One of those days

Just in case anyone else is having one of those days, I want to tell you what I did this morning...

I walked the dog to the recycling centre with a couple of bags of clothes - went up to the clothes bin, hoisted all the bags into the bin. Chore done, we continued towards the fields on our walk. Once we got into the fields, I realised I didn't have the bag with her poop scoop in it...I'd hoisted that into the recycling bin too! Oops. With no live poo in it (unless yesterday's poo wasn't cleared out...ugh). Sigh.

At this point I realised I should probably go back to bed for the day!

If you're having one of those days, remember to see the funny side.

Love

Donna.x

A Physical Being

For the past 3 months, my excuse for not doing any yoga has been that I need a new yoga mat. I finally got round to buying one at the weekend, and have since been exploring the flexibility of my body (conclusion: I am as flexible as a dry twig!). After an exercise hiatus, I am this week getting back into the habit of doing yoga, dancing, walking and swimming...and just 3 days in to the new routine, I feel a thousand times better.

The 21st century encourages a largely sedentary lifestyle in too many of us, with exercise just one more thing to be fitted into a busy day. The irony is that exercise makes that busy day easier. Admit it, you feel better when you exercise - your circulation, heart rate and happiness rate all improve. When your brain is oxygenated, you can work smarter, and when you are physically tired, you sleep better.

Even though we know all this, we still have 201 excuses not to do exercise! So here's what I did: I decided the minimum that I would be happy with each week, and have committed to that. I can do more if I want to (which I always do), but I've made it so easy that it would actually be harder to find an excuse not to exercise!

Remember that you are a physical being, and today decide what teensy, easy thing you could do to get that body moving. Oh yeah, and then do it!

Love

Donna.x

Blue skies and buckets of water

Anyone who isn't in the UK at the moment may not know how much fun the British Summer this year is. So far, we've had 2 weeks of good weather in April...and that's it. Summer officially began in June and it's pished it down ever since. The weird thing is that when the clouds disappear (for 4 seconds) and there is blue sky and sunshine, it's bloomin hot! And when it rains...it RAINS!

I went out to walk the dog today, and was lucky with the weather for 38 minutes of the 40 minute walk. Unfortunately, in the other 2 minutes, it RAINED. I looked like I had a bucket of water chucked at me. And then had the bizarre experience of walking back to the house soaking wet with not a cloud in the sky. Anyone who missed the sudden downpour would have assumed I'd just thrown myself in a stream.

It got me thinking...sometimes life takes you by surprise. And all you can do is laugh. (after scowling at the sky, running under a tree and shaking like a wet dog)

Love

Donna.x

I'm Back Y'All

Have you missed me?

A few people have asked where I went...it was terribly glamorous, so I don't want you to get jealous! I was in Tile Hill, Coventry. Catsitting. Now you may think (and you'd be right) that cat-sitting isn't exactly the most strenuous of activities, and perhaps doesn't warrant a week off...BUT it was great!

I feel enormously relaxed now - boy, did I need some time off! And as I am catching up frantically today, and want to keep this short, I shall just ask you...

Do you need some time off?

Love

Donna.x

A Jolly Holi-blog

Or should that be a blog-i-day?

Anyway, what I wanted to say today was that I will be absent from the blog for a week or so. I am having a glamourous holiday...well, actually I am house sitting for a friend, and taking the opportunity to rest, relax and ignore my laptop for a few days! Hazah. I can't wait. Even if it is a holiday in Midlands suburbia (4 miles from my house!), it's still a change of scenery and a chance to rest and relax...and they have a GREAT DVD collection!

Take your recharge time where you can find it.

Love

Donna.x

Even Bad Pub Singers Can be Fun

It's all about attitude. Following my excursion to London to listen to magnificent music and thoroughly throw my heart and soul into the experience, I had the misfortune to be in the pub last night with someone who has the 'worst pub singers in the land' CD and is faithfully reproducing it. It was the point at which my friend and I were trying to figure out what song it was, and realised it was the Kooks (done in the style of a pub singer) that we realised this could be excruciating!

Now I freely admit to being a total music snob. I love credible music. I like to hear good songs done well. One of my pet hates is good songs done badly. So last night was trial by warble for me...Green Day in the style of a pub singer? AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaargh. And then I remembered that it was my choice to be so badly affected by it - the story I told myself was 'oh my god, he is murdering Green Day. How dare he? Oh, this is awful. Please God let it end!'

That story is never going to result in joyful participation...so I decided to change my attitude in the 2nd half. This was tested within 40 seconds of the restart with a pub-singer style butchering of the Kaiser Chiefs. However, I decided to see the humour...and there was much to laugh at. The odd 'woo's from the singer in random places, the overexcited tambourine player, and the sheer astonishment of a 20-something year old stereotypical pub singer.

I laughed pretty much constantly for the 2nd set. He was no better (to my ears - many in the pub loved him), but the story I told myself was totally different - 'oh, this is funny. Name that tune in 703, what on earth is that 'woo' about?! Is he taking the p&^%?'

What story are you telling yourself about something you are not enjoying? Change the story, change the experience. That doesn't mean I'll be back in the pub next Monday...

Love

Donna.x

No one's going to take me alive

Yesterday was a FANTASTIC day! I went to see Muse at Wembley Arena - deservedly voted best live act at many a music award ceremony. There is a moment, when arms aloft, throat fully open and singing back to the stage, I am entirely connected with all that is right with the world.

Loud music, joy, friendship, love, passion, wonder.

Your list of what is right with the world might be slightly different...but when was the last time you connected to it? Do you have appointments to do so on a regular basis? Can you recall it whenever you need to? Okay, nothing beats the live experience, but the CD full blast can recall it quite satisfactorily!

Here's to a life that brings you many of these moments of connnection to all that is right with the world...

Love

Donna.x

This Question Could Change Your Life

What if nothing was more important than that you felt good?

What might change?

What would have to go from your life?

What would you add?

Worse case scenario: you'd feel good all your life.

Hmm...doesn't sound too bad to me!!!

So, what if nothing was more important than that you felt good?

Love

Donna.x

Cramming an Elephant into a Matchbox

Have you any idea how magnificent you are? Any idea what a gift you are to the world? What if the world was waiting for you to show up as your very best and most wonderful self?

Stop now. How connected are you to the truth that you are amazing? On a scale of 1-10?

This subject has been brought home in stark relief to me today as I realised that I had been hiding my brilliance, and showing up as smaller than I really am. Like cramming an elephant into a matchbox. And let me tell you, it was not a comfortable place to be! I wonder if your hiding place is comfortable? I'm not talking about physically...I'm still in the realm of metaphor - so it's a spiritual discomfort.

You know that feeling that there is more to life? More to you? That's what I'm talking about. There is. More to life. More to you. More passion, joy and love to be accessed. More brilliance to be shone.

Let me tell you something. You are fantastic. Truly awesome. And if you don't yet know that, 10 out of 10, you will. And if you want some help to see it, 10 out of 10, get in touch now - this is what I do.

Love

Donna.x

Back to Basics

Yesterday I put my foot on the accelerator pedal, and somehow manage to do my back in! It is quite an achievement as I did nothing different, nothing bizarre - I didn't try to wrap my leg once round my neck first...I just went to accelerate and YEOUCH! The interesting thing about having a bad back is that you realise just how much you take your back for granted.

Suddenly, turning over in bed is a new experience and fraught with danger, walking becomes something to concentrate on, sitting still is a must. Reaching for a tin has the potential to put you into spasms of agony, and trips to the loo turn into a half-hour of fun (or torture, depending on your perspective!). Everything you do all day is related to your back.

So, today, I have been back to basics - I am only doing what I absolutely must do, and doing it slowly and with concentration. Despite my fears that the world might end if I didn't walk the dog or vacuum the house (shhh - don't even mention the vac in front of my back!), it hasn't.

Just for today, get back to basics. Self-care, fun and laughter. Anything else can wait until tomorrow.

love

Donna.x

Who's Queen?

I have just been watching Blackadder - the 2nd one, with the magnificent Miranda Richardson as Queenie.

"Grey is customary your majesty" says Melchett
"Who's Queen?" replies the Queen sternly
"Yes, your majesty. The pink Elephant..."

This builds on what I was saying yesterday. Trust yourself. Queenie does not let anyone else's opinion sway her - she is in charge of her own kingdom. Granted, there is a teensy bit of abuse of power...but the lesson remains - be true to yourself, be strong in yourself, stand up for your own decisions, and make those decisions with confidence.

Who's Queen in your life?

Love

Donna.x

Trust in me, just in me

How much do you trust in yourself? When you have a decision to make, who do you talk it through with? On Saturday, I was umming and ahing whether to go out with a man I had met...on the one hand, I knew what I wanted (or didn't want) to do. On the other hand, a thousand other voices in my head were telling me to go for it, no wonder I am single if I refuse dates, why the hell not, maybe you'll connect on a date in a way you didn't when you met...

And so on. I considered talking it through with a friend, and then decided to talk it through with myself - my friends will only say the same as I do (I picked them, I know what they will say!). So I had a little chat with myself. I changed one thing though - the voices that tell me I'm a useless, antisocial git had to be constructive! So rather than accusing myself of being an antisocial git, I raised the point that it could be seen this way.

Which allowed me to see how ridiculous that argument is. Just because I am single, does not mean I have to go on dates...it means I can if I want. There are people who will say I'm too choosy (they never met some of my ex's), and people who will say that I should give him a chance. However, I am a busy woman, and I do not spend time with people just because they are there! I spend time with people I have a connection with.

And here's the decider for trusting me - I am really good at spotting if there is a connection with someone. I have been in business for 3 years, and one of the key skills I've learnt is relationship building (which includes relationship severing - why waste time with people you don't connect with?). This is not to insult this chap - he is a nice bloke. There was just no connection on this occasion for me. Who knows what will happen in the future?!

The actual circumstances of this decision are largely irrelevant - the most important thing is that I had a decision to make, and I made it all by myself (well, mostly - I also got a call that cemented my decision, but that's another story!). I trusted myself to know what's best for me. I didn't do what I thought I 'should' do, or what anyone else thought I 'should' do. And do you know what? I am unreasonably proud of that fact!

If you trusted yourself, what decision would you make today?

Love

Donna.x

Let's get Happy

I'm reading Michael Neill's 'Feel Happy Now' at the moment, and there is a cool exercise in there - how happy are you now, on a scale of 1-10? What could you do to take yourself one point higher? EG if you're a 7, what could you do now to take yourself to an 8?

Sounds quite simple, eh? Yes, and I've been experimenting with this for a few days, and each time I have managed to take my happiness level up a notch within seconds - sitting up straighter, thinking a better thought, doing something i want to do, remembering that life's all good...always!

I realised 3 things: 1. Happiness is a choice, we just choose unconsciously ... and badly! 2. I can change my level of happiness easily and quickly. 3. Being happier is much better than feeling sadder!

Experiment with this today and see your happiness levels rise!

Love

Donna.x
PS anybody know where I can get a nice ankle chain? I've broken my old ones and I NEED a new one, or two...the trouble is, I got lots of nice ones in Australia (that lasted years), and the ones I've found since are not robust or pretty enough for me. Any help welcomed!

A disturbing statistic

I got my new card from the Blood donor service today - I've given blood 10 times. Woo hoo.

With my new 'gold' card, I also got a letter with the disturbing statistic that only 6% of people who CAN give blood, do. Now, I know some of you will not want to and will have a horror of needles. Almost a month ago, I wrote another post about this - I did something amazing today please read it if you haven't already.

And please, please consider going to give blood. It takes 10 minutes once every 3 months, and you could save someones life. Go to the national blood service (uk) website to find out where and when you can give.

Please. Please - do something amazing today. And please, forward this to anyone you know who might be interested in doing something amazing. 6% is a horrifying statistic, let's change it.

Love

Donna.x

Staying light

There is a really easy way to make your life better...take notice of how you feel. If you feel good, do more of the good feeling stuff. If you feel bad, what can you do that would feel better?

Feelings are not just there to make your day interesting (said from the perspective of a hormonal female with period pain!), they are your guiding signals.

Are you listening?

Love

Donna.x

Sunshine and foolishness

Oh, how I love the sun! I was very excited this weekend when the sun shone for DAYS on end (if you're not in the uk - it rained for WEEKS on end so sunshine is exciting). In my excitement I completely forgot about sunscreen. Yes, I know...stoopid. Especially as I am the colour of milk. I inherited my mother's pale Irish skin, and can stay in the sun for about 5 minutes without burning.

However, yesterday, 30+ years of bitter experience disappeared out of my head and now I look like a letterbox wearing a white vest. (I was hugely amused that a couple of people said I looked radiant! Sunburn, dear.) Anyway, the purpose of this post is not (just) to ridicule myself (as much fun as that is). It is to note that sometimes we do stupid things. Sometimes we forget what's good for us, and sometimes we have to face the consequences (4 bottles of aftersun being schlooped into my skin...)

I could (easily) berate myself as an utter imbecile, put myself down and generally be mean to me. But I won't. Not only is it an unpleasant thing to do to myself, heckling me is never a good way to get me to do anything! I made a mistake. I am paying for it. (why can't you get sunburn in the winter when you could do with the extra heat generated?) I won't make it again this year. That's good enough for me.

What are you berating yourself for? Could you let go of the need to punish yourself just for today, learn the lesson, and let it be ok? Perhaps even see the funny side?

Love

A Radiant Donna.x

Donations

The observant among you may notice that to the side of this blog is a 'donation' section - this is where you can give me money if you enjoy my blog...and if you want to!

I got the idea from Jody Reale - it is rather random, and that is why I like it!

If I am having a positive impact on your life, and you would like to give me 50p for doing so (or more...or less!), please do so - paypal is easy to use and fully secure, and I would be most appreciative!

With much love

Donna.x

No rules

I found this quote today:

"Hell, there are no rules here - we're trying to accomplish something." Thomas A Edison

No rules. You can do it your own way. What is it you are trying to accomplish? And what can you do when you realise the truth that there are no rules?

Love

Donna.x

Better than 'Fine'

In Michaell Neill's 'Tip of the Day' today:
"In the remake of the movie 'The Italian Job', Donald Sutherlandasks Mark Wahlberg's character how he feels.
'I'm fine', says Wahlberg.
'You know what 'fine' means don't you?' replies Sutherland.'Fu**ed up, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional.'"

This sums up why I don't like 'fine' as an answer to 'how are you?' It's just depressing. While I lived in Australia, I loved that Aussies answer 'how ya goin?' with 'good'. It may be just a word, but it's a far more cheery word than 'fine' or 'ok' or 'not bad'. What's wrong with 'Fabulous', 'Fantastic', 'Magnificent', 'Superb', 'Wonderful', 'Outstanding'? Ok, outstanding is a bit un-British, but trust me 'Fabulous' is a good answer to 'how are you?'

It's better than Fu**ed up, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional anyway!

Love

Donna.x

Self care, self care, and more self care

I'm not well today so it'll be a short one, I just wanted to share with you what I do to take good care of myself.

I ask myself, do I feel cared for right now?
Answer: No, I'm full of cold and I'm tired and I need my bed.

Then I ask, what can I do to make myself feel cared for?
Answer: switch off the computer, go to bed.

And I don't just do this when I feel rubbish, like I do now. I do it every day. Think of yourself as a machine. If not treated right and serviced regularly, that machine will break.

So, do you feel cared for right now?

Love

Donna.x

Knowing What You Want

In my newsletters, I ask 'What do you Want?' and 'What stops you?' I had a question "What if I don't know what I want?" from Tiziana of http://sacred-ceremonies.co.uk. I wanted to share my response to this as it is a GREAT question, and I think is relevant to a lot of people. (and if you DO know what you want, skip to the enthusiasm question toward the end).

It is very true that what stops people from having what they want is that they don’t know what they want! This is actually a fabulous place to be, because you get to play with what you might want and have some fun finding out what it is you want in your life. Do you know what you want? No?

How do you find out? Here’s a few questions to stimulate your thinking:
¯ What do you definitely NOT want? What is the positive opposite of that?
¯ What makes you happy?
¯ If your life made you go ‘wow’, what would it look like?
¯ What sort of things might you want?
¯ If no one was looking, what would you want?
¯ If there were no obstacles to overcome, what would you want?
¯ If you could wave a magic wand, what would you wish for first? And second?
¯ What goals have you had in the past? What goals do you have now?
¯ What’s your ‘secret’ want?
¯ What would you want if you didn’t have to figure out how to get it?

Set aside some time to play with these questions…note down any ideas that come to you – don’t censor anything, and let the ideas range across your life from the sublime to the ridiculous! Once you have brain dumped everything, look again and see what your level of enthusiasm is for each one. Any less than a 7, park for now. Any at a 7, what would make it an 8? Any at 8-10, what’s the first step?! (if they’re all less than a 7, go back to the questions and this time, really allow yourself to DREAM BIG!)

I hope that helps you to get clear on what you want – I would love to hear what you come up with. And if anyone would like any one to one help with this, let me know.

Love

Donna.x

Virgins and Nakedness

The last 24 hours has seen me open-mouthed in horror at the 'help' given to the desperate virgins, and equally open mouthed in admiration at the magnificent Gok Wan in how to look good naked. Here's what disturbed me: not allowing someone to be themselves and for that to be ok. A virgin? So what! We can be so judgemental at times - me included. I started to watch the desperate virgins with a smirk...and ended it by either wanting to help and encourage them and build their confidence, OR really pleased for them that they had done the deed!

Contrast the unhelpful 'advice' given in desperate virgins (not all of it, some of the people were really helpful...and some of them were destroying confidence rather than building it) with the wonderfully confidence building 'advice' of Gok Wan. What's the difference? GW is looking for the beauty in someone, and showing them their beauty...and building their confidence. I just caught up with the last episode, and was in tears of joy at the end.

To see someone looking so confident, so compelling, so attractive, so sparkling and so beautiful in such a short time was so heart-warming. For the less body confident amongst us (and for the less body confident days we have!), I quote Gok Wan "Stop judging and start enjoying your body". Male, female, virgin or hugely experienced - pin that quote to your mirror!

And your mission for this week - to see the beauty in someone you know, and show them their beauty...especially if that someone is you.

You are beautiful.

Love

Donna.x

A Maturity of Emotion

As a single woman, I sometimes forget the extraordinary highs and lows that come with relationship. I had an interesting reminder this weekend - going from glowing to green in 3 days flat. I ran the gamut of emotion - joy, passion, love, fear, insecurity and lastly, jealousy. For the first time ever, I have been able to observe my emotions rather objectively and enjoy them for what they are.

What is that? Distractions, but not realities. What normally happens when you feel an emotion? Do you lose yourself entirely in it? Do you relive it? Do you intensify it? Does it define what kind of a day you have? Here's an example of what I used to do: feeling love...hold back a bit, not give myself over to it, keep myself 'real', question it; feeling insecure...revel in that feeling, intensify it, allow it to take over my day, relive the 'film' of the event that prompted the feeling.

An interesting way to do it don't you think? Minimise the good feelings and maximise the bad - that way I won't get hurt. Anyone else spotting the flaw in my logic? Yep, that's it - that way I don't really get to enjoy any of it! I am happy to report that things are changing - I am reveling in the good stuff and minimising the bad. Given this weekend's events I could EASILY have done the opposite. But why would I want to do that?

My challenge to you this week is 3-fold:

1. notice the emotions you are feeling
2. Notice if they feel good or bad
3. If they feel good, intensify...if they feel bad, minimise

Here's my top tip for minimising the bad ones: see the funny side. Here's to revelling in the highs of emotion.

Love

Donna.x

How to irritate an insomniac

I heard a question on the radio the other day:

How long does it take the average person to fall asleep? A. 1 minute B. 4 minutes or C. 7 minutes.

My initial reaction was 'WHAT?! It takes me 15-90 minutes!' My reaction when I discovered the answer is 7 minutes was to scowl at the radio. 7 minutes? 7?!! The B£$*$$ds! Now, most of the time, I have absolutely no desire to be normal or average. It's boring. However, on this occasion, I LONG to be average. Imagine that? 7 Minutes. A mere 7 minutes. For about a month recently, I was taking about 15 minutes, and I was loving that.

In terms of helping me sleep, this particular statistic is up there with mice in the mattress. Bah, humbug. And do you know what really annoyed me? Last night I was lying awake wondering how it would feel to fall asleep within 7 minutes...for about 30 minutes! I have decided that I am obviously exceptional - taking so bloody long to fall asleep, and that I should revel in my individuality instead of glaring at every person I meet who is a '7 minute or less' sleeper.

I'm sure that will be a comfort to all insomniacs...not! Happy sleeping this weekend.

Love

Donna.x

1000 moments of joy

I had a very random thought this morning, about creating a list/e-book/something of 1000 moments of joy. You know, like seeing the sun come out from behind the clouds; that inappropriate thought in the swimming pool (good job my blushes are under water!); the view of an empty, open road to drive on; the excitement of a dog when she sees the lead or a squeaky toy; snuggling back down for a lie in on a wet wednesday; the lights going down at a gig; a favourite song on the radio; meeting an old friend; belly laughs; being able to drive your car after 3 days with a flat tyre; that friday feeling; falling in love; falling in lust...and the list goes on.

Why would I want to create this list? Well, the very cool thing about memories of moments of joy is that as you remember them, you can feel them again. Another item on the list: the joy of remembered joy! Ultimately, I want to create this list for me...and other people might enjoy it. I suspect what they'd enjoy more is the joy of creating their own list.

So, here's your homework: 1000 moments of joy for you. I would love to hear what some of them are, so do comment.

Love

Donna.x

Following the inner stirrings

I'm a big believer in following your intuition. My intuition has never let me down. Unlike logic, which lets me down on a regular basis. I know there are people out there who believe in logic, but it's not a way of working I trust. Logically, Australians should walk upside down. See? Logic is a bizarre way of deciding things.

Anyway, back to intuition. I just had a 'stirring' to pop along to Ecademy. I have been a member of this online networking place for ages, but hardly ever visit...and usually visit when prompted by logic and spend 20 fruitless and boring minutes there. This time, I instantly spotted a post from someone with a question I had an answer to. AND this person was giving away a free report.

At this moment, I have no idea if this connection will bring fruit or not. No idea whether the freebie is any good to me. BUT I was on Ecademy for about 3 minutes, and came away feeling like I'd done something good. If nothing else, some energy was moved...and I enjoyed another 3 minutes of my day. I suspect there will be a lot more to be said about this 'random' action though...

What is your intuition prompting you to do right now?

Love

Donna.x

Flowing with your energy

I had a bit of a circus this weekend...

Friday night, flat tyre. Saturday morning 9am, learn that wheel brace is corroded inside and can’t get any of the nuts off. Have to phone friend’s husband to come to the rescue. Saturday morning 10am, discover that locking wheel nut won’t come off, much sweating, swearing and muttering ensues. Saturday morning 11am, pump tyre up with foot pump and drive to garage…learn that Porsche garage doesn’t have the right equipment to do the job. 11.03 drive back to house and watch tyre go flat again. 11.15, friend’s husband gives up and my dad calls a garage guy we know who had stopped to ask if we were ok. He promises to pop round with the right bit of kit. 1pm, I tell my friend in Wiltshire that it is looking unlikely that I will be coming to visit tonight as after we get the wheel off, I still have to get a new tyre…and its Saturday afternoon.

3.30, 4 hours later, chap calls round with ‘bit of kit’…all nut cutters are too big and can’t get purchase on the nut. He promises to call again in 10 minutes if he has the right one at home, or will come back on Monday. 6.15 calls back to say it’ll be Monday. Sunday 2pm: Friends husband returns in the pouring rain – this nut has been annoying him for past 26 hours. 2.45pm: Man from Atlantis goes home again. (Bless him, it was pissing it down!) 5pm dad says he saw bloke from the local garage who reckons he can sort it in 3 minutes flat. Monday 10am: I am back outside with foot pump trying to get enough air in the tyre to get it to the chap at the garage. 10-15 am: nice man stops to help. 10.30am Bloke at the garage isn’t sure he can do it as it’s so badly damaged. 10.40am he announces victory! 64 hours after spotting flat, I finally have a new tyre...who would have thought just changing a flat could be such a circus?!

Now, really, in the scheme of things this wasn't that big a deal - but the stress of it hanging over my weekend did affect my energy, and the disappointment of not being able to visit my friend that I haven't seen for a year! And I have realised that my chronic fatigue is partially set off by stress. Hence, today, I am SHATTERED! Now, I could say I'll pull myself up by my bootstraps and not be such a girlie wuss, but that wouldn't help matters. That's how I feel, so I have allowed myself to flow with that energy today.

It has meant there is stuff not done...it has also meant that hopefully this tiredness will not tip over into tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day. Keeping your body/mind/energy/soul in tip top condition means looking out for the signs your body/mind/energy/soul are giving you every day in every moment.

What signs are you ignoring today?

Love

Donna.x

Dream, dream, dream

I came across this quote the other day "I think the problem with women is they stop dreaming" Penelope Cruz.

When you stop dreaming, you lose a little something of yourself - that lust for life, the optimism of possibility, the food for your soul.

Never, ever stop dreaming.

Love

Donna.x

Relaunching my newsletter for Small Business

Next week I am relaunching my monthly newsletter for small business - Beach Biz. This is for anyone who is in a small business and needs to remember that being in business is FUN and EASY and RELAXED. The sort of business you could run from the poolside...at least that's the business we imagine when we start out, right? If it's not quite that easy for you, sign up for 'Beach Biz' here.

Every month around the 15th of the month, you will get a newsletter about some aspect of small business, and if you have a question about being in business, or something you would really like me to cover, let me know. I look forward to entertaining you with it in the coming months. The first new issue is out next Tuesday so sign up now.

Love

Donna.x

I did Something Amazing today

What can you do in an hour that will save someone's life? That you can do lying down, chatting and get a chocolate biscuit for doing it? That's right, donating blood. Was it the choccie biccy that gave it away? I went today and gave my 10th donation...I got a little badge and a certificate. Just for 10 pints of blood and a few hours of my time. I am disproportionately proud of this little badge.

Whenever I talk about giving blood, people always talk about the needles ('oh I hate needles'), but that's an irrelevance to anyone who actually gives blood. I don't like needles either, I get really nervous when the needle is about to go in...but it doesn't hurt. Giving blood FEELS GOOD. They have a sticker that says 'I did something good today - I gave blood'. It is a good thing to do.

Giving blood could help someone live...a leukemia patient, a car accident victim, someone having an operation, someone giving birth. From kids to grandparents, lots of people can benefit. Neither of my parents can now give blood because of their health. Both of them wish they still could. Honestly, the needles don't matter! I feel good today, because I did something good. I got a badge and a certificate AND a chocolate biscuit for saving a life.

And then I got home and found this in my e-mail inbox:
“If you want to be happy for an hour - take a nap.
If you want to be happy for a day — go fishing.
If you want to be happy for a month — get married.
If you want to be happy for a year — inherit a fortune.
If you want to be happy for a lifetime — help others. ”
— Old Chinese Proverb

Do something good today - visit the national blood service website, and go give blood. It's one way to a happy life.

Love

Donna.x

Instant karma's gonna getcha!

Yesterday, I was driving along from Solihull to Hampton, cursing an idiot in a people carrier ahead of me who was mooching along that lovely fast road at 40mph – you can do 70 EASILY on that bit of road. As he turned off the road, I chuntered ‘I hope you get stuck behind a tractor’…

…2 miles later I got stuck behind a tractor.

Now that’s instant karma!

Watch what karma you are attracting today.

Dx

The Greatest Compliment

I was watching the interviews with the actors on Harry Potter 4 the other day, and Daniel Radcliffe said something enormously profound.

The Greatest Compliment that anyone can give is that someone is "completely individual".

How did an 18 year old get to be so wise?!

Here's to complete individuality!

Love

Donna.x

Being the Best

"Being the Best" What does that phrase evoke for you? Winning? Working Hard? Success? Having millions in the bank? Who are you when you are this version of being the best? Stressed? Overworked? Busyholic? Time pressured, short tempered, goal focused, unaware of your family and friends, overwrought, under pressure?

Look again at the phrase "Being the Best", this time placing emphasis on the first word. Being.

Not doing your best, having the best or seeing the best. Being. Who are you when you are being your best? When you are at your most switched on, your most compelling, your most interesting, beautiful and attractive self? When you utterly love who you are being? When you are 'on fire'? Personally, I am joyful, passionate, playful, fun, laughing, light and loving.

What if the world's emphasis was on being your best self, not the stressy version of "being the best"?

What if YOUR emphasis was on being your best self, not 'doing your best' or 'having the best'?

Try it. Let me know what changes for you.

Love

Donna.x

Inspiration to Fall more Deeply in Love with Life

Last night I was reading 'You Can Have What You Want' by Micheal Neill, and came across this quote "the only real purpose of a goal is to inspire you to fall more deeply in love with life". Remember this the next time you are reviewing what you want from your life - if your goals don't excite you, interest you, awaken a passion and a joy...why would you wanna do that?

Many clients come to me because they've spent the first 30-odd years of their life doing what they think they 'should' do, and it's made them miserable (or trying desperately to avoid doing what they think they 'should' do because it's soul-destroying, and that's made them miserable too). Instead of encouraging one another to have the kind of life we want, we encourage each other to have exactly the same life as everyone else.

Works well if you want it! It didn't work for me - all that 9-5, boring job, feeling like a wage slave thing made me physically ill. What changed? I decided to start doing things I enjoyed...and once I was doing enough of them, I had a life I enjoyed! You may think it's easy to fall in love with life when you are doing what you want to do...but falling in love with life STARTS with taking that decision to enjoy it more and more and more and more.

Do your goals inspire you to fall more in love with your life?

Love

Donna.x

Swimming in a Lust for Life

I went for a swim today. I thought it had been a while...when I got there I realised that it had been so long that they were half way through building a new centre that I knew nothing about. Oopsie. And then when I got in there I wondered WHY I hadn't been for so long? I love swimming. I love being in the water, splashing about, floating, playing, concentrating on smoothing out my strokes, breathing consciously and deeply.

Just thinking about it again now, my joy scale is going through the roof! You see, swimming is one of my 'flow' things - activities that I can be in and just lose myself in the experience. Like dancing, being at a gig of a band I love, kissing, walking, reading, laughing...the list goes on. Swimming re-awakens my lust for life - not only did I get a physical workout, I got reconnected to how wonderful it is to be alive.

What did you do today that reconnected you to the joy of being alive?

Love

Donna.x

Delegation

As a self-employed, female, human in the 21st century, I find it very hard not to try to do everything myself...pants on outside the trousers and dan-da-da-daaaaaaaaa! SuperDonna! (reminds me of the scene in the Full Monty where Hugo Speer's character is demonstrating walking up a wall...and falls flat on his behind!) Yes, the inevitable crash occurs shortly afterwards! I know this thing...and yet, I still have a niggling suspicion that delegating is cheating.

Am I the only one? I suspect not. I am getting TONS better at delegating - I have handed the creation of the HTML code for my newsletter over to someone far better equipped than I (yes, I know, about time eh R?!), and am always on the lookout for what I can get someone else to do. Being a small business, there aren't that many people I can delegate to...which leads me onto another way of putting it.

Delegation is ASKING FOR HELP. And we don't need a fleet of willing employees just waiting to do our bidding to do that. I'd like to ask your help - do you know anyone who is frustrated with their life, who feels like they don't fit in (like a pink pebble on a beach full of grey pebbles!), who believes there is more to life than this...and who would like to be coached by DonnaOnTheBeach? If so, please them know about me, let me know about them, and in advance, I thank you.

Who will you ask for help (or delegate to) today?

Love

Donna.x

Enriching the World

"Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who am I not to be?" Marianne Williamson

Most of us think that not displaying our talents is a form of 'humble-ness', a modesty (a becoming modesty even), the polite way to be. "I couldn't possibly", we say. "I can't". Think about your favourite musicians, artists, thinkers, leaders, writers...aren't you glad that they didn't say "I can't". Imagine a world where nobody let their talent shine. Imagine how dull and boring that would be.

There is nothing polite about hiding who you are and what you are good at. When you come out and 'be magnificent' you enrich the world. By being smaller than you are, you 'take away' from the world. Today, start living into your talents. Not for you, not to be big-headed, but to enrich the world with what you have to give.

Listen to your heart, you know you want to!

love

Donna.x

Choose Who You Are

Who are you?

Who are you when you are not being busy?

Who are you when you are relaxed and on holiday?

If the answers to all 3 are not the same, why not? To be clear, I'm not just asking you...I'm asking me too! I've realised recently that although I think I am very relaxed and chilled and very 'myself'...I am also a busyholic! And often far too tired in my time off to be any more than 'in the room', never mind being my joyful, passionate, friendly, humourous self! Sound familiar? It seems to be a 21st century plague!

And here's the wierdest thing about it...we get to choose who we are! Yes, we get to choose being stressed, short-tempered, tired, arsey. Ok, nobody (well, not many people!) would choose that deliberately. We choose it unconsciously by what we do. Why are we stressed? Because we spend too much time being busy and not enough resting. Why are we short-tempered? Over-tired. Why are we tired? Not enough rest and recuperation.

If you can be fun, lively, energetic and gorgeous on holiday, you can do it all the time. You just need to change your choices. As ever, this doesn't have to be a drastic choice - just small changes to your life will have a profound impact on your personality. Ask anyone who has taken up yoga or has a massage...1 hour of that and suddenly you are relaxed and chilled!

The question really is who do you want to be?

Love

Donna.x

What is possible within

Whilst spending some time in a meeting with my business this afternoon (for my inspiration for this, see www.successandspirit.com), the business expressed that it's purpose for me was to explore what was possible within.

Just sit with that for a moment. What is possible within. For me, this is a very stirring phrase - it's not about reaching above my ability, achieving goals, making things happen - these are all part of it, but too narrow to express the whole. What is possible within.

All things are possible within, and my business gives me a vehicle for exploring them. Can't wait!

What is possible within for you? And how is your mind/ego/circumstances constraining those possibilities? If all things are possible, then you, too, could find a vehicle for exploring what is possible within for you...

Can't wait for that either!

Love

Donna.x

Self Reliance

In our world of me, me, me, self-reliance and independance conjure up images of having a spanner in one hand and a wooden spoon in the other. Look at me, I can do ANYTHING! Well, hap hap hazah, she muttered sarcastically. Forgive me for not quite getting it - what's the point in doing everything yourself? I'm sure I have an ancestor in the aristocracy...I'd much rather get other people to do things for me.

Not just because I'm lazy, but because the mechanic does a better job than I do! And this drive toward self-reliance in this sense has left us a nation who are critical of all we CAN'T do, forgetting the things that we CAN do. It's left us exhausted and stressed - trying to do absolutely everything ourselves. Stop now. The only thing that only you can do is take excellent care of yourself - for me, this is true self-reliance.

The other stuff is just time-fillers. Who cares if you can't bake the perfect cake, work a power tool or make your car purr like a Rolls? What you CAN do perfectly is to be yourself - if you take care of yourself well, and let yourself 'be'. It sounds like the hardest work on earth...and it's the easiest and most beautiful thing just to be yourself. Your true self is a lot gentler on you than you allow.

When will you turn on the true self reliance of relying on your TRUE self?

Love

Donna.x

A thought on Simplicity

Confucius said

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated"

Guilty as charged. And you?

Love

Donna.x

The wisdom of maturity

I just re-read my post from Monday and started laughing. Here's me being all high-handed and on my soap box about expressing your marvellous eccentricity...and not a decade ago, I would have judged someone who went to the opera, or went for a walk, or did anything outside my 'circle of normality'.

When did it shift...well, when I discovered that walking and opera were good! When I realised that so many of my judgements were wrong. When I realised that I wasn't as worldly wise as I thought I was. And mostly, when I went travelling. Travellers are a curious cross section of society - you meet so many people you would not ordinarily come across...and thus are led to a dazzling array of activities and ideas you didn't know existed.

Getting older does the same sort of thing...if you let it. Just by living, year after year, and learning from new people and places and ideas. By being open to the wonder life has to show you every single day...if you look for it. The wisdom of maturity to me is that happy realisation that there is so much to learn, experience, see, do, feel, hear...quite wonderful. That's why I intend to live til I am 105 - so I can fall even more deeply in love with life!

Agatha Christie said "I like life. I have somtimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing." Hear hear.

Are you getting wiser as you get older? Or are you getting narrower? Do you embrace life? Or do you tightly control life? My vote is that you spread out your arms and welcome life in...

Love

Donna.x

Eccentricity rocks

Last night I was reading Anne Perry's Bedford Square (victorian murder mystery...gotta love it!) and my attention was captured by one of the characters, who felt that only the 'most eccentric' of interesting characters could relieve her boredom.

It got me thinking about that eccentricity. Nowadays called wierd, abnormal, strange and mocked and vilified in 'normal society'. In Victorian society what was called 'polite society' - something we now look back at with tolerant amusement at their blatant discrimination, bizarre rules of what was the 'done thing' and rigidity. I wonder if anything has really changed? Aren't there now 'standards of behaviour' to adhere to or risk being ostracised by society?

I am not talking here about murdering the neighbours and burying them under the cabbage patch. I am talking simply of being who you are and doing what you love to do without having some infantile eejit point and laugh. This is a real hot button for me, because I am 'weird' for many things - liking opera, belly dancing, going for a walk, being a coach and masseuse, not wanting to sit in a crowded, stinking pub 7 nights a week.

Weird? Not in my view! Eccentric? CERTAINLY! I love the freedom of that word 'eccentricity' - there doesn't appear to be the same negative connotations to being an eccentric as there is to being a weirdo! Yes, I know it is sophistry, but sophistry is the key to all. And so, today I am revelling in my marvellous eccentricity, and the knowledge that should Lady Vespasia Cumming Gould meet me, she should find me most interesting.

Would you rather be a magnificent eccentric, or a drone?

Love

Donna.x

Sweets, Sciatica and sore throats

I am in the wars today - I have sciatica (not helped, unsurprisingly, by my belly dance class today) and a really bad sore throat - you know the sort that it hurts to swallow with? aaargh. Years ago, when I was a smoker, I had constant throat problems and lost my voice on average once a month. I went to see a voice therapist, who told me that throat sweets are really bad for sore throats and that chewy sweets, like opal fruits, chewitts etc were much better.

What a magnificent piece of advice! Ever since that conversation, I have chomped my way through sweets whenever I have a sore throat - and it works. The reason being that those sweets stimulate your own saliva which lubricates the throat better than anything else. However, a problem exists. Today, I have eaten a packet of opal fruits and 4 packets of chewitts...they ease my throat momentarily only.

And now I feel sick. And my throat is still sore! It is a terrible shame for me. What's my point? For once, I don't have one. I am sure there is a lesson to be learnt in here somewhere, but frankly my butt hurts (the sciatica), my throat hurts...and I don't care about the lesson. Unless of course, it is to take better care of myself...hmm I guess I could do that. If you will excuse me, I hear the call of a good book.

Don't forget your self care this weekend!

Love

Donna.x
PS Didn't think I could get through a post without a point...I'll try harder next time. Maybe

The Secret of Success

I received this today in an e-mail and just loved it:

"Sir, What is the secret of your success?" a reporter asked a bank president.
"Two words"
"And, Sir,what are they?"
"Right decisions."
"And how do you make right decisions?"
"One word."
"And, sir, What is that?"
"Experience."
"And how do you get Experience ?"
"Two words"
"And, Sir, what are they?"
"Wrong decisions"

If you're too scared to make wrong decisions, you may never learn to make the right ones. Hoorah for fuck-ups!

Love

Donna.x

Opera and experience

I went to the Opera last night, Madam Butterfly. It has been said by several people who know me that they would never have believed me an opera fan! Quite right too - I'm not exactly your stereotypical opera-goer. What I am though, is open minded to new experiences...and I love to try out new stuff. When I was in Australia, I decided that I had to see an opera at the Opera House...and discovered that I loved it.

It's been 6 years since I went to the opera for the first time, and in those intervening years I only went once. Last night, during the first act (in which I was utterly lost) I wondered what the heck I was doing there...until the moment that I got goosebumps, my hair stood on end, and I was utterly transfixed. The opera, for me, is not a passive experience that I just watch...it is a visceral experience that somehow makes my heart and soul soar...even when my head is going 'what the f...'

That moment of goosebumps is worth the ticket price on its own...and when you get 20 of those moments, plus a beautiful production of an opera, you are onto a winner. I might never have gone to an opera in my life - as I said, I'm not a typical opera-goer...but I am so glad I gave it a try...and in 2 months time, Carmen - I can't wait! (although I will make sure I have a clue of the plot in the first act this time)

What might you enjoy the experience of if you let yourself try?

Love

Donna.x

Happy Easter

In case you missed this week's newsletter, here it is:

Welcome to ‘OnTheBeach’ the newsletter which aims to help you take life lightly! Life’s a beach, after all – it’s not all worry, stress and pain! This week I’m keeping it short, because we have the holidays to enjoy! Please enjoy the quotes that have inspired this week’s article.

Happy Easter
“Forget love-- I'd rather fall in chocolate!!!” Author unknown

Isn’t it curious that something which started as a religious holiday has become a celebration of chocolate? Nothing wrong with that, chocolate should have its own holiday weekend. And there is something quite delicious about that idea of falling in chocolate…melted chocolate. Mmmmm.

Perhaps sychronistically, on a week of religious significance, I came across the blog “A nun’s Life”, and this quote “Owning one’s gifts can be just as hard as owning one’s shadow side.” Sister Julie. Think about that for a moment – is that true for you? It isn’t quite true for me…I find it sometimes easier to accept my shadow than my gifts!

I seem to have learnt the humility lesson well. But is that truly what God (or Spirit, or whatever description works for you) wants for us? That we hide our gifts? I suspect not. We were born with those gifts for a good reason – to use them. Imagine if the wonderful person who invented chocolate had hidden their gifts…unimaginable! Happy Easter.

Something to play with
Do you own your gifts? Do you even know what they are? Why not come out from under that bushel and shine your light?

The Personal Bit
Well, this was an interesting experience…merging seamlessly chocolate and God! I was without much inspiration this week to be honest, and a chance reading of Sister Julie’s blog found me mulling over this quote and how I could get something about chocolate into that. It doesn’t quite fit? Oh well, c’est la vie…to be honest, I’m too chocolate-fuddled to care!

Coaching and Contact
Personal Coaching helps you to get where you want to go faster, more easily AND with more fun! If you want your life to be FANTASTIC and it’s not, maybe it’s time to get help? Just reply back to this e-mail to find out more about Coaching with DonnaOnTheBeach. To learn more about donnaonthebeach, go to www.donnaonthebeach.co.uk and check out my blogs at www.donnaonthebeach.blogspot.com and www.bulldozerdiary.blogspot.com

We grow by your recommendation, so if you know anyone who needs an injection of lightness into their lives, please forward this on to them. If this has been forwarded to you, to sign up to receive the newsletter yourself go to www.donnaonthebeach.co.uk. Please feel free to reprint any article on your website, own newsletter or message boards. Please give credit where it's due, and let people know where they can sign up if they would like more.

Have a fantastic week!

Donna.

PS Your privacy is important to me. I never rent or sell my mailing list to anybody.

Body, Mind and Soul

I was reading something today that suggests that most people live only in the physical world - just attending to their physical needs. If that's true, what of the mind and soul? The mind needs nourishment too - new ideas, growth, stimulation (Eastenders don't do it!). As does the soul - life purpose, spiritual growth and enlightenment, connection to the world.

I was horrified to think that mind and soul are being ignored so - and then I realised that I am not exactly the Dalai Lama in this regard! I do feed my mind with new ideas and growth (and equally deaden it with trashy tv and books!), I do connect to the world, look at my life purpose and spiritually grow (and I get caught up in the 'real' world often, where stress and anxiety deaden any connection with spirit).

So, here's a committment from me - I will endeavour to feed my mind more, feed my soul more AND to make it easy for myself. For example, today I am off to the Rugby - my physical self will enjoy the rough and tumble of tall men in small shorts, my mind will enjoy following what's going on, and my soul will see the beauty in the day, in the game and in the shared enjoyment.

High falutin' stuff eh? And so much more satisfying than living just in the physical. Try it?

Love

Donna.x

Making A Difference

Via www.geniuscatalyst.com forums this morning, I came across a link to Steve Chandler's website, and from there to http://www.stevechandler.com/images/wealth.pdf. It's a good read, I highly reccommend it. The essence of the bit that has caught my attention is 'making a difference every day' - not necessarily an earth-shattering difference, but just a difference.

In retrospect, I can see that every time I dip down into negative emotions and stress, the reason is that I am trying to make a HUGE difference. So if 25 clients don't come beating down my door, I've failed. If £3000 extra doesn't get made in 5 minutes, I've failed. If wars don't stop immediately and everyone become peace and love personified, it's down to me!

Hmm... I can see a pattern here of high expectations and impossible to please bosses! (Worst boss I've ever had, me!) What if the little differences I made every day added up to a life of meaning and joy? What if I didn't have to move the earth 3 moons to the left to make a difference? What if I was enough?

How about you? What if you allowed the easy differences you could make to be your benchmark today? What if you were enough?

With love

Donna.x

Post holiday blues and pooh

Isn't it funny that even one day off can elicit a little bit of 'post holiday blues'? Now, I want to be clear here - I used to get post holiday blues that would have me crying 'I don't want to get out of bed' in the morning...now they are nothing like that! It is more a restlessness - a feeling that I could be 'out there' doing 'something' instead of 'in here' working.

And that restlessness was been made a thousand times worse yesterday by the fact that in the fields behind the house, the farmer was muckspreading. Ugh. So, I sat here at my desk, feeling nauseous and restless...until that moment of clarity that actually, I wasn't achieving a darn thing - better to go do something else (like burning some essential oils to get rid of the pong!).

The something else I decided to do was to look at the lesson in this situation. The unconscious lesson was that I was a lazy git who was just procrastination doing something useful. See how lovely I unconsciously am to myself?! BUT when I thought about it consciously, I could see that I am not very good at giving myself time off!! I love what I do, but that does not mean I can do it for 168 hours a week.

I love sleeping too, but not for 168 hours a week. In fact, if I did anything I love doing every hour of the week, I would soon get fed up of it! AHA! So, time to look at my working patterns methinks and change something... What I really loved about this too was the memory of what the post holiday blues once told me - GET OUT, YOU ARE DYING HERE! I'm so glad that has changed.

What about you, what do your post holiday blues tell you?

Love

Donna.x

Ah, a day off!

I have just had a marvelous monday! One of my friends is a teacher, and therefore gets cool holidays. What better excuse to take a random day off and spend it wandering round a lake, eating cream cakes and talking til our voices went?! Delicious! Thank you Katie for a fab day.

Not only was it lovely to see my mate, it was great to do something different, go somewhere different...and all while I 'should' be at work. When was the last time you had a day off, just to spend time with a friend? When's the next?

Mine's in about 8 weeks time, when the next lot of skool holidays kick in. Hoorah!

Love

Donna.x

Making you Right

I was looking this week at how I am not an internationally renowned author, speaker and coach. Never mind what I have done, it's what I haven't that's occupying my mind. It's an interesting attitude that everything we haven't done is a failure and everything we have done is past (and probably down to luck!).

What if everything you haven't done is a lesson (or a work in progress) and everything you have done is a success? What if you were right not to do what you didn't do? What if you have a different way to become an internationally renowned speaker? Maybe you're not wrong...just different. We spend a lot of energy making ourselves wrong - what if you were right?

If I were to ask what is perfect about NOT being an internationally renowned author, speaker and coach, I would see that the last 7 years have been a time of great transformation for me, and before I take my message out there, I need to be very clear what it is! I also need to be very grounded, and that's happening in this moment for me. Blimey, I got it right again.

Think of a situation you are 'wrong' in - what if you were right?

Love

Donna.x

Always look on the bright side of life

This past week or so I have been re-arranging my thinking about what I do. I had got all spiritual, mystical and 'woo-woo' about it all, then a series of people have brought me back to earth with a bump!!! Initially I didn't really thank them for it, but now I've got used to the idea of being back in the 'real world', I quite like it.

My work can still be 'woo-woo' but it also has the practical application of helping people to enjoy their lives, do work they love and get the best from themselves (and those around them). The connection with soul and purpose is an almost accidental outpouring of that. And I was thinking yesterday that 'always look on the bright side' is a less 'woo-woo' reason for the blog. And a fabulous song - here's my favourite extract:

"When life seems jolly rotten, there's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing"

Have you forgotten to laugh and smile and dance and sing?

Love

Donna.x

90 day money game

One of my favourite coaches in the world today is Michael Neill www.geniuscatalyst.com. Today I was listening to Michael's radio show (archives at www.hayhouseradio.com) about the 90 day money challenge. The basic gist is this: what amount of extra money would be fun for you to have in the next 90 days? (keep your eye on the 'fun' bit!) Not money you need, or money you don't think you can have.

The next step is to start looking for ways that you can make some extra money over the next 90 days and go and invite it in - by saying to people for example that you can do 'x' for them in return for '£'. This is all about exploring what you would love to do, how you would love to add value, what difference you can make ... and making yourself some extra money. What fun! The great thing about treating it as a game is that it stays fun all the way!

My target is £3000 extra by 26/06/07. And the good thing about it being a game is that I can lose (although I am a really poor loser!). If you want to help me win - do you or does anyone you know want/need any of the following: personal success coaching, business coaching, onsite massage, a speaker for a conference, newsletter/blog writing, blog management, a workshop on Living the Life you would Love to Live, group coaching or 100 books (I'm having a clearout!). Let me know.

And if you'd like to join the game, you can find out more at the forums at www.geniuscatalyst.com or comment here.

Love

Donna.x

Now that spring has sprung

Aaaaaah, the light nights, the blue skies, the warmth (yes, I am an optimist!).

HAPPY SPRING!

What is awakening in you now that the spring has (finally) sprung?

In me? A desire to get out and about. Something that has definitely been asleep for the winter!

Love

Donna.x

What are you doing right?

I received this quote today from Heartfelt Blessings:

"The law of floatation was not discovered by contemplating the sinking of things, but by contemplating the floating of things which floated naturally, and then intelligently asking why they did so."
- Thomas Troward

What a radical idea. Learning to do something by studying what works rather than what doesn't! Let me ask you this: when was the last time you looked at what you did RIGHT? I'm sure if I were to ask you what you are doing wrong in your life, you could give me a list as long as your arm in seconds. (I certainly know the many areas I am 'getting it wrong' intimately!) So tell me, what are you doing right?

Mine: I keep my sense of humour; I am doing work I love and want to do; I am taking risks with my life; I am learning more about myself day by day; I learn and grow exponentially; I get help; I am living life, not just existing; I am friendly and open; I am loving, humorous, passionate and joyful; I am courageous, independant and free; I am using my life to serve.

I have to tell you, that was hard to do without putting in what was wrong!!! But it feels good to remind myself what I am doing right. I would love to hear your answers - please post a comment or e-mail me.

Love

Donna.x

Up and down and up and down and up

Man, I have been like a flaming yoyo these past few days - from tears to elation, from bouncing to putting my head on the desk and sighing heavily! (and dramatically) This week I am Queen of opposing emotions. Why? God knows. Probably hormones, but I wouldn't recommend suggesting that to me (married men and all women will understand I'm sure). I'm having an up moment right now, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to write!

The Great thing about all this is that I am going back up so quickly nowadays. 7 years ago I would be down for WEEKS, 4 years ago it would have been days, now it's a couple of hours max. And I've been reminded from several sources today that negative emotion is not 'wrong', it just doesn't feel good! When you're in a negative emotion, you want to feel a bit better. Be kind to yourself and notice that 'bit' better - don't try to climb a mountain in one step!

I wanted to share a few of the things that have helped me come 'up' over the past 2 days - my mate Julie, Life On Mars (tv), The Beat (best of CD), my dog, sunshine, connection to my being, bouncing, a crummy feel good movie, a good book, e-mails from clients, feedback from readers of various things I write, jaffa cakes, fresh air and laughter. I'm not going to bother telling you the down ones - suffice to say 'worry, hormones and stress' cover it pretty well!

Are you aware of the things that make you feel a bit better and help you to 'come up'? Do you consciously seek them out when you feel bad? Or for that matter do you consciously seek them out all the time? Remember, nothing is more important than that you feel good.

Love

Donna.x

What is working

I have just had an epiphany! I have been saying for 2 years as part of my role as a Your Natural Way leader - do the marketing that is FUN and EASY and is working for you! I was doing a bit of marketing this afternoon, sluggishly and begrudgingly...and I suddenly thought 'does this marketing activity work?' Guess what? No. Not one of my clients has come through this particular activity!!!

Not only that, it's not fun and it's not easy! Well, it's easy to do, but because I don't want to, it's hard to 'make myself' do. To be honest, I wanted to roll around on the floor laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of it. Why the bloody hell have I been doing it all this time? Er, cos it was a good idea...and works well for someone else I know...and I thougth it would work for me.

It just goes to show that you need to monitor the results of your activities (particularly if you don't enjoy them!).

Now, rather than just raising your eyebrows at me, look at your own life - what are you doing that you don't enjoy and isn't working for you? I'd love to hear what you come up with!

Love

Donna.x

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