WHO AM I?
Friday 27 October 2017
WHO AM I?
Do you ever stop and look at yourself and wonder who you are and how you came to be there? As I've settled into Midlife I've had more time to take stock and to see who I've become and to appreciate the journey involved in getting here. I don't think I've arrived yet at my destination, but I'm really starting to enjoy the process of growing into the person I am capable of being.
I read in a Christian publication years ago that God knows who we are and the person he created us to be. I like that idea - that there is a whole person that I am becoming and it's not about appearances or the external stuff, it's about becoming a woman of worth who achieves all her potential.
FIRST (MIDDLE) AND LAST SPORTS TEAM
Wednesday 25 October 2017
TEAM SPORTS
I'm tall - and when you're tall everyone thinks you're "sporty" - long legs mean you should be able to run faster and jump higher than everyone else. Unfortunately that's not always the case, I was never a fast runner and hated athletics events where I'd always be at the end of the running races.One thing I did do well in was team sports. I started playing netball when I was around 10 years old and continued through into high school. I had great team mates and my Mum used to come along and watch from the car - tooting the horn when we shot a goal.
THE 30 DAY NO COMPLAINING CHALLENGE
Monday 23 October 2017
THE CHALLENGE
You may have noticed the idea of going for a period of time without complaining bandied around on the internet over the last couple of years. I've seen it several times and thought - hmmmm great idea but not really my idea of something I need to tackle. Some of the challenges are for 24 hours and others are for a longer period of time - up to 30 days of no complaints. As the old saying goes, "water wears rock" and the constant dripping of these challenges has ultimately worn its way into my world.RELATIONSHIPS - HOLDING ON AND LETTING GO
Friday 20 October 2017
RELATIONSHIPS
All my life I've valued friends and family. They would be the top of my list for what's important to me. I invest so much of myself (and my self-worth) in my relationships with other people. The main downside of that is the assumptions I make - mainly that I assume other people feel the same way as I do.
What I've come to realize over time is that not everyone is as invested in relationships as I am. Some are quite happy keeping things superficial, some are happy with interactions that benefit them with no cost, some only want a friendship if it's on their terms, and some just aren't capable of investing the time and energy that's needed to maintain an ongoing friendship or close contact.
FIRST (MIDDLE) AND LAST PRETTY DRESSES
Wednesday 18 October 2017
THE JOYS OF A PRETTY DRESS
What's not to love about a pretty dress? My problem is that I don't have the opportunity, or occasion to wear one much these days. Fortunately both our children got married so there was the excuse to go out and buy a Mother of the Bride/Groom dress but before then there were these moments in my life.MIDLIFE MUSINGS - HOLDING ON LOOSELY
Monday 16 October 2017
HOLDING ON AND LETTING GO
We read so much about not holding on to things - about opening up and letting them go. But, sometimes I wonder if there isn't somewhere in the middle, somewhere where we don't clutch too tightly, but also where we don't give up completely and give it all away.Wouldn't it be nice to find that balance? To be able to have people and things in our life that we are in touch with, but not owned by. To be able to hold things that are precious, but not possess them or try to control them. To be able to appreciate connection without having to own everything.
FRIDAY'S THOUGHT ~ CHANGES AND CHOICES
Friday 13 October 2017
CHANGES AND CHOICES
One of the many gifts of Midlife is realizing you're changing and that the changes aren't all about growing older physically. The wrinkles and the little aches and pains are par for the course, but with them comes the realization that you don't have to put up with all the crud that gets tossed your way.FIRST (MIDDLE) AND LAST BIKES
Wednesday 11 October 2017
FIRST AND LAST BIKES
What's not to love about a bicycle? Or in the beginning for most of us it was probably a tricycle. I went trawling through the old photo albums and managed to find a few pics that reflect the joy (and trepidation) that comes with owning and riding a bike in the backyard - complete with picket fences of course!MIDLIFE MUSINGS - DEMENTORS
Monday 9 October 2017
DEALING WITH DEMENTORS
A while back I wrote a post on people who drain the happiness out of every situation they find themselves in, and every person who takes time to listen to their woes. I called these type of people Light Suckers. They just seem to suck the joy right out of everything.Then I heard a different term used the other day - a person I know referred to someone we both know as a "Dementor". The person in question is so full of drama and dismay that it is wearying just to be in the same breathing space as them.
FRIDAY'S THOUGHT ~ CONFIDENCE
Friday 6 October 2017
CONFIDENCE
Something I've always felt lacking in is self-confidence. The ability to own who I am and not let my self-esteem be dented by other people is an area that I've put a lot of work into over the last few years.
So many people seem to possess this innate ability to shine and to radiate self-confidence without any trouble at all. I look at them and think - they're not particularly beautiful, or super smart, or extremely talented, or possessed of personality plus, and yet they are secure in themselves and nothing phases them.
FIRST (MIDDLE) AND LAST
Wednesday 4 October 2017
BEGINNINGS, MIDDLES AND ENDS
October is here already and I've had another change of direction for this month. I thought that once each week I'd share a walk down memory lane with some photos from my childhood and some from now. I read a prompt from Denyse Whelan's blog last month on "My first car" and it made me smile as I remembered the early days of having my first car, and that led me on to other "firsts" and before I knew it I had enough to keep me going for the next few months!MIDLIFE MUSING - TAKING OFFENCE
Monday 2 October 2017
TAKING OFFENCE
What is it about people taking offence at things? It seems everyone has an opinion on everything and as soon as they meet someone who disagrees with them or doesn't conform to what they expect, they choose to take offence. I think the word "choose" is the vital ingredient here - because we make the choice as to whether we want to take offence or whether we want to give people grace and the benefit of the doubt.
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