tumbling down several times before the habit is solidified.

Saint Therese often spoke about being 'child-like' and this is a great practise to have through our whole lives.  We try, we fail and we try again.  Then we learn to know that failure is only postponed success.

We become a Champion in acting Kindly.

 that failure is j

JUSTICE...

 JUSTICE...

It seems a good thing to applaud JUSTICE, to have a just attitude to all we do and care about.  With so much happenings in the World today, people are crying out for Justice and well they might.

To have a just attitude to all we do and all we are interested in, takes both courage and awareness and knowledge.  A good shopper will look around for good and fair prices when buying food or clothes or a place to live. Nobody wants to be cheated, yet often the cheapest prices on goods may not be cheap.  The value and quality of the goods must come first.

The same applies to ourselves. We are invited to look for what is best for us,  not necessarily what is cheapest or easiest to get .  The value of our lives depends on the values we live by. If we are paid to do a job, yet fail to do it well, then we are at fault, we fail as a person.

The same applies to whatever values we live by.  Are we honest, reliable, caring in our relationships with others.  Do we value love above all else?  And do we truly love ourselves enough to set high standards in relation to who and what we are.

A loving person is to be valued above all else. This is true Justice.

 LOURDES...

Certain places in the World can move us to tears by their beauty and wonderful artistic buildings. At first, that was my reaction when I visited the magical place called LOURDES.  

At one time it was just a small village, poor yet rich in natural beauty, being surrounded by the Pyranees.  I was impressed by my visit, yet a part of me felt uneasy.  Has it just become a Tourist place, with plenty of Liturgical goings on? Impressive, yet the surrounding nature seem to attract me more...

Then, I discovered where the magic could be found... the Stations of the Cross, beautifully carved out of blocks of stone, depicting the sorrowful and terrible sufferings of the Passion of Christ.

The figures portrayed seem to come to life, with expressions of sorrow and compassion, depicting Veronica touching the Face of Christ, her hand gently brushing his wounded cheek.

And, when Mary, His mother met her Son, somehow, I was not looking at figures carved out of stone, but a mother and Son embracing each other with such deep sorrow and tremendous Love.  

IGNITE...

 IGNITE...  set fire to...

Whenever we are inspired and moved to be creative and loving, we become like a fire that can and will spread, so easily, so readily.  

We become ignited with a love that can and will transform us into our true selves. It will become a way of life that forces us to love and learn and become Godlike.

Whatever it is that sparks of this fire within us, it will not leave us alone until we respond to the special grace we are receiving. We become like a messenger who must deliver the news that is burning within.  We are restless until we obey the call of God.

At times we may not even be fully aware of how powerful it is, to become ignited with the love and grace of God. Spend time quietly and allow the truth of what is happening within us, to unfold.  Are we being called to live a special life?

Are we being inspired to become a leader of others, and God knows how much the World needs good leaders / good people who are inspired to give ALL.

When moved by grace, allow it to happen. Accept as a natural progression of how wonderful it is to be alive.  Let our hearts be ignited with Love!

HUMOUR...

 HUMOUR...

    A sense of humour can defuse a bad situation, allowing people to keep a sense of pride in who they are and what they do.

    Bishop Fulton Sheen was a great speaker on TV.  His talks  always began with humour... One day a mother was removing her crying child from the audience who had come to hear him speak...  'Dear lady, no need to remove your child.  The crying doesn't bother me...'  The mother replied,  'It's your voice that bothers the child.'   In this way, with humour, he allowed the audience to laugh at him and with him.. 

    Humour and humility could well be linked together.  By using a sense of the rediculous we give freedom to others to laugh at us, more especially to laugh with us!.

    The ability to be light-hearted and not too serious in our endeavours, allows others, not to be afraid, and listen to what  we have to say,  This humble attitude  gives power to our words and actions, and can build friendships.

    With good humour we can conquer the World!

HONESTY...

 HONESTY...

The best form of Honesty is with ourselves, and a good question to ask ourselves... 

Am I an honest person?  Does my lifestyle and behavour denote the truth of just how honest I am?

Simple questions, yet perhaps with not so simple answers, because we are imperfect people, and often do not meet the standard of an honest person...

Next good question...  Why?  Why do I fail to be honest, especially with myself, and just how honest am I in relation to others?  IF only the answers came as easily as the questions do.

Take myself for an example...  a good Christian person, with a desire and love for attending Church, and a good team-player too. So, where does dishonesty come into my life?

I'm not a thief, and I have no desire for a lot of Worldly pleasures and gifts, so just where does being dishonest come into the picture?

Perhaps I  ought to be asking others who see me more clearly than I see myself. Still, in the deeper parts of one's being, there is a prompting that takes place, quietly and honestly, no matter how many excuses we make for our failures.

This prompting comes to us through the Holy Spirit because of our attempts at being honest.  Nothing is wasted where God is concerned.  HE sees ALL / and HE knows ALL, down to the minutest detail in our lives.

Imagine that. Nothing is hidden from the Mind of God, and the more we become God -like, the easier it will be for us to see the working's of the Holy Spirit.  

The Gift of Honesty will be mine!

GOOD WILL...

 GOOD WILL...

Beginnings are everything. As soon as we begin, the creative juices will open up and we can surprise ourselves with the hidden gems of artistic talent.

So, how do we make a good beginning?  

First and foremost, Good Will.  When one is able to muster up a start, then one has already begun to foster the good will to follow the inspiration that has entered our heart.

Having good will to put all negative thoughts to one side and open up our hearts to that wonderful inner voice which prompts us to write down whatever thoughts come, places us on the road to creative success.

I had such hopes of writing a new story, one that would move me to renew my creative ability to write, yet  I seem to lose my way, distracted so easily by 'other ideas and thoughts'...  What to do...

I asked myself... Have I the Good Will to be faithful to my writing talent?  The answer was immediate, Yes, of course...  Next question, Have you time to write? After a little while, I confessed, Yes!

No more playing around with useless thoughts and worries.  Now is the time to show my Good Will, and write.

This simple act of honesty with myself has worked wonders.  I am a writer again!