MAKE EVERY MINUTE COUNT

This is not to say that you should be ‘on the go’ every minute of your existence – just don’t waste a minute, be mindful of the time and of your time. Even relaxing, doing nothing counts. This is really not a minute wasted. At that moment your mind and body are making the most of that time. Even if you are not aware of thinking, as such, your mind is recharging, regenerating and your body is doing the same, just as they do when you sleep. Many of us are busier than others during the day (sometimes even at night) but we all need that downtime now and again so that we don’t burn out, overdo it and become unwell.

I often feel guilty if I sit down and do nothing, so I read, word-search, knit, anything to ease the guilt. Then I have a word with myself. It’s o.k. to take this time just to be me, with my thoughts sometimes, maybe a catnap(!), always treating myself with Reiki – but I am just me, not the driver, the cook, wife and Mum, just me. These are precious essential minutes we all need and should enjoy.

Every minute of every life is a jewel to be treasured and to enjoy in whatever manner we feel at that moment. So, make the most of every minute, reap the benefits and enjoyment they bring – you deserve it because you are special, you are you and there is no-one-else like you or ever will be.

‘Just For Today I will Live The Attitude of Gratitude’

………. and make every minute count.

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2022 !

Casting my mind back to this time last year, 2021, I remember feeling excited about starting a brand, spanking new year. Planning all the things I hoped to do and new things to try. Many of them I did achieve, some – not so much – but they are being brought forward to do this new year.

Having had our wings clipped these past two years has made things difficult for many, if not all of us, but that should not stop us still wishing, dreaming and making plans – generally enjoying our lives, albeit in a very different way. One thing history has shown us is that we can adapt. We can make the most of our surroundings and build on what we have and our hopes and dreams. Something good out of something bad is a very positive and helpful thing to keep in mind. Hold that thought and use it well!

We are able to be who we would like to be. It may not always be easy, but if we are determined about what we want, we can make it happen – just don’t put a time limit on it! Keep your goals/dreams/wishes in sight, never look away, or be dissuaded, you will get there and they will happen in some form (even if not in the way you first pictured it!).

Here’s to 2022 whatever it brings and here’s to you all. Remember – ‘Just For Today I Will…’ and do it!

ANTICIPATION

Anticipation – a feeling of excitement of something to come. I imagine most of us have felt this at sometime. Often the anticipation of something happening can be more exciting than the actual event. The feeling of excitement and wonder of what lies ahead when getting ready for a holiday, a new job, your first job, a new relationship, or just a night out. It all adds to the experience. It is the build-up before ‘the great event’.

Anticipation is within us all – it just takes something to trigger it, to set it in motion. It is this trigger that alerts our inner electrodes and fires up all our senses, hence the excitement. We can become open to possibilities, which in turn may expose us to new challenges, feelings and choices. Possibilities are endless and the choices we make can lead to further anticipation, positive as well as negative. In this way anticipation also acts as a ‘heads up’.

We may feel anticipation of something not going the way we are hoping for, or want, but this is not as negative as it first appears. It gives us the opportunity, the chance, to re-think or decide on something we may be able to do to alter that, to turn the negative into a positive, re-group and carry on. As well as the ‘feel good’ excitement, it can result in inspiration.

I sometimes wonder if Dr. Mikao Usui (Founder of Reiki as Natural Healing) felt anticipation as he set about finding the source of the power of natural healing as recorded in the lives of Jesus and Buddha. I’m sure he must have – firstly the anticipation, the excitement of that journey, then the anticipation that things were not going as he had hoped when he trod many paths that led nowhere during his search. Thankfully his endeavours resulted in the discovery of Reiki, which has benefited so many in the world over the years. His teachings and techniques are global – I wonder if he ever anticipated that!

HARVEST

Harvest – to collect, to gather in, to provide, to store. This is a wonderful, busy time of year (providing all has been well weather- wise!). When all is ‘safely gathered in’ the time for farmers and their helpers to be able to relax and celebrate begins in the form of Harvest Suppers, barn dances and other happy gatherings. Although harvesting is done most of the year around, depending on the crops, vegetables and fruit grown and when they are ready to be harvested, Autumn is most commonly associated with Harvest.

At this time of year it is so nice to see people leaving boxes by their gateways with invitations to ‘Help Yourself’ written on them. This shows they have sufficient for their needs and are happy to provide for others rather than waste. Where harvest means ‘to gather’ I also like to think it means together’, too – coming together to share and enjoy what has been gathered. How good would it be to see this extended to other things we have too much of? Seeing ‘Help Yourself’ notices offering whatever we can to those who haven’t much, or have nothing.

In recent years Urban Gardeners have planted up waste and overgrown land with fruit and vegetables as well as flowers for the community to ‘Help Themselves’. This to me is true care in the community. Giving everyone a chance to enjoy good, healthy, fresh food and beautiful flowers, in particular those with no means of growing for themselves. This caring and sharing can only result in a healthier community, working together and supporting each other and their surroundings – ‘gathering in’ in the best possible way – friends as well as fodder if you like!

Harvesting the Reiki way –

‘Just For Today I Will Do My Work Honestly’

‘Just For Today I Will Show Love and Respect To Every Living Thing’

PRINCIPLES

I find it interesting how Dr. Mikao Usui (founder of Reiki as Natural Healing) used the phrase ‘Just For Today’ at the beginning of each Principle when forming the five Reiki Principles. His insight to long-term human commitment seems, to me, spot on! When we make a New Year Resolution, for example, how many of us give up on it after a few weeks, even days in some cases. ‘Just For Today’ is do-able. Whatever it is that we are thinking of taking on, baby steps are less daunting than a long haul. We can be put off from the get-go if the thing seems never-ending, or monumental. Yet it is amazing how ‘Just For Today’ becomes everyday quite easily.

Take the third Reiki Principle for instance:-

‘Just For Today I will Not Anger’

I find it hard to believe that none of us feel anger at some point in a day, whether by small instances, or bigger issues. I know that at some point in the past, some-one, or something would rub me up the wrong way and cause a flare! Since living by the five Reiki Principles as much as I can I have found that this happens less and less. BUT, I am only human so I can’t say it now never does, I can say it happens considerably less often now.

Living by Principles (I am reluctant to say ‘rules’ as it sounds too regimental and off-putting to me) is a good habit to adopt. It forms a guideline on which to base our lives, a routine (if you like) to follow and a good basis for our interaction with, and consideration to, others.

A principle is a fundamental truth that serves as a foundation. What better way to live our lives than in truth – on whatever level, or every level? ‘Just For Today’ give it a go – you may find it opens up an easier and happier way to live your life and co-exist with others.

TAKING A MOMENT

This is something we would all benefit from doing, but how many of us actually do it? I’m not talking about stopping whatever it is we are doing at a certain moment and doing something-else or ‘vegging out’, I mean stopping and actually taking a moment. Now before you say you never have the time, I mean a moment, just that and we can all do that no matter how busy we are. Look at your surroundings at that time and think of nothing-else but what you see, hear, smell and feel at that moment. Sound a bit ‘whoo-whoo’? It’s not, it’s letting our mind and body breathe for a while, resting and just being, without having to concentrate or stress about anything at all.

You may not find this easy to do at first but persevere, you will find it easier to do in time and you will even look forward to taking that moment. You will start to see and feel the benefits after a while, for your body, your mind and your attitude to things you are thinking and doing. It really is like a breath of fresh air and will rejuvenate and reinvigorate you. This is where Reiki comes into its own. It enables us to experience ‘that moment’ and lets our minds and bodies take that all important breath, passing it on to others too. Dr. Mikao Usui (the founder of Reiki as Natural Healing) taught the importance of the healthy balance of the mind and body, resulting in a healthy spirit.

Taking a moment just to be you, as you are, is important to your health and well-being. It feeds the body and the soul and will result in a happier, calmer you. Try it, you’ll soon find yourself effortlessly slipping into that moment daily and you know what, you’re worth it – enjoy!

AWESOME AUTUMN

There are so many things to love about Autumn. The colours (obviously), the smell of wood-smoke, the anticipation of Harvest and other festivals held around this time of year. I love to watch the business of nature in this season, all the wildlife preparing for winter. Squirrels in particular always make me smile – rushing around gathering and storing. Occasionally they pause and look as though they are wondering where they put their hoard, then scurry off as though they had just remembered!

Every year I think I’ll be more ‘squirrel-ish’ and start preparations for Winter. Then, just like them, I pause – unlike them I pause for a longer time and all the good intentions of being prepared way before Christmas goes out of the window. This year will be different, I’ve promised myself!

Autumn carries that special responsibility of adjustment from the light, warmth, easiness of Summer and sunshine, to the colder, darker yet cosiness of Winter. She gives us the heads-up of what is to come, easing us into it with gifts of beautiful colours and a freshness that only Autumn brings – aids to enable us to face the on-coming transition with ease and the anticipation of Winter.

As Autumn arrives, so does the abundance of goodies to store for the next season. Apples, nuts and many other things to put by for Winter, whether freezing them, pickling them, bottling them, or whatever – wildlife aren’t the only ones to get busy this time of year. The excitement and satisfaction of doing all this and tucking into your own jams, pickles, bottled fruits and pies and tarts and other goodies is its own reward!

The first Reiki Principle – ‘Just For Today I Will Live the Attitude of Gratitude’ is certainly fitting in this wonderful season of Autumn. Gratitude for the beauty and abundance given at this time of year. The fourth Reiki Principle – ‘Just For Today I Will Do My Work Honestly’ also applies here. If we put in the work of gathering and preparation now, we will reap the benefits later in the year.

You do not have to live in the countryside or have your own garden for this to apply – foraging is quite the thing now and more and more people leave boxes of apples and other fruit and vegetables they have a glut of outside their gates with notices to ‘Help Yourself’. This brings to mind the fifth Reiki Principle – ‘Just For Today I will Show Love and Respect to Every Living Thing’. By leaving these boxes with the request to ‘Help Yourself’, people are extending love, respect and kindness to others and avoiding unnecessary waste.

DEFINITION

We are defined by many things. Our looks, our attitudes, our appearances, our life-styles, our education, our views, it goes on! I believe we can choose from the things that define us to portray the best definition of ourselves. We all have ‘good points’ and emphasizing these will form what we think to be the best definition of who we are and this we can present to the world!

In looking into ourselves this way, we may discover things about ourselves that had never occurred to us before. We can really get to know ourselves, we may not like all that we discover, but that’s no bad thing – we can work on those points and improve. It can be a form of healing in some respects. As Dr. Mikao Usui, founder of Reiki as natural healing emphasized, you need to treat the whole – mind, body and spirit, to heal. In looking into ourselves, really getting to know ourselves, we can do just that. It may also bring about advancement. It can boost our confidence and we may even realise that we have abilities we didn’t know we had.

We cannot really define anyone until we get to know them. We make assumptions of the sort of people we think they are when we meet them, but to define anyone, or anything, really requires knowledge – otherwise it remains merely assumption.

Remember, we are who we are, not what defines us.

NEVER FORGET WE ARE PART OF THE NATURAL SCHEME OF THINGS.

I believe this to be true. I believe we are all here for a reason, each of us have a part to play. Maybe to shine and achieve as individuals, or by making up a whole. Everyone of us can make a difference in our own way. Hard to believe I know, but believing that each of us is a part of the natural scheme of things brings hope. And where there’s hope there’s life. And where there’s life there is caring, love and passion for life and all living things.

Our world, our lives, are constantly changing and change is important for continuance. Adjusting to change can bring knowledge and this will shape our future. We may not see or feel the significance of this to ourselves, but accepting this and seeing what we can do – even in a very small way – will give us purpose, a reason to get up each morning, even excitement in wondering what we can do today to make a difference.

For some in business and other ‘high flyers’ it can make a big difference to many, but others can also make an enormous difference with just a smile or ‘hello’ (even both!) to many and brighten what may have started as an empty, lonely day. This in turn can, hopefully, encourage them to pass it on to others – and so it grows!

Let’s never forget that we ARE part of the natural scheme of things and remind others.

As Reiki Practitioners we heal and spread love and light to others. As Reiki Masters we teach others how to do this in the tradition of Dr. Mikao Usui’s teachings, thereby passing it on as part of the natural scheme of things.

Each of us are important, we have survived for a reason, some of us through more hardships than others, so let’s not waste it. Make a difference in anyway you can, as only you can, and await the ripple effect, knowing YOU did that!

REPETITION AND CHOICE

It is said that history repeats itself. Perhaps it does, but I believe that with each repetition comes a choice. As we recognise whatever is being repeated, maybe we should think about the outcome of that event. This is where ‘choice’ comes into play. If the outcome was beneficial, then let us repeat the response given at the time. If the outcome was unfavourable, then that would be the time to consider choices to turn them around.

Look back at disasters of the past and think of how to deal with them if they show signs of repeating themselves, be it floods, earthquakes, famine, drought, war – whatever – we have choices that can avoid them. This invariably means working together, more importantly, a desire to work together, to accomplish this. There are enough people on our amazing planet who care enough about it and others to instigate this.

Sadly, there are always those who, through greed and self-seeking, benefit from disasters but, happily, there are so many more who care enough about our planet and all that is on it to help avoid them.

Love is the key – repetition, choices, foresight and determination is the way – and togetherness is the answer!

‘Just for Today I will show Love and Respect to Every Living Thing.’

(Reiki Principle No:5)