SIMPLICITY

The ability to have a simple approach to life is quite a clever way to handle emotional upheavels when they come our way.  Life is so wonderful and diverse. 

As the song says, 'One day we are up in the air, next day down on the ground...' yet with a simple approach to all that comes our way, we learn easily to cope and find a happy guide to deal with everything in life.

The other day I was listening to an old Late late Show by Gay Byrne.  It seems people were asked to send in a card with their name and phone number, a sort of Draw with a Prize to win.  The lady who answered the phone was quiet..

'Yes, this is me.. Who are you?

The audience laughed, but she did not. Gay immediately picked up on whatever was wrong, asked, and found out her daughter had been knocked down and died, the day before. His compassion was immediate, and cut back on the celebration intended.

This, to me is the power of a simple approach to life. We can let go of where we are and what is important to us, for the sake of what is most important at that moment.  Gay was a great man, more for his understanding of people, than his showmanship.

Perhaps, this is what simplicity can teach us, a simple approach to life as it is being presented to us.

IMAGINATION...

I had no idea what to write about... imagination...  what is that and how does it effect our lives? However, I soon realised that no matter what age we are, or where we live, or what occupies our daily lives, we are essentially, imaginative people.

And, if this is true, we have only ourselves to blame if we find life tedious or boring, because our imagination is like a fire within that lends to all sorts of creative ideas. There is no limit, except the limit we put on ourselves.  

Next question to ask ourselves would be, why?  Why would we limit our creative abilities when we can almost reach for the moon and believe we are there, by simply using our imaginative skills to create the illusion.

In our endeavour to become a creative writer, the sky is the limit as to what we can put down on paper. Our belief system will do the rest. Simply begin, pen to paper.  

 

CELEBRATE...

 When we celebrate, we become a happier and more fulfilled person, and the good thing about celebrating is, we seldom celebrate alone!

What about the idea of celebrating Failure?  Of course, we never like to fail, yet being of a fallen nature, with imperfect habits and ways, we can be certain of failing in someway or other.

This can be discouraging at times, and yet so many lessons come from our failures.    When we are able to look at ourselves, objectively, we would see that so much is learned through failing.

Imagine how arrogant we could become, if we never failed, yet a quick examination of ourselves will show how much is gained by mistakes we make.  We can get upset OR we can grateful and learn to become a better and more loving person.

The choice is always ours, so no need to feel bad when we fail. 

Simply Celebrate Failure

HOLIDAY SPIRIT

The ability to have a Holiday Spirit, even in the most ordinary days and ways, is a gift and a good way to know that one is alive and well, healthy in mind and body.

It can happen that one is distracted by little things that don't work out well, or maybe a lack of understanding can put one down, mentally.

As the Book says, do not sweat the small things... i.e. someone forgets to say hello / a favourite item is lost or broken / feeling tired or upset etc.  Let them all go, and hold on to what is most important...  being happy!

A Holiday Spirit is found when we follow our hearts and enjoy life, regardless!

MINDFUL...

To be mindful means awareness of what might be happening, in this present moment. It seems such a simple and easy thing to do, mindfulness, and yet it can be a challenge because our mind might is somewhere else, rather than where we ought to be.  

If we allow ourselves to be distracted by things other than what we are meant to be doing, then we have a problem.  It can happen so easily with children. They are supposed to study, yet all they may thing about is playtime. 

Perhaps the solution lies in following our heart, and allow ourselves to do what we would love to do, rather than what we think we should be doing.  So much time and energy can be spent on being of a dutiful mind. This can be virtuous at times, yet nothing is better than doing what we love to do.

Dance if you want to dance / sing if you want to sing / play if you want to play, and if it comes to mind, pray when we want to pray!

POWER

When we look at the World today, we can be amazed at the Power of Inventions. Already, steps are being taken to live on Planets outside the Earth.

Almost everybody has a smart-phone, and even children have the technology to use ways of communicating with one another. 

WhatsApp is a tool that allowed me to speak to my sister, living in Pakistan, and view her as if she was in my room with me. How powerful! 

I am impressed by the giant steps taken in Knowledge and Learning abilities. It's almost as if Schools are no longer needed, and one can simply sit down at a Computer or I Pad and be taught everything and anything.

This Power to learn and become whoever we want to be, is fantastic. However, is it always used for the best intentions?  Am we learning to become a better, wiser persons,  OR wasting time with foolish or negative knowledge?

Oh yes, the Power to create a better World is in the hands of each one of us, depending on how we live our lives, and more especially how connected we are to loving one another. 

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!