Thankful Thursday

Someone once said to me "Be thankful for what you have, because someone somewhere is fighting for your position."

                          

I am thankful to have passed my college course with flying colours.  Nine months of hard work and faith granted me the results I needed to move on to bigger things!  I am so grateful!

 

I am grateful for the good weather; I love the sun.  No matter how hot it gets, I never complain.  Winter is my least favourite season so sunny days are the one for me.

 

I thank the Universe for my family.  Everything I do is for them.  I am so grateful they are happy and healthy. 

 

I am thankful for my health.  All the stress and sleepless nights I put my body through and yet I am healthier than most.

 

I am thankful for the money in my pocket and the food in my cupboard.  There are so many people who have a lot less, so whatever my financial situation I remind myself of the audacity of complaining while others are worse off.

 

There is always something to be thankful for, regardless of your situation.  I don't just mean material things either.  Often, the things with the most value are not physical.

 

Happy Thursday xxx

Ways to overcome a negative mindset, instantly.

Hiding under the covers doesn't help at all.

                               

We all have moments where we doubt ourselves, over think or conjure up unhelpful thoughts.  In those moments, choose to override your negativity.  Of course you may not get it right every time, but practise makes perfect!  There are things that may help you to turn your thoughts around (gradually) in these instances. 
Let me know if any work for you.

1. Watch a film.
Getting lost in the drama of a story can help to focus your mind elsewhere.  I think it goes without saying to stay away from Titanic and Marley and Me though.  A comedy or love story never fails.  Guys, try a hard hitting action film.  Sorry for the stereotype.

2.  Get outdoors!
Your favourite park/museum/attraction.  I have a lovely spot close to home where I sit and clear my head for a couple of hours.  It is peaceful and very very quiet with beautiful scenery. 

3.  Be active.
Kick start your engine mate! Running, yoga, stretching, walking whatever gets you moving. I fully recommend Just Dance on the Wii/Xbox. 

4. Mediation
To meditate is simply to find peace in the tornado that is life.  When you cannot find peace around you, let your inner peace transcend to your surroundings.  Sit for 5-10 minutes with your eyes closed, concentrating on your breathing and the functioning of your body.

5. Get artsy.
Do something creative.  Draw how you feel.  Paint something, make something.  Decorate a room. Paint your nails.  Plan some outfits.  Design something.  Write a story.  Anything that calls for your to use your creative vision will expel your negative energy AND turn it into something cool.



None of these activities will prove fruitful without mindfulness.  Mindfulness is the art of living and being in the moment; focusing on the task in hand.  If you are going for a jog but constantly think of how much you want to hurt your cat for spilling milk everywhere, by time you get back you will not feel any different.  Take a deep breath, and plough full stream ahead into what you are doing.  If your thoughts start to stray, gently remind yourself to concentrate on what you are doing.  This does take some practise so don't beat yourself up for not being able to do it.  I am still mastering this skill.  However, I am a lot better at it than I was a year ago, and even more so a year before that.

Much love everyone.
Peach xxx

Let's have a blessed week! - Using Social Media.

                   

 

Social Media is a wonderful thing.  For example, if I did not have a social media account (multiple) I would not know that Aspartame causes cancerous cells.  Aspartame is found in soft drinks and has 92 different side affects that can cause ill health ( Sweet Poison ).  Nor would I know that David Cameron took part in the 'Hang Mandela' campaign, while Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, with the Federation of Conservative students ( Political Blindspot ).  Do you remember Cameron issuing a statement of condolence?

 

On the flip side: without social media I wouldn't have been able to see Cheryl Cole's wedding ring from her new marriage.  I definitely would not have seen Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's first wedding snaps, and how else would I have seen Iggy Azaela's new bum skimming shorts.  Yes, another pair.

 

Just like life, you get out of social media what you put in.  If you choose to follow meaningless celebrities and famous-for-getting-your-clothes-off women, then you will live in a very different world to the people that follow conscious beings and enlightening accounts. 

 

At least once this week, use your social media for good.  Positivity.  There are people with real causes and IMPORTANT information struggling to get their voice heard because of the Iggy's and Kimye's that have more air space on the timeline.  Find some thing meaningful, something that hits home, something that can help someone and POST IT, please. 

 

That one tweet, post, upload could make a difference to someone who needs it.  Or even better, save someone's life. 

 

Feel free to follow me on my social media accounts. My links are at the top of the page.  I will retweet or repost every post/tweet of the aforementioned nature, just @ me.

 

Much love to you all.

Peach x

 

 

Let's have a blessed week!

                         

With my new found free time, I am able to do all the things I wanted to do but never have time, and the things I was procrastinating with while I was meant to be studying.  Amazing!  It is so important to take a little time, no matter how small, to do something pleasurable.  Yes there are chores to be done, work to do and bills to pay, but that's not really living is it?  The saying goes 'don't get so busy making a life that you forget to live'.

If time is something you struggle with, I suggest making a log of your day, in two hour slots, and writing down all the things you have done.  Everything.  At the end of your day/week, have a look over your log and spot the areas where you procrastinated or didn't use your time effectively.  Or even gaps in your day.  BINGO- here is your free time for 'me time'!

Goal- Aim to do two activities that you enjoy each day
Mine will be reading and painting a Unicorn (by numbers, because I am not an artist)!

Positive Thought-  It is perfectly fine to spend some time doing something you enjoy.  Take the time as a moment to rejuvenate, to collect yourself.  Mums especially, should relish these opportunities! 

ENJOY your week!!  At the end of the week you should be able to take a look back and think 'I really enjoyed myself this week'.  Have a very blessed week people!! Go out and LIVE this week!

Much love xxx

30 Day Snap | Day 17

So one of my little people finally decided to finish a kiwi!! I am a very proud mother right now. I instantly grabbed the bowl and took the picture! 

It's a struggle to consume fruit some times so this is definitely a milestone :) this makes me very happy!

Any of my fellow mums finally managed to get their little ones to eat something? It's a fantastic feeling! 

xxx

30 Day Snap | 13 is my favourite number!

                



College finishes next week, so today some of the class went out for a pub lunch.  It was fun; the atmosphere was great and the weather was glorious!!  Today's photo college will create some nice memories for years to come.  

 

It has been 9 months of hard slog but it has been worth it.  I am very proud of myself and all my college ladies.  Our tutor Peter is an amazing tutor and we could not have survived the stress, tears and meltdowns without him!  I have made great friends.  And I have also learnt many lessons, for which I am VERY grateful for.

 

Totally loving life today.  I thank the Universe profusely <3

 

 

Let's have a blessed week!

Happy Monday lovely people!!

 

 

I am nearing the end of the year, so my focus is on my last goal regarding focus and concentration on one item at a time.  This morning I feel uplifted and inspired, so I would like to pay forward that inspiration.

 

 

Whatever you are doing, stop for a second and conjure up a happy thought.  Anything that warms your heart or makes you smile.  Hold on to that thought above all your worries and fears, for just a minute.  Then take a deep breath.  Write down your happy thought on a piece of paper, fold it up and place it in your wallet/purse.  You don't have to read it every time you see it, but whenever you open your purse and see the paper, your happy thought will instantly appear in your mind.

 

 

Now go out into the world and give 110%!  All we have is right now.  Make the most of your moment and SHINE!  Worrying is a waste of time.  Re-living your past is a waste of time.  Accept the past and live presently.  Accept the future is not always certain and live presently.

 

 

You are amazing! Look at all you have achieved, all you have overcome.  Recall all those times you thought you would not succeed and you did.  Think of the times you encountered a difficult situation but came out unscathed.  You are more resilient than you think.  The Universe does not bestow upon you more than you can handle.

 

 

If you know someone who needs to hear this right now, relay the message.  Let them know they are wonderful and you are proud of them.

 

 

Sending you lots of love and light.  Have a blessed week people.

Much love, Peachy xx

Thankful Thursday

                        



Another week flies by...another round of blessings!  It has been an interesting week.  I am looking forward to the weekend for once.  And I mean looking forward as in- why cant I skip today and tomorrow?! Rarely do I wish to rush ahead to the weekend but it has been one of those weeks.  Still, lessons have been learned, so for that I must be grateful.
This week I am thankful for...


friends. I rarely get time to see people because of my studies, and not everyone understands this.  But there are those friends who will walk to the ends of the earth with you regardless if you sent them a random message on what's app.  No matter where life takes you, real friends will always be around.  Lurking in the background (that wasn't meant to rhyme).

the support of my loved ones.  I have needed everyones help this week as I try to pass an assignment and I have been overwhelmed by the offers of help and donations.  I am grateful for all the love!

food.  I did a very measured shop this week.  Paying real attention to what I was eating and how much I had to spend.  I cut out most of the junk I buy and found that I spent less money.  No longer will I complain about food prices being too high as I managed totally fine using a smaller budget.

I have also been thankful for...

tea
unicorns
electric whisks


Its been a pleasure being thankful as always.  Thankfulness sends positive stardust out into the Universe and returns it to you ten-fold.  Before you criticise or complain about something ask yourself  'what could I be thankful for in this situation?'

Much love people.
Peach xx

Let's have a blessed week!

Happy Monday!!! 

 

 

How is your day going today?  Has anything exciting happened?  What have you achieved? 
As I eat my cheese bagel and read over my email from Inner Space it got me thinking... Are we happy with dissatisfied with circumstances or ourselves?

Last night I took my mind away to a sunny beach, with white sand and palm trees.  College is stressful sometimes and the work load is heavy.  But if I went on holiday wouldn't the stress just be removed temporarily?  Wouldn't it be here when I got back?  So how can it be my circumstances that are the cause of my stress.  Holidays do not cure stress.

This morning's email was entitled 'The Way Things are'.  It asked, after we change things around in our lives, how soon are we discontent again?  The most effective way to conquer discontentment is to start with contentment.  Creating contentment with our current circumstances; the way things are arranged and our routine at this current moment.  Only then can we think about making changes to what we are not happy with. 

So that's what this weeks goal is!

Goal- Becoming content with my current position in life.  Inner satisfaction.

Positive Thought- Being thankful for my current position in life.  I think I will make a list of all the things I am experiencing in my life and why I should be thankful for them.  What do those situations mean? And what new circumstances will follow?


You can sign for a Thought for Today email over at Inner Space.  Their emails are beautiful and really give you food for thought.  I fully recommend!

Have a blessed week everyone. Much love xx Peach.

Lent

I almost always take part in Lent every year.  Lent is a period of fasting in the Christian calendar, when one gives up a luxury item, to symbolise their respect for when Jesus walked through the desert without food or water.

This year I decided to give up sugar, as has my lovely friend Michaela (check out her delightful blog entitled The Giggles Of Life ).  I consume far too many sugar filled products, so it was a no-brainer when thinking of what to give up.  Its been thirteen days so far.  Thirteen LONG days.  The first day was calm, but when it got to the second day I started to fade. After four days I became angry at not being able to eat things I never realised contained sugar. 

You would be surprised what food stuffs contain sugar; McCoys Salt & Vinegar crisps, Snack-a-Jacks Salt & Vinegar, every brand of instant hot chocolate you can name and Volvic flavoured water, to name but a few.  Thank god I have Michaela to give me disapproving looks every time I go to put something in my mouth.  Her face is so descriptive, I can actually hear her voice saying "Why are you eating that? You do know it has sugar in it."  These words are sent telepathically between us until I whinge and stop chewing.  No seriously, without that I wouldn't check the ingredients of my food! Sometimes I assume and get it wrong.

Although I feel like its difficult sometimes, I would never consider quitting.  I always remind myself why I am doing it.  If you forget, its very easy to slip.  So here's to the remaining days (twenty-seven if you're counting) may we prosper and be free from sugar cravings from now and forever more. AMEN!

Thankful Thursday!

So its my first one of these! I make a habit to count my blessings regularly, so Thankful Thursday is going to be alot of fun!

Today I was waiting for inspiration to fall into my lap; something to come to me.  It happened to me as  I was walking down a hill.  The weather was gorgeous and the sun was beating down in front of me.  I turned to my friend and said "Gosh, Im hot, how much further do we have to walk, I'm tired!" My friend replied "I do this walk every day with my bad knee."  She has a knee injury after an accident. In that moment, I was thankful to have fully operating joints- something I obviously take for granted! I am able bodied and fit, what a blessing! 

I am also thankful for sugar.

Yes sugar.  Since I abandoned sugar in the spirit of lent (I know, what was I thinking) I have come to appreciate its gift. Tea without honey is a sad existence. No more pick-me-ups from ye old sweet shop.  And no sugar frosted cereals for breakfast.  Where it gets really crazy is when you discover there is sugar in salt and vinegar Snack-a-Jacks! I now check the ingredients in everything but fruit. Mainly because fruit doesnt come with a list of ingredients,  but also because its the only thing that doesnt contain man-made sugar.  Thats the deal; no man-made sugar/added sugar. I invite you to check the ingredients list of a few items you may decide to consume, you may be surprised! 

I was lucky enough to get some me-time this week.  On Wednesday, the sun was shining so I headed to the park.  I sat, walked and basked in the sun for two full hours. Nothing but peace and quiet with my new book and my blogging diary.  It was bliss.

                                            As well as that I was also thankful for  

                                                            Toilet Roll

                                                  My college homies

                                                  My new phone

What are you thankful for? Are you counting your blessings? Do you appreciate your circumstances?

Thank you for reading :) 

Until next time xxx