It has suddenly become very autumnal. All around us the trees are turning, the evenings suddenly are dark early. Hat-boot-jumper season has returned. And inevitably, the shops are not only full of Hallowe-en stuff but also Christmas stuff. [Random side note – one popular budget supermarket that we frequent is selling Christmas puds with a…
On seasons of change.
Our nest has emptied, at least for now, as I was musing last time. Our fledglings have fledged, and flown from the nest, one more tentatively than the other. As seasons of change go, this is the biggest to affect us in 21 years. They will return, and there will be readjustments each time they do –…
Gratitude practice: filling your jar of good things.
Spring is very definitely sprung, and here in Glasgow we have actually enjoyed some warm and sunny days. Hanging washing up on the line outside is one of those small but most precious pleasures that is mindful in the doing and fills me with such smug satisfaction. Wandering around where we live we see folk…
What spills out of your cup?
Imagine you are walking through a cafe, carrying a full cup of coffee. Someone bumps into you and the coffee spills. You might think that you spilled the coffee because someone bumped into you. But in actual fact, you spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had there been chai latte in…
The jar of good things
How are you starting the new year? In this house, we are adopting the idea I shared on social media between Christmas and New Year. We have started the year with a Jar of Good Things. I love this idea, and given by the response from your lovely selves, many of you do too. There…
Reason enough to celebrate
Happy new year to you! What does the new year hold for you? What are your reasons to celebrate, or does it all feel a bit bleak and depressing? I know that at this time of year, in coaching circles, it feels that one is inundated with exhortations to start the year off well with…
With a grateful prayer and a thankful heart
The season of Advent has begun. I love Advent. I enjoy the anticipation and gradual build up to Christmas. Christmas trees are spotted in windows, and our own goes up. Even more sparkly lights than normal adorn our walls, plants, furniture. Lists are made along with plans. The freezer is gradually filled with food; cakes…
Small things, simple things.
How are you doing this week? How is your perspective of the world, and the role you have within it? Perhaps an odd question to start with this week. We have had the enormous privilege of actually being able to go away on a foreign holiday in this past month. It was a dream holiday…
Don’t take yourself too seriously
How thick or thin skinned are you? Do you easily become uptight and tense, and get stressed when your plans do not go according to your expectations? Don’t take yourself too seriously, because that might be what is going on here. Perhaps there is little space in your day for fun or spontaneity. Or maybe disruption…
On being kind – kindness matters
Last week I was musing on the importance of taking time each day to pause and reflect. This is useful time – time to be still, to reflect on how we are and therefore what we might need. To acknowledge what we are thankful for, to notice where we have been present that day to…