Quote No.1 from Encourage Yourself EncourageOthers by Anne Devine.
Today we have reached the end of our journey! And what an enjoyable journey it has been for me. We counted our way down through Anne Devine’s Encourage Yourself Encourage Others and down through the worldwide lockdown.
I set out to share some of Anne’s insightful and encouraging posts and in doing so I found myself less focused on Covid19 and more focused on encouraging others.
Without intention or realising it these posts gave me a sense of purpose during this strange new experience of retreating into our homes to curb the spread of Covid19 and became for me, a source of encouragement, thanks to your lovely company and enjoyable conversations!
So, I hope you will take something away from these posts and “Begin each day believing it will be a good day” as you continue to Encourage Yourself Encourage Others.
Quote No.4 from Encourage Yourself Encourage Others by Anne Devine.
I’d be lying if I said that today’s quote didn’t apply to me.
As a matter of fact Anne must have placed this quote right here especially for me to find it today!
It has been a challenging few days but I am in a good place thanks to a number of different things, namely,
The support of my wonderful family, good friends, time, acknowledging and accepting my emotions, owning my voice, speaking my truth, non-judgemental love allowing me accept that I can’t control how other people react but I can control how I react and accepting that my private logic is my perspective and that others are entitled to their private logic or their perspective too.
Knowing that “Each challenge helps you to grow” is a great insight and I am blessed being able to understand that without challenges we would never flourish or reach our potential. “Today is a good day. I Choose to make it so.”
Thank you Anne for this wonderful tool kit brimming with love, forgiveness, self-care reminders and boundless encouragement!
Le grà,
Mindfully Marie xx
Encourage Yourself Encourage Others by Anne Devine. (If you would like your own copy of Anne’s book send your enquiries to info.devinepublishing@gmail.com)
Quote No.11 from Encourage Yourself Encourage Others by Anne Devine.
This quote is particularly relevant now more than ever. Don’t be afraid to “Honour and remember those you love in your way.”
We are a country with a long-standing tradition of showing our respects in remembering our deceased relatives, neighbours and friends. However, Covid19 restrictions have caused funeral traditions and services here in Ireland to change.
Now only a limited number of family members can attend a funeral wake and mass now. That could limit a funeral size to ten or twenty family members only.
Relations, friends and neighbours have started forming a socially distanced line along the road side leading to the church or graveyard instead. These changes are difficult for all concerned. Respect how others cope with these changes. Allow other to honour and remember those they love in their way.
Quote No.24 from Encourage Yourself Encourage Others by Anne Devine.
We are approximately two months into Covid19 Lockdown and the myriad of new challenges associated with it.
How do you “deal with what is,” what you are finding is your new, present day reality?
How do you avoid stressing about tomorrow or next week, the “what if?”
Please share any strategies that have helped you and anything you have learned as a result.
I’m learning to expand my Covid Coping Toolkit. A few things I’ve added include more meditation, more uplifting YouTube videos, replacing lost physical contact with online video chats via Zoom, more family time, phone calls, walks and more appreciation of bird song which is easier to hear now with less traffic where I live.
I’m also learning to stay grounded in the moment, just taking it one day or even one hour at a time. Sometimes there are challenging hours. Yesterday’s challenging hour taught me that there is a miracle waiting within each grievance, to teach us something if we are ready to listen.
Note to self..”I found the miracle! I became what Tolle calls the ‘watchful observer.’ I caught myself in the act. And it taught me to look at my reaction to the event, not the event itself. I realised that my reaction, which resulted in silence and resort to junk food during the grievance yesterday weren’t constructive choices. I’ve since spoken about it, pointed out how I felt. No blame, no bad feeling, no grievance! No pain! That is the miracle!
Quote No.45 from Encourage Yourself Encourage Others by Anne Devine.
Our beautiful weather of the past few weeks was such a blessing. We enjoyed many meals outdoors. The best temperature we noted was around 18 degrees, as nice as an average summer’s day. But that weather has changed to much cooler, 7 to 12 degrees and showery. There is a feel of winter back in it again. I’m challenging myself to find the positives in it, such as the freshness of the air after a heavy shower.
What positives are you noticing about today’s weather where you are?
Le grà,
Quote No. 49 from Encourage Yourself Encourage Others by Anne Devine.
We are all learning to accept the imposed boundaries of lockdown. Some of us are finding it easier than others. Now might be a good time to consider if the boundaries we have in our own lives are helpful or if they could do with being revised. It takes courage and maturity to “Accept that what others do is their business.”
Le grà,
To all who struggle with this pandemic or any chronic illness, this is for you, just know you are never alone, you are in the best of company…
It crumbles like sand
Overcome by a wave
Stealing your inspiration
Or your power to investigate.
Physical tasks must be trimmed
Right down to the quick,
Mental tasks tease,
Like a shadows in the sun
Now you see me…
now I’m gone!
So quickly it fades,
From functioning… To falter,
What felt like a good day or good hour,
consumed and usurped,
Leaving you literally stranded in the midst of stuff!
It dehydrates your thoughts,
It punctures and deflates,
She has you caught
Laughs and knows she’s fine,
while she has you there,
Then leaves you short
Refusing to repay the debt.
So does it defeat you
Steal from you and
Rob you blind?
Or can you befriend it?
Mould and adjust it?
Even a little at a time?
Well, those are questions you pose
And repose, numerous times each day,
As you show up to a
Battle that could go either way!
And is there an answer
To this piece of arithmetic?
Is there is vacination
That can do the trick?
Well the answer is as fickle
As the ego, when it’s in full play
And it defies all logic
On any given day!
Sadly it’s more complex,
As it’s catching in your breath
And the answers
at best, are really hit and miss!
Some discovered and uncovered
Are a chumley mix of tricks
Such as
Pause… and take a moment, to simply catch your breath…
And with dire warning…
Never, ever, use the words…
‘I expect’…
“Rest,” my Da would say…
“Hold your horses, sweet Marie”
Now I recall his kindness
and cherish his request
I dismount & recoup
Heeding his bequest!
Then like a flame rekindling,
Though; not as quickly as it faded
With a streak of determination
You saddle up again…
A dawn of inspiration seeps in slowly, like the morning sun
And brings with it a power, to investigate anon and
With a steely determination
So worn and battle weary,
You acknowledge your, position or condition
And face the day quite cheery!
And with the wisdom of any moment, being yet again undone
You accept what you can
And leave the rest…
unsung!
To all who struggle with this pandemic or any chronic illness, this is for you, just know you are not alone, we are in the best of company!
