Attitude

Thank you so much everyone

I read your comments, your private messages and even your emails

Each and every word made my HEART SING

I have read many a blog post where the writer doubts and of course 

many of us in varying fields face this kind of challenge at different stages in our lives

The fact that you took the time to encourage me is such a gift

Truly

♥♥♥♥

So there are a few things that I've been made more aware of in the last few months* and 

I'd like to share them with you . . .

Attitude is EVERYTHING - after love, kindness and personal grooming

(these things make such a difference and now that I'm putting them into 

regular practice - it's making me a believer)

***

Nutrition follows suit pretty darn quickly.

Whilst some would tote that it's in fact the be all and end all to your health

I feel that's not entirely true

I've known too many smokers and lovers of red wine & cheese who've lived

past the age of 70 and seemed pretty satisfied with their lot 

The common denominator?

Yep - attitude - they LOOOVED life

(and I guess it loved them back)

Having said that - I have seen (and felt) the difference that good nutrition makes

also 

happy nutrition - treats are a must 

unique nutrition - everybody is different

tasty nutrition - kale you need help, I'm sorry but you just do, even if it is just lemon and olive oil

***

Limiting screen time

Try it

For a whole day

I did and all I can say is - wow. 

Clearly I had no idea how many times in a day I reach for my phone/pad/lap-top etc

My little experiment went like this:

Switch internet OFF

Turn TV OFF

Turn radio/I-Pod ON

If you have a smart phone - turn off browsing capabilities

and place it somewhere in the house where it remains for the whole day

Make tea, make food, stare into fridge, clean, washing, 

read (hello old friend!) groom, sort and so forth

Note how many times you walk past phone and check it

or catch yourself thinking of something you need to look up

I was amazed actually

I picked a day when I'm at home because studies show that even

though people browse the net at work it's even more of a temptation at home

(when no one is policing you?)

I wouldn't say I've hit status detrimental as yet

BUT

the habits have formed

the habits are hard to break

the habits, having been examined more closely, are up for change

***

And lastly  - Sunshine

Dedicating 10 whole minutes to standing in the sun 

If possible eating a piece of fruit or drinking a glass of water

No talking, no doing - just breathing and soaking

Just do it

I'll leave you with a brilliant quote I read last week

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you."

says Anne Lamott in THIS wonderful piece

Thank you lovely people.

I am climbing again. I am feeling stronger and I am 

noticing more light than shadow.

♥Attitude♥

*Disclaimer - I've made a few promises to myself alongside my revelation 

regarding this little space - they are small manageable changes that

I truly believe are making a huge difference in my life

The interweb is so FULL of stuff - lots good, lots bad.

Advice is everywhere and I don't want to come across as a 

self righteous nerd - I just want to share the good stuff 

I'm no Doctor though - I'm more of a flower loving hippie

Just so were clear

Oh - and the image?

Couldn't find anything that captivated the essence 

of mid-life crisis morphs into turning point for life

So a green apple it is

I do love green apples though - more than red ones.

A blog neglected

I have visited this space so many times with the sincere intention of sharing.
I log in and start typing and then save as draft  - often after only two lines.
I've done this sixteen times. SIXTEEN.

Then I decided that this ride on my carousel of misery had to end. stop. finish.
(it always comes down to a decision doesn't it?)
With viking determination I drafted "my last post" and as I wrote I started laughing.
Such drama - a title that implies going off to war, defending my country, dying.
A martyr.

Then that old best bud called self doubt dropped round with a cup of critique.
It sounded a lot exactly like this:

"ridiculous. a quitter. a quitter with only a handful of followers.
for heavens sake it's not like Joanna Goddard has decided to pull up stumps
get a grip. get a grip. just say goodbye. just. give. up."

Two hours and three cups of tea later.
More self doubt
More self doubt
More self doubt

That's when I realised something truly, truly life changing.
NO ONE GIVES A SH*T

Unless I do.

How utterly perfect and just and fair.
How brilliantly poetic and how sublimely non bulldust.
All that indecisive crap and no one in the world knew what I was thinking - or cared - or had their life altered in anyway by my petty self doubt.

It's only taken me 41 years to fully digest this nugget. fully.
To comprehend the quantum leap that can be made when you stop thinking anyone else's thoughts and only think your own.

Miraculous change occurred immediately.
I felt physically lighter.
I had new ideas.
I decided not to stop writing caring
I decided that this space was like ANY OTHER space in my world.
My bedroom, my car, my favourite park, my marriage, my favourite beach.

All that mattered was that it matters to me

In fact whether it was ONLINE or OFFLINE or HANDWRITTEN or even just DAYDREAMED INTO THE ETHER... If it's mine - then I should love it.

If I'm here then I should BE HERE.
If I want to write (about any darn thing under the sun) then I SHOULD WRITE.

♥ So I did ♥