SNAKEHIPS – Days With You (feat. Sinead Harnett)
Song of the Week
24/08/2014
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Song of the Week | Tagged: boundaries, choice, James Carter, listening, London, music, Oliver Lee, R&B, relationships, respect, RnB, Sinead Harnett, Snakehips, UK | 
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Fragments
15/01/2014
Fragments
what shall i tell a child if she asks me what is life?
will i recount the pain and hurt and focus on the strife?
or shall i paint a picture of the beauty that is found
in sailing ships and chocolate chips and bugs beneath the ground?
i’d like to think i’d give her hope of all that is to come
but if she reads some poems of mine, her hope shall be undone
i cannot bear to think that i may dim a child’s eyes
present to her a world of just confusion, pain, and lies
for if i am to tell her early on of mountain streams
and help her build the pillars that will hold up all her dreams
i’d paint the birds that fill the trees with beauty and with song
a sanctuary in her mind to help when things go wrong
and in that place in her mind’s eye the flowers would grow free
in meadows under blue skies by the mighty loving sea
she’d have a place for comfort, have a place to be alone
amidst tomorrow’s challenges, no matter how she’s grown
i pray to learn my lessons from the children whom i meet
i dream of sowing sunshine on a crowded city street
i pray my words shall never hurt the child here inside
i pray that never shall i fear the child in me has died
i must reject some words of mine if i’m to feel i’m free
embracing hope, i must hold on to how good life can be
that i may treat the children with respect that they deserve
for i shan’t live for self alone–i give my life to serve
tdw
(Courtesy of Living Life Fully)
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SL Marathon 2013 – Update – Facilities and Resources
14/01/2014
Well it’s been a while… the past 6 months have been amazingly busy and I’ve struggled to keep up, which means that the writing and blogging side of things has had to take a very dim and distant back seat. This year is also already getting pretty booked up, so I shall be posting as and when I can… hopefully without disappearing for another 6 months.
So the last time I really blogged, it was about the marathon itself in Sierra Leone… and one thing I meant to mention was that of the help I received to actually get out there and do the run safely! Very often when we embark upon something new it can be daunting, and when it’s to do something physical one of the things we need to make sure is that not only is it going to be possible, but that we can do it safely. A lot of people already know, some don’t, but one of the main concerns I had for this trip was my hip: I sustained an injury years ago with my karate training which eventually turned into an impingement. Unfortunately due to the amount of time that had passed by the time I got it sorted out, it was pretty nasty and required open surgery (crutches for 3 months is not much fun). However, rather than letting something like that stop me from going out there and doing what I wanted, I figured I’d get some help to make sure it was done safely.
Very often when we go to do something new, our lack of awareness about the new “thing” can put us off, we can feel intimidated, unsure and hesitant so one of the best ways to get around this is to look at what facilities and/or resources you have available to you that can help! Very often people think they actually don’t have any. Time to open your eyes *grin*… you may be very surprised to find out just what, and who, would like to help you out…
and let’s not forget that if you don’t ask, you may not get help, and by asking… well, that too can be a gift. Who doesn’t like to feel wanted, needed and know that they are able to help another? Doesn’t it feel good when you know that someone wants and really appreciates your help? I’m not talking here about people who constantly “take” and drain you, that’s a whole different ball game. Here we’re looking at positive boundaries, respect and compassion… all aspects of kindness that we can give to ourselves and others!
In my case, it turned out that a friend I’d met when he taught classes at my local gym had opened up his own business in the City, loved the idea of what I was going out to Sierra Leone to do, and offered to help me by structuring some personal training sessions for me during my lunchtimes. This was alongside the running and yoga I was already doing and helped to build strength and condition my legs so that I could run a full 13.1 miles without stop. Of course, that was the plan… but one of the reasons I changed to the full marathon the day before was that I knew I was strong enough to complete the full 26.2 miles, even if I had to walk half of it!
Niron was an absolute godsend… I cannot praise him enough, especially since when the going got a bit tougher and I hit some emotional roadblocks along the way, he then kept me going with added encouragement and helped me to focus on what was really important!
Here he is putting someone through their paces (not me):
So I guess this post is also a recommendation one… if you’re in the City (London, UK) and want some personal training, whether that be for conditioning, helping you get fit or to meet specific challenges you’ve taken on (including marathon training) then give Niron (or one of the team) a call, and let them know where you heard about them. Their details are:
Activate+
Templeton House, 33-34 Chiswell Street, London, EC1Y 8LP
Tel: +44 (0)20 7628 5514
Mob: +44 (0)7835 918 368 / +44 (0)7932 668 505
Email: activateplusstudio@gmail.com
Website: http://www.activatepluspersonaltraining.com
And remember, someone may be wanting to help you right now, if you would but ask. So why not reach out a hand and do just that… or offer to someone who may be in need!
Have a great week everyone! 🙂
© 2014 Michelle Payne
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Reaching for Happiness
06/03/2013
Reaching for Happiness
Know that. . . .
You can’t be all things to all people.
You can’t do all things at once.
You can’t do all things equally well.
You can’t do all things better than everyone else.
You are human like everyone else.
So. . . .
Find out who you are, and be that.
Decide what comes first, and do that.
Discover your strengths, and use them.
Learn not to compete with others,
because no one else is in the contest of being you.
Then you’ll have. . . .
Learned to accept your uniqueness.
Learned to set priorities and make decisions.
Learned to live with your limitations.
Learned to give yourself the respect that is due.
And you’ll be a most vital mortal.
Dare To Believe. . . .
You’re are a wonderful, unique person.
You’re a once-in-all-history event.
That it’s more than a right to be who you are.
That life is not a problem to solve,
but a gift to cherish.
And you’ll be able to stay one up
on anything that tries to get you down.
~~ Author Unknown ~~
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The Communication Principle
30/01/2013
The Communication Principle
The communication principle is, “Be clear, concise, open, and honest.”
Communication is an art. I have seen some great communicators at work. These are some of the lessons I have learned:
Let others talk.
Avoid arguments.
Don’t complain.
Give honest and sincere compliments.
Be more ready to compliment than to criticize.
Invite input.
Make a point to remember people’s names; it is music to their ears.
Never be afraid to seek advice.
Never criticize someone in front of other people.
Be aware of other people’s desires.
Find joy and pleasure through taking an interest in people.
Talk about yourself only if asked.
Smile–it is contagious and opens people’s hearts.
Learn to listen.
Remember people’s birthdays and anniversaries–it shows you care.
Encourage people to share about themselves.
Engage people where they are–talk in relation to their interests.
Help other people to discover their uniqueness, to feel special and important, without patronizing them.
Respect other people’s opinions.
Admit when you are wrong.
Be kind and friendly to every person you meet.
Ask questions people respond to positively.
Encourage other people in their dreams–particularly children.
Try to see it from the other person’s point of view.
Hold up ideals.
Challenge people gently.
Talk about your own failures.
Appeal to higher motives.
Always look for yourself in others and others in yourself–it affirms the oneness of the human family.
Affirm the highest values of the human spirit.
Never pass up an opportunity to speak a kind word of appreciation. There are six billion people on the planet, and 5.9 billion of them go to bed every night starving for one honest word of appreciation.
~ Matthew Kelly ~
Image origin: unknown, found circulating on Facebook
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Affirmation of the Week
15/10/2012
“I HONOUR”
The 3rd precept of reiki says: Honor your parents, teachers and elders. But how easy is this really? For we don’t live in a simple world, with simple relationships, we live in a world where connections are complex, not least the relationships with those closest to us, which very often have huge undertones throughout our lives.
Honour… a simple word, but not a simple meaning. Or is it? Wikipedia has the word “honor” as meaning:
“Honor or Honour (see spelling differences), (from the Latin word honos,honoris) is the evaluation of a person’s trustworthiness and social status based on that individual’s espousals and actions. Honour is deemed exactly what determines a person’s character: whether or not the person reflects honesty, respect, integrity, or fairness. Accordingly, individuals are assigned worth and stature based on the harmony of their actions, code of honour, and that of the society at large. Honour can be analysed as a relativistic concept, i.e., conflicts between individuals and even cultures arising as a consequence of material circumstance and ambition, rather than fundamental differences in principle. Alternatively, it can be viewed as nativist – that honour is as real to the human condition as love, and likewise derives from the formative personal bonds that establish one’s personal dignity and moral character.”
It reads as rather a lot, and quite complex, don’t you think? So, in view of this week’s affirmation, I’m taking honour to mean as acting with high moral integrity, to treat people as you wish to be treated (one of my favourite sayings and beliefs), to do the *right* thing and for actions to match words.
In view of that, it sounds quite straightforward to honour those who teach us, who look after us and we who look up to. But how easy is it in reality? What about when you don’t respect someone, especially if they are a teacher, an elder, or even a parent? When they have constantly let you down, when they do not practice what they preach? What if you don’t like them, even if you love them? What if you have no contact any more? What if they are needy? What if your relationship is unequal? What then?
I believe this then comes down, as it usually does, to our own selves. Gawd, at this rate I think it sounds like I’m becoming a me, me, me person *grin*. Our little mirror again, reflecting back at us what we need to understand about ourselves. In which case, shouldn’t the first person we honour, be our self?
On the face of it, when I thought about this, I thought, well I do honour myself. I do what I want, when I want. It’s not like I’m going to lie to myself, promise myself things and then not deliver… it’s not as if I look down on myself… am unfair to myself. And on the surface of it, I do honour myself. But that still surface is a cover for many things that lurk below *grin*… yep, I promise myself lots of things and don’t deliver… like sleep, like chill out time… like cutting myself some slack when the metaphorical straws are mounting up on the camel’s back! I don’t think I look down on myself these days but I do know I don’t praise myself enough and that I need to acknowledge my capabilities and what I’ve managed to achieve over the years… even if I’m better at it these days than years ago… well, the list could go on and on and on. Can you recognise yourself in any of this?
So, Honour… a path that I’m taking one little step at a time… and each one filled with truth, with respect, with fairness and integrity… with love… to walk with honour. I honour myself. Do you?
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead ♥
© 2012 Michelle Payne
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