The art of meditation

In my Attraction Mastermind Group we were discussing commitment at great length and decided that we would all commit to something that we would work on. One suggestion was to do this over a period of 30 days which very much appealed as when that time is up, I shall be off on leave.

I have toyed with meditation off and on and decided that this was what I was going to commit to. I started last Saturday and the intention every day is to meditate for 10 or 15 minutes. I am taking it in small steps.

The hardest day so far was the second one and since then it has been bliss. The time has gone much quicker and I have felt so calm. The calmness is coming into all parts of life gradually. I had a call today from a lady who had to cancel my walkers leader training course and she was so impressed when I said 'that's Ok, it's life. I shall come on another one later.' I had been so looking forward to it and yet I felt that it will happen when the time is right. Then the friend who was due to start her meditation course in June and postponed, called and asked me to be her guinea pig so she is doing a one to one with me on July 12th. It is all falling into place.

Last night though I learnt a valuable lesson. It was not to leave my meditation till too late. So much happened yesterday so that I sat down to meditate at 11.00 and I was just so tired. I managed 5 minutes - better that I thought but I did not feel good and I was annoyed with myself too. For me it is also the fact that I let slip something that is good for me and therefore my life as a whole and I let it go from being a first priority.

What have you let slip that you can place back at the top of your list?

Interesting reading

I have been de-cluttering today and it is so energising. I have been finding articles I had forgotten about and inspirational writings too which I am now organising so that I can act upon them. I also found lots of papers that were able to go straight in the recycling - why did I ever think I would need them?

I have a clear vision for my office which although not paperless - do they exist? - will be much tidier than it is now. The time goal? September after the summer holidays.

One of the articles I found was around giving and the fact that as well as giving to others, we should remember to give to ourselves. At the very top of the suggested list was 'go for a walk to clear your mind'. I was of course delighted, it backs up my walking benefit theory. Then just a few minutes ago I opened a video about caring on the net. It asked that people set aside at least one fraction of time in their day when they were number one on their list instead of at the end. And how can they care for themselves? Very simply, go for a walk.

There's a message there, are you going to act on it? www.walkerscoach.com

Lots of love

I am thinking of my darling husband as I write this. He is miles away in Dubai currently training senior staff in media skills at Dubai International Financial City. He left here at 2.00p.m. yesterday after already having been away from home for most of last week in parts of the UK and Ireland. He had about 16 hours at home to sleep, catch up with some emails, write a proposal or two, pack and get back on the road again. Who says a life spent traveling is glamorous?

Just think of that lovely long summer holiday Al, and lots of family time. If you are reading this Ellie and I love you lots.

I should put a message like this on Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs. I was listening to it yesterday morning while on the croissant run and I found myself 'oohing' and 'aahing' as well as letting a few tears slip as I listened. I found myself thinking what a lovely positive programme this is and how there should be more opportunities to express our love and gratitude.

So send a message into Steve or if that is not your thing, find another way to tell your loved ones how much you care. In fact find a way to do it every day and send a message too………and they play good music.

10 ways that this is perfect for me now!

When things are going well, it is not too difficult to find 10 reasons/ways/things why the situation is perfect. However, when things are not good, it is a different matter.

I was first asked to do this exercise by Annie Meacham not long after I joined her attraction marketing masterclass and I did not know where to start. 'It's not perfect at all' was all I could think and trying to do it was going against everything I felt, thought etc. Others seemed to be able to do it so why not me?

I guess it is all about where you are.

As time has moved on I have found this easier and helpful and then last night I hurt my back!!! I was just about to settle down to a girlie evening with my daughter Ellie and as I got up from my seat to put the DVD on, my back went. Now my back was the catalyst for taking my health more seriously and some of you will remember the summer saga from last year. I have had no problems since then. I took a couple of painkillers, propped cushions around me and watched the DVD but after I got rather down. I was meant to be doing my first walk with my group again this morning and I had put all the organisation in place. I could hardly move so I had to leave messages and try to deal with my pain, my frustration and my wonderment.

After the initial depression, I reverted to trying to understand the reason why and wrote the following 10 reasons why this is perfect me for me now.
1. I will go to sleep earlier as I am so uncomfortable.
2. I do not have to walk tomorrow.
3. It's a catalyst again to change my habits further.
4. I can sit in the sun tomorrow.
5. Ellie can demonstrate how helpful she is.
6. I can get on with de-cluttering7. It's a great opportunity to start writing my journal again.
8. It gives me the chance to use the attraction principles more.
9. No alarm in the morning.
10. I can become more committed to my Pilates.

As I said, I used to find these 10 things so hard to do but this wasn't and what came out was really helpful as hopefully you can see. I am now taking action and am feeling positive.

If you do not believe that this can work, try it out for yourself. Persevere and it will all come together, I promise you.

Go with the flow and trust.

My heart sank when I saw a couple of emails this morning because they asked for change of dates at short notice. Many of the dates given as options had already been sent out as possibles to another person. It was all like a moving block puzzle.

'Go with the flow and trust' - I am doing it more and more so I trusted and wow! The person who had the options emailed back with a date and the date of choice was one not mentioned by the others. This enabled me to say 'yes' to the first choices on the other emails. So easy.

Then the phone rang and it was a friend I had not seen for nearly a year. So when can we meet up? I have a few spaces between the 3rd July and 21st I said knowing how busy is dairy is. The 7th was his response and guess what lunch is now booked on that date.

Thanks. Things like this make me trust more and more....

Celebration

What was the last thing you celebrated? Today I celebrated getting all my files back in order by awarding myself 15 minutes to sit in the sun and yesterday Ellie and celebrated the end of her cello exam with wonderful ice-cream - she was allowed to have a tripple scoop strawberry for the great sum of £1.80.

People have interesting views about celebration; some choose not to mark occasions at all. They view birthdays as not worth celebrating as they are getting older - their excuse not mine and other things as too commercial. Other people feel that celebrations cost money and yes they can but I hope I have demonstrated that they can be cheap or cost nothing at all.

If you think things are too commercialised, decide to celebrate other things instead - after all you can choose.

In our house we celebrate lots of things. Any excuse, we often say. Sometimes things cost money, like a nice bottle of wine as a result of winning a contract or lunch out, although where I love lunch out can be as reasonable as £5.00 and that's not breaking the bank especially as you are not going to do it every day.

You can celebrate and you should do to mark your achievements like getting a new job or walking for 5 miles and what about occasions like catching up with old friends, finishing a bit of work or the fact of a sunny day. Do it as you would like to, spend as much or as little as you want. Take 10 minutes now and think how many ways you can celebrate and for what reason. Have fun and then put it into action.

Off again...........

I've started walking again and it feels great. It amazes me that when the time is right, things do happen. I had been feeling that I should get going and then after a weekend when I had carefully planned some gentle integrated walking, I really wanted to get up and out on Monday morning.

OK, my time was slower and I didn't go so far but it was a beginning. I met one of my walking group who told me I looked terrific - nice to hear so at least she knows I am trying. I am hoping to join the group for a short walk on Saturday and I will hopefully fit in another a.m walk in the morning even though there is a little discomfort. But then again perhaps a little unusage.

On my call tonight, Judith (my coach) said she was wondering what the reason for the sprained ankle was. Funny I was wondering that too. However, tonight it became clear as I spouted all the latest ideas and developments. I needed the time to plan and that is now in full swing.

For the new Training for Treks programme have a look at the site - www.walkerscoach.com and keep posted as other things fall into place.

Phew!!!

I have been a single parent since early Sunday morning which might help explain the lack of blogging entries. Alan has been in Dubai and is due to return there again in a week or two. Such is his growing reputation out there that the work is expanding. Like all things there are two sides to this, one that means he is away from us and we all miss that but then the coming back together is joyful and it is good for business. As long as he enjoys it and it fulfills his wishes then I am happy.

Now regarding the single parenting, I know many of you do this all the time and many of you also have more than one child. I take my hat off to you, it is such hard work and I know for me that is because I am so used to have an excellent partner to share things with. With him gone, I have to do all of it and the hours available just seem to shrink. This week I have been trying to find time to ice my sprained ankle and to put it up for about 15 minutes a day - small things really so why then am I struggling to find the time?

It's been a challenging few days over and above everyday life. We have had to deal with sleepless nights due to the extreme heat. After the second restless event, I recalled the existence of two fans bought in the heat wave last year so off I went to the attic. To add a little extra to the scenario, I want you to factor in a rather sore ankle, it having been worked on earlier in the day by my sports masseur. The attic was boiling and the fans were nowhere in sight. I ended up looking in every bag, bin bag, box and other receptacle I could find at the same time swearing profusely at my dear husband who had put them away all those months ago. By now I had rivers of sweat running off me, my ankle was throbbing and I kept hitting my head on the low beams. ....and yes, just as I was about to give up, I found them in a box which had been abandoned and mostly hidden under the eaves - success.

On the same evening as the fan search, we also discovered the existence of nits in Ellie's hair. This was a regular occurance in reception class but since then nothing. Fot those parents familiar to this and I am sure that includes most of you, the process is lengthy and needs repeating daily. Did I need this, no!

Finally when I should have been on a conference call with my attraction marketing group on Tuesday evening, I was baling water alongside my wonderful neighbour to try and save my office from being flooded. The torrential rain caused a back flow from the drains as they could not cope with the quantity of water and this in turn led to one of the flag stones on my patio being pushed up by the force of the water and it all flowed down the garden. At first I was quite energised by the power of the storm and then realised what was happening. I was in the middle of calling my neighbour when she turned up at the door so that was why Ann and I ended up clothed in cagouls and wellies wading around the garden moving the water into plant pots, borders and all surrounding gardens. It took quite a while to sort out but we did it and what a sense of partnership and achievement we had. However, every time the skies darkened after that I was a little concerned. I did what I could and lifted everything off the floor in the office and then asked the Universe for help in not sending any more torrential rain. A result and I was able to sleep. The job in hand is now to have the whole thing looked at by a builder and re-built if necessary.

In the meantime, the gratitude is that it happened when it did and not in the middle of summer when we, and many of our neighbours would have been away. Also the reminder that building and maintaining good relationships with your neighbours is so important and not only for times of stress. We have a great community and know lots of people in the area. Of course like all relationships, you have to put some work into it but having great neighbours is a lovely feeling and has so many benefits. You feel part of something, there are people who look out for you, in our situation we get together on a regular basis and help each other out when we can. Ann and Matt have become very dear friends and we help and support each other a lot so as she left on Tuesday evening I knew she meant it when she added 'If it all starts flooding in the middle of the night, call us'

On the mend

As you can tell my sore foot and the forced lack of walking is of major consideration to me at present. I am delighted to say that for the first time today, I was able to walk on my foot without hobbling - progress indeed.

Not planning to overdo it though I am now about to put my feet up and sit in the sun with a good book. It should be peaceful as most of the country is preparing to watch England's first match in the World Cup. Peaceful until they score a goal of course then due to open windows and doors, I bet you I hear it in all round sound.

Whatever you are doing and wherever you are take some 'me' time and do what you want to do. Enjoy.

The balloon and stick

This morning I came across a balloon on a stick lying by the side of the footpath. No doubt someone was very upset to have lost it but as it struggled to take flight it was hampered by the stick which was holding it down, its weight just too much for it to become free.

As the breeze caught it, I couldn't help but imagine a dialogue whereby the balloon was trying to get away and the stick was keeping it grounded. How frustrating for both.

How often do you want to fly and something holds you back just like the stick and balloon? What would you have to do to shake the stick off in your particular situation and soar into the sky? Lots of things drain our energy and weigh heavy on us. What could you do with releasing yourself from and what would it take?

It would have been very easy for me to lift the balloon and free it from the stick so perhaps detaching yourself from the weight on you is not necessarily that difficult. Why not give it a try?

I'm getting there.

So who was baffled by MFEMF then? Yes, I was too and haven't a clue how it got into yesterday's blog. When I wrote it, it said Ellie and I but somewhere in the publishing things changed. Hope I had some of you baffled though, it keeps the interest up.

I am back in the office with my foot encased in an ankle bandage and up on a chair supported by cushions - all I really need is the chaise longue and someone feeding me grapes but then I would probably not be able to reach the keyboard. The foot is on the mend so the TLC is working. No swelling at all after yesterday although it was quite painful. Today the pain is lessened too. I am hopeful for the weekend especially as my MBT walking shoes are so supportive.

Sadly the high strappy sandals I had envisaged wearing tonight when I go to Elaine’s party will have to be swapped for more sensible footwear otherwise I think I could do even more damage this time.

Elaine is one of my dearest friends and tonight is celebrating 10 years in business. She works hard, plays hard and is great at celebrating so tonight will be fun. Elaine runs her own medical PR company and I am so in awe of all she has achieved, she is a great lady. If you ever need her services, have a look at www.snell-communications.net

Thanks by the way to all who have sent their best wishes and to dear Lindsey for all the tips especially the arnica cream. I shall add that to my ever growing list of walking (or in this case falling down tips)

walking's off

Well it is for a little while, my walking that is. I have sprained my ankle and it wasn't due to an over indulgence of alcohol or because I was dancing on the table. Shall I tell you more?

Last week MFEMF and I went off to France for half term. Although I knew I wasn't going to be able to do any of my long 10-12 mile walks, we packed the gear so that the mother and daughter bonding could continue over some of my favourite walks in the woods and along the hillside. Unfortunately, unknown to me my walking days on this occasion were numbered.

We stayed with some friends on the Monday evening (we had just arrived on Sunday) and I got to try out the brand new bedroom. The bed was so comfortable that when I woke in the early hours the thought of getting out of bed to go to the loo was not at all appealing. Need got the better of me though and I made my way in the darkness along the corridor being careful to remember the few steps from one level to another. However, I did not remember how many steps and the next moment I crashed to the floor having dropped a bit further than planned. The shock hit first and then the excruciating pain followed by that horrible cold and hot period when you feel you are going to be ill.

I am not sure how long I sat there but all sorts of scenarios passed through my mind from wondering how I would get home if I had broken my ankle or foot to thinking how I could still do my 60K walk. I managed to get back to bed and lay as still as I could while my foot throbbed.

Well its not broken just badly bruised and swollen. I managed to get my trainers on the following day and my little accident helped Chris and Roo realise that perhaps they needed some light in that area before they rented their house out. At least my falling had its uses.

Now I sit in the office with my foot up on a chair and an ankle bandage for extra support. I had to cancel my walk on Sunday as I figured 10 miles may not be a good idea. I am taking loads of care now and hoping that walking at the weekend may be possible. This lack of walking is getting to me but that is also a good sign as clearly it has become so much part of me that it is not a trial to do. It's the way I wanted my exercise to be.

Any tips orsuggestions regarding my predicament very welcome.