"The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is".
C. S. Lewis

I was thinking this morning of just how busy my life has been just recently. The days and weeks have been pretty full, I've been working with my gorgeous man on project planning for Get the Edge (our training and consultancy business)At times in the past couple of weeks I became aware of a feeling of not having enough time to fit everything in. Which of course simply isn't true, we're all give the same amount of time in every 24 hour period, its how we spend that time that counts. And I should know, I train this stuff!

It's amazing what some time away from the desk can do for you, yesterday we took a walk along the lane , what a tonic. Fresh air and being totally present seemed to have the effect of slowing time down.... really it's true, I felt like time had expanded, which indecently is a huge sign that I'd dipped out of being completely present.

I found that I noticed the details of life around me, i became much more in tune with myself and with the World around me. I know better than to get caught up in busy work for busy sake... but hey, I'm human.... I can get caught out just like the next person.

I also know when I'm present, in the moment I can achieve anything in that moment, I become limitless.

All it takes is to be present, to be in the moment, to breathe and be.

 When we are present in our experience the World seems sharper somehow, brighter, everything sounds clearer and our awareness is heightened. I wonder then, what causes us to be in trance most of the day?... sleep walking in truth.

We get caught up in our head, in our busy stuff doing busy things and the eternal "To do" list.

So if you're finding that your dreams and goals seem to be on the back burner... way out into the future where you feel you cannot reach them, then maybe its time to stop, take a deep breath, be present and realise you can do anything..... but not everything.

And then just let all of those insignificant tasks just drop away. Which reminds me of a question that's really useful to ask yourself if you start to feel that there's just not enough hours in the day or you feel  overwhelmed....

Will this really matter when I'm on my deathbed?

It kind of cuts through the crap doesn't it ?
Things only have meaning, when we give meaning to them!


So take time... it will pass anyway......and simply

Make every moment count!
Lisa xx

How are you enjoying the beautiful summer sunshine?

As I sit here typing this month's newsletter the golden rays of warmth are streaming in through the window, the garden is in full bloom and my spirit feels lifted by such a beautiful day. Each day the forecast has claimed it it be 'The hottest day of the year' and we're told that the sunny spell is here to stay for a while.

Its amazing just how a sunny day can shift your feelings don't you think?

No matter what's going on in life, a little sunshine brings brightness and illumination. I took a walk along the lane at the weekend with my gorgeous man and as we walked and looked around me at the wild flowers growing amoung the wheat and instantly I was reminded of the long hazy days of summer as a child. The long six weeks holiday in my memory, was full to the brim of hot sunny days, walking through the fields, playing on the tree swing with my friends, days full of joy and laughter,making secret dens and spending hours and hours outdoors, drinking in all that vitamin D.

Back then, summer lasted for what seemed a lifetime!
Isn't it funny when you're a child time goes on and on, yet when you're an adult, weeks are gone in the blink of an eye and months fly by and you find yourself;  wondering where all those years went .From being that child running through the wheat fields and paddling in the brook to the adult with responsibilities and tasks to be done- for many, a life full of a series of 'to do' lists and bills to pay. I urge you now today, to reconnect with that childlike wonder. Savour those juicy sunny moments. Enjoy the moment, in every moment, instead of living for the latte, waiting for the weekend, or putting your joy on hold until all the work is done.What better time than now?

You know I realise that I'm so blessed to have lived most of my life in the countryside and I do truly appreciate the gifts and opportunity that has given me. No matter if you live in the countryside yourself or in a town or city, getting out into nature, be it your local park or any area of greenery, I'd really urge you to get outside, it really does soothe the soul and its good for your health.Exposing skin to sunlight may help to reduce blood pressure, cut the risk of heart attack and stroke - and even prolong life studies have shown.

Its also our source of Vitamin D, which  is essential for healthy bones, we get most of our vitamin D from exposure to sunlight.Sunlight helps lift our spirits, by stimulating the synthesis of endorphins (good-feeling hormones).The sun even helps us to sleep more soundly. Daytime exposure to sunlight increases the melatonin production during the night. This hormone helps regulate the sleep.

So even if you've spent the day cooped up in the office or inside at work, then take a few minutes this evening to walk in the sunshine, feels its warmth against your face and simply smile with childlike wonder at the beauty of the hazy summer days!

Be really present, notice all the gorgeousness of summer around you. I mean really notice. Yes, it will soon be the weekend again,the week will have flown by again, unless you put down the 'To do list' and make the moment count. I'm sure for at least a few moments it can wait.

Until next time,
make very sunshiny moment count!
Lisa xxx

I wrote this blog in the old fashioned way, with paper and pencil whilst I was visiting the very beautiful and serene Grayshott Spa last week. I was the guest speaker there but had time to relax and soak up the atmosphere whilst there.
As I sipped my coffee ( that's a rare thing for me, being a decaff tea lady myself) soft music was playing in the background- You know what I would call 'Lift' or 'lounge' music, the sort that includes no words, just soft tinkling of the ivories, the sort that blends into the surroundings, there but almost not there. The lilting sound, as I listened a little more closely, was i realised Simon and Garfunkel's 'The sound of silence'.

Mmmm - now there's a thought. The sound of silence. A rare phenomenon in truth. If you really consider it, we rarely experience true silence. Even when we find ourselves in a quiet moment, in quiet surroundings - Is there truly silence?

Try it. Find yourself a quiet space and just listen- listen to the silence.
I'll bet this is what happens:
At first you fidget
Then your mind chatters
Then your mind chatters even louder
All of a sudden where you were expecting silence, there's a cacophony of sound.

So how can we really experience the sound of silence?
How can we still the chatter and the noise and simply be present and in the moment?

Silence, without the need to fill the void- without the need to avoid simply sitting with ourselves by making a noise.
What makes us do that?
What purpose does the incessant chatter serve?
Do we plan?
Do we reminisce?
Do we allow our mind to be filled with trashy garbage?

What would the benefit be I wonder, to simply sit with the silence, without the need to fill it or fix it?

Perhaps, if we could just listen to the sound of silence, fully, intently, mindfully and whole heartedly, we might just make the space to allow clarity, calmness and inspiration in to our life.

Today I urge you to take time to simply be, to dive into the juicy moments of absolute quiet. And savour in listening to the sound of silence.
May you be filled with inspiration in those quiet moments today.

Until next time,
 Make every moment count,
Lisa xxx

This dropped into my inbox this afternoon, I think I may have seen it before, but felt it was worth sharing! Sound words indeed from Erma.

Review your life today - Where are you sweating the small stuff ?
Are you rushing through life trying to get to the destination without trully saviouring the journey?
What can you learn from Erma's wisdom...... take stock now, in this moment... don't waste another moment !

Make every moment count,
Lisa xxx

 TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
 (written after she found out she was dying from Polycystic kidney disease). 

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. 
   
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. 
  
I would have talked less and listened more. 
   
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. 
   
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. 
   
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. 
   
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
    
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. 
  
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains. 
 
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. 
 
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. 
   
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. 

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.' 

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and really see it . . live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!! 
 
Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing 
what Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

 Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier.

 Please share this with all the phenomenal women in your life today in celebration of Beautiful Women's Month. 
If you do, something good will happen--you will boost another woman's 
self esteem.