We the Sunflowers

"Sunflowers - wherever the light is, they find it" or so the quote goes from the film The Calendar Girls. The film was about raising money by doing a nude calendar after one lady's husband died from leukaemia and the quote was from a speech he wrote to be read at his funeral. He didn't want people to be sad but keep looking for the positive like sunflowers as they follow the sun.

My Mum had been in hospital and unwell for most of the last year. Yesterday she came out and is looking to find ways to get better. How brave.

She is looking at sunrise not sunset. We have irritations like money or work or an annoying neighbour or problems with the car and we let it take over us. We become frustrated or angry. But what about the sunflower?

When the rain flows or the clouds cover the sky it doesn't give in less an opportunity is missed. It simply waits until the sun comes out once more. While it waits it follows the light as that's the best clue to where the sun is hiding.

Advice from nature methinks. In today's world too many humans wilt, droop or die facing the wind or living in the dark.When times are tough or uncertain we must move towards the light. Towards the possible, plausible or positive because that's where OUR sun lies. We have to be sunflowers.

Favourite Jumper

Do you remember your favourite old toy? A moth eaten teddy bear or stuffed dolly perhaps? One you took with you everywhere and one as familiar as apple pie or Mum and Dad and loved just as much? I think all our childhoods are littered with such comfort characters that soon get consigned to memory as we grew older. Well......not strictly true because we simply replace them with adult versions.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The weather today got increasingly cloudy and progressively more chilly. Right, off with the work garb and on with the warm, cosy clobber. And cosiest and warmest of all my old favourite jumper! Brown, woollen, snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug warm. Aaaaaaghhhhh. Horror or horrors. A huge hole in the collar beyond mending. How did that happen? The disappointment fires through your heart. It's like an old friend doesn't want to meet any more or an old love is getting married.

Then the shock wears off. Just like when Action Man lost his arm in a dog versus toy battle one Sunday when 007 tried to scale dog mountain and annoyed the sleeping hound who ambushed him leaving him shaken and stirred. You bounce back because you still love the darn thing. Warts and all, parts and no parts, marks and stains. Love is deeper than any flaws. As I write I'm wearing old faithful and somehow we seem closer than ever. I don't see the hole, I feel the warmth and familiarity that time has woven together. It's less sentimental and more sentiment. And maybe that goes for humans too. It's not what we look like it's what we've been through. Together, always together. The flaws are where love has chiselled into our hearts.

Sunshine Out, Sunshine In

The sunshine came out today. Peaking from behind a cloud calling sheepishly, "Cooeey, do you remember me? Sorry not been around for a while but I'm back in town!". It was like having an old, dear friend drop by for a chin-wag. You don't know how much you have missed them until they show up. So sunshine come on in because when the sun comes out the sunshine lights up my insides.

Life, with its full intracacies, can be a less than smiley place but the one thing we all instantly feel better for seeing is the sunshine. It's like a smile from nature that, in turn, puts one on our faces and illuminates our emotions. For a while much seems rosy like when hearing a catchy summer song. So I'm sitting just staring out the window at that golden globe for 5 minutes accompanied by the birdband in the background also elated to see our friend return. Boy it feels good letting the sunshine in. Just for a minute all's well. Sometimes it can just be that simple.

The Littlest Happiness

I love to read. Not just books but articles and blogs. One of my favourites is Gretchen Rubin's, 'The Happiness Project', where she studies all things on positive human development. I love the name because it suggests to me that happiness is something to aim for rather than look for in your life. A project or plan not a point of focus. Very intelligent Gretchen.

I suppose I used to think happiness was a good job, good finances, good family, good health and good people around you. Not wrong but then again they too are almost final goals. I mean you can't obtain them overnight can you? Love takes time and trust, a good job has to be worked for and good health requires getting fit and a sensible eating plan. So where is happiness in the meantime?

What is the littlest form of happiness that appears in my life every day? What is there while all the big stuff is under construction? Well I'm thinking small is big to be honest, and why not? That favourite meal once a week or a choccie biscuit to dunk in my tea. The crossword in the morning paper. A hot shower. A text from a best friend. A smile from the kids. No hold ups on the way to work. No hold ups on the way home from work. Warm feet. A warm bed. A cold drink. You see what I mean?

Happiness can start from so many tiny places. We know the big end prizes that happiness represents so why not recognise the little happinesses and gradually bring the ends together? That way happiness is always around. Now.......where did I put that muffin??

Coffee and Optimism

Coffee is better when you are drinking it with someone. I met my friend Andy. He famously posted a message that read, "Andy says, "Optimism"". Great that! Something really meaningful in just one or two words. That's hard to do. So the perfect person for some froth with. And the perfect person to help get rid of that other froth...life's inner bubbles and troubles.

So there we were chin wagging for our life about work, blogging, podcasting, inspiration networking by just using friends and just at that point it hit me. I took a look around. A coffee shop full of other frotheteers. Friends with friends, old friends, best friends, work friends, business buddies, mothers and daughters, sons and lovers, the world and his wife. Go back to Ancient Greece or the pillars of Rome and there, in the town square among the marble, people sat and discussed the wisdoms. Those set down, those they believed and those that would make a better world for themselves and everyone else. They gossiped and chatted, worried at the state of things and put the world to rights.

And so it goes on today. Over coffee. So coffee is good. It brings us together. Friends from all sides of the tracks but friends nonetheless. It connects us as much as a blog or social website. We meet, we talk, we share our thoughts and it makes us feel better. I must do this more often. Yea, coffee and optimism. They go well together!

A Life Less Serious

Day one

It's snowy and icy. No matter. I crunch up to the shop for the morning paper. White meets white . "Snow will become a thing of the past" the experts had cried. Not this winter! We've had it some 4 or 5 times now. An old friend has come back into my life. I'm catapulted back to childhood and the magic of snowfall. Funny, you always thought it snowed every winter and always on Christmas day. That was the magic of then. A magic I've let slip from my life I'm sad to admit.

Weather is just weather but some weather is great weather. I pick up a snowball and throw it at no-one in particular. "It's good to be back" I felt, "where have you been?". And like most adults I don't know. In a serious place where fun became fret.

Life has been too serious. I know you eventually get buried in a grave but that's the only time it should be so serious. Not today, not tomorrow from now on. I smile It's going to be a whole heap of fun. I skid and fall on my backside. Too right and I laugh. These little things are going to march right on back. Yeh, plain, silly good times are back on my agenda. Big up for life John.

Time for Inspiration

Are you looking for some inspiration??

Somewhere positive from the doom and gloom in the world?

Then come to The Inspiration Club!

THE West Midlands finest venue for all things positive!

The club was formed by myself in 2008 and became an instant success!

It featured on BBC CWR's Annie Oathen show and I was asked to film for the BBC prime time progamme The One Show on helping people be more inspired. It also featured as lead story for Enterprise Nation, a nationwide business portal site.

Word was getting out!

Every third Monday of the month the club opens it doors to everyone for a night of upbeat living. Utilising the top teachings from the world's best self-help and human development authors and motivators like Jack Canfield, Paul McKenna, Susan Jeffers, Louise Hay and more, each session is a fabulous insight into tips, secrets and proven advice on how to make your life happier and what you want it to be.

Mixed in with this are some top guest speakers on all manner of subjects from powerful thinking to great relationships, happiness to how to get and keep money! Yes that's right! We cover it all!!

And better still every club includes interactivity so you get to learn, share, meet, and experience a wonderful night with people just like yourself. Club members love mixing in and they say it makes them feel part of something.

So I make sure they get plenty of it!

The club meets from 7 - 9pm at The Vibe Cafe, The Village Hotel,Dolomite Avenue,Coventry. West Midlands

A map is here to make it easy for you to find :

http://www.village-hotels.co.uk/hotels/coventry/directions.aspx

The club is not based on a membership. I believe all people should be able to access the best life has to offer and come when they want. As such a small entrance fee of £7.00 is charged every time you attend.
People like it that way.
Now where else could get regular
inspiration for such a cost? Only here!

It is time to spread the word of inspiration
and expand it even more.

We have lots of people who come but it's time for more.

The bigger the club the better the enjoyment.

You can see more details at http://www.spiritslifted.co.uk where you can also see a list of the speakers and subjects being covered in the months to come.

So....do you need some inspiration?

Then come to The Inspiration Club.

Inspiration Everytime