Affirmations

There are greetings cards, books, leaflets, bumper stickers and a whole host of other items that share affirmations with us in a subtle or not so subtle way each day. Some people go searching for them as soon as they awaken so that their day will start with self acceptance, approval and a positive attitude. Some people happen across them as they wander through their day. Others fall over them when they are at their lowest points.

These affirmations can transform your thinking. They can imbue you with personal power, they can steer you towards success. Positive affirmations are medicine for the mind that shows up in your positive actions and behaviours.

Why do we need positive affirmations? For a balance life, that’s why.

Here are a few to be going on with:

I am wonderful and my happiness is important.

I will make time to be happy every day; I am worth it.

I have a right to love and be loved.

I am a kind and loving person.

I will say yes to my dreams.

I believe in myself.

Moments like these ...

There are rare occasions when I am not at my best and the smallest thing can make me drop the veil of sadness over my face.

It may be a careless word or a deliberate action directed at me, no matter what the motive or the person when it reaches me I am hurt. And my initial reaction is to protect myself from further harm. My way of doing this is to shut down.

When I shut down I usually stop communication – in any way at all. Silence.

This is an unusual state for me but it does occur.

A brief outline of the situation may give you an idea of how I felt and what I did.

Clothes have never been a major interest to me – this was especially true when I was several sizes larger than I am now. This was mainly because my large build seemed to be a constant source of mirth to some people. They never saw how much pain it caused me. I hated shopping for clothes and always avoided it until the last possible moment. However, I thought it was more or less all behind me but I was mistaken.

The wounds of those words were temporarily opened by some fresh comment (disguised as a joke) about just how huge I was then (not my choice of words). I was surprised by the fact that it affected me instantly. I closed down.

This was not a practical reaction for several reasons, but pain does not always wait until you are in a comfortable environment to settle into your bones.

I felt my face drop the laughter like a mountain avalanche.

That’s when the change occurred. I wanted to, in the true Greta Garbo sense, ‘be let alone’. So I excused myself and tried to achieve the space to repair my pain.




This is when my son spotted a change in me and gave me a fierce hug. As much as I love him and his hugs I really wanted to be apart from everybody right then. But he looked into my face and said, “You’ve got to have some happy moments before you go.” And he wouldn’t let me go until I really smiled. By then I didn’t need to be alone any more.

Thankfully my life is full of happy moments like these.

Designated love

When people go to pubs in groups they often have a designated driver: the one who will not drink alcohol for the evening and therefore drive everyone home safely. That one person is chosen to show caution in alcohol consumption for that evening – they are designated in control of order.

On every day in my young life my mother was my main designated giver of love. She controlled the order and growth of my life.

Today in the UK is Mothering Sunday when people recognise the mothers in their lives. People throughout the land have been focussing on this designated day to show their mothers love and appreciation for ... everything.

What I have noticed – maybe because I am getting older – is that many of my peers are saying that it’s great having this day but they no longer limit recognising the love from their mothers to one day. More and more people seem to want to celebrate the fact that a mother’s love is not restricted by one day, one occasion, or one gift and therefore neither should our thanks towards our mothers be thus limited.

Just because some things are designated by tradition does not mean that we should be similarly limited by tradition.

Love is not bound by dates, high days, holy days or any other celebrations.

I think every day is a perfect day for designated love to your mother.

Happy every day!

Happy Every Day

We say ...

'Happy Birthday' and

'Happy Anniversary'

to celebrate those special occasions -

my son made me a card that says:

'Happy Every Day'

bless and love him :-)

Children can often see things so clearly.

My wish for you is that you also have a

Happy Every Day

... be blessed.