My first thought on waking is, ‘What am I going to do today?” I like to have something interesting to do each day, and something to look forward to accomplishing. After breakfast I read a little and then settle down to relax and to meditate. If I need to go out in the morning I meditate in the afternoon whenever I can. For me, meditation has led me to know myself, and helped me to learn to acknowledge what my body wants me to do for its wellbeing. Sometimes meditation is difficult because my mind runs out of control, but I persevere. But if I don’t find myself responding to meditation, I contemplate instead and let my mind go where it wants. This I find very interesting and I question why did I respond to situations always in the same way? Finding the answer, I then question whether it is time to change my thinking because I now realise that everything I do is decided first in my mind. I often play uplifting music and allow it to fill my being. Music helps me to relax. It also prompts me to exercise gently to music which is something I really enjoy. Of course it’s ideal to exercise daily, but with care. I never strain or push myself. When my diet came up for questioning I learned to think well before I ate - do I really need this or am I following a habit or time ritual? Gradually my body has begun to respond and I have found a different eating pattern which suits me better and gives me a younger, lighter feeling and more enjoyment. Slowly I have got to the point where I can receive a “knowing” when I am making decisions, which is a great help to my everyday living. Sometimes the “knowing” is not exactly what I want to do so I again question myself. But always I find that my “knowing” has the best solution! I’ve also learned to eat more slowly, chewing until nothing is left solid. Whenever possible I drink water with lemon upon rising, but always aim to drink pure water in quantity. Over the years I have received help from various teachers in the form of ‘readings’ which have helped me to know myself more. These I go over from time to time, discovering more about myself at each review. I also work on the material I learn at seminars on self-development, delving deeply into what makes me ‘tick’ and how I can further my personal growth and progress by understanding myself better. My pleasure is helping my daughter with her work which entails phoning and receiving calls, letter writing, proof reading and sending mail-outs to about a thousand people world-wide. I attend all her lectures, seminars and gatherings and find much that I can do to help Sylvia and the participants as well as learning a lot. I have accompanied her on three overseas tours which were exciting, especially as now we have many friends in the places we have stayed - Denmark, Sweden, England, France and Germany. I have changed addresses many times and I enjoy finding interest in various clubs. Their speakers are always interesting and I meet many wonderful people. Each time I move to a new area I make a big effort to get to know people, calling on my new neighbours and introducing myself. In several places I have started a Neighbourhood Watch. I have also started meetings in my own home, and I do incidental counselling as it’s needed. A busy life keeps me happy, healthy and young. My home is easy to run and I enjoy cooking. Letter writing I also enjoy and it keeps me busy as I have many friends. Writing stories of my life for my grandchildren is an occupation that I enjoy and I relive all the situations as I write. It is fun and I run a meeting for folk who want to write but need encouragement and support. They too enjoy listening to everyone else’s stories. We can all learn that way. I have many visitors who come and stay a few days as well as my local friends who come for a chat. Gardening is minimal. I find it tiring - I am now eighty seven years old, so I have help. After dinner is my relaxing time and I enjoy a few television documentaries and a few other programmes. I’m not a TV fan though. I find it negative and very often disturbing. Bedtime is around 11 p.m. Over the years I have had a great deal of pleasure from crafts, e.g. embroidery, patchwork, spinning and weaving, dressmaking, knitting and crochet. I taught leatherwork for the Victoria University’s community programme in Wellington, as well as barbola, basketry, glove making and macrame at evening classes in colleges. My husband collected thousands of stamps but did no cataloguing or sorting. However I am now finding them very interesting and would like to have a stamp collecting group. I know nothing about them, but we could help each other and exchange stamps. People are my main interest - I love people. From time to time I still do counselling and find the work very rewarding as I do enjoy helping others. I enjoy my environment and our beautiful countryside with its marvellous trees, rivers and seas. MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM SAI BABA “Seek out your faults and others’ merits. Love lives by giving and forgiving Self lives by getting and forgetting. Recognising one’s errors is the beginning of wisdom.” |
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