12.45am and still wide awake

What do you do when you can't sleep? 

It doesn't happen to me very often; I usually fall asleep before 10pm and stay asleep until about 6.00am.  But tonight I am struggling.  I've had my milk and cinnamon, which seems to have livened me up instead of knocking me out.

I've checked and answered emails; read and dealt with post; checked the website; researched prices for plastic membership cards and finally I'm updating my blog.  I was going to start cleaning, but thought I better not in case I got the rest of the family up. 

It's always eerily quiet at night.  I love quiet times during the day, but at night its different.  You just wish that you could either go back to sleep or that morning would come sharpish.

Well, it's nearly 1am so I'll try again.  Might be back though!

Michelle x

Today is the start ...

Today is the start of anything and everything.  I set my alarm clock for half hour earlier this morning and awoke feeling refreshed and ready for the day.  I used to wake early every morning, but since I had flu before Christmas I have been sleeping in for some reason.  I still only lie in until about 8am at weekends, which I suppose to some isn't really a lie in at all.

I am an early morning person so I love creating from 5 - 7am.  Most of the thought processes that were instrumental in starting and growing Identities were done before 7am.

This morning I started doing my morning pages again.  Morning pages are 3 pages of 'stream of consciousness' writing that you should do before you start your day.  Morning pages remove all the rubbish out of your head so that you are clear and free to be creative for the rest of the day.  Try it, you will be surprised how much lighter your mind feels and how many ideas you come up with.

Being creative fills you up. It will top you up to fully filled, if your life isn't giving you everything you need.

I love to paint with oils, and write with a passion as ferrocious as fire, but sometimes I forget to put them at the top of my 'things to do' list. 

Today is the start though ...

Creative acts that sing to your soul are as important to your mental wellbeing as vitamins are to your body.

Read 'Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron - you don't have to be an artist to benefit from the book, just someone who wants to pursue their own unique creativity

Michelle  x :)

What Inspires You?

I am inspired by the very thought of being creative; of dreaming up ideas and executing plans that bring peace, love and joy.

I am inspired by books that take me on a journey of knowledge and blasts me through new and exciting horizons.

I am inspired by people who succeed, when it would be so acceptable for them not to.

I am inspired by words that create poetry that caresses every emotion and makes my skin tingle.

I am inspired by the birds that fly outside my window, their colours, their songs, their freedom.

I am inspired by every crystal that was formed in the earth, their properties, their natural beauty, their touch.

And I am inspired by life, its changes, its seasons, the challenges that make me stronger and give me purpose and the happiness I receive as a result of my choices.

Shining Buttercups

When it started, it was as natural to me as buttoning my shirt from right to left.

I had waited so long for this thing I had been searching for; searching high, low and in between, a kind of not knowing what it was, but a knowing that it stood for success and completeness.

Shining buttercups fills me up like nothing I have ever done before.  It radiates my life with flowers and dreams and allows me to see creativity in the rawest of forms.

When it cries at my apron strings it seduces my energy and all I can do is mother it well and try and protect what resistance I have left.

It needs protection and nurturing and like my child, it needs supporting even when it has started to grow and become more independent.  It can never fully stand on its own two feet.

Shining buttercups has given me the wings I needed to fly into my own awareness.

Shining buttercups has allowed me to make connections with people and help others like I always knew I would. 

Shining buttercups makes me see, feel and experience balance like I never have before. 

Shining buttercups is my business and the role I do now in Identities, helping women to find themselves and shine - the most rewarding thing I have ever done. 

How do I know that things are as they should be ...

Because my stomach tells me so.  The feeling I get is like a perfect fitting shoe; a warm summer's day; a perfect dream that you don't want to wake from; a dress that looks just you; a meandering stream trickling down the mountainside and that warm, tasty feeling you get when you just know that all is well.

How do I know that things are not as they should be ...

You don't experience any of the above, but instead feel a hint of panic, a numb emotion in the pit of the stomach and a little voice saying all is not well.

What next then after either feeling strikes? Action with conviction is now required on your part.

If you feel uneasy, trust your inner knowing and halt whatever process is going on, change direction if necessary until you get the positive buzzy feeling inside.

If you feel that things are as they should be; be confident in the knowledge that your inner knowing is and always will be right. 

Health and Wellbeing at Northern College

Yesterday I found myself at Northern College giving Indian Massage therapies to stressed out staff.  An health and wellbeing day shows staff that they are important and there seemed to be a buzz about the place, as staff were treated to sessions of relaxation, de-stressing, Reiki and Laughter workshops.

For me it was a wonderful day of seeing old, current and new friends.  Hugs and beaming smiles told me that I had done a good job.  And I do love the job of relaxing people, shining their sparkle back at them and lighting their pathways forward.

The grounds at Northern College are lush, green and powerful in their nature scents. The therapy room was turned from a from a play area into a relaxing, lavander filled suite, where the outside world ceased to exist on entrance. Just peace, relaxation, you and your connection with your therapist.

In an effort to recharge myself I started to think about my holiday and the sunshine on my skin, the waves gently crashing on a fine grained beach and feeling the relaxation of being on holiday and away from day to day worries.

Trickling sounds interupted my thoughts, a new client entered the room and my therapy began again.    

Friends are like ...

Mothers, angels and flowers

Protecting, watching and bringing colour and a smile to life's wild meadow

Lighting a candle on the greyest of days

Bringing sunshine when the world is throwing shadow

And singing life notes; teaching life lessons and listening to life rants

Hugging painful sobs, until they become mellow in their hurting

Mothers, angels, flowers and friends