The Gift of Life!

There are times when life seems to be at a stand-still.  We are waiting for something to happen.  Forget it. Life does not stop simply because we are not tuned in. 

This is a good time to reassess ourselves and examine out goals in life. Are we aware of the Gift of Life?  Have we remembered to count our blessings?  Is there someone we can connect with positively, and move forward in our relationship?

When we wake up, first thing in the morning and look out at the dawning of a new day, a moment of reflection will help us to become aware of just what is happening; we are receiving the Gift of Life!

Thank You, God!

Counting our Blessings...

Counting our Blessings is a good habit to have, especially in the evenings as we prepare to say goodnight and welcome, end of day. Perhaps we might dwell on plans we have for a new day and prepare ourselves to embrace all that might come our way, God willing.

On reflection, we may be surprised to realize just how many blessings we receive and become aware of the generosity of God, looking out for each one of us, the way a loving Father looks after His children.

Also, it's a wonderful positive action before we fall asleep to have our mind and heart filled with the countless blessings that come our way.  This will fill us with a spirit of gratitude and welcome for a new day, full of the spirit of God.

The UNFAMILIAR....

Dealing with the 'unfamiliar' is a challenge and also, an invitation to step outside our comfort zone, and reach out to something NEW1

Of course, it will be a different experience, and may even prod us to take new steps in our lives, leaving the past behind and reaching out for a new future.

Lately, my experience of something 'unfamiliar' began with a film about a man in his seventies who was diagnosed with ALZHEIMER'S disease, which causes one to be confused and forgetful. It can be mild at first, then progresses, leaving one with the inability to recognize family and friends and places. Some people can become like a child, needing constant help and attention.

Suddenly, I became aware of my own loss of memory at times, in relation to names and places...  could this be related to Alzheimer?  Should I worry about it?

That's when the 'Light' turned on, and I know now that although becoming older can have disadvantages, there are many, many blessings.

The 'unfamiliar' is simply an invitation to grow mentally and spiritually.  How boring life would be, without an adventure of learning new things and new awareness of ourselves as we mature with age and grace.

                        

A GRATEFUL HEART

Being grateful is such a blessing.  We all get opportunities to show gratitude and yet, to have a grateful heart is something special.  It shows how much we recognize God's love for us.

Faith reveals to us the truth that God is Love.  Developing a heartfelt gratitude towards God and others, helps us to be open to love and able to show our gratitude for all the love that we receive.

The example of a small child comes to mind...  Parents love their child and are willing and able to look after this 'little person'. They are so grateful for the gift of having a child.  However, the child can be bold and even complain and be ungrateful for all the love and care that they are receiving. They may even want what is not good for them to have. 

We can be like that with God.  With limited faith, we may not realize how much we are loved and cared for, and begin to complain about what we don't have etc.

A grateful heart is one that we foster and develop by growing in awareness of just how much we are loved, each day of our lives.  We realize we could never thank God enough for all that we receive, directly and indirectly. And, to know, there is no limit to how much God loves us.   

WRITING SESSION

 It was an eventful occasion as we celebrated our return to Creative Writing Sessions!  I was joined by Colette and Mary, and we had a great time, sharing our writings and good thoughts. The venue, SOL Balcony proved a winner, and now I look forward to our next Session, taking Pen to Paper in July!

Perhaps, the secret of knowing oneself is to write about the memories that lie stored in the greatest computer of all, the human Mind.  It can be astonishing to find stories and events deep within ourselves, and only when we begin to write and put pen to paper do we realize all these hidden treasures, almost without limits.

When you think of the books contained in a Library, and how many writers that exist, it gives us an idea of all that is stored away, in each person, waiting to be shared and revealed to the World.

The best and most famous story-teller is found in the life of Christ. He had the mind of God and yet, it was through stories that he shared his wisdom and knowledge. If we want to share our stories with others, take the example of Christ and make them understandable and interesting for others. 

Let's become great story-tellers!

CREATIVITY!

My interest is in Creative Writing; the ability to put pen to paper and write about the thoughts that fill my mind.  The easy part of writing is just to do it. The hard part is when we become critical about what we have written.  Is it good, worth sharing OR is it just for the bin!

All Creativity depends on a belief in ourselves and a willingness to follow the inspirations that come.  If we are a person of Faith, then we can give God credit for the wonderful thoughts that we receive.  This is a big plus in giving time and energy to what we pertain to be important

Perhaps, this is the biggest challenge in being faithful to our Creative Self.  We need to have confidence in our inspirations and our ability to follow suit. 

When it comes to writing, put pen to paper, write it down / leave it for awhile, then allow the 'critic' to redraft.  Enjoy being surprised at the outcome.

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Beautiful Wicklow!

Just looking outside my window as evening comes slowly, and we say goodbye to a lovely day. 

Lately, my thoughts have been on a holiday trip, somewhere in Ireland, near the sea and town and a place to swim.  Now, I look around and find this is where I live, in beautiful Wicklow town.

Also, a short trip will take me to Glendalough, a place of beauty and mystery. This became the home of Saint Kevin, whose feast day we celebrate today.

And, this is only a small idea of just how beautiful Wicklow truly is; called the Garden of Ireland.