365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 4

There’s no inner landscape in the invisible world of our souls and hearts but is full of the most melodious and nourishing and wild freedom. And everyone should go there, to the wild place, where there are no cages, where there are no tight rooms without windows and without doors. Everyone should go to the free clearance places in their own hearts.   John O’Donohue

365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 3

Reflection

How much of yourself have you given away?

Get a life in which you are generous. Look around at the azaleas in the suburban neighbourhood where you grew up; look at a full moon hanging silver in a black, black sky on a cold night. And realize that life is the best thing ever, and that you have no business taking it for granted. Care so deeply about its goodness that you want to spread it around. Take money…and give it to charity. Work in a soup kitchen. Be a Big Brother or Sister. .. You wnt to do well, but if you do not do good too, then doing well will never be enough. 

....Anna Quindlen

Blessings in the post

I wanted to say a big thank you to two very special artists for their generosity.  I recently recieved two gifts in the post.  The first was from Diane Salter who sent me a copy of her Zine, Creativie Snippets - finding tiny inspirations.  It's a lovely little book and has got some great ideas.  She also sent a couple of ATC's based on Red Riding Hood.

The second was from Cynthia of Prayer notes who sent me a collection of book marks, and fridge magnet from a giveaway she was running.

With the rise in technology and the internet, it is always great to connect with each other by 'snail mail' the anticipation of hearing the post falling through the door, seeing the envelopes and postmarks from far-away-lands:) and the excitement as you open them up and see the contents! 

When you get a chance check out the links and have a look at both Diane's and Cynthias work, you will be blessed and inspired.

Taking time to Listen

Met an elderly man in the hardware store recently, he was about 85 years old. We were both looking for something they didn’t have, as we both stared at the shelves in worlds of our own he apologised for being in my way. I laughed and said it was alright and that started us chatting. His wife had died 6 years earlier and he shared how much he missed her, how he like ‘most men’ and these were his own words, didn’t appreciate what he had when she was around. He signed, as he stated that she spoiled him and would do everything for him ‘oh how I miss her he said’.....the old saying ‘you never know what you got till it’s gone came spilling out my mouth and he laughed, ‘yes your right’ he said.

He asked me what I had been looking for I told him I was picking up a few bits for my mother who I look after. We talked for around half an hour dodging the other customers that walked past us, time was irrelevant we were in the moment. I learnt of his past, fighting for justice, a rebel with a cause in South Africa, fleeing to London, and talked about his childhood sweetheart he was forbidden to see and every now and then since his wife had died he wonders how she is and whether he should get in touch with her.

He then turned to me and told me I was a treasure, and how lucky my husband must be....would you like to get a cup of coffee in the cafe next door? I rain-checked and promised the next time that I saw him we would sit and chat.

How much time do we give to others to listen to what they have to say?  He hadn’t spoke to anyone for a whole week, people just didn’t have the time and I was for him a breath of fresh air, just as he was for me – I was on automatic as I got on with the chores of the day until I met him!  Being called a treasure reminded me of the light we all carry around with us that we can choose to let shine or turn it off as we get burdened with the pressures of life.

Making the most of every opportunity and relationships that come our way we need to seize life with both hands and live it to the full. When I get to 80 or 90 years old I want to be able to look back with fondness at all those memories, and those times that I stopped what I was doing and listened.