Five Days Later

Today’s post is part of Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Conscious Saturday #SoCS. Her prompt is the word ‘difference‘. What’s the first thing that comes to mind?

This word has been rattling around in my head all week. The difference a day makes in the learning process of a new skill. The difference in our mood when we’re doing something we enjoy. The difference between finding your joy and trudging along in a rut.

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Aromatherapy and Transition

From the day we are born, until the day we die, we go through transition and change. At a young age we learn to deal with personal changes on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. Change is often necessary for our growth and development, but when it comes in the form of tragedy or trauma, it’s not as easy to make the transition.

Autumn is often known as the season of transition but change can come upon us at any time of the year. Winter, like any other season, can bring with it many changes and because it is viewed by some of us as the most miserable time of the year, it can be harder to cope with the curve balls that come our way.

The changing of the seasons is a good time to reflect on whether we are resisting a shift in our lives. Aromatherapy used in conjunction with other self-care practices can help us to adapt and move forward.

Burning or diffusing the following blends will bring you feelings of warmth, comfort and joy and help you move from one season into the next. They will also benefit your health and some will help to prepare your immune system for the cold winter months ahead.

Self-Care is Simple!

Self-care is extremely important for your health and well-being. Too often, people wait until they are sick or under a lot of stress before they think about looking after themselves. What does self-care mean anyway?

It simply means putting your own needs first. Regularly doing things that are beneficial for your mind and body; every day if necessary!

Prevention is always better than cure and just because you feel good and life is treating you kindly, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t indulge in treating yourself to a little bit of ‘me time’ now and then. If you lead a stressful life or suffer from worry or anxiety, then self-care for you is even more important. Get into the habit of doing things for yourself every day!

For those of you who are not in the habit of putting yourself first, then it’s time you started. Look at it this way – if you don’t take care of yourself, then who is going to do it for you? It’s your responsibility to take care of your own body, mind and spirit.

The Amazing Sycamore Tree

#ThursdayTreeLove is a photo feature on Parul Thakur’s blog and is hosted on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month.

I’m delighted to be taking part in Parul’s series because as some of you know, I am a lover of nature and I regularly take photos of trees.

This photo was taken last September in Belleek forest in Ballina Co. Mayo – actually just inside the gates of Belleek Castle

If trees could talk (maybe they do) this is what I think the sycamore tree would say to me!

Along The River. My Moment in Time!

It’s a crisp frosty morning and the sky is bright blue and almost flawless. The dazzling winter sun is radiating a gentle heat in a bid to thaw the frigid frost that illuminates the trees and hedges. It’s bitterly cold, yet it’s invigorating and since I’m wearing several layers of clothing, my bones are harboured from the icy chill. There is nowhere else I’d rather be right now.

I consider myself very lucky to live beside the splendid River Moy and today I feel grateful that I have the good health and energy to walk the bordering path. Today is a good day!

I meet a young woman speed walking with her head down, looking at the ground. She’s wearing headphones so when I say hello, she can’t hear me. She’s in a little world of her own and I don’t know what’s happening in her world, but I want to stop her and show her what she’s not seeing and what she’s not hearing.

I’d like her to pause for a moment and look around at the beauty of nature. Feel the sun on her face – really feel it – inhale the fresh cool air and listen to the chirping sounds coming from little birds hiding in the hedges. No doubt hiding from the nearby well-fed hooded crow, who is trying to drown out their sweet songs with his loud croaky squawking.

The young woman is out of sight now and I walk on some more. The angry grey crow joins his clan on the other side of the river where they all sit concertedly on a wooden fence. They look ever so pretentious in comparison to the seagulls gliding gracefully across the sky.

I’m being followed. I hear quiet rustlings in the hedge directly behind me but I don’t look – I keep walking. With the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of a robin hopping from the hedge to the branch of a naked tree. I stop and slowly turn to look at him. I wonder if he’s hungry or if he just wants company. He whistles and I whistle back. He cocks his head to one side and whistles again. I walk on and he flies from bush to bush, staying close but keeping a safe distance.  He cheeps cheerfully, like a small child who has just discovered something new and exciting. Is he telling me about his moment in time? Crass grey crow returns and gentle robin disappears into the bramble.

The water is scattered with uneven ripples and it flows rapidly but peacefully in the direction of the sea. I’m standing on the river bank watching folding crests race each other towards the dam. The sun glistening on the tiny peaks of the waves has me hypnotised. Teasing me, with the illusion of curly tips of ice-cream cones. 

As I approach the dam, the water appears to flow faster and my step quickens. There’s a seat on the high bridge overlooking the dam, where I sit to rest for a while. The water is dark and mysterious. The formidable River Moy has claimed many lives over the years. It demands respect as it roars and pounds against the walls of the dam, brawny and merciless, impressive and captivating.

Everything around me is silenced by the crashing waters below and I am grateful for the sturdy barriers that protect me from the dark depths of the river. I’m oblivious to what is happening around me. This is my little world for now and I don’t need to be anywhere else at this moment in time.

My moment in time was inspired by Orla at Fancy Paper Blog! 

We should all take our moments and cherish them when we have the opportunity!