OnTheBeach - the Time is Now

Just in case you missed my newsletter OnTheBeach this week...

Welcome back to another edition of ‘OnTheBeach’ – the newsletter that awakens your purpose, passion and joy. This week I have been inspired by Lindsay Lapham of www.fairydustmarketing.co.uk. Lindsay did a fantastic reading for me which has really shaken some dust out of the corners of my business, and reminded me of a key part of my business ethos…

The Time Is Now
Here’s a few key words and phrases that have leapt out on me from the reading – feisty, unique, rebel, jagged edges, a catalyst, no hiding places, controversial. How do you feel reading those words? Scared? Identifying with them? I am ringing like a bell – resonating on a very deep level with this. It’s who I am. As Lindsay put it, I am ‘the cat among the pigeons’.

This had quite a massive impact on me this week because it resonated so deeply and because sometimes I don’t really own this part of me and my business. No one works with a coach to help them stay in a rut and miserable. They work with a coach because they are ready for change – they want to become more themselves, expose their magnificence, gain confidence and clarity and have support in becoming the absolute best they can be.

This can be a wonderfully nurturing experience – it is a beautiful thing to know that someone believes in you and supports you 100%. And it can also be bloody uncomfortable! Because your coach is not going to let you ‘get away with’ being less than you are. Your coach is going to expect and demand you step up and ‘be’ as much as you can be in any moment. And that can be really scary.

Most of the time in this newsletter, I am a bit ‘fluffier’ – I aim to educate, coax, entertain and draw you forward gently and steadily. Today I’m not going to be fluffy, I am going to be blunt. You are worth more. You can be more than you are currently being. And what’s more, you know it. You know that there is something more of you that can be brought out and enjoyed by the world. You know that you are better than you are currently showing.

So what are you going to do about it? I am absolutely not asking you to ‘do more’, ‘work harder’, ‘push’, ‘strain’ or beat yourself up. I am asking you to do something that’s even harder than that! Acknowledge that there is more to you – that your light is being obscured (slightly or totally) by a bushel. And make the decision to start to honour the magnificent being that you are. You are responsible for your life. The time is now for you to step up and live it in the best way you can. Right now.

Something to play with
Do you believe that there is more to you than the life you are currently living shows? Acknowledge that you are an amazing being with so much more to give and DECIDE NOW to start honouring that being. Get support – from a coach, or a mastermind group, or books, or tinternet. And know that my intention for you is that you live your absolute best life with joy and passion. Starting now.

Final thoughts and Beach philosophy
For years, I knew that there was more to me than met the eye. But it was hidden under layers of low confidence and self esteem, limiting beliefs, self-heckling and a complete lack of awareness. Books, then travel, then coaches have helped me to find ‘the real me’ and to start bringing that Donna out from behind the bushel (dragging, in some cases!). I’m not all the way there yet – it’s a life long journey to bring my magnificence to light.

I am still being helped by coaches, books, mastermind groups, friends, spirit, life itself. And I am on the journey. It isn’t always an easy journey, but I wouldn’t have ‘stayed home’ from this journey for the world on a drumstick lolly stick! I cannot tell you the difference it has made to my life to start living from a place of authenticity, purpose, passion and joy. And you can do the same. You owe it to yourself. If I can help or support you in any way, let me know – the main way I can do this is by coaching you. Want s ome coaching with DonnaOnTheBeach? E-mail me know and let’s set a time to have a chat about it.

To sign up for this newsletter, go to www.donnaonthebeach.co.uk

The only certain thing is uncertainty

This post follows on (in a way) from yesterday's post about keeping an open mind to an interesting life. I was reading a book this morning in which one of the characters in the book said "There is no such thing as positive" in response to the question "Are you positive?".

Think about this for a moment - there is no such thing as positive. Being 'positive' in this instance refers to being certain about something. Now, I am as stubborn as the next ass, and I am very often 'certain' - that I am right, that others are wrong, that the world should be exactly as I say it should be. The trouble is that I am also a changing, growing being.

So, sometimes, a thing that I announce with is 'right' absolute certainty on one day becomes 'wrong' the next! When I have announced that 'this is the worst thing that could happen to me', most of the time it is actually the very best thing that could happen! If this is true, that there is no such thing as positive, what are you being stubborn about that might prove to be wrong? What are you insisting is 'right' when you can't possibly know?

When you realise that the only certainty is uncertainty, you stop getting stressed about the uncertain nature of life. Embrace the chaos!

Love

Donna.x

Live in a more interesting world

Anyone who is interested in spiritual issues, in personal growth and excellence, in physical and mental therapies will know that there is a whole new world out there - full of wierd and wonderful people. They will also know that the 'mainstream' views this world with suspicion at best, and violent rejection at worst! They will also probably have had someone ask them if they are mad, on drugs or on the wind up.

What do you do? Do you reject the new ideas that you hear out of hand? Or do you give them a chance? There are some things I don't believe in (9-5 working hours for a start), but most things I will at least keep an open mind about. Once upon a time, when I was wearing my cynical, negative hat, I would have agreed that a lot of these 'wierdo' things were absolute rubbish, peddled to the gullible with more money than sense.

However, I have seen a lot of things I cannot explain over the past 10 years, I have met some really interesting people, and I have felt a connection to a much deeper truth than a cynic could ever 'prove'. My attitude to 'God' sums this up - I have no idea if God is a man or a woman (I suspect that such descriptions are irrelevant), I don't know if there is a heaven, I haven't a scooby where we go when we die...but I believe in God, Heaven and reincarnation.

Some might think I'm barmy. I don't care. Now I'm a believer (in many more things than God), I feel a million times better than I ever did when I believed in nothing. I'm not asking that you believe what I believe (get your own beliefs!), but how about keeping an open mind? Next time you're tempted to 'dis' something as too far out...keep an open mind - at worst, us 'wierdo's live in a FAR more interesting world than the cynic!

Love

Donna.x

Follow your curiosity

I am a great believer in the power of following your curiosity - I was ever curious and have been driven to know 'what's over that hill', 'what is that all about', 'what are your dreams' and 'how do you do that' ever since I can remember. Sometimes my curiosity takes me to surprising places. Today my laptop was slow when I logged in, so I started looking for ways to sort that out.

I came across 'defragmentation' - in my (limited) understanding, a way of sorting out your computer's filing system. Little did I realise that it would take 6 hours! However, my laptop is faster, and now I know something new. I learnt something today. In fact I learnt a few somethings:

• what defrag is
• how to do it
• why to do it
• why my 'pissing about' is often a good thing
• I am WAY more patient than I ever was before (in the past, something taking 6 hours would be a cue for bouts of impatient temper)

And that's just what I learnt from following my curiosity about a slow laptop. Imagine if you were to follow your curiosity about you, your dreams, your capabilities, your magnificence, your genius. What could you find out?

The world's your oyster!

Love

Donna.x

More about goals

It astonishes me that I am doing another post about goals - I do not like goals. They are stuffy, dream killing, constricting, boring things. Or so I thought. It was pointed out to me lately that I DO do goals, I just call them 'things I would love to have' or 'wow's or 'visions'. Aaaah. A goal is just something that you want to be, do or have. So, yes, I DO do goals.

However, I kept telling myself that I didn't do goals because they are boring, restricted and usually give me an excuse for beating myself up because I haven't achieved them. So what am I telling myself here? That I do not achieve goals. (think about it...it may not be in so many words, but that is exactly what I have been doing) Is this something that I want to order from the universe? Not achieving my goals (wows, visions, things I would love to have)?

A resounding NO! I DO achieve my goals. I have achieved many goals...and the ones that aren't here right this minute are on their way. Be very careful about what you say to yourself. Misunderstandings are easy enough with others, remember that you can misunderstand yourself too. That's why coaches are so great, because they point out the things you are unconsciously doing to hold yourself back.

One session, and my world is again turned upside down. Thank you D & P!

Love

Donna.x

A writer, A speaker, A star

Did you know that I have been writing my newsletter 'OnTheBeach' for over 2 and a half years now? No? Me neither! I have been searching through my old articles for interesting stuff I can post up on an internet articles site, and found some stuff from September 2004! Blimey. I hadn't really thought about how much I had been writing, and for how long.

I also hadn't realised that some of my early stuff is, even if I do say so myself, bloody good! I had forgotten a lot of the stuff I had written, and although a few things have changed on my own personal growth journey, there is still a lot of relevant stuff here.

Now, as you may have noticed, I normally try and make this relevant to you. But today, I'm not. I just wanted to blow my own trumpet for a minute. And while I'm at it, I did a storytelling speech at my Toastmasters club last night, for which I won best speech. Yes, I am quite proud of myself today. And rightly so.

Love

Donna.x
PS If you would like to sign up and read the weekly articles in 'OnTheBeach', go to www.donnaonthebeach.co.uk

Who is setting your goals?

How much do you do because it is 'the done thing'? How often do you do something you don't really want to because someone else wants you to? How much of your life is the result of someone else's input? Who sets your goals for your life?

I am a fiercely independant soul, and the thought of someone else setting my goals for me is enough to make my teeth itch. And yet...I still order some things in my own life to please other people. Now, I am not talking about going to see a chick flick with the mrs, or an action flick with the old man. I am talking about what you actually do with your life. One of the reasons I loved living in Australia was that I never had to explain or justify what I was doing to anyone. If I wanted to move on, I moved on. If I wanted to quit a job, I quit.

Whenever anyone says to you 'this is what you should do', they mean 'this is what I would do in your place'. So what? They're not you! Swimming against the stream can be so difficult that we give up and let that stream carry us away to where everyone else thinks we should be. But what do YOU want? What would you want if you knew that no one else would question you?

What do you really want for your life?

Love

Donna.x

The answer is there

I asked a question this morning...what do I need to be focusing on today? Then I had a conversation with a friend who answered exactly that question...and listened to an audio which re-enforced this answer. To be clear, I didn't ask them the question...they just answered it in the course of a different conversation entirely! (the answer incidentally is to be focusing on the bigger picture of the business (and life) that I want...not just on one element.)

I love it when that happens - it doesn't sound too complicated, it was an answer that I knew...and yet, I needed to be reminded of the importance of this seemingly simple concept. It felt like an epiphany! And I felt enormously thankful for the guidance - I am quite capable of wandering aimlessly in the fog given half a chance - it was nice that someone(s) held up a torch.

What question do you want an answer to? Ask. And be alert for the answer...it could come from the most surprising place.

Love

Donna.x

Back to my happy clappy best!

Hi there

I keep reading that post from last Thursday and laughing...is it wrong to find myself so funny?! Anyway, following a weekend of more ups and downs, I am beginning this week on fine form. Next doors dog was once more kind enough to wake me up earlier than I anticipated, I had once again had a less than satisfactory night's sleep (nightmares, ugh!) and it's Monday with a busy week ahead.

But do you know what? I have been cheerful today. The difference? A different choice. I chose not to lose my rag at the dog, I chose not to dwell on being tired, I chose to enjoy my day despite a less than perfect start, I chose to do as much as I could to care for me and make me feel good. Result? A cheery me. Hoorah! I also chose last week to get as much as possible done then so I didn't have to do it all today as I'm out of the office til Friday.

What a relief. So, I have actually been looking around my desk thinking 'what do I need to do'. Nothing. And all because I made some good choices.

What choices did you make today?

Love

Donna.x

Sod off with your happy clappy crap

Ever have a bad day? Next door's dog wakes you up for the 84th morning in a row barking his head off at a mouse farting 3 miles away, you slip in the shower, all the lights are red, it's bloody raining, nothing you are expecting has arrived, you feel as creative as a paving slab, and some idiot is trying to cheer you up.

Sadly for me, that 'some idiot' is me! So far today, I have tried music (didn't drown out the feckin dog!), yoga (couldn't be bothered to do more than 2 sun salutes), dancing (not in the mood), getting out of the house (it's bloody raining), shifting myself up the emotional scale (worked for about 5 minutes), looking at my life vision (worked for about 5 minutes), tidying up (do I look like I'm in the mood for fecking housework?), gratitude (yeah, yeah), accepting that I'm in a bad mood and not trying to change it for a while, and watching Blackadder episodes.

Blackadder did work up until I got back to my desk. So lastly, I try writing about it. And FINALLY, something that's working! It's largely working because I am so amused at my grim determination to be in a bad mood and therefore have a bad day! I know that this is my choice, so it begs the question 'why the f... would I choose to be grumpy?'. After some 'I don't bloody know' type answers, I discover my bad mood is trying to do me a favour.

On the basis that every part of every body has a positive intention, my bad mood is doing it's absolute best to get me to chill out and DO WHAT I WANT TO DO. I really don't want to be sat at my desk today, but because I am out with friends later and I have a 'to do' list, I feel like I 'have to'. Nonsense. It would be good if I did, but if I don't the world won't end.

And here's the other element - I haven't been sleeping for days, my throat is sore, my head is banging, I am feeling really uncared for. It's a shame for me. The solution? Give myself a break - do what I have to do this afternoon (2 things), then do what I want to do for an hour before I go out...aaaaaaah, the sun's coming out, bad mood is disappearing, job well done.

A couple of things for you from this:
Number one - remember that every part of every body has a positive intention, what's your bad mood/procrastination/sadness telling you?
And number two - if at first you don't succeed in cheering yourself up, try and try again. In this posting are 11 ways I can lift my mood...there's at least another 40 options. Love yourself enough to want you in the best possible frame of mind. How do you cheer you up?

Love

Donna.x

Caught out by the light nights

I've been having a lovely pottering day today - it's the only day I didn't have any client calls so I could basically do as I pleased...and I have. Late afternoon I walked the dog, having a lovely mooch and getting into my ideas for the future of my business. I sat back down a few minutes ago to do another hour's work before tea, glanced at the time and thought...WHAT?

How the bloody hell did it get to be quarter to six? And still light, no less! Now there are 2 things here - one is reacting to my day being suddenly cut short by an hour (to which I reacted with a remarkable lack of stress! Stuff I was going to do in that hour are not going to get done...C'est la vie. No one will die.). Second is the very exciting reminder that the nights are getting lighter!

Now, those of you with a decent memory may recall that I am bringing my body in tune with the seasons - ie I sleep all winter and wake up in the spring. The lighter nights for me are a natural cause for celebration because I love them, they are a sign of spring and a sign for my energy to start perking up again. HAZAH!

What causes for celebration do you have on this lovely Wednesday?

Love

Donna.x

Inspiration vs motivation

Inspiration is when I want to, motivation is when I think I have to or should.

Inspiration works best.

Love

Donna.x

It's just a walk

I was out walking the dog today, and I got to considering how much even this simple action needs:
- the eyes to see where I'm going
- the legs and feet and ability to walk
- the appropriate clothing for muddy fields
- the arms, hands and fingers to hold the dog lead and poo bag
- the brain and disposition to enjoy the experience
- the air, larynx and voice to yell at the dog when she's digging up a rabbit hole
- the ability to experience joy when the sun came out (I thought I'd get pissed on!)

There are a lot of people who don't have these things. Especially the last one. The ability to experience joy. Walking the dog? And everywhere else. Seriously, the sun came out and I laughed aloud with glee...this is my most treasured ability - because all these little moments of joyfulness lead to a life of joyfulness.

Today, think about how much is involved in one simple task - driving home (the car, the co-ordination, the drilling of the oil to make the petrol etc), putting on the kettle (the miracle of electricity, the co-ordination, the magic of a tea bag), whatever it is you are doing - and look for those moments of joy. Savour them, remember them, talk about them...have more of them!

Love

Donna.x

Their Business

There are people in this world I care about very much. All my friends, family, clients, even people I don't know about yet! I care intensely about the people in this world. I care that they are happy, that they feel free to be themselves, that they have confidence and joy in their life, that they are the very best them they can be, that they can accept themselves.

When you care about someone very much, isn't it natural to worry about them? Hmm. Maybe 'habitual' rather than 'natural'. Now you see, because I am giving up worrying for lent, I need to extend this out to not worrying about others...in other words staying out of their business. Of course, if they need me to talk to them, I will. If they need me to help them, I will. But I shan't worry.

What's the point? Can I change their circumstances? No. (and even if I think I know the answer, would I be happy for them to live my life for me? NO.) Sometimes your friends lives are like car-crash tv...and all you can do is watch, horrified. What if you trusted them to make the right decisions for them (even if it appears to be a monumental f-up!)? Would you be in their business?

Whose life are you living anyway? Me, I'm living mine...and working on staying in my own business and out of everyone else's. Because I trust them to do the right thing for them. And I know whatever they do, they'll be ok...and I'll still be here to be their friend whatever happens.

Love

Donna.x

Giving up...for Lent

Most years I give up either coffee (which I don't drink) or chocolate (which I eat in copious quantities). However, this year I have decided to give up...

Worrying!

Yes, for the next 40 days and 40 nights, I am not going to worry. Whenever something threatens to mither me, I shall TRUST that it will all work out in the end.

Wish me luck!

Join me?

Love

Donna.x

Love thyself

This week I saw someone say that St Valentine is the Patron Saint of Disappointment, which entertained me very much. As a single woman I don't take a great deal of notice of Valentine's Day...and even if I were married, I suspect the rampant commercialism of it would irritate me. Most years around this time, I have written a newsletter about loving yourself and treating yourself as you wish to be treated.

I haven't done this year, and notice no desire at all to do so. And in the papers today, I realised why. I read about a couple who've been married for 80 years or something mind-blowing like that. Their secret? Love is for everyday, not just Valentine's Day.

So this is just a mini reminder, love yourself. Treat yourself as you would love to be treated by your life partner. And do it every day.

Love

Donna.x

I'm lovin the feedback

Every Monday I send out a newsletter on something that has caught my attention as important in the last week - this week it was the question 'what would you want to say had happened in your life in the last year on 12th Feb 2008?' (to sign up, go to http://www.donnaonthebeach.co.uk/home/pages/newsletters.htm?=)

That's not what I want to write about today - it's the feedback. I love getting feedback from what I write, it's great to hear that I am cheering people up every Monday, helping them to have fun, and that they read my articles compulsively!! I reply to everyone, and I appreciate all of the comments more than I can say.

Like everybody else in the world, sometimes I wonder if I'm having any impact at all, and because of this feedback I KNOW I am. I feel great. I am inspired to keep going...and I know that there are lots of people out there who haven't replied who are also being positively affected. Do you tell the people who impact you just how much they mean?

Do you take a minute to just say to someone 'you made me smile' or 'thank you'? I'm here to tell you that very simple action has a massive impact on someone's day. And when you do it more, people do it to you more too! A lovely consequence of a lovely loving act.

Thank you for reading - I write this just for you!

Love

Donna.x

2 inches of snow, down tools

I'm not a big watcher of the news (it's too depressing!), but todayI thoroughly enjoyed watching the snowball fights and the snowmen and the fun. And as for me I enjoyed playing in the snow with the dog and loved spending the day spontaneously watching tv in front of the fire, walking in the snow, being wrapped up in the duvet and occasionally working.

My god, I am lucky!

thanks a million for my life.

Hope you have been enjoying the snow!

Love

Donna.x

It's the little things

At the start of this week, I was stressed. My bank account was looking a little pale (xmas, holiday, dad's 60th, over-excitement at not being maxed out on overdraft in Jan) and then a couple of little things happened - I realised I needed petrol, and my shopping came to more than expected. Only 2 little things, but they threatened to send me crashing over the edge. (PMT didn't help!)

And then, the tide turned dramatically. I won some beetroot (the fact that I don't like beetroot is irrelevant!), I was sent a subscription to an online magazine, a friend sent me a dvd, I got some books I'd been really looking forward to from Amazon, my friend's birthday night out cost less than anticipated. Again, each of these may sound like really small, insignificant things but they meant the world to me, and arrived at just the right time.

Normally, I would have dwelt on the 2 little 'bad' things (and I could have added more) and worked myself into a frenzy of stress, completely ignoring all the little good things (or making them 'bad' - cursing myself for spending money on something as frivolous as books when there's petrol to buy!). But this time it was the opposite. Law of Attraction - like attracts like. So, focusing on the good stuff makes you feel good and attracts more good stuff. Fabulous.

So, thank you to those people whose generosity this week have kept me focused on how good I have it...it feels good!

Love

Donna.x

The Bulldozer Diaries

My first coach gave me a road-based metaphor for my journey - a bulldozer haring off through the wilderness, crashing through the woods, falling down cliffs, etc. For some time I've been entertaining myself with 'the bulldozer diaries' and today I decided to share them with the world! Check them out at www.bulldozerdiary.blogspot.com. Truly random.

Seriously though - putting your journey into a road based metaphor is surprisingly insightful and helpful! What can seem like a disaster in real life just looks funny inside a road based metaphor, and what you need to do can become obvious once you get yourself out of it. Like when I was stuck in quicksand...the answer was to go backwards (something I would have resisted in 'real' life...in the metaphor it was obvious).

Try it - what is your vehicle? What road are you on? Or are you an off roader like me? What are the signposts (or quicksand bogs) telling you? How's your fuel tank? Where are you going? Is that where you wanted to go? Have some fun with this, it's a scream...and I'd love to hear about it!

Love

Donna.x

Who is this peaceful lady?

Last week a friend of mine commented on how much calmer and more peaceful I was these days. I personally hadn't really noticed because I still have my hysterical, furious, over-reacting moments. Once I thought about it though, these happen rarely (as opposed to hourly!). And then, yesterday I got stuck in traffic. This is how it normally goes:

"oh SHIT, traffic. what the f*** is going on here. oh great, i'm going to be late. seethe. well, I can't do anything so might as well chill and turn the radio up. oh good, 3rd gear. now why the hell are we stopped again?!! has some other idiot had an accident? Great. Not. Oh wow 5th gear - can I stand the excitement?! oh for f***s sake, why have we stopped AGAIN. Grrrr." and so on for the length of the delay.

Yesterday, it went "Oh shit, traffic. Wonder what's happened. Turn the radio up. Dance about. Smile at other drivers trying to switch lanes (and then getting stuck). Sing loudly. Open window and wave arms about in a stretching sort of way. Advise client am running between half an hour and 2 hours late depending on what happens. Accept situation completely. Be amused by angry drivers. Laugh aloud with joy at other people who are singing and dancing." and so on.

Wierd. I have been 'Zen'd. I don't claim this will happen every time - this is the first time I have ever been THAT calm in traffic. And here's the thing...I didn't go from 'road rage' to 'zen' in 5 seconds flat, I have made teeny changes over the last few years. To make a complete 180 turn, move 1 degree, then another. Suddenly a complete stranger is driving your car with a peaceful smile on her face. It's all good...always!

Love

Donna.x

Allowing generosity

One of the reasons I want to be fabulously wealthy is so that I can treat my friends, family and self to extravagant gifts. Generosity is a wonderful thing to be. But what about the other side of generosity? When you are on the recieving end? Do you grudgingly accept what is given to you with bad grace? Do you ignore people's generosity? Do you think 'oh I couldn't possibly accept that' and refuse it? Or do you graciously and gratefully receive what is given to you?

This has come up quite a bit for me of late - my beautician sister gave me a facial for my birthday, my friend's husband has offered to do my brakes, and I have been offered a free holiday in a friend's apartment. Once upon a time, I couldn't even receive a compliment with good grace. Now, I happily receive gifts and am a cheerful recipient of other's generosity. With these 3 gifts, I found myself refusing/ignoring the offers...not overtly or deliberately, just in my head.

Well, now I've had the facial - it was gorgeous! And the other 2, I am going to happily accept on the basis that the people offering were not on drugs when they offered and did so in good faith! I can't believe I was turning away from their generosity! If I had an apartment, I would let friends stay for nothing. If I could do brakes, I'd do them for friends whose car knowledge would fit on the corner of a postage stamp!

And when I do give what I can give, I feel great! So why deny my friends the chance to do the same? Why turn away good things? Why refuse gifts? And since I absolutely intend to be 'given' a fabulous career, a gorgeous house by the ocean, a fit bloke and many more things from the universe, I am saying YES to all the good in my life. This speaks much of your self worth - how good are you at receiving?

Today a holiday by the sea, tomorrow a mansion by the sea! To all those who wish to give to me, I say YES and THANK YOU!

Love

Donna.x

Because it makes me feel good

On the Science of Getting Rich for practical genius' course ( see http://www.scienceofgettingrich.net/gifts/beachgift.html for more info), there is a lovely story:

a Tibetan monk was asked why he was always so optimistic. After all, he was in exile and his country was occupied by China. He might never have the chance to see his family again. The monk's reply: "Because it makes me feel good."

Are you optimistic or pessimistic? And how is that working for you? I used to be cynical, pessimistic and frankly, pissed off most of the time. Now, I am optimistic, positive and cheery most of the time. It's a choice. Which have you chosen?

Love

Donna.x

When you can't think of a reason to be thankful...

'Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a
lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't
learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got
sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.'
--Buddha

Love

Donna.x

For my first wish...

This week, I wrote a newsletter about the idea of Aladdin's Genie being an instrument of the laws of attraction, as presented in something I watched about 'The Secret'. It comes out tomorrow (monday) - go to www.donnaonthebeach.co.uk to sign up. Isn't that a lovely idea. Your wish is my command! Rub your kettle and make a wish!

What would I wish for? A home by the ocean in a beautiful climate, a bottomless bank account, a tall, handsome, intelligent, fun man, a brand new audi A4, fantastic income from a business I love, a life full of wonder and joy.

What would you wish for?

Love

Donna.x

A simple formula for happiness

What's the formula? Your life + stuff you like doing - stuff you don't like doing = happy.

Simple eh? Do more of what you like to do and less of what you don't. Ok, if you don't like your job, house, climate, friends, food, social life then you have work to do! But you don't have to do it all at once. Start by adding one thing that you like doing to your life, and take away something you don't like.

It's sometimes easier to morph something you don't like into something you can enjoy - like doing the weekly shop when the store is quiet, or allocating 2 hours for it instead of rushing. I actually quite like doing it when it's chilled and I can smile at other shoppers and banter with them...instead of rushing round like a demon and wanting an electric cattle prod to get them OUT OF MY WAY. Ah hem.

What got me thinking about this was that I was at my dance class today for the first time since before Christmas, and OHMIGOD did I enjoy it! Belly dancing is as much (for me) about laughing hysterically with fun people as it is an expression of my femininity. It's also bloomin hard work - I'd forgotten just how hard it is...and now I'm putting off taking the dog for a walk cos I'm knackered!

It's surprising how much difference just one thing you love doing can make to the outlook of your day. I woke up this morning (to the dulcet tones of next door's alsation...little b£$$%^&) in much the same humour as yesterday - stressed, tense, too much to do...and now I am sitting here cheerfully skiving off what I 'should' be doing. It'll get done...later.

Here's to a weekend full of things that you love to do.

Love

Donna.x

Honouring the seasons

I had a conversation today with a very wise man, Damien Churton, in which I was babbling about being stressed, and he reminded me of living to honour the seasons. For some obscure reason, January is seen as a time of 'new things' - those new year resolutions etc. I had a list of things I was going to start doing 'in the new year'.

But here's the problem, January is a dead month. So, what happens? I have a big list of things I AM NOT GOING TO DO! Ooh, that felt daring. I am convinced that in a previous life I was a bear - a hibernating for the winter bear. So, am I honouring the seasons? Am I f&^%! This is not a season for 'doing new things', that's spring...this is a season for rest, recuperation, sleep.

Insisting on having a 'list' of things I should be doing is just stressing me out. So, today as soon as it gets dark, I will be in front of a roaring fire...honouring the season. Aaaah, the relief!

See you in the spring!

Love

Donna.x

What are you telling yourself?

I spoke to someone today who has fantastic skills, amazing potential and a passion for what they want to do...and is telling themselves some really unhelpful lies "I am crap at..." "I can't do..." "I won't get..." Does this sound familiar? Is this something you do?

How much does it get in your way? Are you one of these who think it is 'realistic' to think this way? Let me tell you something, it isn't, it's negative. I know this because I used to say it was 'realistic' and I was always wrong! My worst case scenario's NEVER happened. Now, I believe that whatever happens, it will be for the best. If I am crap at something, I learn a lesson. If I can't do, I learn to do...or I stop trying to do (ski-ing...it's just too destructive!). If I don't get, I know that there's a good reason and I learn from trying.

Don't hold yourself back by focusing on what you are doing wrong, can't do and won't get...instead focus on showing up, doing your best and enjoying the ride.

Love

Donna.x

The most depressing day of the year

January 22nd. Apparently the most depressing day of the year according to UK boffins - the xmas debt/hangover, little daylight, it's bloomin freezin and all the New Year's Resolutions have gone by the wayside already.

So, let's see...it's flippin cold, I got back off my holiday last night and went from 28 degrees to 3 degrees and hail. Check. Xmas debt? No, but my holiday has left a dent in the finances. Little daylight? yep, it's dark. New Year's Res? don't make em so that doesn't count. Am I depressed?

Hell no! I thought I would be a little blue as my holiday is over and it's cold here and I want to live by the sea and I've spent a lot of money and...and...and. But I'm not. I was quite pleased to come home (would rather have stayed in the sunshine obviously, but it's home init?), the sun did shine today, the money I spent would normally have sent me into a tailspin but my finances are in good shape...I can't leave the house for a week, but come Feb it'll all be right as rain.

The back to work blues? Nope. I love what I do, I'm excited to be back at it having had some time to think and plan and forget about doing for a week!

I know that I am a very lucky girl to be so happy with life...and I'm not a one-off oddball you know! You too could have that sense of joy about your life - you too could be looking at the bright side of hail (a roaring fire!), you too could be happy. How? Start doing things you love, and stop doing stuff you hate!

Sounds simple eh? All it takes is one step to start you off, and you're going! Happy 22nd January!

Love

Donna.x

Where the hell have I been?

Well, what a 2007! Back in the office for one day, then off with flu! Just caught up with my e-mails and I'm off on holiday in the morning! it's alright for some, eh?!

Seriously, for you avid readers out there (all 2 of you!), I will be back and blogging next week - and I'll have a note from my mother explaining my absences. Honest.

Hope your January has been a little less manic/zombied (a bizarre combination) than mine!

Love

Donna.x

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I wish you all the happiness, joy and passion you deserve in 2007.

Remember: treat yourself with love and kindess. See yourself, celebrate what you see. Enjoy the journey that is your life. Enjoy who you are, because you are the only one of you there is.

You are beautiful, no matter what you say.

Love

Donna.x

Donna Higton

That's me. Donna Higton.

I was googling an old friend today - had a wierd dream about him and decided to try and find out what he's up to...467 pages of results...he wasn't on the first 2 so I gave up. Not that bothered. So anyway, while I was at it, I googled myself - as I have a more unusual name, there I am right at the top.

However, I was astonished to see that my blog wasn't one of the top search results. So this post is a blatant experiment to see if using my name in the title and text will get my blog in the top 10 results. If you were expecting something profound and interesting...sorry!

(and if you've 10 minutes to spare, google yourself and see what happens - what bizarre folks you share your name with like my old friend...at least, I hope that's not him!!!)

Love

Donna.x

It's why I'm on the earth mate

Steve Irwin. Mad as a bag-full of cut snakes. And a very inspirational guy, even in death. I've just watched a couple of minutes of a program on him...and one thing really caught my soul. In an interview when he said "I'm a conservationist. It's why I'm on the earth mate." That's what he was all about - his life was all about his love for conservationism, and the legacy he has left is millions of people having been made aware of conservation issues, tracts of land that are preserving endangered species, and a great many other effects from just one life.

Imagine that. With 40-odd years of that one life, this guy has done much. Imagine having that enthusiasm, drive and sheer determination to do something important with your life. And here is the tragic thing - all of us have that spark within us to do something amazing. Most of us don't think we are worthy. Bollocks. You don't have to have the entire world crying when you die, you don't have to be famous, or wealthy, or change the lives of millions...but you can.

And if you start doing what you love, finding that thing that you are on this earth for, you will. You may not get fame and fortune from it, but you will change lives - whether it's 1 life or a thousand lives. And trust me, if you do, you won't ever get that 'Monday Morning' feeling again.

Love

Donna.x

Bottoms up to Lazy Days!

Today, I got up late, walked the dog, burnt the toast and went to the pictures in the afternoon - the perfect example of a lazy day. With the evening stretching ahead of me, I had a look at the things I could (should) do...and decided just to do what I want to do. There is an evil myth abroad in the world that you 'should' use your time productively...or what? The housework fairy will tickly you with a feather duster?

To my mind, it is a perfectly productive use of time to watch movies, scoff sweets, burn toast and generally potter about. And do you know what's wierd? I get so much more done when I am not 'trying to do' lots! Although I gotta say, I do feel a little sick...maybe a whole pack of Opal Fruits (okay, starbursts) in 1 and a half hours wasn't such a great idea...I think what I need is a snooze!

Love

Donna.x

Burlesque Faker

Did you see Faking It? A shy welsh cleaner went from thinking she was useless and couldn’t do anything to swinging her tassles on stage faking it as a Burlesque dancer. And her parting shot? “I want to be a burlesque dancer – do it while I’m on a high.” Go Girl! There is something quite wonderful about dancing – to be a good dancer, you must learn to perform, you must relax and you absolutely MUST enjoy yourself. Not just burlesque (which I’ve never tried! Yet.), all dancing.

Ballet dancers, ballroom dancers, belly dancers, street dancers – to be good, you have got to love it, feel it, and let it go. When was the last time you let your inhibitions go? When was the last time you gave yourself fully over to a physical activity without thinking ‘does my bum look big? Do I look stupid? Are they looking at me?’ The advice ‘dance like nobody’s watching’ is FANTASTIC advice. Do it. Get your favourite piece of music on the stereo and dance…have a disco just for you – perform, relax and have FUN!

In fact, when was the last time you fully let go of everything else and gave yourself over to any experience? Last time I did it was at the Muse gig….and it was wonderfully cathartic, fun and set my soul alight. Find something that allows you to do let go – dancing, gigs, film, exercise, whatever…and do it. Get out of your head for a while and lose yourself in something you love.

Love

Donna.x

A new Boxing Day ritual

Ah, the season of goodwill to all men. The season of pressies. The season where 'normal' time disappears and 'christmas time' does wierd things with your days. Hope you've all had a good un? I've loved it - the usual ritual of breakfast, church, 2nd breakfast, pub, lunch, tv. Brilliant. And my usual boxing day ritual of disappearing into the bathroom with all my smellies and emerging an hour or so later accompanied by a riot of scents. Marvellous.

And I decided that I wouldn't keep that ritual for boxing day any longer - I enjoy it so much that I am going to do it way more often...and when I run out of smellies, I shall treat myself to bath bombs and new creams and stuff I never normally use. So, now I feel a new ritual being born - a festive 'stuff I'm going to do more in the new year' list. Since xmas eve, I have been thinking 'in 2007 I'll...' so here's the list:

1. lock myself in the bathroom with arms full of smellies at least once a month
2. Treat myself to something new and fabulous to do with grooming at least once a month
3. Send my family birthday cards...in time for their birthdays
4. Have a monthly 'do nothing' day (whenever I try this, I usually manage a few hours, but always end up doing something constructive - not so on xmas day - it's an inspiration!)
5. Write the cards and do the pressies BEFORE my birthday on 10th December! Deliver them before xmas.
6. Keep that feeling of 'goodwill to all men' for as long as possible into 2007
7. Simplicity is the key to a good Christmas...and a good life - so stop complicating matters!
8. Wear nice, smart clothes for no reason, not just for Christmas!
9. USE all the christmas presents - don't leave them gathering dust
10. Set up an automatic invoicing system so i don't spend 2 hours on Boxing Day doing it!
11. Do what I want to do. Daily.

Now, this is not a new year's resoluation list (don't do them, ever since the one year I didn't resolve to give up smoking was the year I did!), I am not going to be regimented about them, but I did want to record what I was feeling right now, while I still remember what the festive season is really about. Pressies and food. Oh, and feeling good! Would love to hear what you would like to do next year based on your festive experience.

Love

Donna.x

Foggy lessons

In the south and middle of england, we are bogged down with fog. Not the most pleasant of weather, but actually if you haven't got to drive or fly anywhere, it's quite cool. I have been enjoying walking the dog and freaking myself out with wierd shapes that turn out to be trees, hedges and other mundane things!

And today it occured to me that walking on a foggy day is a great metaphor for our life journey - you can only see 100 yards ahead, and it is only by keeping moving you can see what else is for you. In the half light, you can see something that looks like an obstacle, but only when you reach it can you see that the road actually turns sharply left. If you'd stopped, you'd never have known that the obstacle was not insurmountable.

Also, you can scare yourself with half seen things, and made up nightmares...but they're not real. As you keep moving you can see the trees, hedges, cars, and cats (not a banshee, then). It occured to me today that (as long as I don't have to drive in it or try to fly anywhere) I do quite like the fog. There is something wierdly comforting and peaceful about it. And I quite like the adrenaline rush and visual conundrums. I also love that I am in the house sat on the heater!

Love

Donna.x

Bah humbug to cards, up with herds of goats!

Oh, the rampant commercialism of Christmas, all that wasted paper (all those TREES!), all that hassle. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas - I love the pressies, the excuse to shop, the tinsel, the midnight mass, the huge lunch and the sofa snooze. What I don't love is spending hours trying to figure out what the heck to get people who already have everything, and endlessly writing 'To so-and-so, love Donna' with all the joy and inspiration of a wet rag.

This year, I decided I wanted to put a personal message in every card. However, the realities of card writing hit me and I decided to bring my card sending to a bare minimum and instead buy something from World Vision or Oxfam (I got an emergency water kit) rather than send reams of cards...and send a personal e-mail to people. Much better. And in some of them, I put a thank you - for what these people have meant to me this year.

Not everyone got this, some I don't know too well, some I haven't seen this year, but a few have had a massive impact on me this year - and I wanted those people to know it, and know how much I appreciated it. Doing those was an absolute delight...sadly I ran out of enthusiasm again and haven't done all the ones I intended to! (but I was going to send it to everyone I've ever met, which was ambitious...or foolish)

Do you know what's really annoying though? I have about 100 cards stored up - leftovers from years gone by and this year...and there they are, taking up space. Which is good, cos NEXT YEAR, I am going to start in September, and I will put a personal message in each and every card...honest!

Thank you, dear readers, for being with me this year - I look forward to getting to know you more in 2007! Merry Christmas!

Love

Donna.x

What have you always longed for?

Every Monday I get an e-mail from Nik Askew - a film of the week - this week's (http://www.monday9am.tv/archive/intro/43) was simple. Not the usual thought provoking interview with an interesting person, just pictures, music and deep questions. My heart actually felt the yearning...

...and with the picture, my answer was 'Magic' - I have always longed for magical, miraculous, wonderful things. And I forget to notice that they happen every day!

What have you always longed for? And do you have it if you look, really look?

Love

Donna.x

Hibernation

I may have mentioned before that I think I should have been a bear in this life. Winter arrives...hibernation time! However, one of the bitterest ironies of my life is that when I am not having a chronic fatigue spell, I am probably having an insomniac spell! This week has not been funny - I am tired, put out the light...and BING! Wide awake.

Coupled with next door's alsation starting his morning vocal exercises - which consist of howling and barking from stupid o-clock until I can't be bothered to keep ignoring him anymore - I am not getting much sleep right now. Consequently, I am a grouch. And my work is not getting done. Writing, nix. Marketing, nix. Promotion, nix.

No song lyric was ever more appropriate than INSOMNIAC...I must sleep. In that deep and scary sounding voice!

But do you know what is good about being tired? You don't give an arse about what's not being done! You do what must be done, then hit the duvet...and the insomniacs among you will know what happens then.

Love

Donna.x

Clear the way

December's a funny old month isn't it? So much to do, so little time. As regular readers may know, I am a bit of a hermit at times - it's midwinter, we should be hibernating, not dashing around madly going to parties, shopping and being immensely busy and stressed. I am luckier than most because my work party consists of me...I don't have to make excuses not to go anymore. Listen, I don't spend enough time with my friends as it is without going to parties I do not wish to attend!

I am also lucky in that I work for myself and my diary tends to be a little lighter in December (although squeezing all my clients into 3 weeks has proved...interesting!). And I am even luckier that my 'no' muscle is finely honed. All year, I say 'no' on a regular basis...unless I really want to do something, I almost never say 'yes' to things I don't want to do. So, here's a suggestion for you - instead of dashing around like a lunatic for the next 11 days then falling ill on xmas day, say no to everything.

UNLESS you really want to go. And have the time to go. And will have the energy to go. I would like to be in 3 different places on New Year's Eve, but I will be in one place and I am not even going to try to be in more than one place. This does mean I will miss my sister's NYE party which I am not ecstatic about. But I can only do so much. It's my festive season too, and I want to enjoy it!

So, start putting yourself a bit higher on the priority list folks, and with a festive 'ho ho NO' clear the way for you to enjoy xmas.

Love

Donna.x

The world is my responsibility

I was worrying about something today...until I realised that I was behaving as if everything was down to me - the whole world was resting on my shoulders! Of course, that was bollocks! There is only so much you can do in any situation - and the fate of the world does not rest solely on your shoulders (unless you are in charge of that red button of course!).

Where are you taking responsibility for things outside your control? Where are you stressing yourself out over something that isn't just about you? Here's a tip: anything involving anyone else is at least 50/50!

Love

Donna.x

The winds of change

It's been slightly breezy here over the last 24 hours. I was tempted to put my washing out to dry but ended up deciding against it - the vision of chasing my underwear around the neighbourhood put me off. Anyway, this got me thinking about the winds of change. If the winds of change were to blow through your life, what would you like them to bring? More money? A more satisfying career? More joy? Better relationships?

Be specific about what you'd like the winds of change to bring - how much money, what sort of career, what joy, relationships with whom? And then BE YOUR OWN WINDS OF CHANGE. Start to make changes in your life that will make these things you want happen. If you like, you can be a gentle breeze, or you can be the force 10 gale that changes your life beyond all recognition.

Who'd have thought a bit of air movement could be so exciting?!

Love

Donna.x

A special xmas offer for you...

2006 is drawing to a close…has it been the year you hoped for? Is your life going exactly to plan? Or are you wondering where the heck the year went, why you’re still in a job you hate and thinking ‘there must be more to life’? Maybe it’s time to get some support to find your purpose, passion and joy in life?

For December only, I have a very special offer for you – and to find out what it is, e-mail me (trust me, if you’ve been thinking about having coaching – you will want to know about this offer!). To find out more about coaching, go to www.donnaonthebeach.co.uk.

I look forward to hearing from you, and telling you all about this amazing coaching special offer.

Love

Donna.x

Self Expression

Today I had a belly dancing class - the first in a couple of weeks because my dance teacher has been diving in the Maldives. I haven't practiced at all (very naughty of me!), but today I realised just how much I had missed dancing. How much I missed having that chance of self expression, the chance to be a woman with a jangly belt and curves - not just a business woman or a woman whose body never sees a dress!

There are some people who think I'm barmy because I go to belly dancing (and many more people who think I am barmy for many other reasons!). What I say to those people is this - firstly, yes I am barmy...I don't know one sane person. And secondly, don't knock it. Getting out of your comfort zone and doing something very different is liberating, fun, it helps you to grow as a person, and helps you realise that there is a whole 'nother world out there you knew nothing about.

It is too easy to have a very 'narrow' life - of family, home, work, friends...that's fine when you are enjoying it, but the reason that many people are so stressed is that they are bored! Get out of your comfortable little rut, and go do something interesting! Make your Christmas present to yourself something that you have never done but wanted to try, you never know, you might find yourself completely captivated.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to perfect my Egyptian walk.

Love

Donna.x

Aaaah...the relief!

Ok, so without going into details - it was less painful and less embarrassing than I expected. It was also successful in that my digestive system is healthy and happy (if somewhat noisy this afternoon!). Phew. The boiled sweets are in the bin, the last of the jelly has been chucked too, and the choice of food I can now have is bewildering!

Having said that, it's wierd, I don't want much now. I had a sausage and egg sandwich this morning, and a bit of chocolate, but I haven't been my usual snack-aholic self. Have I broken my habit of snacking for the sake of it? Unlikely, but it has been interesting to contemplate that because I am so aware of the choice that I have, I am being quite reserved (instead of the expected opposite that I would eat my way through everything in the house then move on to the next door neighbours fridge!).

I noticed this when I went travelling too - once it wasn't possible to buy lots of tat on a regular basis, even when I could, I didn't want to because I could see I didn't need to. So, how does this relate to purpose, passion and joy? Well, I believe that we aneasthetise ourselves with food, drink, drugs, shopping and a hundred other things. Take a look at what you do on a day to day basis - do you do it out of passion, to give you joy?

Or do you do it from habit, boredom and to take away the pain of a life without passion? No judgement, no blame - the world has spent years creating these anaesthetics, no wonder we partake of them. But when you 'wake up' will you be happy with how you spent the last year? Or will you think 'another year of drudgery gone'. If its' the latter, start bringing passion, purpose and joy into your life, a little bit at a time.

I gotta tell ya, aaaaaaaaah....the relief of a life of purpose, passion and joy.

Love

Donna.x

Thoughts of a hungry girl

I am on a diet of jelly and boiled sweets today. I am going to hospital tomorrow for, let's just say, an investigation of my digestive system. So I can't eat. Up until lunchtime I wasn't too bothered, but now, coming up to tea-time, I am starting to obsess about food. Before this turns into an 'it's a shame for me' fest, let me just say now how much I take food for granted normally, and how much I am appreciating how lucky I am.

Firstly, I am hugely grateful that this 'mini-fast' is a choice, and when I get the all-clear tomorrow, I will not have to do it again for a long, long time. I am immensely grateful that I will be able to open the fridge or cupboard tomorrow and partake of a wide range of foodstuffs. There are many in this world that are not so lucky. There are people out there for whom hunger is a way of life.

I am also grateful for the fact that I can have fizzy pop - I am loaded up with E numbers right now! And trust me, every single mouthful of breakfast, lunch, tea, supper and the various snacks I can have will be appreciated more than it was last week. Far more. In fact, I have never been so excited about the choice of foodstuffs that are available to me! (yesterday I could have things off a list...the choices weren't extensive)

So, here's the message to you - (and it's really driving home the point about giving thanks from last week!) be grateful for the things you take for granted - the food, the heat, the friendships, the money, the job, the masses of 'stuff'. Appreciate just what you have, because when you cannot eat and watch other people with food, you cannot believe just how blase they are about their abundance!

And on a final note, I really don't like boiled sweets!

Love

Donna.x

Everyone Benefits from your self care

Do you need a rest? More sleep? Some time off? It seems like everyone I speak to at the moment has a cold, or is tired and emotional. I've had several versions of the theme 'I haven't got time to rest' spoken to me of late. Here's another perspective...you haven't got time not to. If you keep up this persistent over-working of your body, it will rebel and make you really ill.

Never mind that Sally at the next desk got over the asian flu in 4 1/2 hours, you know your own body and it needs more time, rest, relaxation, tlc. Take it. And if you think the world will fall apart because you are not there, think about this - everyone in your life will benefit from you being fully fit and well - from your family to your friends, from your colleagues to your boss (seriously, imagine if the first person with that virus had stayed home...how much more productive would the rest of the office be?!).

I know that some bosses aren't as enlightened as me, so if you work for one of them, do the best you can - early nights, pampering, tender loving care - honor the cycles of nature - winter is a time for rest and rejuvenation...just because we CAN live 24/7 these days doesn't mean we have to.

Love

Donna.x

Giving Thanks

American Thanksgiving day - what a wonderful idea to dedicate a day to being thankful (and to eating huge quantities of food, I understand). When I am in 'it's a shame for me' mode, nothing cheers me up more than to consider how much I have to be grateful for - from the roof over my head, to the clients who make my work life such a joy, from the love of my family to the freedom to choose what I do with my one and only life.

There are so many things to be grateful for that we so often take for granted. Today, give thanks for all that you have (whether you believe you have a lot or not, be grateful for what you have) and watch the world become a sunnier place.

Love

Donna.x

Indecisively Yours

Do you ever get days where your answer to everything is 'I dunno'? I have struggled to decide today what to do with myself - what to do, what to write, what to eat. What is interesting is that for the first time, I am not 'making myself' do anything - even this blog, I have let go of having to write something magnificent and am just exploring what's here right now.

Indecision. It reminds me of a great decision making tool - if it isn't an absolute YES, its a no.

Where are you forcing yourself to 'do' something when actually you don't know what you want to do? What if you just allowed yourself to not know what to do with yourself for a while? What if you let it be ok to be indecisive and rubbish? What if you stopped demanding perfection from yourself and accepted that you have 'off' days?

ohmigod, I'm not perfect! Qu'elle surprise. I'm off to be indecisive about my dinner now...

Love

Donna.x

Notes from the universe

If you don't get the daily 'note from the universe' from TUT.com, go now and sign up. Right now. Today's thought contained this:

"Self Improvement for Trees"
It's not very wordy, they like to conserve paper, but its one and only line goes like this, "No matter what else you do with your amazing life and no matter how challenging it may at times seem, never stop 'stretching' yourself as you reach towards the stars."

Beautiful.

Love

Donna.x

Taking the pressure off

Over the next few days I will be very busy, so it is with heavy heart that I decided I will not try to 'make time' to blog - for all you who are awaiting the next instalment with baited breath...unlucky! I am taking the pressure off myself and taking a blogging-holiday!

If you were going to give yourself a 'mini-holiday' from something this weekend, what would it be? Why don't you try it?

Muse this evening...SO EXCITED! Despite the palaver of finding someone to drag along with me - don't you DARE say you would've loved to come. Thanks to my wonderful mate Mand, who is coming under sufference, even though she doesn't like Muse, to see what all the fuss is about. Matt, blow her socks off!

Until next week...live with purpose, passion and joy!

Love

Donna.x

Let the road reveal itself to you

The world is being taken over by planners! You must have a goal, and 200 action steps to get to that goal. Plan, plan, plan. Pah, where's the fun in that?! Yes, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step, and you need to take each step in the right direction and all that blah, but frankly it takes away all spontaneity and joy from the process for me.

Yes, you can liken your goals to a journey that you must plan or you will never reach your destination, but that ignores the immense growth and enjoyment you can get from being lost! It completely negates the wonder and bliss that comes from following your heart and following your intuition to get to where you want to go.

Had I planned every single action step for my business, I would have missed out on loads of really cool stuff that has come up 'unexpectedly' and I would be working on 'achieving goals' (not an unworthy career!) rather than 'living with purpose, passion and joy'. I know which I prefer - and it's all because I am prepared to let the road reveal itself to me, to take roads less travelled and allow my 'goals' to be 'dreams' and 'desires' and fun!

Love

Donna.x

Basking In the Love

Yesterday I went to the christening of my cousin's little girl. Family time for me is often difficult because I do not do a 'standard' job and it can be a trial to try to explain what I do and why I am not 'lazy', I just like sleeping, have chronic fatigue and actually work my jacksie off! This was a flying visit though and there was little time for me to feel awkward, shy and out of place.

But what I did feel was how these people loved me. We are very different people, but I adore them too - and I came home feeling fantastic because they loved me, unconditionally unreservedly and it was a beautiful thing. So thankyou to my family in London for showing and sharing the love...I love you lot too!

Love

Donna.x

Sing when you wanna be swearing

Guess what happened to me on the way to my dance class this morning? I got stuck in traffic...grrr. I was briefly even more cross than last night because the delay was taking time off my class instead of just delaying me getting home...and then I decided to think a better thought QUICKLY this time instead of swearing...

So, i cranked up the stereo and belted out Muse tracks (have I mentioned I am going to see them in 5 days?) - and I gotta tell ya, it's far better for you to make the decision to cheer up quickly (yes, I am back in irritatingly positive mode today). It could have 'ruined my day' if I'd had my drama Queen hat on, but actually it was far more enjoyable to sing loudly than swear loudly.

Love

Donna.x

Think a better thought...or swear your way through

I fully believe that in any moment you can choose to think a better thought - a thought that doesn't make you feel like a moron...or whatever your thoughts are causing you to think. There are times however, when an explosion of bad language is really the only way to bring you to a point when you can think a better thought.

Take this evening, I got stuck in traffic - and I DETEST being stuck in traffic. I don't mind as long as I am moving, but stationary traffic turns me into a monster...especially when it's my own stupid fault for taking a different route which turns out to be the worst decision since Britney and K-Fed. Grrr. I talked to myself gently - think a better thought, and tried to coax myself into better humour.

However, this was one of those times when only f'ing, blinding and generally screaming every swear word I could think of would do. I must say, after my 30 minute tirade of bad language and abuse to myself and anyone else I could see (except the bus driver who let me out in traffic - I love him, very much) I felt MUCH better. And could think many better thoughts.

I wonder if there's a market for a personal development book called 'f*!$ off out of my way, you w£$%^&'?

Love

Donna.x

Own your magnificence

How many times do you look in the mirror and say to yourself 'I am f'ing amazing, me!' How many times a day do you get excited that you get to be you in this whole lifetime? How often do you appreciate just how bloody wonderful you are? How much do you allow that fire of magnificence inside you to burn brightly?

Whatever your answers, I'm pretty sure it's not enough. I mean, look at you! You are amazing! What a superb collection of attributes and qualities. And totally unique - you are the only one of you there is. (I know I have a doppelganger somewhere, but she is not as funny as me ;-) Take a moment now just to appreciate who you are, to wallow in your magnificence, to revel in your marvelousness.

And if this feels like a stretch to you, find someone to work with who will call that forth from you and support you in becoming the most magnificent you that you can be - the world needs 'real' people who fully own how brilliant they are. (not the arrogant, inwardly terrified folks who exclude and terrorise to make themselves look better, the inclusive accepting beautiful folks that we all really are).

Love

Donna.x

Trust

If you trusted, really trusted, that things would work out perfectly for you, what would change in your life?

Now this is not a matter of sticking your head in the sand and pretending nothing's happening. This is a matter of trusting that things will work out for the best for all.

I have enormous fun with this one - when business is 'slow', I find it easy to trust that it will get better, and trust that the inspired actions I take will take me forward more than any 'shoulds' and 'busy-work'. When business is good, I find myself really wanting to worry and stress and 'do more' (which I know full well is counter productive because I get so busy I can't hear the voice of inspiration!). Interesting eh?

So, if I trusted that things would work out perfectly for me, I would finish today despite not having done '101 marketing actions' and feel good about it! How about you?

Love

Donna.x

Answer this question

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" ~ Mary Oliver

What is your answer to this question?

Mine is - have lots of fun, live with passion and help a million people to awaken their purpose, passion and joy and make their world an extraordinary place.

Love

Donna.x

It's all about attitude!

Today, I was sent this link to a news program from the US - it's about 3 minutes long, go watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gykxoreKRl8

First of all, it is a delight to see some inspiring news for a change, but I am not going to get started on that one today! Secondly, something his mom said hit me like a truck "There's nothing you can do I can't do better" - what a fantastic attitude! I love this woman. What if you tried on this attitude for a week or so - instead of thinking 'I can't do that', know that anything they can do, you can do better!

Love

Donna.x
PS this is not about arrogance, this is about confidence. I didn't see that woman as arrogant, i saw her as smart, funny and inspirational - and she's brought up her son to be the same.

A Cold Shock

Wierd isn't it? November 1st, and out come the hats, scarves, gloves and big coats. Personally, I'd be happy to wait a little longer for the cold...perhaps 12 years? I do love the gorgeous blue skies and starry nights, but honestly, I'd rather also be warm!

So I notice that I am whinging about the winter (again!) so I am going to twist around and say what I am grateful for in winter - long nights in front of a roaring fire, pretty frosty mornings, clear skies, bonfire night, christmas, my birthday (10th December - all gifts warmly appreciated!), snuggling under a warm duvet on a cold morning, hibernation, and the stunning shapes the naked trees make.

So, winter ain't so bad, eh?! Now for you - what are you whinging about and what can you be grateful for in that situation?

Love

Donna.x

Be a Great person today

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." Mark Twain

Which are you? The sort who poo-pooh's others dreams and ideas, or the sort who gets excited on their behalf? Which would you like to be? Which would you like to hear your ambitions, dreams and ideas? Being the sort of person who is encouraging, enthusiastic and positive brings more of the same back on you - and you get to hear some really inspiring stuff!

Love

Donna.x

Opportunity everywhere

Do you see the opportunities which present themselves to you on a daily basis? Do you believe the world is full of opportunity just waiting to find you? Or do you think opportunities are like needles in haystacks?

Believe it or not, what you believe will be true for you. So why not try on the belief that the world is full of opportunity? By switching on this light-bulb, you will suddenly see opportunity in every day.

See opportunity as 'a chance to do something' - and be inundated with opportunity.

Love

Donna.x

SO EXCITED!

Today, Muse won the Q award for 'best live band' - GUESS who is going to see them in 2 weeks, 2 days time?!?!?!?

Yes, ME!

I can't wait. I am SO looking forward to this.

Do you have something AT LEAST once a month that you can get this excited about? If not, why not?!

Woo hoo!

Love

Donna.x

Advice for life

I got this as part of an e-mail today:

"kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly "

Great advice for life, eh?

Love

Donna.x

Permission to be rubbish

Ever sat down to do something and had no inspiration at all? That's how I feel this evening - I have been sat here for AGES (well, 10 minutes!), started 3 entries and can't be bothered to complete any of them. On another day, they would be flashes of brilliance...today I haven't a clue what I wish to say.

I could blame not feeling well, a busy day, the weather, the moon in Sagitarius, but I won't...today, I'm just going to be rubbish - and let that be ok!

If you gave yourself permission to be rubbish now and again, what would change for you. (hint: it's less stressful!)

Love

Donna.x

You are here to...

“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here to enable the world to love more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world. You impoverish yourself if you forget this errand.” ~ Woodrow Wilson

What a GREAT quote! If you knew that you were truly here to enrich the world, what would change for you today? What would you do? Would it make a difference to how you treat yourself?

Love

Donna.x

You could be so much more

We spend so much time telling ourselves (and each other) what we can't do that our ambitions shrink, our confidence dies and we no longer try to be more.

Well, I am here to tell you that YOU COULD BE SO MUCH MORE. Yes, YOU. And you know it too, don't you? You know that you are more capable than your current place. So how do you move forward? Here's 2 tips for you for this week:

1. Acknowledge how f'ing amazing, wonderful, gifted and talented you are.
2. Do your very best at what you do. Not to get praise from the boss, or the wife, or the teacher, but to build up your confidence in you. Behave with integrity, and do your best. Show yourself (and the world) that you are bigger than your current place, that you are worth MORE, that you are capable of so much. And just see what happens...

By the way, I include myself in this too. When I'm perfect I shall take over God's job ;-). Seriously, we can ALWAYS be better, be more, live more - not by working ourselves into the ground but by being the best we can be (and that includes being the best friend to yourself you can be - 1000% self care and love).

Love

Donna.x

One week left (for coaches)

Calling all coaches! The next Your Natural Way to Get Clients teleclass starts Wednesday 1st November - and is the ABSOLUTE BARGAIN price of £75 for the whole thing - for more information and to sign up, go to www.yournaturalway.com.

Love

Donna.x

Maybe you have other plans

With thanks to Jenn who brought this to my attention:

MAYBE YOU HAVE OTHER PLANS:
I woke up early today excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight.I have responsibilities to fulfill today.My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.
Today I can complain because the weather is rainy,
OR--- I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered.
Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money,
OR--- I can be glad my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.
Today I can grumble about my health,
OR--- I can rejoice that I am alive.
Today I can lament over all my parents didn't give me when I was growing up,
OR--- I can be grateful they allowed me to be born.
Today I can mourn my lack of friends,
OR-- I can embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.
Today I can whine because I have to go to work,
OR--- I can shout for joy because I have a job to go to.
Today I can complain because I have to go to school,
OR-- I can eagerly open my mind and fill it with new knowledge.
Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have housework to do,
OR--- I can feel honored because the Lord has provided a shelter for me to live in.

Today stretches ahead of me waiting to be shaped. And, here I am the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have.

Have a great day my friend,OR--- maybe you have other plans.

Love

Donna.x

Come alive

Howard Thurman said "Don't ask so much what the world needs. Go out and do what makes you come alive, because what the world needs most are more people who have come alive."

What makes you 'come alive'? Go and do it.

Love

Donna.x

What does it cost?

I came across a great question today - how much does it cost you to make this money? It is aimed at entrepreneurs to check that they are being 'cost effective', but I think it applies to all of us. ESPECIALLY those who work for a wage and hate their job.

What is it costing you to make this money?

I know people whose work has cost them their health, their joyous view of life (seriously, work in a boring job with nothing to do and watch your joy disappear!), their dreams. Worth it? You make the decision. With your one and only life, what is it costing you to make money? And is it worth the cost? Or is it time for a change?

Love

Donna.x

What are you master of?

Parker J Parmer wrote "Each of us is a master at something, and part of becoming fully alive is to discover and develop our birthright competence."

What is your 'birthright competence'? What do you bring to the world? Even if you don't know today, be assured that you are bringing something special to the world. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find it and bring it forth with passion and confidence.

Can't wait to see you shining brightly in the world.

Love

Donna.x

Creative Avoidance

If you don't want to be doing what you are doing, firstly why are you? How long are you going to keep doing thiings you don't want to do? Why would you do that with your one and only life?

And secondly, check out http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/; - shooting sheep with a tranquiliser is a great way to waste a few minutes!

Love

Donna.x

A good reason to be positive

I saw this quote in an e-mail today:

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."

Damn right! Positive people are far less irritating when you are one of them.

Love

Donna.x

Something to live for

The other night I was driving home down a dark country road, and was reminded of another such night several years ago when I was also driving home down a dark country road, with my foot hard on the accelerator and a vague thought in my head that it would solve a lot of problems if me and the car met oblivion in the shape of a big tree at high speed on that road. I remember realising with some horror what I was contemplating and deliberately easing off the accelerator.

I also remember my shock that such a thought had crossed my mind, and the fear that life wouldn’t get better and that thought would come back, stronger and more insistent. I was 25, and until then had a very strong grip on life…suddenly I felt like I didn’t want to hold on any longer. Fortunately my fear that I would become obsessed with crashing my car into a tree proved unfounded, and I started to do something about the life I was so miserable in.

When I remembered this the other night, the thought crossed my mind again, and this time the answer was a crisp ‘don’t be ridiculous, you have far too much to do’. Not as in my to-do list, but as in much to live for. It’s been 8 years since that night, and I can honestly say that I have absolutely no intention of leaving this world for a good 70 years yet (depending on medical developments and toyboys, maybe 80).

The difference? Well, now I have something to life for. I have purpose. I have passion. I have joy. I am part of something magnificent – life. There is so much beauty, genius and wonder in the world that I plan to stay and be a part of that. AND there is so much wasted talent, so many gifts going unused, so much joy not being felt that I plan to stay and CHANGE that. Now that is something to live for.

Love

Donna.x

Caught up in the story

How caught up in your story are you? How much of what you accept is 'true' and 'real' is actually just the tapestry you have woven?

For example, this week I have been very caught up in my story which goes something like this 'I haven't got enough...so I have to ...but if I ...I'll lose...and stop...and I can't ...because...so I can't...and so I'm stuffed'. It's a great story - a weepy, and I am the heroic victim. But actually I have made most of it up. I don't really have to do anything or lose anything.

So why have I made up such an elaborate story? At heart it's very simple, I don't want to do what I thought I had to. So I've come up with a million reasons that 'I can't' which are utter bullshit. If that really was the only option, I'd work it out. At core, the problem is simple - and there are several solutions once i get my head out of my backside and get creative!

So, what story are you caught up in?
What is the core?
What could you do differently if you got creative?

Love

Donna.x

A Quote to keep you Going

I found this quote today by Theodore Roosevelt:

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

Most inspiring.

Love

Donna.x

Reality versus illusion

Albert Einstein: "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."

I love this quote. Think about it. What if your reality was an illusion? What have you 'made up' about your life and the world you live in? What if you could 'make up' another reality? Would you choose the same one? Or would you choose a reality in which anything was possible, where you lived with purpose, passion and joy?

Let me give you a small example of this - I was shopping today and I had decided that I lived in a reality where you could never find exactly the thing you wanted in the shops. I noticed this slightly limiting (and up until that point, true) reality and changed it to a place in which I found exactly what I wanted - the very next shop I visited had exactly what I wanted, on sale no less. Coincidence? Maybe...but it was a reality I much preferred to live in.

If it's true that we create our own experience of the world, why do we work so hard at making it rubbish?

Love

Donna.x

Do it Your Way

Last night I met a very interesting lady - Sarah Tremellen of Bravissimo. I have to confess that I had certain expectations of a woman who had masterminded a multi million pound bra business, and I was happy to see that I was wrong on almost all counts. There was no power suit, she was warm, funny, witty, eminently likeable and extremely inspiring. (the last was the one I was right about!)

And what I really loved about her story is that she created this wonderful business (that many of my friends consider a life-saving shop!) her own way. Not the way it 'should' be done - and largely because she did not have the limitations that things 'aren't done that way'. Beautiful. So, if you knew that things would work out beautifully done YOUR way, what would change in your life.

For me, I wouldn't worry about 'doing it right', I'd think about 'doing what I want'. And that doesn't include the last quarter business plan I said I was going to do. But it does include having some fun with what I'd love to happen this quarter...so that's a marvellous replacement.

A far more freeing option.

Love

Donna.x

Take pleasure where you can

One of the most wonderful things in life is a beautiful sunny warm day in October, especially when the previous day was rain, rain and more rain.

A sign of a happy, contented person is their ability to take pleasure where they find it, and to fully enjoy the moment. In the spirit of that, I changed my plans today to take in a walk in the fields in the sunshine. It's far more important than chores, meetings, and work. Enjoy the last days of the summer while you can.

Love

Donna.x

Time to get tough about your time

In these days of 'too much to do' it consistently amazes me that we insist on filling up our time with things we don't love doing. We accept every invitation as if we are obligated to do so, then complain that we have no time left to do things we want to do because we're too busy with 'duty calls'. Mental.

My favourite way of cutting out the chaff is to use the rule of thumb 'if it is not a definite yes, it's a no.' No ifs, buts or maybes, if you don't immediately think 'YES! I'd love to do that', then say no. You can scream NOOOOO if you want, or you could say 'no, I'm afraid I am busy'. Saying no doesn't have to be a horrible thing. After all, don't you just hate it when a friend comes with you to something they clearly don't want to attend? Instead of enjoying yourself, you find yourself babysitting them and going home early. Bah.

If it ain't a definite yes, it's a no. Try it.

Love

Donna.x

Money, money, money

I've been balancing the books today and I noticed that I was tense about my money...so I've been contemplating this question:

Why do I believe I have to be tense about money?

The answers were interesting - because if I get complacent I'll get poor, because if I am relaxed I'll forget things and get in a mess, because I want more and tension will remind me to work hard.

Are any of these true?

No, they are all utter bollocks. What is actually true is that my tension DOES NOT help in any way shape or form.

Time to relax methinks.

Love

Donna.x

Going boss-eyed

For the past few days, I have been back at my project of optimising my website - www.donnaonthebeach.co.uk - this is a project that over the last 6 months I have alternately found enthusiasm for and lost all interest in. My previous life was in IT, and I have an interest in technology - which goes as far as 'ooh, you can do that, cool...how do I?' And because my interest is in no way deep enough to send me on a course or to spend 24 hours surfing for information, I get bored easily and stuck quickly!

Just goes to show that I was never meant to be an IT bod. In the meantime, I carry on getting enthusiastic then bored, finding some fabulously useful information and just as quickly finding the opposite opinion elsewhere! It's a very frustrating thing, this SEO stuff - and I am very grateful that when I am enormously wealthy (as I plan to be, just as soon as I can), I will be able to get someone else who knows and gives a shit about SEO to do it for me. Then I can irritate them by thinking I know something about it and asking stupid questions! HAZAH. Can't wait.

What's in this for you? Nothing. If I have to be mind-numbingly bored by this stuff, so do you!

Love

Donna.x
PS If you were fabulously wealthy (like you're planning to be, just as soon as you can) what will you get someone else to do for you?

Is Your Life Too Small for You?

A characteristic of many people who seek me out to work with is that they feel their life is too small. They feel stifled, hemmed in, trapped by a life that is unsatisfying (despite the 'good job, nice house, lovely partner and family' they seem to have). Have you ever felt this way? Like your life is something you've grown out of? Much like that favourity fairy dress or batman outfit from childhood.

Perhaps this is true...and it doesn't make your current life 'bad' - just as it didn't make the fairy dress 'bad' - imagine if you were still trying to wear said fairy dress today - might that be a little restricting, constricting and frankly, odd!? Have you outgrown your life? Are you too big for the 2.4 average life that others are 'happy' in? (And are they really, truly happy?)

If you're feeling restricted and dis-satisfied by your life, it's time for you to play a bigger game - what do you need to do to start 'playing big'?

And for me, this feeling of restriction is a positive thing...becasue it shows growth. You can only get bigger as a person by growing as a person - how wonderful that we are ready to move on to a new phase. The timing couldn't be better to get a bigger part in a bigger play on a bigger stage!

Love

Donna.x

See Yourself, Celebrate What You See

My friend and fellow your natural way leader and coach, Joseph Seiler (www.yournaturaledge.com) has a lovely saying - 'see yourself, celebrate what you see'. Beautiful isn't it?

Go on, I urge you. See yourself, really see yourself - and celebrate what you see - celebrate ALL of who you are, not just the bits you think are acceptable - ALL of you.

With pure self acceptance and joy like this, your life is wonderful.

Love

Donna.x

What I do...

It occurs to me that although I know exactly what I do, there are those who might not.

I work with people one on one and in groups to help them to find their purpose, passion and joy in life. How? By coaching, teaching techniques, ideas and concepts, showing, telling stories - whatever works! One to one I will work with people to find out what gives them joy and how they will access more of that joy - it is different for everyone as we are all unique. In groups I work on the telephone and in workshops (where I stand at the front and talk and coach as a leader) to do exactly the same thing.

What do people get from this? More confidence, greater clarity on why they are here and what they want from life, more joy, more passion, more self love, a sense that they are responsible for their lives, a chance to make their lives amazing and their world a better place.

Who do I work with? Fun, creative, energetic, joyful, passionate people...or people who want to be these things! Contrary to popular belief, coaching is not for 'broken' people - it is for whole people who want to access the magnificence that they are at heart. And each one of us is truly magnificent and unique.

Who do you know who would like more confidence, joy, clarity, passion, fun, responsiblity for their own lives? Maybe they would benefit from coaching? I have room in my coaching practice right now for 6 new clients - get in touch now to be one of them!

Love

Donna.x
PS do those around you know exactly what you do and how they can help you?

A readership!

One of the very strange things about writing a blog is that you often have no idea how many people (if any) are reading what you write. You imagine that someone, somewhere might be flicking a careless eye over your words...but you don't know. 3 weeks ago I had myself almost convinced that there was not a soul out there reading this blog. Then a few people got in touch to say they'd read and enjoyed my blog, and even better, I was berated by friends that they found out about Copenhagen and Chronic Fatigue from reading this!

So now I know there is a readership, and I am delighted that you are learning about me and enjoying what I have to say. HAZAH! (and slightly wierded out that people I don't know are reading too...it's a very random world we now live in) It just goes to prove that 'unseen impact' - just cos I don't know you're reading, doesn't mean I have no impact. Ye gods, this is like one of those 'if a tree falls over in the woods and nobody's there' questions isn't it?

And it strikes me that everyone should have a blog, so that in the press of life these days, their friends can catch up with what's going on for them! (of course, much better to spend time with them in person...but if they live in Australia and you don't, that's difficult!)

Anyway, thank you for reading. Thank you for being there. Thank you for getting in touch. Thank you for being you. Love ya.

Donna.x

Perpetually 6 years old!

Last night I performed a belly dance routine in public for the first time - with 8 other dancers. Oh, what fun! I was utterly terrified, and finally perfected the art of shimmying - just be so frightened that your knees shake and your shimmies will be wonderful! Also at the Hafla were some very experienced and quite wonderful dancers - I spent the evening 'wow'ing all over the place. And the dancer who belly danced to Muse was magnificent - I'm going to see them in November and intend to belly dance my way through super massive black hole. ;-)

I also spent a lot of time going 'I wanna be dancing' 'I want a veil' 'I want to dance with a sword' 'I wanna learn to do THAT' 'I want a drum' 'I want a bright red coin belt' 'i wanna dance with a tall handsome man'...ooh so exciting! When it comes to new, exciting, funky and slightly bizarre things, I am forever 6 years old - clapping my hands and bouncing up and down. And I love that.

What would change for you today if you had the joy and excitement of a 6 year old? Go on, try it! Most of us spend far too much time being sensible and old - see the world through the eyes of the magical child.

Love

Donna.x

What are you hiding?

I realised yesterday that I had been keeping a 'dirty little secret' from my friends - I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Because I present the image of being bouncy, lively, high and happy, people assume I am like that all the time. The truth is that sometimes I 'disappear' because I am too exhausted to speak to people and too wiped out to work!

I had not deliberately 'lied' or misrepresented myself - but by hiding away the fact that I've been poorly I denied people the chance to help me. My loss.

What are you hiding that people could help you with if only you'd let them know?

Love

Donna.x

Just because...

I was sent this today by a friend:

Just because no one has been fortunate enough to realise what a goldmine you are, doesn't mean you shine any less.
Just because no one has been smart enough to figure out that you can't be topped, doesn't stop you from being the best.
Just because no one has come along to share your life, doesn't mean that day isn't coming.
Just because no one has made this race worthwhile, doesn't give you permission to stop running.
Just because no one has realised how much of a woman you are, doesn't mean they affect your femininity.
Just because no one has come along to take the loneliness away, doesn't mean you have to settle for a lower quality of life.
Just because no one has shown up who can love you on your level, doesn't mean you have to sink to theirs.
Just because you deserve the very best there is, doesn't mean that life is always fair.
Just because God is still preparing your king, doesn't mean that you are not already a queen.
Just because your situation doesn't seem to be progressing right now, doesn't mean you need to change a thing.
Keep shining.
Keep running.
Keep hoping.
Keep praying.
Keep being exactly what you are already ....COMPLETE.

Beautiful

Love

Donna.x

A true, if slightly random, story

Last night I was walking my dog around the lanes, when we came across a farmer moving his cattle. My dog is skittish and was spooked by the proximity of the cow, which in turn was spooked...and butted me into the hedge and the stinging nettles. I was stung about a thousand times on my elbow and behind, which both swelled up, forcing me to take anti-histamine.

I'm still slightly dozy from the anti histamine, the stings are still prickling my skin, and I have a rather large bruise on my behind. What a way to start the week!

Love

Donna.x

The most wasted day

I love the quote "the most wasted day is that in which one has not laughed". Mostly I agree...but today, the most wasted day is the hungover day. There are so many things I could be doing - the sun is shining, there are chores galore to do, magazines to be read, interesting and thought provoking blog entries to be written ;-).

Instead, I have wandered around the house like a little lost soul, picking up water, painkillers and sugary food by turn, unable to concentrate or even make a decision on what to do with myself. I don't drink much because it makes me ill, miserable, depressed and grumpy, and it is a rare day that I have drunk so much to be actually hungover (despite spending most of my twenties in that state!). When I do, I regret the choice of more booze - the craic is never worth the utter waste of a day.

Although I haven't done this since I was a wage slave, I think the time has come to renounce this day and start again tomorrow!

Love

Donna.x
PS I am very grateful for the lessons beer has taught me over the years - most pressingly today, that last drink is NEVER a good idea!

Howling at the Moon

Ever since I started reading Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, I have found the wild woman within me being stirred by nature more than ever. Where previously, at the time of a full moon, I have had a brief thought at howling at it and dismissed it, now the impulse is stronger, and even if I haven't given in to the impulse YET (don't want to scare the neighbours you see), I am listening more to that wildish nature.

Try it - get out in that full moon and just let her see you. Why? I have no idea...but for some wild womanly reason, I feel very connected to the universe this evening. I shall be falling asleep tonight again with the light of the moon on my face...and somehow that feels very right.

Love

Donna.x

The unseen effect

It never fails to amaze me how the universe will conspire to give you help and inspiration when you need it - if you are willing to listen. I have been putting off blogging all day because I didn't know what to write...and putting off a few other things too for that matter. As I am a Master at pissing about, I have occupied my time well - booking tickets, shopping, e-mailing, writing anything but my blog.

Just as I was about to give up for the day, I had an e-mail from Celia just saying 'thank you' for what I'm doing. The effect of this has been electrifying on me! I noticed straight away that THIS is what I want to write about today - the effect that you have on people just by doing what you do. I had an effect on Celia that prompted her to e-mail me, Celia had the effect of inspiring me and totally cheering me up on a grey wednesday nowhere near the beach!

As you read this, you are having an impact on someone else's life - make it like mine and Celia's - one that makes others grateful! Now I can get on with the other things I need to do with a big smile on my face.

Love

Donna.x
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Do you think you are up to it?

In your life, you have learned to walk, talk, read, write, drive, use money, argue, use your bodily functions, dance, run, catch, whistle (I still can't do that!), sing, laugh, smile, and hundreds of other wonderful things. Never think you are an underachiever - you achieved much by the time you were 3!

Your toddler self laughed when she landed on her bum, was curious and determined and never took herself too seriously. You are still that curious and determined child at your very core - peel back the layers to find you again, and once again become the adventurer you were.

Love

Donna.x

Laughter is infectious

Laughter is infectious
You catch it like the flu
I saw a laughing yogi today
And I started laughing too
Want to laugh yourself today?
Then here's the link for you!

Laughing Yogi

Happy laughing!

Love

Donna.x

Happy September!

Can you believe it is September already? I say this every month - each new month always seems to creep up on me with increasing rapidity. Sometimes this stresses me out because I think time is 'running away' or i am 'running out' of time. I read in a book recently that time is just how everything doesn't happen at once - an interesting, if slightly mind-blowing concept.

My favourite belief/saying about time is that 'everything is happening in the perfect time and space - all is as it should be'. Perhaps more of us should adapt that kind of thinking?

Wishing you a great time in September!

Love

Donna.x