Hello March!! Is it just me, or did February fly in? It's so hard to believe that today is the first day of a brand new month, which means that it is a brand new fresh start. I love the month of March. It's when the nights start to brighten up, the days start to feel that bit longer, the weather starts to get better (well it's Irish weather so who knows what it's going to do!) and spring is definitely in full swing. Not only is it 1st of March, it is also the first day of Lent. Traditionally the 1st day of Lent represents the start of a 40 day period of penitence and fasting. Since I was a little girl in school, I remember having to pick one thing you had to give up for these (what would seem like a very long) 40 days. To be honest, I don't think it was until I was about 8 or 9 years of age that I realised why I was actually giving up some of my favourite treats for a few weeks. It has since then become a 'tradition' for me to 'give up' things during lent. Although I did eventually know why I was giving up cakes, chocolate etc., I still obeyed by my own little 'rules' that I developed over the years. these rules included the following: you had a 'day off' from Lent on St. Patrick's day, on birthdays and if you weren't feeling well, giving up chocolate did not mean you couldn't eat cakes and doughnuts with little bits of chocolate on them and it was ok to give up things that you didn't even like, that still counted! These rules I (shamefully) carried with me until the age of 18! However as the years have gone by, I haven't necessarily been strict when it comes to Lent. As time goes on and you leave school, it is so easy to fall out of these traditions that you carried on for as long as you can remember. To be honest, although I knew that Lent was starting, it totally slipped my mind that this marked the start of a fasting period, instead it helped me to work out when Easter is this year. It wasn't until last Sunday morning when I was at mass with the choir, that Fr. Des said something that changed my opinion on Lent. He spoke about how many people give up things for lent, how others take up exercise or a hobby. He also spoke about how people do things for others by raising money for charity or helping people who are in need of help. However it was the way he spoke about the season of Spring, how he spoke so fondly about the daffodils growing on the side of the roads, that really struck me. Something so simple as flowers growing and the season changing brought so much happiness and joy to this person, it was amazing, something which sadly many of us take for granted. The next two days I had Mark's heart broke as I pointed out the daffodils growing everywhere we went. I hadn't noticed them anywhere before Sunday's mass, however after it I saw them everywhere I went. The message in this post isn't to harp on about religion, it isn't for everyone and that's ok, however that doesn't mean that we each can't set ourselves a challenge or make a promise to ourselves for the next 40 days. It doesn't have to be giving up something it can be something as simple as thinking of a positive thing out of each day that you experienced or reaching out to a friend that you haven't spoken to in a while. Whatever you feel will benefit you, your life and your journey at the moment is the perfect choice for you, however be mindful not to take on too much. For me, I am setting myself a few small tasks, nothing major as I know I have a few busy months ahead, these are things that I should be able to do on a day to day basis without taking on too much. These are my tasks for the next 40 days: 1. Mind, Body and Soul: Continue to eat healthy and exercise regularly 2. Try to work on my sensitivity: This is something which I will always have to always work on, however I know my triggers and what sets me off more than others, so over the next while I will work on focusing on the bigger picture, for example if someone in work says something that I find upsetting or as if it is directed at my personally, I will take a few moments before I talk back, take a deep breathe, look at the situation, did the person mean it? Am I close to this person? Does this really affect me? Why does it? I will look at my reaction more so than just fighting back, if someone is going to purposely say something negative then do they really need to be in my life? 3. Be thankful and Grateful: This one is based on the daffodils!! Each day I am going to note one thing I am grateful and thankful for. It could be my family, friends, my job or even coffee! On a serious note, it will be something that I feel really lucky and blessed to have, something I feel I may have taken for granted before hand. This is something I will post on social media for the next 40 days, leading to a few blog posts possibly, so stay tuned! Although religion and the church is not for everyone, it doesn't mean that you can't take this opportunity to work on things in your life or focus on something specific for the next few weeks. So, a slightly different post than usual but I hope it inspired you to start a fresh, stay focused and stay positive. Life is a beautiful thing, something we are all very lucky to experience, so let's take full advantage of it and not take it for granted. Love as always, Em xxx
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This page is to keep you all up to date on where I am on my journey, what I am up to and general chat! Archives
April 2018
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