NEW AGE

 Today is my birthday, facing me with the dilemma of moving forward into a New Age, a forward thinking person who welcomes change and is open to opportunities to become a better, more focused person.

Moving forward from one age to another can mean very little, or can mean a lot. If I can think back on moments in my life when age mattered.  For example, going to the Cinema with my older sister, Mairead, and wearing high heels and lipstick so I would look eighteen when I was only sixteen and a very young sixteen at that.

Going for a summer job with my hair styled in a french roll, so I would look older and more mature.  It never worked.  My nervousness and baby face let me down. 

So, age matters a lot  when one is young, and age matters when one is old.  Perhaps the secret is found in loving the age that we are.  Becoming mature depends on the confidence we have to be just who we are, no frills or heavy make-up / short skirts or long skirts.  Just to be oneself.

Stepping into a New Age World is quite an experience.  We become aware of what matters most, loving the person that we are, warts and all!  

The Artist who has created us, has made no mistakes.  We are original, and there is only one of us.  How precious life becomes when we realise this..

Pleasure of Writing

It can happen that when we want to write, we experience a certain pressure, a feeling of duty as a writer, and so we must write.  However, if we can and are able to make writing a pleasure, we eliminate pressure and experience the pleasure of writing. 

To discover the pleasure of writing is easy enough, most times, and when it is not easy, then our creative self is telling us to take a break.  Time out to discover the true writer that we are.

Just like a Play that is scripted well, the main words are dialogue between the characters in the play, yet it is very important to include no words, make room for Silence.

The pleasure of writing is dependent on our honesty, knowing who we are, and what we want to say. Creative writing especially depends on us being able to have fun while we write. We create fictional characters and as best we can give them a history, a life. This is especially important for our Hero, and this wonderful character will need support and encouragement from other characters who have a history and are true to life.

We will love and hate these characters, and enjoy developing them as real people. Imagine the fun it is to be the creator of the lives of our characters.

The pleasure we enjoy in writing will give reality to all that we write about.

STRENGTH in WEAKNESS

 Some days, we can experience a sense of weakness. It may be physical or mental, yet whatever way we find ourselves weak, there is a need for strength.

St. Paul is known to have said, 'In my weakness, I find my strength.' This can be very encouraging to realise that being weak is not a bad thing. It may well be an invitation to discover our true sense of strength.

Physical weakness is a good example because we find ourselves unable to manage. Our worklist is left aside, and we are forced to take life easy. Of course, this can be a good or a bad situation.  We may have organised our day to fulfill many things, and suddenly we are without strength or motivation.

This is good. We need help. We need someone to help and comfort us in our weak state.  If we are of a spiritual mind, we have an opportunity to realise our need for God's help in our lives.

Without weakness, we can act as a strong, independent person.  We don't need help from others. We may even believe we don't need God's help.  Yet, as soon as we can accept our state of weakness, we will find our strength in those who help us.

We are a social being. We need the support of others. More especially, we need to recognise our need for God.

PATH OF LOVE

In today's World, we have so many choices that we can make, and so much information that is shared to guide us, hopefully in the right direction.

For a spiritual-minded person, it is essential to be guided by an awareness of all that is good in life.  We say we believe in God, yet this in itself can be vague. Who is God?  How do we recognise the Presence of the Creator of the World?  

Perhaps, these questions can be easily answered for the Christian-minded person. We have the life of Christ and the New Testament to inform us, and help us to imitate his teachings.

Each day we can learn more about the Christian life that we live.  The lives of saintly people will give positive testimonals as to how we become more Christ-like.  It makes sense to read up and learn more about who we are meant to be.  

God will never force us in any way, except to encourage us with little 'miracles' that happen every day, if we have eyes to see. 

What a blessing it is to follow the Path of Love, and to become who we truly are, Children of God.

  

SAVE the WORLD

So much is being said at present about Climate Change, frightening in many ways, and yet we are all responsible.  We may not be involved in directly polluting the  Environment, yet think for a moment and remember...  Have I ever thrown away something, without binning it properly?  Am I careful about plastic waste?  Do I concern myself about ECO developments and knowledge?

Being informed is another way to accept responsibility, not just for ourselves, also for all that is happening in the World today.  The knowledge is there for anyone to study and know what is right. Just like the rules of the Road, we can learn to act with respect and concern at all times.  

In a way, we are being asked to look after the Earth for the younger gererations coming after us.  This is real Love, to care for others /  to care for our Planet!

NEVER TOO LATE!

With so many changes in the world today, one can become 'stuck' and left holding on to anything or anyone that gives a sense of security.  This is a natural response, yet really, not such a good one.

Whatever happens outside our lives, or even within our lives, we have a need to go forward and make new tracks / new adventures / new ways of learning how to be secure and happy with our lives.

One very encouraging way to move forward is to take on new projects that help us to stretch our abilities and learn new ways of dealing with the challenges that come our way.

Say to ourselves,  'It's never too late... '  Whatever inspiration or new thought comes,  value it in a responsible way and simply say, 'I can do it.'  Such a powerful encouraging statement to say,  'It's never too late to begin again.'

FOREWARD THINKING...

Foreward thinking is probably another way of being Optimistic, and having a positive mindset for the future to come.

Because of Lockdown we have, in certain ways, become fearful of what the future might have in store for us, and we know that FEAR is deadly.  It imprisons the mind and makes it difficult to move forward.

When we focus on being a foreward thinking person, we leave worry and fear behind, and are able to focus on all the good that can and will be found in our future lives. We become a more creative person, open to inspirations and new happenings. 

A poetic friend said to me, 'Keep looking up - admire the clouds in the sky - and when there is a need to look down, smell the roses!'