Even though the author of this poem is unknown, its message is as individual as it is timeless.  This week I choose to be mindful in my interactions with others.  What message does it hold for you?

I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it, one day,
And as my fingers pressed it, still
It moved and yielded to my will.

I came again, when days were passed,
That bit of clay was hard at last,
The form I gave it, still it bore,
And I could change that form no more.

Then I took a piece of living clay
And gently formed it, day by day,
And moulded with my power and art,
A young child’s soft and yielding heart.

I came again when years were gone,
It was a man I looked upon,
He still that early impress bore,
And I could change it, nevermore.

Enjoy your week          
Mary Jo x

Maya Angelou's 'Alone':

“We survive in exact relationship to the dedication of our poets,” wrote Maya Angelou in her novel “I know why the caged bird sings.”

When asked in interview many years later Maya is quoted as saying “We are the sum total of everything you’ve see, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot-it’s all there.  Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.  I don’t use vulgarity, and I won’t have it around me, and no pejoratives, because those words are meant to dehumanize people.  If it’s poison in a vial and has a skull and cross bones on it, and you pour the content into Bavarian crystal, it’s still poison.

This week I want you to hear Maya’s message of self love.  It is vital to remember how precious you all are.  Be mindful of what you do, say, think, are.  Be assured of how special you are.  Be sure to remind yourself how loved you are.  Be kind to you this week.
 

Maya Angelou's 'Alone':


Lying, thinking
Last night
How to find my soul a home

Where water is not thirsty
And bread loaf is not stone
I came up with one thing
And I don't believe I'm wrong
That nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

There are some millionaires
With money they can't use
Their wives run round like banshees
Their children sing the blues
They've got expensive doctors
To cure their hearts of stone.
But nobody
No, nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Now if you listen closely
I'll tell you what I know
Storm clouds are gathering
The wind is gonna blow
The race of man is suffering
And I can hear the moan,
'Cause nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Enjoy your week

Mary Jo x  x

This week I want to share a little encouragement because in our world, and maybe our own private lives, we may be going through a difficult time.  We never know what pain a smiling face may be hiding or the pain that some people carry daily in their hearts.  When we are having difficulties in our life, however we define our difficulties; it is a challenge to be open to others pain.  If we can realise that others are hurt too, it can help us not to feel so alone.

My hope for all this week is that you treat yourself with love.

Get up, get moving, lift your feet
To the rhythm of your life’s beat
One step forward, one step back
Head up, deep breath, keep on track.
Clap your hands, move together
Tandem bodies, flow together
One step forward, two steps back
Head up, deep breath, keep on track.
Twin hearts beating round, fired up,
Dancing, tuned to universal sound.
One step forward, one step back,
Head up, pay attention, deep breath, keep on track.
Consuming passions reach higher, higher
Ignited, fuelled by twin flame fire.
One step forward, two steps back,
Head up, deep breath, still on track?
Crackling, sprightly, sparkling heat
Dancing, romancing,
The rhythm of life’s beat.
One step forward, one step back,
Head up, deep breath, are you still on track?

“I gave a speech in Omaha. After the speech I went to a reception elsewhere in town. A sweet old lady came up to me, put her gloved hand in mine, and said,” “I hear you spoke here tonight.” “Oh, it was nothing,” I replied modestly. “Yes,” the little old lady nodded, “that’s what I heard.”- Gerald R. Ford

At a recent poetry evening I saw young teenagers, adults and older members of the audience share a common stage in our family of humanness.  The common thread of unity was their love of literature and their fear of public speaking.  Each person stood up and recited their poetry, each at times nervous, unsure of how their peers and general audience would receive their efforts and each thrilled to return to their seats when finished.  Red anxious faces accompanied at times with slight tremoring hands relaxed into happy relieved smiles.  Each participant glowing in the knowledge that they had accomplished a major personal milestone on their ladder of achievement and success.

It is universally acknowledged that the fear of public speaking is our number one fear.  Last Friday night in an atmosphere of mutual respect and co operation many young and older people of both participants and audience recognised that age, youth, experience or novice is no cushion to a vulnerability that unites us all in our human family.

“Be sincere; be brief; be seated” Franklin D. Roosevelt

I salute all who put their personal fears aside, who grab courage and faith by the hand and step up to their personal challenges.

At whatever stage you are at in your life, dig down deep, have faith and courage and take a jump into the waters of life.  You may never know what you are truly capable of or what rewards await you if you continue to play small.  It serves no one least of all yourself.

This week, find one thing, anything, that puts you out of your comfort zone and keep doing it until you achieve it.  It may be the start of a whole new You.

“According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” (Jerry Seinfeld)

This week I want to share a wonderful letter with you all, you may have come across it before, and if so I hope you enjoy it again.  I look forward to hearing your thoughts and observations about it and please share it with your family and friends 

PARADOX OF OUR TIME IN HISTORY

We have taller buildings but shorter tempers,
Wider freeways but narrower viewpoints,
We spend more but have less,
We buy more but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families,

More convenience but less time.
We have bigger degrees but less sense
More knowledge but less judgement,
More experts, yet more problems,
More medicine but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much,
Spend too recklessly, laugh too little.
Drive too fast, get too angry, 
Stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little,
Watch too much TV and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions but reduced their value.
We talk too much, love to seldom and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make a living but not a life,
We added years to life, not life to years.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, 
But have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour.

We conquered outer space but not inner space.
We’ve done larger things but not better things.
We’ve cleaned up the air but polluted the Soul,
We’ve conquered the atom but not our prejudices.
We write more but learn less,
We plan more but accomplish less,
We’ve learned to rush but not to wait,
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever 
But we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast food and slow digestion, big men and small character,
Steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the days of two incomes but more divorces; fancier houses but broken homes.
These are the days of quick trips, disposable nappies, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies and medical pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose whether to share this insight, or just forget about it..........

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.

Author Unknown

Mary Jo 

According to Dr J Murphy, affirm life not death and one of the powerful ways of doing this is by visualisation.
"Get a vision of yourself as happy, radiant, successful, serene and powerful."  Visualisation is literally a technique of seeing an idea in your mind's eye, as if it is alive, a living image: picture your idea as a mental image or mental movie in your imagination.  This way of thinking is highly receptive and suggestive to your mind.  These impressions if constantly repeated manifest themselves into reality. 

You begin by setting your expectation, clarifying what you want to accomplish.  Specify what your life will look like, what your life will sound like, what your life will feel like when you have accomplished this.  When you clearly specify the end results that you intend to create like success, inner peace, you establish a positive orientation that is easiest for your mind to achieve.  

Step One is to prepare yourself.  Ideally be in a quiet space, where you can relax and not be interrupted for 10 minutes or more. If possible the best time is before going to bed. 

Step Two.  Release any stress that you are presently experiencing, bring your awareness and intention to what you want to create.  It must always be for your and others highest good with blessings for everyone.  

Make a clear declaration to your mind of exactly what is going to occur to you during your visualisation, for example you can say for the next 10 minutes I'm going to relax and during this time my body will become refreshed, revitalised, my mind will be clearer, calmer and when I return I will be charged up and ready to enjoy accomplishing my goal with focus, energy and creativity.  

Then state what goal you are going to be accomplishing in full detail.  Picture it as completely as possible with colour, texture, motion, energy and feeling - you must feel the emotion of it.  Play it across the theatre of your mind like a movie, with sound, vision, action in all the detail that you want this to manifest in your life.  Then repeat this process as many times as you can and believe totally in its reality and give thanks when it appears in your life.

Best wishes 

Mary Jo xx

Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian in  history, who publicly attributes much o his success to visualisation.  He claims to have learned this skill of 'mind training' at the age of seven, from his coach Bob Bowman.  Every night before going to sleep, he watches a 'mental videotape' of himself swimming the perfect race.

It's no wonder that many of today's Olympians at London 2012, attribute visualisation as the cornerstone of their success. 

Next week I'll talk a little more about visualisation and how you can apply it in your life but to get you started use some affirmations to start the process of successful visualisation.  Here are some you might like to try and adapt to your own personal taste.

• My life is filled with love and contentment. 
• I am successful in all I think, say and do. 
• I easily manifest my dreams. 
• My life is filled with abundance and love. 

Enjoy the rest of the Olympics

Mary Jo xx