2021 was a bit of a mixed year for me, physically, mentally and emotionally. I don’t mind admitting it took a toll, one I’ll be paying for a long time. No matter. 2021 is over now, I’ve worked through some of the many issues that beset me and I’m coming to terms with the ones I can’t do anything about. Change what I can, accept … Continue reading 2022: My Year of Sanctuary
I have a weekend away booked for next week, to Leamington Spa. It’s a beautiful town in the Midlands that made it as a spa town in the early 19th Century when spa towns were *the* place to be. It’s a romantic little break, just Mr Hygge Jem and me, and we will spend our time wandering through the streets of Leamington, Stratford and Warwick, … Continue reading Five Words for August.
I am really enjoying the experience of reading through Simple Abundance and having a place to share thoughts, quotes etc. The group, A Year of Simple Abundance, on Facebook is small, and the number of members who post smaller still, but that’s the manner of Facebook groups: a small band of sharers and a milling crowd of watchers, who enjoy the thinking, and have plenty … Continue reading A Week of Wise Words: A Year of Simple Abundance So Far.
Be honest, do you feel able to call yourself an Artist? Have you ever been brave enough to stand up and announce that you have created something and it is good? I struggle to do this, I really do. Even after four and a half years writing a blog and (hopefully) not repeating myself too often, of writing, proofing and publishing six… seven? books that … Continue reading The Artist’s Way: Week One, Recovering A Sense of Safety
I’m not planning to post anything between Christmas and New Year (Twixmas or Romjul, if you prefer) except perhaps a catch up post, so this post is really a sort of forward planning post, looking at what I intend to do next week and what I’m planning to start off with next year. I have some questions I need answering by any readers out there, … Continue reading Christmas of Hope 2020: Start Planning for Next Year
What was I writing the other week about serendipity and things creeping up when you most need them? I haven’t written a Wholehearted Living post for… a month and a half? How did that happen? But never mind: here I was today, prone on the settee and watching Anne with an E, wondering what I could do to add something to my life today… when … Continue reading Cultivating Intuition and Faith; Wholehearted Living series Guidepost 5
Gratitude is a much used word at the moment. Be grateful for what you have, give thanks in all circumstances, bless the Universe for its gifts…. I love how Brené gets to the heart of the matter here: we can have a Gratitude Attitude as much as we like, but until we put it into regular (daily, hourly, minutely) practice, we’re just paying lipservice to … Continue reading Cultivating Gratitude and Joy: Wholehearted Living Series Guidepost 4
Resilience is such a popular word today. When I was working as a Learning Mentor, it was one of the attributes we wanted to encourage in the children. If you’re living in a council house with one parent and many siblings where food, security and even having a home this time next month could be at risk, then being resilient and able to ride the … Continue reading Cultivating Resilience: Wholehearted Living Series Guidepost 3
How to Hygge the British Way 