Empowered Living

Post-Natal Depression in Men?

2010-05-20T15:43:00.001+01:00

Just listened to a discussion on Radio 2’s ‘Jeremy Vine’ show about whether post-natal depression does occur in men. Jeremy spoke with a lady from MIND, who said this was most definitely a condition in men, and a man, whose identity I’ve completely forgotten, who was highly articulate in his belief that it was ridiculous to even consider it: His argument being that using the title of ‘post-natal depression’ for men was simply an unnecessary label. I couldn’t agree more. Depression is depression, triggered by any number of reasons, individual to each sufferer, behind which fear is always the foundation.

Yup, male, female, child or adult, everyone one of us is vulnerable to depression. No mood or emotion needs a label; more importantly it needs recognition. When we recognise, in ourselves or others, that something (attitude, behaviour, mood) has changed in a way that causes symptoms like listlessness, anger, morbidity or subtle negativity that start to undermine every day life, that’s when something needs to be done. Pick up the signs early and there’s every chance of a full recovery within a short amount of time.

Isn’t that the problem within our society today? Even though depression is now talked about far more openly than ever before, there still isn’t enough information being given, on a regular basis, to help people recognise the symptoms and get early help.

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With Love,
Miriam

Written by Empowermentalist, Miriam Cox.
To visit her website, please click on the following link: www.empowermentuk.co.uk

Other blogs available:

www.wantingtobesaid.blogspot.com
Writings of a spiritual nature

www.thefunnyfile.blogspot.com
a selection of jokes sent out via e-mail every week

Sincerely Yours

2010-05-04T13:49:00.006+01:00

I was rather baffled when I opened a letter from my present local MP today, just days away from the general election, to find that he was thanking me for my phone call and was sorry to hear about my situation…..er, what phone call and what situation?
The letter went on to explain that as parliament has now gone into dissolution, he, my current MP, was unable to pursue my case. Well, thank goodness for that, as I’ve no idea what would have been pursued on my behalf had he been free to continue his parliamentary duties.

I can only assume that this letter was generated from a remark I made to the MP’s canvasser who called at my house last week. It was without any form of criticism (more like disappointed acceptance) that I happened to mention the one occasion, a good few years ago, when I’d called on the services of the MP for help with a massive (and in my opinion inaccurate and unfair) bill I'd received from the tax credit office, to whom I’d written a number of letters myself, but the few replies I’d received had given me the feeling I was not being listened to. The MP said he would do what he could for me. That turned out to be one letter being sent to the tax credit office and another, containing their standard reply, to me. And that was that.

The canvasser, having made a note of my name and address after hearing of my experience with this ‘listening’ MP, must have thought that a personal letter from the man himself would help sway my vote in his direction. Really, how can anyone get it so wrong?! This worthless letter simply accentuates to me just how insincere a canvassing MP can be. I’d rather vote for someone who I’ve never met, or not received any canvassing literature from, than for someone willing to churn out insincerely and highly inaccurate paperwork, just in the hope of one extra vote.

By the way, my vote is going to someone who not only provided a canvassing leaflet that clearly explained his policies, without any derogatory remarks about his fellow candidates, but who also held a local meeting in which he came across as someone who possesses a cheery sense of humour and, more importantly, sincerity.
With Love,
Miriam

Written by Empowermentalist, Miriam Cox.
To visit her website, please click on the following link: www.empowermentuk.co.uk

Other blogs available:

www.wantingtobesaid.blogspot.com
Writings of a spiritual nature

www.thefunnyfile.blogspot.com
a selection of jokes sent out via e-mail every week

Happy New Year

2010-02-23T15:56:00.002Z

Goodness, how did it get to be February?!

Outside it’s 3.30pm, dull in light and snowing. I have a cold and am about to finish for the day and curl up on the settee with my dogs, a hot cup of honey and lemon (freshly made) and the apple turnover with fresh cream that I bought when in town earlier. Colds can be great things to have once or twice a year (but no more than that!). They forcibly get us to stop, sit and be still; well, when you’re feeling as I am at present there’s not a lot else to do. Am I resisting it? Not a jot. Probably got the cold in the first place because I didn’t sit still enough when my body needed to. But oh, how lucky I am. I’m warm and cosy while it’s really chilly out. I have boiling water on tap (well, in the kettle) for those soothing drinks. I have a doting husband who has himself just got over similar symptoms: He bought me a half bottle of whiskey yesterday, to help the lemon and honey go down, and he even helped me drink it; so thoughtful.

Yeah, I know this’ll be gone in a matter of days and I’ll be well again, looking forward to utilising my wellness and still enjoying my comfortable lifestyle. Maybe it’s the effects of germs jangling the nerve endings throughout my body, but my thoughts keep turning to those who are without comfort, support, a bit of mollycoddling and, worst of all, something to look forward to. I know this isn’t a very jolly blog, somehow though I feel the need to write it, just to let someone know, somewhere that I am aware of how much I have compared to others and how I sincerely hope that some shift will occur, soon, in the lives of disadvantaged people worldwide, seeing the majority enjoying a good degree of comfort and self-worth.

I’m off now to eat my cake and consider how I can do my bit to support that shift:)
With Love,
Miriam

Written by Empowermentalist, Miriam Cox.
To visit her website, please click on the following link: www.empowermentuk.co.ukOther blogs available:

www.wantingtobesaid.blogspot.com
Writings of a spiritual nature

www.thefunnyfile.blogspot.com
a selection of jokes sent out via e-mail throughout the week

Who’s a petty boy then?

2009-09-27T14:28:00.001+01:00

I recently read in a national paper about a fourteen year old lad who had been banned from school for refusing to shave away stubble that adorned his upper lip, which he proudly called a moustache. The lad, and his family, apparently couldn’t see the problem and felt his rights, as a hair-sprouting adolescent, were being compromised, and so it was stalemate, neither party were willing to budge.

My first thought on reading the article was how things have change because (and this is really going to show my age) ‘in my day’ school rules were not to be questioned, simply obeyed, so what right did this lad, and his family, have to kick up such a fuss. Then I remembered an incident from my own school days and realised that actually not much has changed. It seems there’s still a lack of respect, communication and common sense surrounding the world of school rules, those who implement them and those who feel a need to bend them.

During my days at a Roman Catholic Primary School (also attended, incidentally, by the pre-singing-sensation Kate Bush), rules on uniform and general appearance were strict. We had a specific school uniform both for the winter and summer. Those of us lucky enough to have mum’s with a flair for dress-making were allowed the luxury of a deviation of style of the summer dress, so long as it didn’t stray too far from the short-sleeved, basic style that could be purchased from a local shop; and so long as it was made from the very specific material that could only be purchased from the same shop. No problem there. I dressed and looked the same as everyone else and all was hunky dory…..until it came to sports day: My parents had better things to pay good money on than the uniform navy shorts required for one day of the year. So, as mum had some material left over after making my summer dress (navy blue squiggly patterns on a white background), and using the old adage about waste not, etc., I attended sports day that year in absolute dread of sticking out like a sore thumb.

I was a quiet girl in those days, shy and sensitive, and so I rather surprised myself when, at the tender age of eight or nine, having been singled out by the head mistress and given a good telling off in front of everyone for wearing non-uniform shorts, ‘without permission’, I snapped back how unfair she was for having a go at me when, after all, my shorts were made out of uniform material. I’m unable to remember what happened after that except that the injustice of my telling off awoke a side of me I’d never met before and not long after I started to write rude words on the toilet walls with charcoal (I didn’t want to permanently scar the walls, you understand). The high I got from doing something so naughty and not getting found out was brilliant. I wonder though, had the headmistress not insisted in humiliating me in front of everyone just for the sake of rules, would I ever have delved into such naughtiness? Who knows but of one thing I am certain, rule makers and rule breakers beware: Neither are above being petty.
With Love,
Miriam

Empowermentalist, Miriam Cox, uses this blog (linked to her web site www.empowermentuk.co.uk) to publish articles inspired by her observations of the wonder, complexities and absurdities of life.

Other blogs available:

www.wantingtobesaid.blogspot.com
Writings of a spiritual nature (through auto-writing)

www.thefunnyfile.blogspot.com
a selection of jokes sent out via e-mail every week

www.rescueownersgiggle.blogspot.com
Known as the ROGBLOG, this blog is for owners of rescue dogs
who, like Miriam, have struggled with their rescue dog’s behaviour

Ignore the Hype and Keep an Open Mind

2009-08-28T13:25:00.002+01:00

The comments I heard from friends and family last week about the freeing of the Lockerby Bomber were anything between heated and downright angry. Everyone is, of course, entitled to their own opinion, I just wonder in some cases just where those opinions have risen from. I know for a fact that one friend (having listened to her blinkered rantings for many years now), believes everything she reads in the paper. Whatever the media has to say on any matter that’s bound to rouse the sensitivities of those predisposed to any form of bigotry, she will rise to it every time. I find it hard to join in with her media induced ‘conversations’ (more like one-sided rantings), preferring instead to allow any opinion that may surface to be acknowledged as simply that, an opinion and by no means the truth of the matter. That’s when I get hit by both barrels of the bigot’s gun: Apparently I’m ‘sitting on the fence’; I have ‘no mind of my own’ (now that’s an interesting one); ‘can’t I see the obvious?’….. and on she goes…….blah, blah, blah.

Whatever the reason for the Lockerby Bomber being released, whether it was truly on compassionate grounds or whether there really was some political or business deal behind it, why rant? Why take all that’s written about it at face value, to the point of raising your blood pressure and insulting a good friend (you know who you are!). I urge any media groupies out there to please ignore the hype and keep an open mind. That way, you not only get to keep your friends but you keep your blood pressure at a healthy level as well.
With Love, Fun & Laughter,
Miriam

Empowermentalist, Miriam Cox, uses this blog (linked to her web site http://www.empowermentuk.co.uk/) to publish articles inspired by her daily life.

Other blogs available:

http://www.wantingtobesaid.blogspot.com/
Writings of a spiritual nature (through auto-writing)

http://www.thefunnyfile.blogspot.com/
a selection of jokes which I send out via e-mail every week

http://www.rescueownersgiggle.blogspot.com/
this blog is known as the ROGBLOG, for owners of rescue dogs
who, like me, have struggled with their rescue dog’s behaviour

The Subtlety of Cats

2009-07-29T11:37:00.005+01:00

I will admit that for the last few days I’ve not been feeling my best. My body has done a brilliant job at fighting off whatever bug or virus I’ve picked up because the only real symptom I have is extreme tiredness. There is another thing I’ve noticed though which overflowed this morning while I was watching a most wonderful utube clip sent through by a friend.

I first noticed it on Monday while I was watching ‘Fiddler on the roof’, which I’d taped weeks ago but hadn’t found the time (over 3hrs!) to sit and watch before, but on Monday that was about all I had the energy to do. Goodness me, I’d forgotten what a heartrending story it was: The slightest look of hurt or confusion from the cast and I was sobbing away into my hot toddy (for those who don’t know what that is, it’s the best remedy for the unwell adult). By the end of the film I’d gone through almost a whole box of tissues and felt emotionally drained.

Yesterday I felt more energised and, of course, in a bid to try and catch up with things not done over the past couple of days, I overreached my energy level and this morning I’m feeling rather flat again. Then I checked out my e-mails and found the above mentioned utube clip.

At this point I need to mention my cat, PoppyCox, who has been with me for almost 11 years now and still is as moody and as likely to swipe me as I pass by (in my own office!) as she was when she first arrived as a part-feral young adult who’d been rescued from starvation, with her litter of kittens, after being deserted by her previous owners in the house they’d obviously left in a hurry. Pops has been getting more remote and swipey over the past 6 months (I’ve presumed from age) and her regular cuddles on my lap, while I work at my computer, have dwindled to the very rare occasion when she deigns to notice my existence (apart from when she’s mythering me for food).

Well, this morning, I opened the utube clip which showed 200 dancers (with only two rehearsals behind them) bringing together what looked like a spontaneous get-together of total strangers at Belgium’s Central railway station. To the sound of Julie Andrews singing ‘Do, Ra, Me’, the most amazing sight fell upon travellers as one man started the dance and then a little girl, complete with backpack, joined in, then bit-by-bit the 200 came together and gave the astonished crowd a wonderful moment of sheer entertainment. I felt so over-whelmed with emotion, watching the on-lookers expressions of joy, and how some even joined in with the dance (honestly, the slightest thing at the moment), I sobbed my heart out ~ and what a reaction from PoppyCox. She shot off her chair, ran across to where I was sitting and swiped me across the ankle ~ No, only joking. My beautiful cat jumped onto my lap, curled up warmly and is still there as I’m writing this now; purring away and for all the world looking content.

Was she prompted to act by the sound of my sobs or from the emotion of pure joy I felt from watching that inspirational dance? Who knows what goes on in the mind of a cat, especially my cat. All I know is that when I de-flea her tomorrow, she won’t be coming within two rooms distance of me for the next week, no matter how joyous my emotion! Oh, apart from when it’s feed time, of course.

Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

Empowermentalist, Miriam Cox, uses this blog to remind herself of how important each day is to her by writing about matters occurring in everyday life. Every day matters are great reminders of how every day matters.
If you’d like to contact Miriam about this posting or with regards to her Empowerment work, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@empowermentuk.co.uk and you can read about her work and link with her FUNNY FILE blog on her web site: http://www.empowermentuk.co.uk/

The Cat Shat on my Mat!!

2009-06-08T10:45:00.002+01:00

As the title says, my lovely cat, PoppyCox, just after being fed this morning, deposited (from the rear end) a liquidy dollop of foul-smelling yuk under my desk…..while I was sitting at it!

To be fair to PoppyCox, she did try to tell me she was getting desperate. She’d not long been in from her usual night time excursions outside and having downed a bowl of her favourite ‘whitebait and chips’ dried cat food (yum), she almost immediately started pacing the office, meowing loudly; in exactly the same way she does when she wants more food, funnily enough. I was busy checking my e-mails, mind absorbed somewhere other than on the cat. I heard her mewing and just presumed she was still hungry, although at the very back of my mind I must admit that I did register a higher level of activity from her usual ‘I want more food: Feed me now!’ stomp around the room. Unfortunately though, that which was at the back of my mind moved no further toward the front before PoppyCox finally found the perfect place to relieve herself, only inches from where my slippered feet were at rest under my desk: No doubt she was making a statement.

The moral of this posting? Always, and I mean ALWAYS pay attention to your cat’s tantrums: She really may be trying to tell you something!

By the way, the mention of dried chips cat food was a jokeJ

Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

Empowermentalist, Miriam Cox, uses this blog to remind herself of how important each day is to her by writing about matters occurring in everyday life. Every day matters are great reminders of how every day matters.
If you’d like to contact Miriam about this posting or with regards to her Empowerment work, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@empowermentuk.co.uk and you can read about her work and link with her FUNNY FILE blog on her web site: http://www.empowermentuk.co.uk/

Getting Things Done

2009-05-08T13:47:00.003+01:00

Since posting my last Blog, I’ve felt like I’ve not had the time to sit and write about my experiences since. And boy, there have been many wonderful experiences I’m just itching to tell you about.
So where has that illusion come from? For me, I think it’s pure habit. By structuring my time more effectively (and watching out for ‘Space Suckers’), of course I have time to sit with my Blogs each day; it’s just a question of recognising and deflecting all those distractions that so easily overtake the mind.

My mention above of ‘Space Suckers’ is about those distractions that just seem to suck the space from around me. I'm beginning to have a fuller understanding of how space and time are really the same thing, or at least are intrinsically linked. When observing what happens to me when I do get distracted, I am recognising a distinct feeling as if some part of my energy is being sucked out of me: No wonder I get to feel so tired at times!

So, my message here is, be alert at all times for distractions if, like me, you are prone to feeling like there’s not enough time in the day. To put it crudely, imagine time as being your stomach; when you fill it with healthy, nutritionally positive food, you feel comfortably satisfied on both a physical and emotion level. However, when you drink gassy, fizzy pop or eat ‘dead’ food that has no nutritional value and is equally as gas producing, there’s no room for comfortable satisfaction, all you’re left with is an uncomfortably full, bloated feeling.

Misusing the space in our stomach is no different to misusing the space and time in our lives.
In order to have our space filled with positive, ‘forward-moving’ energy, which helps us to do what we want and need to do, we must first fill our minds with the positives of why we are doing what we are doing.
Recognising when we’re filling our space with unnecessary and energy draining activity is one massive step toward creating a positive, lifetime habit of pro-active, fully constructive and highly satisfying, thought and action that gives us the space to have no worries about time.

Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or with regards to her Empowerment work, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@empowermentuk.co.uk and you can read about her work and link with her FUNNY FILE blog on her web site: http://www.empowermentuk.co.uk/

The Friday before my FUNtabulous Weekend

2009-04-20T12:39:00.001+01:00

Friday last was manic. I had intended to have the car packed and be ready to leave for Kent by 11am, somehow though it just didn’t happen. Not that it was surprising I was running late, I rarely do anything else: Time being the elusive element it is and that I continually strive (and mostly fail) to keep up with. Anyway, I’d ended up going to bed very late the night before due to putting a colour on my hair at 9.30pm, which should have been left on for 35 mins but having spent that time in the office, clearing the decks so as not to have any officey distractions the next morning, I got far too involved in working till I’d completed my task and before I knew it nearly an hour had past. Oops! It did say on the hair colour box that for more intense colour, and in order to ensure full covering of the grey, leave colour on longer (it also recommended a maximum of the aforementioned 35 minutes). The colour was, to say the least, intense; almost black in fact. I had wanted a bright coppery colour, to compliment my pale skin. Unfortunately I ended up looking like the wicked witch character out of a pantomime. Still, the colour will, of course, fade in time although, even after washing my hair this morning, I’ve noticed no change so far…….thank goodness for hats!

By the time I’d dried my hair, sorted out a few more things for the morning and got to bed, it was well past 1am. Excited about the weekend ahead, I found it hard to settle down and go to sleep so I dozed for another couple of hours, watching the time pass by on my bedside clock: 2am, 3am. Getting up after 8am definitely didn’t help in getting out of the house and on the road but what really delayed me was the milliad of things I hadn’t got around to doing the day before and found myself dashing to fit in before my journey. No wonder my eventual time of departure was 2.15pm, precisely. Three and a quarter hours later than intended….agghhh! And even then, it was another half-hour before I actually left the village!

Watch out for the final instalment of my weekend story: Coming soon (when time permits!!!)!
Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or with regards to her Empowerment work, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@empowermentuk.co.uk and you can read about her work and link with her FUNNY FILE blog on her web site: http://www.empowermentuk.co.uk/

Diagnosis Ringworm?

2009-04-16T11:55:00.005+01:00

On Tuesday I noticed a circular, raised, pinkish area on my skin, which I initially thought could be a heat bump (and I’ve had plenty of them over the years) but the fact that there was just the one and no itching caused me to think again. Being a small circular blemish it did occur to me that it could be ringworm, which I’ve never had before (or not that I can remember).

That evening I went to our local Blood Donor’s session and whilst going through the preliminaries, I showed my circular mark to the assistant to check he didn’t think I would be in danger of giving a contaminated donation. Unfortunately, he was no help. Stating that he’d not seen anything like it before, he said he’d get someone else to take a look; but this was never to happen. Having carried out the obligatory pin pricking of one of my fingers, the result of piercing my skin was like that of a well-shaken can of fizzy pop when the lid is removed; my blood was clearly desperate to escape and promptly sprayed across the desk, splattering the form I’d just filled in. Mini panic seemed to set in resulting in a new form being printed and duly filled in, again. And so the second opinion got forgotten. I also mentioned the circular mark to the nurse before she inserted the needle in my arm but as she didn’t seem concerned I thought no more of it.

Wednesday morning, whilst working on the internet, I had a look at several sites regarding Ringworm, just to see if my mark had any resemblance to the fungal infection. One site mentioned that Ringworm, being highly contagious, meant the contaminated person should not share towels or clothing with anyone, which seemed a reasonable precaution, but then it went on to say that people with Ringworm shouldn’t walk around bare foot. Now that was a surprise to me, especially as my mark is on my arm. I’ve no idea why but I believed that Ringworm only appeared on the arm area, close to the wrist (was I mixing that up with something else?). Anyway, apparently it can be contracted in any part of the body, including the soles of the feet: Ah, now not going bare foot makes sense!

Well, here I am Thursday morning and I'm still not decided on my arm circle. It doesn’t look like the pictures on the net but just in case, I will get it checked out by the local Chemist. Until then, I’ll use a separate towel and, just to be sure, I’ll keep my slippers firmly on my feet.
Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or with regards to her Empowerment work, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@empowermentuk.co.uk and you can read about her work and link with her FUNNY FILE blog on her web site: http://www.empowermentuk.co.uk/

From here to Mother’s Day

2009-03-26T16:19:00.002Z

I had made the decision to pop down to Kent for Mother’s Day the previous Tuesday and having e-mailed my Dad to check they hadn’t any other plans, the scene was set for a big surprise for Mum.
Unfortunately, the M25 was in its usual state of overload and I ended up sitting in a boiling hot car (the sun was throwing its searing hot rays relentlessly through my windows, would you believe) crawling along at a snail’s pace, for over an hour. By the time I arrived, Mum’s want to go out for the day had evaporated, having been stalled by Dad for several hours. I eventually arrived gone 2pm but it was well worth the heat and delay. The expression on Mum’s face when she looked up from the book she was reading in their Summer House to see me standing there was an absolute picture and by the time I left, gone 10pm that evening, the sun had set and the homeward journey was far more comfortable.

After travelling in such an extreme temperature on the Sunday, I felt somewhat disappointed by the dull and chilly days that followed when I would have really appreciated some warmth and sunshine in which to walk my dogs.
Talking of which, for an update on the progress of Cass in the ring, check out my new ROG BLOG (Rescue Owners Giggle).

Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or with regards to her Empowerment work, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@empowermentuk.co.uk and you can read about her work and link with her FUNNY FILE blog on her web site: http://www.empowermentuk.co.uk/

The Spring has Sprung

2009-02-23T14:06:00.000Z

What a glorious day it was last Saturday. The sun shone and it was so warm that I ended up removing my hat, scarf, gloves and body warmer, all of which I donned at 6.45am, a chilly time of day, when I left to take my dogs, Dilly and Cass, to an Agility show.

The warmth took me completely by surprise, not having seen the weather forecast for the day, so although I enjoyed the freedom of wearing less clothing, there was a price to pay: The inevitable exposure of the rather tatty jumper I had put on that morning with no intention of it being seen. But seen it was, and what no doubt enhanced my reputation for dress-sense was the huge splat of mud that covered the left buttock area of my jeans, which I’d managed to immerse myself in whilst exercising Cass. If anyone saw me slip and go down, I can only imagine they must have marvelled at the elegance with which I did it. I had no idea my legs were flexible enough to go in opposite directions like that and surprised myself that I was actually able to get back up immediately and, I thought, with as much elegance as I had shown going down. Luck was on my side though, or maybe that should be, on my buttock. The disabled toilet in the Ladies was unoccupied and had a hand dryer at exactly the right height for me to take out most of the muddy moisture from my under and over garments, without having to take my jeans off.

After that, I had so many dogs jump up on me with muddy paws that I ceased to care about my appearance. No point really, after all, what people seemed to have their attention on most was the sun, warmth and happy atmosphere of the gathering and, I’ve no doubt, I wasn’t the only one caught out by the warm weather: Tatty jumper wearers unite!

Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or with regards to her Empowerment work, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@empowermentuk.co.uk and you can read about her work and link with her FUNNY FILE blog on her web site: www.empowermentuk.co.uk

Valentine’s Day Special

2009-02-17T21:31:00.004Z

Now, I’m not really into formulaic festivals that foist certain rituals on the populace for no real reason other than to cash in on human nature at its most gullible, however, this year on Valentine’s day, no-one could have been more surprised than me when I discovered a ‘romantic’ gift hidden under the pile of ironing in the spare room. Great hiding place because neither I, nor my man, tend to give that area in the house any attention at all: The thing is, it was me who’d hidden the secret item there some weeks before.

I’d seen it in our local 99p shop and had chuckled all the way to the car park, feeling delighted with myself for not only having found something fun (and rather saucy) to get me and my man in the spirit of the season but mainly because it had cost me under a pound! When I got it home I’d hidden it, to ensure it remained a surprise until the day itself, then promptly forgot all about it. Anyway, there it was, the red, Velcro covered ‘dart board’, divided into sections giving commands such as; ‘Lick my Feet’ and ‘Remove your Underwear’. The board came with three Velcro balls which, when thrown, stuck to a section giving the thrower (or maybe that should be ‘throwee’) the demand to make to their loved-one. Well worth the 1p change from a quid, in my opinion.

Just to really treat ourselves in the evening, we phoned our favourite Indian restaurant and ordered a take-away for delivery. It seemed only natural to light candles, considering the high calibre romance that was in the air. Once delivered, we set the numerous dishes out on our coffee table, next to the candles. The kitchen roll, at the ready to serve as napkins, seemed to keep getting in the way. Eventually I picked the darn thing up and moved it to the other side of the table, unaware that I’d inadvertently swiped it through the flame of the larger candle. The next think I knew, large chunks of burning paper came flying at me and straight into my hair, as hubby frantically tried blowing out the flames quickly engulfing the kitchen roll. Never have I moved so fast! It’s taken me a while to grow my hair to its present shoulder-length style and I wasn’t about to have the lot burned from my head in a freak Valentine’s day accident.

I’m happy to say that once the flames had been put out, the kitchen roll recovered well with only half a dozen squares lost in the process. As for my hair, well, after getting over the shock of my man blowing the burning paper straight at my head, it turned out that no harm had been done and all our frenzied jumping around and stamping on sparks that were threatening setting light to our carpet, paid off with very little damage being done.

So much for romance and buying into highly manufactured love festivals; but on the other hand, we thoroughly enjoyed the take-away so any excuse for having one delivered is fine by me.
Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or with regards to her Laughter Lady work, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@empowermentuk.co.uk and you can read about her work and link with her FNNY FILE blog on her web site: http://www.laughterlady.co.uk/

Sunshine v Snow: Give me sunshine any day!

2009-02-16T11:19:00.004Z

Just a fortnight ago it began to snow. Within two days we were snow-bound which, for me, meant a couple of days with hubby at home; prompting lunch at the pub (what a mid-week treat) and things actually getting done that he’d been meaning to do, ‘when he had the time’. So, the tumble dryer is now de-fluffed, leaving our windows less condensated when the machine’s in use, and he’s almost (but not quite) finished his book-keeping.

The Standard Lamp in the sittingroom unfortunately missed out on his attention during the snowy period, so the shade still hangs precariously to one side giving me the impression, if I happen to sit in the chair opposite where the lamp stands, that I’m in an interrogation room with the light glaring straight into my eyes. Is it worth willing more snow to fall, just to get the lamp fixed? Perhaps not.

I must admit to loving the freedom that I now have; walking the dogs where I want, when I want and without the thought in the back of my mind that I may end up having to be carried home having slipped on the ice and incapacitated myself in some way. Nah, the lamp can wait. Right now I’m enjoying the warmth of the sun as it flows in through my office window….long may it shine.
Hope you have sunshine in your life today too:)
Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or with regards to her Empowerment work, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@empowermentuk.co.uk and you can read about her work and link with her FNNY FILE blog on her web site: http://www.laughterlady.co.uk/

Every Day Matters

2009-02-07T15:25:00.000Z

Yikes! Suddenly, not only is it 2009 BUT it’s February 2009!!
I know it’s a phrase so often absent-mindedly expressed but really, where does the time go? Especially for me, where has the time gone since May last year when I last posted within this blog?!

Well, a lot has happened since then, including (most recently) my idea to change the name of this blog:
I used to wonder why time seemed to whiz by. I lived each day at break-neck speed, lost in thought about future events I knew would be happening or possible outcomes of previous actions (or non-actions) that may never happen. I filled my waking hours with so many ‘things’ that needed doing that I ended up getting less sleep (just to fit it all in) and somehow, even when I got up early to fit everything in the next day, and went to bed late because I still had ‘things’ to do, that long-houred day still seemed to have shot by leaving me short of time, again! Hmm, was I really being cheated of time somewhere along the way or was time being cheated by me?

When I think back to my childhood, time was simply time. I don’t remember complaining that I didn’t have enough of it. In fact, I do remember moaning about how long school holidays took to come around; if anything, way back then, there seemed to be too much time! So what changed from me as a child to now? Just one thing, my way of thinking.

How often have you taken a journey, that you know well, only to arrive at your destination without any memory of getting there? That’s what your thinking does to you. When you think into the future, or the past (neither of which actually exist), your thoughts take you away from reality (what’s happening now), causing what feels like a loss time. When we do that constantly throughout the day, is it any wonder that time seems short, that a couple of weeks or three months down the line, we can’t believe that it’s ‘that time already?!’

Every day matters because every day, from the moment we wake until we sleep again, we are living. Hence the new name of this blog, which also refers to the content which will come from matters of fact and fantasy (steady on there) which are part of my life every day.
Hope you find this blog enjoyable, helpful or in some way worth reading. Constructive feedback is always most welcome.

Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
Miriam xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or with regards to her Laughter Lady work, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk and you can read about her work and link with her FNNY FILE blog on her web site: www.laughterlady.co.uk

Could enthusiasm for hats be going to my head?

2008-05-07T10:29:00.002+01:00

I’ve always had a thing about hats. Putting something unusual on my head seems to inspire people in all sorts of ways. Once, when I was wearing a yellow sailor-type hat, held in place by my hair (having been pulled through a hole I’d made at the top), I was sitting in a pub with hubby one Sunday lunchtime when an elderly gentleman strode across the room, cupped my head in his hands and kissed me full on the lips. He then thanked me for ‘cheering up his day’. Hmm, would have preferred him to have simply bought me a drink but there you go. That occasion, I must admit, was an extreme reaction; mostly I have people (men and women) come up to me to chat about the cheeky or soulful little number I’m sporting at the time. Hats can be a great way to open communication with strangers (if you enjoy that sort of thing) but if you prefer to sit in the shadows without being noticed, I suggest you keep your head bear.

Considering my love for hats, it’s a wonder I didn’t come up with my new idea earlier. Up to now I’ve simply adapted bought hats, mainly from charity shops, but a recent party I attended with a ‘Burlesque’ theme necessitated the making of a fascinator hat that, I’m proud to say, looked pretty darn fab. For those who’ve not heard the term before, a Fascinator is a miniature hat, usually worn at a jaunty angle on the head, or in my case for the party, on the wig (I went blonde for the night: Great fun!).

The whole experience of making the hat was not only fun but also a real eye opener for me. I have a talent, not just for the making but for the design of hats too. I’ve already jotted down a brilliant idea for a kiddies head wrapper which will go under the Laughter Lady range of ‘Happy Hats’. Now all I need to do is some training to perfect my natural skill and then there’ll be no stopping me.

The message here is to recognise your talent. For those who are stumped as to what to do in life or those who are currently in work but are feeling far from satisfied, check out your hobbies; things you love doing and get really absorbed in. How can this activity can be adapted to create an income and why shouldn’t you be earning a living from something you adore doing? My belief is that anything is possible and if you believe in yourself and your talent enough, the world is most definitely your oyster. Go for it and feel the satisfaction of tapping into your true talent and creativity.
Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or any other issue, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk and you can see some of the services she has to offer on her web site: www.laughterlady.co.uk/

Passion v Desperation

2008-04-22T11:12:00.004+01:00

The following quote popped into my head a couple of weeks ago:

'The BIGGEST mistake of anyone desperate to increase their income is to focus on the money. First and foremost, focus on your passion and the rest will follow'.

It came to me at a time when I was working my socks off with a marketing campaign that just didn’t feel right for me. I was phoning businesses I felt I ought to target in order to bring in the bookings and put some money in the bank but my heart wasn’t in it. When I explored that feeling I discovered (& huge thanks to Pene for helping me with this) that my real passion lie in my writing. For once I gave myself permission to spend time writing articles and putting time into one of my books; both ways of generating income, even if not immediately then certainly long term. Once I allowed myself to connect with something that was a true passion, things started to happen. Work is steadily coming in, my writing is becoming more prolific and my confidence in my own ability is increasing by the day. Enjoying what I’m doing is essential when it comes to allowing the creative juices to flow.

I have shared the quote with participants on my recent workshops, some of whom have asked for clarification. Here are my thoughts on what it means:

Note the word 'desperate'. It's been my experience that desperation causes panic and lack of focus which in turn causes a lack of connection with the very things I've needed to do in order to bring in the dosh. Whereas when I focus fully on the things I am passionate about (and that can ultimately bring in money) things start to happen, people approach me to make bookings without me having to go after them. Opportunities arise that I wouldn't have thought of before; because of being so 'desperate'!
Desperation blocks, passion opens up opportunities.

Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or any other issue, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk and you can see some of the services she has to offer on her web site: www.laughterlady.co.uk/

Could proper communication be the answer to keeping our kids safe?

2008-03-27T11:07:00.002Z

I’m with Child Psychologist Dr Tania Byron when she says internet games need to be graded for age suitability. No matter what our age, our minds are all too easily influenced by what we experience, whether it be from the telly or computer games, and when someone is in a vulnerable frame of mind, negative messages from these mediums can be all the more dangerous.

Children are naturally vulnerable to outside influences because of their young outlook on life and I have no doubt that aggressive behaviour and depression in children are all the more rife in our society today because of the amount of negativity that’s bombarding them from the multitude of ‘entertainment’ that’s on tap within our homes every day.

The task falling on parents nowadays to sensor their children’s play habits may not seem as easy as it was in the days before computers were readily available but really, the only thing that’s changed is location. At least when the kids are in front of the computer these days they’re safe indoors instead of being out somewhere finding some exciting (or dangerous) place to play out their imagination. So, if it is the case that the majority of kids are playing safe within the home, why are so many parents finding it hard to keep tabs on their activities? I don’t have children myself but I was a child once and I know how moody and secretive I could be: I would rebel loudly against being told what I could and couldn’t watch (only the telly to sensor in my childhood). I also know how much I longed, during my moody bouts, to be understood and to feel part of my family instead of feeling isolated and angry. Just by being listened to, I knew my feelings were being taken into consideration and by having things explained to me, so I could understand the why's of any sensor, my resistance to my parents wishes were considerably lessened.

Perhaps, if there is more understanding about how to deal with moods, anger and withdrawal and why kids have a need to get involved with inappropriate activities, there could be better communication within families and children will respect their parent’s wish to keep them safe. Perhaps with respectful communication on both sides, children will learn the difference between pure, good, fun entertainment that leaves them feeling good, as opposed to manipulative and disturbing programmes/games that create negative feelings and behaviour. Maybe with that understanding, kids will actually choose to feel good and all the inappropriate stuff will just fall by the wayside…..but first we need effective communication.
Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or any other issue, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk and you can see some of the services she has to offer on her web site: www.laughterlady.co.uk/

Never let your new hairdo go to your head!

2008-03-03T12:26:00.002Z

So there I was, standing in a windy enclosure, typing in the code to get the car wash started. I was feeling pretty glamorous; or even, just pretty. I’d just spent over two hours in the hairdresser’s having my hair coloured and shaped and it looked great. I was due to go to the West country the next day so, despite the chilly wind that was now blowing my coiffure in directions I didn’t really want it to go, I refused to put a hat on in case it flattened the style. However, I was soon to discover that a flattening of the style was to be the least of my worries.

Having tapped in the code for the car wash I turned to take a last look at my filthy car, wanting something in my memory to compare it with once it was clean. To my horror, my eyes went immediately to the aerial that was swaying majestically in the wind. Darn it, I was usually so good at remembering to remove it before washing but today, of all days, it had completely slipped my mind. At that moment my mind went into over-drive: Did I have enough time to remove the aerial before the car was engulfed in soapy water or would I be risking my new hairdo; should I just leave the aerial where it was and take a chance that it would survive the rigours of the rollers?

Not being able to bear the thought of a long journey without the radio I dived into action, completely conscious that I had about ten seconds (if that) before I, and my beautiful hairdo, would be well and truly soaked. I leapt over to the car and started unscrewing the aerial, reminding myself of a Magpie determinedly eating every last scrap of road kill before it had to fly out of the way of an oncoming vehicle. The machine sprang into action and water started spitting across the car roof at me. Undaunted I continued with my mission, calmly and methodically unscrewing the oil-laden aerial with water hitting my face and, dare I even think about it, my hair. Just as the rollers began to spin, with a more intense shower of water shooting in all directions, EUREKA, the aerial came away in my hand and boy, did I move!

So, with minimum effect to my hair, the aerial was saved. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to say the same about my ego. Having run a safe distance from the reach of the water, to my horror I realised that an employee of the garage had been standing nearby watching the whole scenario and was now applauding me with a look on his face that suggested he had been highly entertained by the whole thing.

And the moral of this story? No matter how good the hair feels, don’t let it go to your head. Always, and I mean always, remember to remove your aerial well before you activate the car wash!
Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or any other issue, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk and you can see some of the services she has to offer on her web site: www.laughterlady.co.uk/

It's all in the timing

2008-02-19T10:20:00.001Z

Why is it that smoke alarm batteries always alert me that they need changing at night, just as I’ve gone to bed?! That persistent high-pitched bleep couldn’t possibly happen during the day when I have the time and inclination to stand under each alarm and wait for the bleep, so I can tell which one needs its batteries changing. Oh no, wait till she’s in bed!

Anyway, it turned out to be the alarm in the hall which is now complete with new batteries, so we’re safe again and I got to have an undisturbed nights sleep. Really I oughten to be complaining: It could have started bleeping at 3am…now that would have been very annoying.

But then things in life don’t always happen when we want them to. So what’s the solution?
I’ve found the best way is to simply accept things for what they are: Happening when they happen because that’s when it happens to happen. How else can it be viewed and what advantage is there to getting annoyed about something that’s out of our control? Hmm, easy to say, I know, but it just takes practice because after all, getting annoyed is simply a habit we get into from a very early age when we learn to expect things to happen the way we want them to and besides, the only outcome from getting annoyed is feeling annoyed; and what’s the point of that?

Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or any other issue, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk and you can see some of the services she has to offer on her web site: www.laughterlady.co.uk/

Down in the mouth? Not one jot!

2008-02-14T09:48:00.002Z

Yesterday I went to see my dentist who was highly recommended to me by a dear friend (whose judgement I trust, which is very important where Dentists are concerned) just before Christmas. Yesterday was my second visit within 8 days and I received my second new filling. Excellent service, no pain and what a jolly chap; constantly humming or whistling an accompaniment to the radio. At one point, whilst he was using a very loud piece of equipment to even off the new filling, he told me what he’d found in my tooth and what his suggestions were for the future. It’s funny but I only just caught the gist of what he was saying as I couldn’t hear clearly through the noise and vibration that was going on in my head. Dentist do tend to chat away at a time when it’s not easy to hear: I wonder why?

Anyway, today I’ve tried eating on the right side of my mouth again, where all my discomfort’s been for past months (too many to mention due to not being able to find and good dentist and one that’s NHS to boot); and I’m still feeling a lot of discomfort there. Hmm, looks like I’m in for a long haul to find the answer to this uncomfortable problem but what the heck, visiting my new dentist is such a pleasure I’m only too happy to see his smiling face again, and again and……(am I mad or what?!).
Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter to you all on this Valentines Day,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or any other issue, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk and you can see some of the services she has to offer on her web site: www.laughterlady.co.uk/

Making the most of Disappointment

2007-10-01T13:30:00.000+01:00

Today I ought to be driving back from a long weekend in Devon but instead I’m sitting in my office typing this article. Does it matter? Well, considering how hard it’s raining outside I’m feeling rather pleased to be tucked up in my snug home, able to get a drink and have little breaks when I want and not have that tiring trudge of sharing the road with lunatics who seem to think that my exhaust pipe is there for their amusement (you know, who can get the closest?!): And in this weather that is one game I’m very happy not to be playing.

Of course, when I first heard that our weekend was off (due to illness at the Devon end) I was disappointed. I had been so looking forward to a little break with hubby (our first for some years: Yup, I said years!) but, and I’m being completely honest here, once I allowed that disappointment to be felt, then released, my thoughts immediately took on the ‘everything happens for a reason’ option which thrilled me no end. I now know that all the hard work I’ve put in over the years has truly paid off. My positive frame of mind was spontaneous, I didn’t have to force the point, which tells me that my habit of thought has turned completely around and is now focused on ‘how can I make the best of this’ instead of my old habit of ‘wow is me, things aren’t going as I want them to’.

This is yet more proof for me that our spontaneous thoughts (when we’re working on auto pilot) are merely formed from habit. They are not a truth but a habit of thinking that we have formed from one or a series of experiences from somewhere in our past.

Of one thing I am certain, by acknowledging my disappointment then choosing to think positively about my newly acquired time felt so much better than wallowing in self-pity.

Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or any other issue, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk and you can see some of the services she has to offer on her web site: www.laughterlady.co.uk/

Working with the Three Fs

2007-08-29T12:37:00.000+01:00

I spoke a while ago about how I’m looking forward to reaching my milestone birthday of 50 and the preparation I’m putting in to ensure that new phase of my life is full of quality fitness and fun. So here’s an update on how that preparation is going.

A few things have changed since I last wrote. On the physical side of things, I’ve taken up Yoga and for the past few months I’ve been seeing a Chiropractor (highly recommended). On the financial front I’ve read a truly inspirational book and only time will tell just how effective that inspiration will be.

Working the three Fs
Yoga is, in my opinion, an essential form of exercise in order to fulfil the three Fs and keep the body Fit, Flexible and Firm. There are those who reckon Pilatis to be more effective. I couldn’t possibly comment as I’ve never tried it but I suspect the question of Yoga versus Pilatis just comes down to a matter of personal preference: After all, they both have the three Fs at heart as far as the body is concerned.
Anyway, it was my dear friend Sheron, who is a trained teacher in Sivananda Yoga, who got me back into this regular form of exercise. I’ve dabbled over the years but never kept up a regular routine (apart from my morning stretch routine but I don’t count that as Yoga). I’ve been amazed at how different my body feels after a session; far more ‘loose’. I like that feeling so I’ve felt spurred on to keep up the practice throughout the week until my next session with Sheron. What’s really amazed (pleased) me is the lack of sore muscles which I’ve experience in past classes so either my body is fitter than I thought (hmm, doubtful) or I’ve got myself a gem of a teacher. It’s the latter I suspect so if you do decide to give either Yoga or Pilates a go do make sure you check out the teacher beforehand. Best to go with recommendations so don’t be shy to ask around and get some feedback from those regular to the class you’re thinking of joining.

Talking of recommendation, that’s exactly what I got from my Dog Agility Trainer, Nikki, who highly recommended Fiona, a Chiropractor, when I arrived for training one evening a few months back barely able to walk, let alone run, with my dog. I’d pulled a muscle in my left leg last year after joining a running club. Having ignored the discomfort for about nine months, and continued life as usual (including running), my leg eventually ground to a halt, rather painfully, and left me with no option but to seek help.
Fiona has been a Godsend. By re-aligning my body, which had got itself rather twisted in posture, and helping to stretch the shrunken muscle I am back up and running again: Yes, literally.
As with the two exercise rivals there is, it seems, the same rivalry between those who use Chiropractors and Osteopaths. I have used and have a high regard for both (especially as my nephew, Danny, is an Osteopath) and, as with anything that involves the health of our bodies, finding a practitioner for the first time really needs a bit of research. Again talk to people and listen to their experiences and recommendations. If you don’t know anyone who’s visited either a Chiropractor or an Osteopath you can always get in touch with a running club or somewhere where there’ll be people who will have made use of these services; perhaps even your local doctor’s surgery would be able to recommend someone.

Even if you don’t have a specific problem, I reckon it wouldn’t harm anyone to get their body checked out as most of us get into subconsciously bad posture habits which put the body out of alignment. You may feel fine right now but I can assure you, bad posture will catch up with you sooner or later.
So, what’s the difference between the two practitioners? Well, they both do the same job as in giving an ‘all body’ treatment and not just treating the immediate problem area but they are different in their application when it comes to manipulating the body. For me the Chiropractor gives more of a subtle ‘flick’ compared to the Osteopath’s more obvious ‘click’. Whichever you decide to see is really a matter for the individual.

Check out my next Blog to hear about the gem of a book that’s become my ‘bible’ on getting rich and more info on keeping the body beautiful.
Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or any other issue, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk and you can see some of the services she has to offer on her web site: www.laughterlady.co.uk/

You Can Change Your Depressive Mind

2007-05-28T15:46:00.000+01:00

I’m listening to The Jeremy Vine programme on Bank Holiday Monday talking about beating depression without the use of drugs. I called in to the studio prior to this subject being aired and got through, left my details and have been awaiting a call back but no call has come through as yet and I’m champing at the bit. I’ve tried calling back but the number is continually engaged……I need to give the benefit of my experience!

Ah well, if I’m unable to talk on national radio right now I’ll say what I need to say here on my blog.
The studio guest is Alexandria (didn’t catch her surname) who has written a book based on her experience of beating a depression she got through burn out in her 30s without taking drugs. She is advocating the use of meditation and talking (well, she is now a counsellor).
A lady listener phoned in and spoke very angrily about the way Alexandria was over-simplifying the relief of depression. She had a point. She described the way she is ‘horrible to her family’ and can’t find a way out of the black hole she so often finds herself in. She asked how she could change things but no answer was forthcoming. She will probably be feeling very angry about this for some time to come: Such is the nature of depression.

Looking at comments left on Jeremy Vine’s web site about this subject two things are very clear to me:

1. There are a lot of people out there suffering from varying forms of depressive disorders and there is no one cure for all.

2. There will always be an element of society who expect to be ‘cured’ by some outside influence without making any effort themselves.

When I was at the height of my depressive mindset (and I use the word ‘mindset’ advisedly), about a year into my marriage when I was 29, each day was accentuated with an underlying anger brewing deep inside of me, fermented by the frustration I felt at not understanding why I was so angry. I honestly believed I was going mad. Although rationally I knew I was part of a loving family, I felt totally isolated from them and everyone I regularly interacted with: My work colleagues, friends, people I saw down the pub. I saw them, talked to them, even laughed with them, went through the motions of everyday life, but deep inside I felt very lonely and confused.
It was only by experiencing the fleeting moment when I considered suicide that things started to change. I believe a catalyst of some sort is needed before we can start to turn our condition around. In other words we need to hit rock bottom in order to find the momentum to push ourselves back up to the surface. It may take some time to resurface into the light of ordinary living but knowing that you are moving up as opposed to staying in that hole is one huge feeling of relief.

From my own experience I now understand that everything that happens to us starts with our thoughts.
Every thought we have creates a feeling, an emotion, and through these feelings our thoughts are influenced. And so our minds create our feelings and our feelings affect our thoughts. Throughout this cycle I believe everything we think, do, say, feel, becomes a formed habit. With this understanding I was able to recognise the habits that caused me to lash out at my husband, brood on the memory of certain conversations until I became angry, and so on. With this recognition slowly but surely I began to change my habit of thinking which became more constructive rather than destructive.
Alongside my use of Thought Awareness came my development of the use of Laughter on a daily basis. By learning to create laughter by mechanically inducing it (concentrating on my breathing, muscles, ribcage and the smile) I was amazed by the result it had on the feeling within my body as well as the effect it had on my thoughts: They became lighter, far more constructive.

And so there it is, in a nutshell what I would have liked to have said on the Jeremy Vine show today. I would dearly have liked to have told the nation that certain depressive disorders can be helped considerably, if not turned around completely, with Thought Awareness and Laughter and yes, it is a struggle to even think about using these or any other techniques to start with or even a few years down the line. Working through depression isn’t easy and at times it feels like nothings changing and in fact, like things are going backward! BUT, persevere. Having been there, done it and continue to do it on a daily basis, please listen to me when I say that consistency of practice will create the change you want. Anything is possible but nothing will change if you continue to allow your depressive mind to tell you that nothing will change. You have to start somewhere with that change which means one heck of a massive effort on your part to start the process. You’re not alone of course. There are plenty of people like me out here ready to help you, guide you, but ultimately the work has to be put in by you. I know only too well how weak depression can leave you feeling but break through that lethargy and you will find each step becomes easier and easier.
For those who have decided to take that first step and to those who are already embarking on that M25 to change, you have my empathy, congratulations and deep respect.

Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

**I’d like to make it clear that this article at no time makes any reference to extreme mental conditions**

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or any other issue, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk and you can see some of the services she has to offer on her web site: www.laughterlady.co.uk/

Big Lessons to learn

2007-04-16T12:48:00.000+01:00

I’ve just ‘managed’ to get into my blog again after weeks of frustratingly trying to enter using the wrong user name (where was my head?!!).
I don’t feel I can go any further without reinforcing the message I gave in my last entry. In fact, what you’re about to read was meant to be posted before the last entry but believing as I do that everything finds its own time to be in place, rather than consider it to be an oversight on my part, think of it more as perfect timing.
And just to assure you, dear reader, Cass is now fully recovered and thoroughly enjoying her training to become a champion Dog Agility Competitor.

I mentioned before about a book I was reading by Brandon Bays, called 'Freedom Is', which is all about letting go of the need to 'try' or to be constantly 'efforting'. The idea being that when we relax into accepting what is and through that relaxed state ask for answers, the answers come through our connection with what Brandon calls ‘Grace’ (I went to school with a lovely girl called Grace which I thought worth mentioning here). Some of us know this connected state as ‘Intuition’ or ‘the Higher Self’ or any number of other names but no matter what you choose to call it, I believe it to be our true intelligence, open and free to tap into infinite wisdom, knowing, (call it what you will) as opposed to our mind which is really just a tool that has been programmed by every thought and feeling we experience: Unable to work outside of the box it exists in.
Now, it’s easy enough to have a belief but putting it into practice is another thing. What happened on the afternoon of January 4th this year gave me the proof, I now realise I needed, that we do have the capacity to ‘know’ the answers to our own questions and that the mind, being merely a tool, is not the place to find them.

I took Cass (the lively orange dog, cross between Scooby Doo and a Gremlin, who had only joined our family some 6 or 7 weeks previously) down the local field for a walk. I let her off the lead, as usual, and as usual she hurtled all over the place and disappeared from view. Normally she was back within a few minutes but time moved on and on. Eventually I got into a position where I could see practically all of the field (it's big) but no sign of Cass. I called and called, moving back toward the gate where we came in. Standing still I allowed myself to let go of thought and the panic that was slowly rising within me. When I felt sufficiently connected to thought-free consciousness I asked the question, 'what do I do next?' The answer popped into my head almost immediately 'stay still' (or could have been ‘stay put’ but STAY was a definate).
So I stayed where I was, calling Cass, but as time moved on the mind bustled it's way into my consciousness again and started supposing 'what if she's gone through the fence the other side of the field and gone down to the (busy) roundabout?', 'What if she's gone home?’ I decided to go home, check that out then scour the village in the car. I was looking for over an hour (having gone back to the field several times). I eventually ended back at the field and saw two cars parked in an unusual place (alarm bells) near the entrance gate. Unfortunately, one of the cars had hit Cass as she shot into the road, heading back toward the field. Luckily the driver was within the 30 limit so, could have been worse (or as someone helpfully pointed out, had the driver been speeding she may have missed Cass altogether……Hmm?! Perhaps that’s true but the fact is she wasn’t speeding and she did hit Cass so on we go with the story).
The other vehicle was a 4x4 driven by a lady who had kindly stopped at the scene, putting Cass in the back of her vehicle. A woman who lived across the road came over and said she'd seen Cass running around in front of her house earlier. So the dog had been in the same area all the time.
I'm telling you all this is because I have no doubt that if I'd listened to the true answer (to stay), trusted it, I feel it's very likely that Cass would not have ended up standing in our dining room that evening, hovering over her bed whining, desperately not wanting to lie down on her damaged back leg. She had been given some powerful painkillers and drooped regularly but she just wouldn't give in. It took her well over an hour before she eventually sank into a laying position. The xray taken the next day showed her to have fractured a bone in her hip, luckily not the joint itself. She recovered quickly.

I feel this is such a good example of how used we are to allowing the mind to guide us when it is really nothing more than a computer; only as good as the information downloaded. Trust in the knowledge that you hold the answers you need to hear at any time. Imagine stepping out of your mindbox, closing the lid and connecting with the vast ‘knowledge’ that you are surrounded with. Try it. Trust it.

And there’s more……

Inner Focusing
Of course, when Cass’s accident happened I felt shocked, responsible and desperately fought the urge to feel guilty; which I knew was a waste of time.

Of one thing I was certain, I had a choice. I could either keep going over the scene, which led to these feelings, in my head which would, without doubt, cause me a negative mental state and effect me physically (I’ve been here before) with bouts of tearfulness and various aches and pains from tension, or I could get in touch with my feelings/emotions, acknowledge them, feel them, then allow them to dissolve without any further effect on my mind or body.

The latter is exactly what I did. I took the time to sit with my feelings. I allowed each one to come to the fore and express itself in whatever way it felt necessary (perhaps as a headache or a mental picture of a knot or just an awareness of intense dark colour swirling within me). As each feeling/emotion presented itself, I sat with it (eyes closed), feeling it, allowing it to be just as it was and eventually (sometimes quickly) I felt a definite ‘shift’. Like putting soda chrystals in water, the feeling dissolved.

As with stepping outside of your mindbox, it's only by practicing Inner Focusing on a regular basis that you will reap the benefits. Here are two reasons why, as I see it:

1. Your feelings/emotions are part of you and if you ignore them then you are ignoring part of yourself. No wonder so many problems arise within our lives. To ignore a part of ourselves that is needing, and sometimes crying out for, acknowledgement is detrimental to our wellbeing. To fulfil that need is to honour ourselves and how much better can it get than that?

2. To honour your inner needs is an excellent way to keep the whole you in great mental and physical shape. Ready to deal with all life experiences in a positive, balanced way.

Enjoy experimenting.

Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or any other issue, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk and you can see some of the services she has to offer on her web site: www.laughterlady.co.uk

2007-01-26T17:23:00.000Z

Well, would you believe that almost two months has passed since I last wrote? Hmm, the way time is zipping by it doesn't surprise me at all.

There are so many things that have come into my mind over that time to write about and now I've actually sat down to make a profound statement, nothing is forthcoming.

For me, life changed around the time of my last entry due to the arrival of Cass, formerly known as Meg, a rescue dog with a determination to chew her way through the entire contents of my home!
She is beautiful in nature, odd in looks (cross between Scoobydoo and a Gremlin ~ huge ears) and a thieving habit. No matter where I put her when I'm either working in my office at home or out, she nicks whatever she can reach and either destroys or hides it. Either way, really irritating. No doubt the chewing will stop once she's reached a maturing age: like when she's 10! (Only another 9 years to go then).
Anyway, I can forgive the chewing, slightly, compared with her want to kill herself. On January 4th she gave me the slip from a local field and ended up in front of a car. Luckily she only sustained a fractured hip (painful for her but easily mended). 5 days later she nicked the bottle of pain killers and downed the remaining 8 tablets, somehow avoiding poisening herself.
Right now she's wailing in the dogs room where I left her since hearing destructive sounds coming from the dining room just now. Luckily this time it was only a pencil she'd pinched and chewed to oblivion.
The really positive side of her is that she's best of pals with my dog Dilly, terrier crossbreed, who I'm unable to let off the lead. I wanted to find a friend for her who she could play with as she never gets the opportunity for play elsewhere. Well, that side of Cass's adoption has worked. They get along brilliantly and are a real joy to watch....and hear; some of the noises they make are really comical.
So, there you have the highs and irritations of taking in a new dog.

On another note:
After Christmas I treated myself to a new book by Brandon Bays called 'Freedom Is'. For any of you who want to get a clearer understanding of Forgiveness, Living in the Now, letting go of thoughts and connecting with the true you, I highly recommend this book.

on 21.01.07 I wrote the following:

So many of us, me included, feel the need to swim against the tide of life. We get so used to this daily struggle that the struggle itself becomes far more our focus of attention than life itself.
The other day I felt a shift in this perspective and actually felt what its like to STOP and take life one step at a time. What a freeing experience, unfortunately not as long lasting as I’d have liked.

On a regular basis I am noticing how tired I am and yet I do all I can to prevent myself from going to bed at a reasonable time. I can spend a lot of time analysing my reasons, delving into my background to find the answer to this continual self-sabotage but somehow I know that all of that is time-wasting because I don’t need an answer, I simply need to know what my true need is right now and then fulfil that need. What isn’t working in my life needs to be recognised and stopped. What I need I will create. Simple as that (hmm, that simple, eh?). It only becomes complicated when I start to question myself.
(Notice how many ‘need’s’ were in that last paragraph? I did try to cut some out but, I feel, they were all needed….oops, there I go again!)

Since reading Brandon Bays brilliant book (as above), I now see that all thought is contained within a proverbial box: A box we really need to step outside of on a regular basis. Only when we’re outside of the box, connected to our true sense of self (as opposed to a self-created image that can only exist through past experiences and emotions such as fear, guilt, low self-esteem), can we even begin to live fully and certainly with any clarity or true joy.
Well, practice makes permanent (as my recent teacher of French language so rightly said), so let’s get practicing.
Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or any other issue, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk and you can see some of the services she has to offer on her web site: www.laughterlady.co.uk/

Tree of Life & Community Soul

2006-11-21T19:42:00.000Z

I am so grateful for my 6 monthly check-ups with my Naturopath at the Tree of Life clinic in Bedfordshire. Having told you last week about my ‘cold’, I have since been to the clinic & discovered that in fact I had been fending off the dreaded Flu virus. I am delighted to say that my immune system is so happy that it’s done a sterling job, resulting in my experiencing the meagre cold symptoms I told you about last week. Also, my suspicions were confirmed that had I not put my body under the strain of late nights and poor diet (including alcohol), I may not even have noticed those symptoms. Still, I will confess that for the few days of sneezing, it was well worth the overindulgence: I did enjoy myself!

My first visit to the Tree of Life clinic was in May 1997. I remember it well because at that time I was working in an office and on my desk was a calendar which gave a quotation each day. On May 6th, the day of my first appointment, the quotation (apparently from the Bible) said: ‘Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but when the desire cometh it is as the tree of life’.
Coincidence? Synchronicity? Just another page on a cheesy calendar? Who knows, but one thing I know for certain is that throughout my years of twice yearly appointments, my health has improved to the extreme. In 1997 my immune system was practically non-existent, I was constantly plagued by colds, flu, viruses and any bug doing the rounds. Now, on the rare occasion when I happen to pick up a virus, I may sneeze and feel tired for a few days but I’m perfectly capable of carrying on throughout.

I have no doubt in my belief that when we’re ready, the opportunities come to us. For me, I just happened to be working through a lunchtime when a guy was in the office fixing a computer. We got chatting and the Tree of Life got mentioned. Clearly I was ready and thank goodness for it. I would not want to be back in that place of continual ill-health.

Community Soul
Keeping on the theme of looking after ourselves, I would like to introduce you to a web site that has a wonderful selection of internationally renowned speakers and writers who contribute their wisdom every month, giving sound advice and free insight into the world of health and spirituality. The founder of the site, Neil Millar (Author and Speaker) is genuine in his passion to get as much information about self-awareness and self-responsibility to as many people as possible in order to help enhance quality of life throughout this world of ours.
Keep on enhancing say I.
You can register for a free regular newsletter, crammed packed with brill info, by visiting the Community Soul web site: http://www.communitysoul.co.uk/ ~ check it out for yourself; it could just change your life.

Sending you, as always, oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter and wishes for you to enjoy a fulfilling week.
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or any other issue, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk and you can see some of the services she has to offer on her web site: www.laughterlady.co.uk/

Body Sensibility

2006-11-13T13:48:00.000Z

It’s the beginning of the week and while walking Dilly I marvelled at the warmth and brilliant sunshine that accompanied me on this (very nearly mid) November morning. Just one thing marred the moment: I have a cold.

Last week was very hectic. Two days of it were spent in London in a hot, airless room saying ‘Bless You’ to a regular sneezer. On the underground (also hot and airless) I was bombarded with sneezing from all sides and so, I suppose, it was inevitable that I was to breath in the germs and start my own batch of sneezing. Or was it?
I can’t help feeling that had I taken better care of myself I could have ensured my body was able to fight off any germs that tried to invade. The truth is that I did my usual as in late nights & very early mornings which caused me to feel rather tired. And then being away from home I tended toward the ‘holiday’ mentality when it came to food and although I did eat a good quota of fruit each day, I also ate plenty of sandwiches, crisps, cakes and consumed more alcohol in those few days than I had in the last couple of weeks (which, to be fair, wasn’t a huge amount but when taken in such a small space of time will significantly affect the body’s immune response). To top it all, the chance for exercise was zilch so besides my usual 15 minute stretching routine in the morning the rest of the day comprised mainly of sitting, apart from the walk from the venue to the station and from the station to the awaiting car (thanks for the lifts Dad).

So, the point I’m making here is all about Choice.
I know that the best thing for my body is nutritional food (minimal sugar, maximum fresh greens, fruit and quality proteins and carbs) and plenty of sleep. Could I have made better choices last week? Definitely: Especially where sleep is concerned. Will I ensure that I think of my body’s needs in the future rather than pander to what my mind wants? Hmm, that is my intention, as it has been my intention for years, but this being a new week what better time to start afresh than on a Monday morning when the sun is shining and the fresh, warm air inspires the want to enjoy every day through health and a rested and alert consciousness.

Good intentions to you all and if you do stray from them, that’s ok, just smile and reflect on your straying with good humour and a memory of enjoyment. If, however, there was no enjoyment to your straying then you seriously need to be aware of the intentions behind your actions as you could be on a path of self-destruction and there’s no fun in that!

For information on nutritional eating I highly recommend the following website:
www.therawfoodcoach.com

Sending oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
Miriam xx

For more information on my work, check out my web site: www.laughterlady.co.uk

Who's in control?

2006-11-02T13:39:00.000Z

Watch this space for my next issue on Fantabulous Fifties. Right now though I would like to share a revelation I have had within the past week.

As weeks, months & years went by I found I was asking myself the same questions, ‘where did the time go and what had I achieved?’
It’s not that I was lazing about, watching telly or sleeping in. Not a bit of it, I was busy, busy, busy BUT the things I most wanted to get done, like writing my books (note in the plural) and writing new songs and developing my Laughter Lady work, kept being put off while I did what for me felt more important…..clearing the clutter in my office.

By clearing clutter I had convinced myself that I was ‘freeing’ space in order for me to be creative. Somehow, this clutter clearing had become a burden of on-going, momentous proportions which took so much time that my creative work rarely got a look-in. And what exactly was the clutter I felt so compelled to clear anyway?
Some of it did need attention, letters needing replies for instance, but if I dealt with them immediately upon receipt they wouldn’t become clutter. Now I already knew that concept of time management and had, on occasions, used it to great effect and yet…….how fickle the human resolve! And so the letters, bank statements, business bulletins, magazines and newsletters, interesting articles and a multitude of other paperwork, including hastily scribbled notes containing ideas and phone messages, built up in the In-Trays (note the plural) or on one of the ever evolving piles on the floor. I felt over-whelmed and confused….agghhhh!! Which constantly brought me back to one of my habitual questions: “This isn’t working so why do I keep doing it?”

Then it happened. I stopped. Just long enough to allow myself a glimmer of enlightenment. What did I stop? I stopped resisting. I realised in that moment that I had been constantly resisting a resistance (to get on with it). And the word for this resistance is PROCRASTINATION. What a revelation. Having become a Master Procrastinator, I had handed all control of my work-time activities over to my office. Just stepping over its threshold immediately took me into a frame of mind reminiscent to an obedient servant.

Today I am taking on a new role. Today I am the boss. My office and everything in it is my servant. Today I choose to do what, in my heart of hearts, is most important to do first. And so it is that today I am giving time to writing to you, dear Blog reader, and I sincerely hope that if you recognise in yourself a master procrastinator who wishes to find freedom, that you too stop long enough to recognise what’s really going on.
I’m not saying I’m completely free from procrastination (it’s a habit a long time in the making so could take time to eradicate completely) but I’m secure in the knowledge that I have made a start and am no longer resisting the resistance.

I highly recommend the following web site to anyone wishing to understand more and/or work on Procrastination: www.stopprocrastinatingnow.com

Funtabulous Fifties (with a capitol F)

2006-10-11T18:32:00.000+01:00

When I was twelve I considered people aged fifty and over to be ‘Old’! Now that I’m forty seven I have a very different view on the matter. My parents, who are in their seventies, have more energy than I’ll ever have and are eternally busy both creatively and socially. No, despite their age I certainly wouldn’t even call them old (not if I want to avoid a clip around the ear).
So, as the joke goes, age is a case of mind over matter: If you don’t mind it doesn’t matter. Which is the message I would like to saturate those who live in dread of the big Five O with. For me, getting older has been the best thing I’ve ever done and would thoroughly recommend it to everyone. All that’s needed is a game plan (and if I’m game you can be too) which involves nothing more than deciding what you want from life, what you can give to life and ensuring that mind, body and spiritual needs are regularly attended to. Add to that an attitude of excitement, gratitude, wonderment (allowing freedom to the child within us is definitely a youth enhancer), fun and positive attitude and life simply couldn’t be better….or could it?

Ok, so putting all the above positivity into getting older sounds great but just how do we go about it?
For me, preparation into this next, rapidly approaching, decade of my life started when I suddenly faced a fact that could not be ignored….my body is no longer as young as it used to be.
Yup, like many, I’ve been happily (I nearly said ‘gayly’, now that shows my age) pushing myself, as I always have done, to the extreme with late nights, food that I know is detrimental to clear skin and a belief that I will always be able to see the smallest of road signs a mile away but now the truth has dawned on me and with it a realisation that I need to adapt my attitude to my body. I suppose the phrasing could be that I am now taking a more mature attitude toward myself. There again, nah, I’m not ready for mature yet but looking after myself? For that I am most definitely ready.

So, my game plan, as it stands at the moment, is to implement the following into my life:

Sleep: No more stupidly late nights that are stupidly late for no other reason than I can’t be bothered
to go to bed

Diet: A diet plan par excellance (diet as in a way of eating). Ensuring I don’t over-eat, as has been
my habit over the years, and include all essential elements in my diet for balanced nutrition

Exercise: I already have a good exercise routine in place and have benefited greatly from joining a
local running club which has made all the difference to my stamina. Another big plus is
that I’ve made some wonderful friends

Inner Focus: I’ve been using this method of getting in touch with inner feelings and emotions for a
while now and never cease to wonder at the complexity of our minds and bodies. This
is a practice well worth using on a regular basis as it helps to release ‘stuck’ emotions
that, if left to fester, can cause all sorts of physical and mental havoc.

Laughter: Continue to use this amazing asset of ours to allay stress and fear (surprising how many
times the latter creeps up on me in certain situations)

Spiritual growth: I just love reading the wonderful books on offer by authors like Dan Millman
and Eckhart Tolle. There are so many interesting ideas on what life and the
universe is all about. Having formed ideas and beliefs of my own, I am open to
hearing about other views and experiences; testing mine all the time.

Fun: An essential component of life

Wealth: Now here’s a subject that catches a lot of us out. I have recently come to a huge realisation
about money and my deepest emotions about it. No two ways, I’ve been blocking it’s
involvement in my life practically all my life. Now I recognise why and how, I am
changing my mindset and look forward to experiencing the results.

I will keep you up-dated with how each of the above are coming along. One thing I do need to make clear at this point however is that my body may not be as young as it was before so many years rolled by BUT and I emphasise BUT I can honestly say that I’ve never been fitter than I am right now. Right at this moment I feel capable of achieving anything I put my mind or body to (even a cartwheel, Claire!). Hmm, a little in joke that I may well share with you at a later date.

Well, that’s it for now. Do enjoy your own age, whatever it might be at present and remember, age is only a record of the time you’ve been on earth, it is not a template for how you must feel or act: That is entirely up to you.
Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

If you’d like to contact Miriam about the above or any other issue, she will be delighted to hear from you via e-mail: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk

Check out workshop details on: http://www.laughterlady.co.uk
For ‘Feel-Good Factor’, October 28th in Rushden, Northants.

Peace is but a blink away: So open your eyes and start blinking

2006-06-06T23:45:00.000+01:00

Today is the 6th of June 2006: 6.6.06

So many people now equate the 666 number with evil, the devil, negative energy and even, the end of the world. Amazing what a bit of imagination and a lot of hype can do to create such beliefs.
But today, for those connected with planetary energies, is far from negative. Today heralds the start of a new energy filtering through to earth that will help awaken so many who are here to spread the understanding, value and daily use of Peace.

Well, whatever your beliefs about Spirituality, speading Peace can only be a good thing so I'm all for encouraging it. The writing below came through to me this morning and, I feel, speaks a universal truth: To those who wish to listen.

As always, I leave you with oodles of Love, Fun & Laughter,
Miriam xx

Today many things are on their way toward bringing Peace and Love to this planet. Perhaps everyone will benefit in some way but only if they open their hearts to the high vibration that is spinning into your orbit right now as we speak.
Forward in time will be a sensational awakening for many and deep changes to the way of thinking and acting toward each other.
This planet has been abused for so long; but it is forgiving and things can change for the better if action is taken NOW! With the new dimension of energy arising within us those who will listen must take the message of Peace and Harmony to all and keep that message hammering home until it becomes the truth and way of living for all.
This won’t be easy but it must be done if man is to continue its existence in time to come. Fear will just destroy the message of peace so to throw the threat of destruction in as a way of making people listen is not the truthful way forward. Let go of all negative thoughts and speech and concentrate on what will bring Peace and joyful living to all.
All that is needed is awareness. To be aware is to know thy self. Know what it is you feel and know how that affects you and all around you: To know how to change feeling, attitudes and actions that have become harmful to you and others.
In other words, by knowing they self you will know Peace and by knowing Peace you will live in Peace. By living in Peace you will teach Peace. By teaching Peace you will spread Peace. It is the only way for Peace to exist, by knowing it, feeling it, sharing it and living it again and again.
What makes Peace? Peace itself. Make yourself Peace and share with all.

The Beginning

2006-05-19T13:30:00.000+01:00

19th May 2006

Here I am, at last, starting my BLOG and boy have I got lots to share with you.

First of all, I am very excited about the workshop 'Boosting Your Feel-Good Factor' I'm facilitating with my dear friend Bob on Saturday 27th May. We're mixing the 'inner work' through Laughter, Fun & Personal Awareness with the 'outer focus' on communication and rapport through NLP techniques.
For details do give me a call on 0845 458 1037 or 0780 366 2627. There are some places left and a substantial discount for those booking together (4 or more).

Another development for me recently has been a regular 'automatic writing' experience that is peculiar, to say the least, but rather exciting non-the-less.
No idea where the words are coming from, all I know is that after my morning meditation I get a word in my mind that when put on paper develops into a complete statement that is always exactly the same length on the pad I am using.
Not sure if I'm subconsciously directing the content but as I write each word comes into my head as I'm completing the last and after a while whole sentances form and when I try to rationalise what I'm writing it just stops.
So, whatever your thoughts on how this is happening, the fact is that the message is positive and inspirational. Some aren't as articulate as I'd like but I trust that what I write needs to be read in that same format; so just take what feels right for you.

Here's the first message which I'm putting under the title:

'Universal Truths'

Smart moves always happen when something scattered and special comes into your life. Once you’ve recognised how special a circumstance is and you allow it to be, don’t crush it with mindless chatter or with what you think ‘should’ be; better to help it develop into its Devine Self by just letting it be and accepting it for what it is.
When dissatisfaction forms within your whole being, which always starts from the mind, then it’s time to recognise who you are. Recognise what is happening and that it’s just a pattern not your reality. That can only be formed from truth and to recognise and acknowledge your truth is what you are here for.
How do you recognise your truth? You live it; through your feelings. When something feels wrong, change direction until it feels right. The old adage about changing what aint working couldn’t be nearer the truth. To change direction takes courage, it takes awareness ~ in order to ‘feel’ your way into a comfortable and meaningful life that flows freely with your connected choices.
All of this comes from love. Love is what we are and what we breath and eat. So when we breath stale air and eat ‘dead’ food we are slipping away from our life force and become less and less able to acknowledge and work with our feelings. Once enough is enough is when we reconnect. That is when we have pushed ourselves so far down, physically and emotionally, that we can only reconnect and find our voice again. It is what we choose to do with that voice that determines our direction. Choose Love, at every turn, choose Love. And savour the value of life and all the treasures it has to give you.

Please do let me know your thoughts on anything I write about: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk

Wishing you an abundance of Love, Fun & Laughter,
M/ xx

My First Entry

2006-03-20T13:27:00.000Z

Wow, I've come over all technical and it's all thanks to my dear friend Steve who helped me set up this blog. Steve is also responsible for getting my wonderful new web site up and running (as well as designing it) so huge thanks again to Steve.
If you would like his contact details re. web design, just let me know and I'll pass them on.

So, now I have a blog what am I going to do with it? Hmm, perhaps it's best I say at this moment in time to 'Watch this space'. It's my intention to update twice a month on my pet subject best summed up by my business strap line:

'I've Upped my Fun in Life, now let me help you UP YOURS'

Aimed mainly toward those living through a depressive or stressed outlook, I have much to say on the subject of how to change your life situation....for the better.

If the above link doesn't work, you can always check out my web site:

ww.laughterlady.co.uk

Bye for now,

Miriam

The Laughter Lady

T: 0845 458 1037

M: 0780 366 2627

e/m: miriam@laughterlady.co.uk