January 01, 2009
A Warm Welcome To The 'Balance in Life' Electronic Newsletter
Hi, I'm Martin, and I'm very happy to be sharing a little more about life in this free monthly newsletter.
Life is very precious as we all know. And it is a noble aim to get the most out of it. Each month you will find new content here - not seen elsewhere first.
There will be a mixture of material to get our teeth into. To help move our lives along if we so wish. To think about life if that is what we want to do. Or to just ponder and wonder about life's rich tapestry, and what it has to offer us.
January 2009 Contents
So what do we have in store this month in this edition of 'Balance in Life'?
So let us get started on this months edition . . .On a Lighter Note
Following on from the Lighter Note page on the website I thought I would provide just a few more quotes here each month.
Another chance to smile, to ponder, to think, to . . .
In my end is my beginning. Mary, Queen of Scots
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. William Shakespeare
It is better to be a has-been than a never-was. Cecil Parkinson
It is better to be seventy years young than forty years old. Oliver Wendell Holmes
Why should you mind being wrong if someone can show you that you are. A. I. Ayer
All sensible people are selfish, and nature is tugging at every contract to make the terms of it fair. Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Supplementary Article
A redwood in your back garden?
How is everything in your garden (of life)? How is everything in your life? Everything in its place and in order? Nothing askew or out of synch? Everything has its place and you are happy with that? Or nearly everything.
No big things out of place? No redwood growing in your garden, in your life. No huge 'tree' growing in front of your eyes. Nothing starting (fairly) small but getting bigger and bigger in front of your eyes?
At first you may not notice, but after a while you should. And if you don't do anything about it it might be there to stay. Or at least it will be difficult to remove it.
Sometimes things have to be nipped in the bud.
- What do you allow close to you?
- What lurks around in your life to grow unseemly and out of control?
- Bring some order to your life
- try to keep things simple
Whoever said simple is not good? Who needs complexity, when simple and straightforward does admirably.
When you see trouble ahead sometimes you can avoid it. Other times you need to meet it head on. Have faith in yourself. Avoid the unnecessary and be careful of things or situations that try to take a bit of you.
Be wary of things that cling on close. They may be fine, but stay clear if you are not comfortable.
Don't let that redwood grow in your garden. Strive to be ordered and disciplined and you will be in control of your life. Then you'll be able to enjoy a productive and gratifying life.
That's the end of the supplementary article
Hope you enjoyed it and found it interesting. Martin
What do you think? Let me know by sending me your feedback using this link.
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What's been happening on the website
Recent developments on www.self-esteem-enhances-life.com
If you look on the SiteMap page you will see a number of recent page additions.
It has been another productive month.
So now there are further pages in the several sections of the website. If I may just point out the following examples:
They have kept my creative juices flowing and I'm happy that I have captured something of how I feel about these subjects. Again they were challenging but I'm happy with the results. I hope you enjoy reading them.
My next pages will be providing further content for various other sections of the website.
And, in the near future, a chance for you to share your comments and ideas on website content. Watch this space.
If you'd like to provide any feedback or comments please use my Contact Me page.
RSS feed
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OR
on my Home Page please click on the RSS button, top left of the page, and follow the instructions.
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Prose Corner
Each month I will look through my notebooks and find a little bit of prose. Often written in a few minutes, so please don't expect Wordsworth, but hopefully these entries will provide a little interlude in your day. A chance to think and ponder, to daydream or to visualize, to perhaps see things in a different light.
Happy reading
try again and thrive
try again and strive
try again and survive
try again and and that makes five
try again and start to jive
try again and realize you can survive . . .
try again and you know you are alive
try again . . .
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As you know this is free to your email box at the beginning of each month. If this is not your own copy then please follow this link to sign up for your very own copy
Main Article
Each month there will be an article, with fresh content, that goes into a subject in a little more detail. Perhaps give a different stance. Perhaps provide food for thought. Perhaps . . .
This month more of a thought provoking theme.
Leave a little room for grace in your life
In life leave a little room . . .
Are we in charge of our life? Who makes the decisions? We can only say that we do. We are in charge.
We are all responsible human beings. We do lots of things. We think lots of things. We think about a lot of things. We end up doing the things we think are right. The things we are comfortable with.
We all do. We have our successes. We have our failures. We achieve some things, others we try for but they don't work out. And that is OK. That is fine. That is life.
But at times we try for something. It can mean a lot to us. And we make that extra special effort. We work away for days, weeks, months, sometimes years at this - our pet project. And yet there is something missing. We cannot quite put our finger on it, but something is missing. Everything seems good, but a little something is missing. We cannot place it. Yet inside we know.
This is not to say that we have not succeeded or accomplished what we set out to do. A little something is not quite in synch. We know that but cannot quite place it.
- Is it us? Are we not trying our hardest? If it is something we are really after then it would be wise to go for it with enthusiasm, with relish, with conviction, with determination, with . . . And we have, and yet . . .
- Is it the 'thing' we are going after? Perhaps it does not mean so much too us. Or, perhaps it did to start with but over time we have changed and 'it' has changed. Perhaps we have moved on but have not reset ourselves and need to do so. But perhaps all is well, we are doing our best and the 'project' we are on means something to us, and yet we cannot quite get there. We cannot quite finish it, or when we do it just seems to need that finishing touch. Other times, all our efforts are not in vain and we can see the goal, we can start tasting it, but . . .
- What else can we do? At times we start out very actively, often encouraged by past ventures and successes. Yet somehow we can let things pile up in a 'hole of the activity'. And then all it seems we can do is to wait and see how things pan out. See what things look like. See what feels good and what feels right. See how the pieces fall into place. Which ones feel a part and which ones are to be left by the sidelines, maybe to be used, maybe to be discarded for use another time?
And how does this affect us? What is the answer? What do we think?
Do we think we achieve everything ourselves? Achieve everything without outside effort or influence. We get lost in our activity and lose sight of things. We forget that we are not alone in life. That life is our companion and a loyal and trustworthy one at that.
Perhaps we should remain humble and grateful. In those moments, those special moments, remember to leave room for a little added extra. Perhaps we should always remember to leave a space for life's grace to play a part in our life, in our activity.
Leave a little room for life's magic. A little room for something special to happen, something that could not be planned or foreseen. And also to have the wherewithal to take it at face value and to run with it.
We need be ready for those special moments - when they occur. At times we may have sent 'up' a little prayer, but other times these moments just seem to occur.
What can we do? What can we do but be open and willing to relinquish a little control and to see what happens. We can be very pleasantly surprised at how life gives us a welcome and reassuring hand and helps to transform our life in those brief but precious moments.
We just need to learn to be ready and, as and when or should a 'moment occur', be a humble and willing recipient.
That's the end of the main article
Hope you enjoyed it and found it beneficial. Martin
What do you think? Let me know by sending me your feedback using this link.
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If you'd like to contact me please use the following link: Contact Me page
Until the next edition of 'Balance in Life'
So, that is all for this month. It has been a pleasure spending time with you. I look forward to meeting up with you next month, at the beginning of the February 2009.
May I just wish you all the very best for the New Year and hope that you find enjoyment, satisfaction and fulfillment in your life in the coming year.
All best from England,
Martin
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