who wrote about Wayne Dyer’s ‘I am’ affirmations, which he recommends repeating before sleep. I thought I’d have more fun being with them if they were sung, so I’ve written this lullaby. The tune is vaguely ‘borrowed’ from the Connemara Cradle Song, or you can make up your own. Enjoy!
An ‘I am’ Lullaby
I am well in my body
I am kind in my heart
I am loved, I am loving
I’m a light in the dark
But the sun needs to rest now
And for now, so do I
In a blanket of love’s warmth
With a smile, close my eyes
I am filled with compassion
I am good with my deeds
I am happy and joyful
I am calm and at ease
But the day now is ending
And for now I must sleep
Giving thanks that I’m healthy
And my goodness runs deep
I’m creative, I’m worthy
And I’m honest and true
I am perfect, I’m human
And I know you are too
And this song is a river
To the ocean of sleep
Where I rest and am peaceful
And the dreams are all sweet
I’d like to upload a short video of me singing it but I don’t know how. I’d welcome any advice/suggestions:-)
As promised here are the poems written by my students (who are undoubtedly also my teachers) during an English language class, shared with their permission. I read them a couple of my own acrostic poems, and then invited them to write their own. I did not give them words or a theme – so the fact that they all share a similar quality/energy is pure, beautiful ‘coincidence’. These poets come from five different countries, are aged 20 – 60+, and have English as a second or third language! It was a magical moment as we all sat and read these poems, all written in different colours and styles of handwriting, on a single whiteboard. This is learning. This is creativity. This is why I teach.
PASSION
People are made to love
All of us have this gift deeply within
Some of us just give it, and forget to receive
Some of us just receive, and forget to give
In our hearts even if it’s aware or hidden, the
One and only need is the feeling of love
Not just sometimes but every day of our lives.
HOPE
Hold my hand
Or try to do it then
People are not on the earth to live alone
Enjoy being a big family
FLOW
Feelings and emotions will be
Loved and liberated because
Only in a pure body
Will the light and love flow
GOD
Give me your blessings
Open my heart
Daily I will give my best for you
LOVE
Live your life like a dance
Open your heart and send it to others
Very often and wherever you are
Every time
GRATITUDE
Going deeply in the fields
Rarely can bring more than
An angel could do
Tears are made of songs
Invisible to
Those who might abuse them
Unknown songs of unknown lands
Deserted
Enjoy my poem, everyone
SUNSHINE
Sweet smell of cherry blossom
Unity of colours
Nourishing my soul
Sunrise is welcoming a new day
Honour of being alive
In between many options
Never look back
Even if you fall down.
HEART IN LOVE
How long are our ways
Enter into yourself
All of them take you to your objective
Right side, maybe it’s better than left
Then you need to listen to your angel
Smile for the life
Inside you have a secret way
Nothing can put you off
Love, love, love
On or under the sun
Victories will come
Enter into the real world
POWER
Peace is when I’ll come to self-love with me
Or we get a higher quality by blessing other people
When the world is in peace things are going to change more than yet
Evolution on Earth isn’t only a big word to transform our universe
Radicalism is not a bad thing, but I miss the love within
Here’s week four folks – only…48 to go! GULP! Hand on heart this has become the anchor of my week (like coffee is the anchor of my day!). In a life chock full of busyness and change, these Sunday mornings are a true blessing and keep me connected to what matters…thanks so much Rosie, I owe the beauty, focus and calm of my Sunday mornings to you:-)
Called my father to chat and to wish him a good holiday (he’s leaving for Crete on Tuesday) but there was no answer. Will try again early tomorrow. Wrote a poem in response to a fellow blogger’s request for a photo of the huge tree I’d mentioned in last week’s post. Gave a friend a lift home after we worked together getting an elderly lady in our community ready for bed.
AND good deed(s) received: Sooooo much loving response to my poem about hugging a huge tree, with people sharing deep love and compassion for our tree friends. Really touched me:-)
Tuesday 11th June
Texted my father to wish him a good trip. Offered individual 30 minute one to one sessions to the nine students in my class, as we only have a week and a half left and I wanted to give them space to ask any remaining, specific, niggly English language questions – definition of niggly anyone? I prepared a one page version of the poems my students had written in class for publication in our weekly community newsletter. Will post the poems here tomorrow (Monday)
AND good deed(s) received: Tea break, and unfortunately I already had my toast rather overloaded with marmalade, so I didn’t accept the burnt toffee flavoured organic chocolate I was offered! I did accept the compliment on my teaching, however, being told it came across so clearly that I love what I do.
Wednesday 12th June
I sent a birthday email to a friend in Rwanda whom I refer to as my uncle, for a wiser, warmer man I’ve seldom met. He just turned 61. I went on a CD player hunt for the teacher who steps in for me on a Thursday morning, as the one in the room which is currently my classroom has given up.
AND good deed(s) received: One of my students lent me her iPod to listen to some of her favourite songs, as we had just discovered we both loved musicals! I’m about to make best new friends with…Aspects of Love!
Thursday 13th June
I picked up litter that flew towards me in the wind as I took a grounding walk through the woods and sang to the trees. Called my mother to check in how she was doing with her very busy week, as I hadn’t seen her for a few days. I offered to help her cook on Sunday afternoon, as there is a larger than usual group coming for dinner. Wrote and posted a blog on behalf of trees to get some love flowing towards our well rooted, air cleansing friends:-)
AND good deed(s) received: On my walk through the woods I met a friend who likes to play static trapeze in the trees. She was knelt close to the ground staring at her knee. I approached and stared at her knee too…where there was a small bug whose body was shining all kinds of different, stunning, iridescent colours in the sun. For a moment I stopped and just ‘was’, immersing myself in awe at simple beauty.
Friday 14th June
Gave my garden some loving attention, including watering and weeding.
AND good deed(s) received: I received lots of compliments on my new-to-me dress, which I wore to our Friday, end of the week, celebration dinner. AND…got a REAL (handwritten) letter from a friend in Canada…what a treat:-)
Saturday 15th
Visited the opening of a dear friends new ceramics studio…WOW!!! Seeing all her stuff in one beautiful space had me in awe – she’s one seriously talented potter. (note to self: find out if she has a current website and plug her here!) Visited an elderly friend with good news – there were left overs from a community barbecue my Mum and a friend were running as a fundraiser, would he like some?
AND good deed(s) received: My above mentioned beloved potter friend had, in her studio, a glass bowl of blessing cards I made for her for her 50th birthday, for people to receive a blessing as they looked around. She even made a point of telling everyone it was me who made them! AND…got nominated for a blog award – hooray! Thank you…
Sent some blog love round, reading and commenting. (I will help) my mother to cook an evening meal for a large group who are coming to visit the community. (I will weed) my salad bed and re plant the sunflowers somewhere else…where they have more room:-) (I will send) an email to a dear friend who has already been waiting too long:-)
AND good deed(s) received: I just got poured a cup of freshly brewed proper coffee hot of the percolator, before it went out for communal use…hmmmmm delicious, and all the more so for the fact that all I had to do was hold out my cup and say, ‘two thirds full please, so there’s room for milk.’
Sure, I was chuffed that people enjoyed it, but more than that, it brought some welcome closet tree huggers out of the woodwork:-) I felt so heard, seen and supported, not to mention filled with renewed hope at reading all these warm declarations of love for trees. As I felt that love growing within me, it began to transform into a call to action. Fact is, love the noun isn’t enough, it needs to be nurtured and grown into love the verb…love in action!
My last invitation to give our love hands and feet was on behalf of the oceans. This time, I want to speak for the trees. So, my sweet tree loving friends, here are some suggestions for giving your love form.
1: Recycle and/or re-use all your paper and cardboard
I’m sure many of you already do this – but could you be even more dedicated? Could it become a celebrated source of joy? I turn old cards (the cover) and no longer needed one sided official letters (the ‘leaves’) into unique notebooks. I use old cardboard boxes to mulch the garden, toilet rolls to protect newly planted seedlings. And what paper/card do you buy in the first place? Bring awareness to your purchaes of stationary and packaging, for it was all once a tree – with roots, branches…
2: Take time to be present, and acknowledge these essential life partners
If trees didn’t breathe, neither would we. Take time to consciously breathe together with a tree. Close your eyes, place your hand on the tree in gratitude. Hug if it feels right…but step out of that place of ‘taking for granted’, even just for a moment. You will be heard. The children in the story told in this old post needed no encouragement, they knew exactly what to do…:-)
I’m privileged to be part of a community that is also home to an amazing charity, founded in 1989, with the grand vision of restoring Scotland’s ancient Caledoninan Forest. Last year they reached the landmark of 1,000,000 native trees planted. Alan Watson, founder and executive director, shares my birthday (!) and has a passion for the land which I’m too humble to claim I can equal, but to which I aspire. Want to know more, or support? Go to:
And of course there may be a tree loving organisation closer to home that speaks more deeply to your own heart – support them. They need you!
4: Read for inspiration
There are many wonderful books/magazines/blogs out there. Enagage, learn, seek inspiration. My personal recommention is a book written by an amazing woman who saved a 1500+ year old redwood by living over 150ft high up in it’s branches for over two years…without coming down one single time. I had the privilege of meeting her when she visited our community a couple of years ago, and the moment remains personally unforgettable.
I mentioned in my last post a tree, that lives near me, whose trunk is so thick that it takes seven of us to hug it! I’ve been asked for a photo, but until that comes here’s a poem that just wrote itself now as I checked out the recent images on my inner camera…say cheese tree!
I’m in love with a tree
that’s seven folk thick
if we hold hands and stretch
we can just about fit
a laughing group hug
round its trunk if we touch
our cheeks to its bark
so sweet smelling and rough
Tree’s older than me
by a century, more,
so I lean on its strength
and I feel my heart sore
as my tears kiss the moss
that has made tree its home
’till my own roots can feel
that I’m never alone…
If you don’t go out now and hug a tree, I’ve failed to capture this tree’s majesty!:-)
With joyful celebration I share my third week of Good Deeds, a challenge I am taking one week at a time, with the intention of allowing it to grow and flourish into a full year, and perhaps beyond!
For other posts, including the original, please check out my new page:
Successfully removed a live tick from one of my students who’d been for a relaxing walk in the woods alone, only to return with unwanted company:-) Wrote a carefully worded email on behalf of another student regarding payment issues which, due to her difficulty with the language, were not yet resolved. Posted a review for an author, Harry Steinman, on Amazon.com. Do read it…the book I mean:-) It’s excellent!
Sent out some blogging love; visiting, commenting and liking and generally catching up with virtual friends:-) I spent my morning tea break listening to my colleague who had had a challenging first half of the morning, and so sacrificed my own mid morning tea and toast.
AND good deed(s) received: I too had had a slightly shaky first half of the morning, so the enthusiastic appreciation from the students for the second half was really welcome AND we wrote some amazing acrostic poems together, the beauty and depth of which were truly breath taking. That reminds me, I need to ask their permission, and then I will share some of their poems here on this blog.
Wednesday 5th June
I invited our group to give a huge tree a group hug. It took I think seven of us, holding hands, to become a large enough circle to embrace the huge trunk. I offered a compassionate listening ear to a student, now friend, over lunch who needed to share about a family issue which was knocking at her inner door for attention, and she wasn’t sure how to respond.
AND good deed(s) received: Thank you dearest mother nature for the beautiful weather, your gift to us which we gratefully received. The same student who talked to me about a family issue shared with me at dinner time that she had sent an email, as we had discussed, and received an immediate and appreciative response…hooray!
Thursday 6th June
I watered my garden, did some food shopping for my mother who would arrive home later that day, and arranged my schedule so that I could be there for an hour or so, when she got back, to catch up and make her a cup of tea after her long drive (about 10 hours from the middle of England to the North of Scotland).
AND good deed(s) received: A lovely couple who live in the community here, and with whom I have shared many wonderful moments, came to my rescue and agreed to offer a question and answer session for our students the following day. I had received soooo many nos from people who were unavailable for various reasons, and I had begun to panic…but there was no need:-) Turned out that my neighbour had been watering my plants, as she had noticed I hadn’t been home for three days, (I’d intended to be, but just got too busy) so they were all green and happy:-)
Friday 7th June
Immediately responded to a lovely email from a friend, even though it was still pre-coffee, 7am, and I had a lesson to plan! Shared some more blogging love in the afternoon, including signing up to the ‘happsters’, http://happsters.com/2013/06/07/6-happiness-movements-everyone-should-know-about/ and visiting some sites recommended on their blog, other movements that share the intention to promote and spread happiness and positivity. The most impressive to me was the story of a woman who had taken a photo every day for a year of something in her life she was grateful for. Amazing, do check it out: http://365grateful.com/
Hmmm, this is making me think of a song, me being a walking juke box and all, so do you know, ‘Spread a little happiness as you go by’? Have a listen and spread that happiness…
AND good deed(s) received: I heard my voice called out behind me as I walked away from the classroom, ‘Harula!’ I turned…to find one of my students offering me a piece of really delicious orange flavoured chocolate…mmmmm. One of my students offered to change tables so that I could sit with the rest of the group, as for some reason not enough places had been laid for everyone to sit together. I declined, but appreciated the offer…and had a lovely one to one chat with another student on another table.
Saturday 8th
I did some ‘homecare’, emptying the paper and rubbish bins of my own office and the one next door. Spent breakfast chatting with one of my students and exploring options together, regarding accessing additional support. Took my neighbour’s grandson to the river for a couple of hours, and we paddled and played in glorious Scottish sunshine! Cooked a yummy meal for my Mum and mowed the lawn to golfing green perfection!
AND good deed(s) received: Peter, the grandson, helped me with some gardening before we went on our trip to the river. Hugs and appreciations filled my day, coming from all corners.
Sunday 9th
Created a new page to bring all these posts together, so that readers can follow this journey more easily. Immediately responded to an email received from a friend who shared a photo of a beautiful piece of art work with me…wow, so much talent and openness to inspiration! The day is far from over…so there will be more good deeds to come, but I’m impatient to share this post now:-)
AND good deed(s) received: I received a warm good morning hug from one of my students, and when I went to collect homework that had been handed in on Friday for marking, it had all magically disappeared! I have a feeling it was decided that I shouldn’t work over the weekend. I shall ask the students tomorrow:-) Read the weekly post of fellow good deed blogger who inspired my own good deed journey and was very touched by her enthusiastic acknowledgement of our mutual support. It’s so much easier when you do these things together…thanks Rosie:-)
At the moment I meditate like I take vitamin C – in emergencies only. OK, I’ve used that word lightly, but it’s true. I find myself caught in the habit of using the preventative as cure, which works to an extent, but prevention is better. My mother once told me of a tradition where you paid your doctor every month – unless you were ill. That was the month you didn’t pay, because you doctor had not done their job well enough. Now THAT would revolutionize the NHS (our beloved National Health Service here in the UK, which itself is becoming rather sick due to government spending cuts…).
There was a time, not so long past, when I had a very regular and treasured spiritual practice. I would meditate daily for an hour, with days off being a rare exception. And there was a time, not so long past, when my diet was more balanced, when I was more aware of what my body needed and where it could get it. I didn’t need vitamin supplements
Before beginning to teach on this one month intensive English Language Course, I felt a sore throat coming and my left ear had begun to complain with an inner pain that hinted at possible infection. I bought vitamin C supplements and slept for the afternoon. I was lucky, and whatever had threatened to pay me a visit decided not to stick around. I felt well the next day. I was grateful to my body, but it made me think.
This weekend I noticed my ‘being VS doing’ scale was feeling overwhelmingly tipped in doing’s favour, so I went to our Sanctuary here. This is a dedicated silent room, with a candle in the centre and chairs arranged in circles. I went into Sanctuary with the intention of catching up on some ‘being’ time.
Oh sweetheart, it doesn’t work like that. The vegetables I’m growing can’t be drowned in water one day and left thirsty for the next three. Little and often. My children’s novel won’t get written if I wait for those times when I have a whole weekend free. Little and often. My soul will not find its way closer to God if I think I can make up for regular daily practice by sitting with great intensity and purpose for, oh, a whole hour. My mind is like a well composted garden bed; it grows weeds with as much success as flowers and veg. If I weed it every day, the flowers will thrive. If I leave it too long, the weeds will have taken much of the nourishment for themselves, not to mention they’ll have grown tall and thick enough to hide the flowers completely. Weeds are powerful, believe me, I played tug of war with nettle roots recently and it was a closer run thing that I’d like to admit.
As I was weeding, liberating the spent daffodil bulbs from their cages of ground elder and nettle roots, my compassion began to grow for those thoughts, that light, that love and creativity that is missing out on my attention and energy, because the weeds of ‘To Do’ and ‘obligation’ have been allowed to grow out of control. When they reach this point of overwhelm, it’s already too late for ‘little and often’, and ‘one thing at a time’ must be engaged instead. To manage the overwhelm I have to focus on one task at a time, in order to be fed by the satisfaction of seeing something completed before digging for the energy to focus on the next.
I did spend a few precious moments with our sweet peas though, checking on their progress. When I saw how the delicate, finger like tendrils had perfectly and neatly curled themselves around the string of the rough frame I’d created for them, I was mesmerized. How do they know where the string is? How do they know they must wrap, and climb, and stretch towards the sun in order to flower and thrive? How many years, hundreds, thousands, of evolution has it taken to create this plant with such precision and perfection that it follows some divine inner instruction with such grace and lack of effort that we barely notice how clever it is?
How do I come to such a place of busyness that I believe I can catch up on my journey towards greater wakefulness by having a single hour of silence?
Writing this has brought me to humour, which has brought me to a more peaceful place, which has brought me to a willingness to accept what I already know – I have to give conscious attention to the important things ‘little and often’ or the unimportant things will grow to hide what really matters, and it will take much more time and effort to re-reveal those true priorities again.
Here is my second week of Good Deeds, a challenge I am taking one week at a time, with the intention of allowing it to grow and flourish into a full year, and perhaps beyond!
Had a long conversation with one of my students over lunch, giving it my full attention even though I was feeling quite stretched as the morning session had run over, and I wasn’t yet fully prepared for the afternoon.
AND good deed(s) received: A fellow blogger left a comment on my previous good deeds post saying she would join the fun! Hooray:-) Thanks so much… http://girlwiththepen1118.wordpress.com/
Tuesday 28th
I agreed for a South Korean teacher, who happened to be staying here in the community too, to join in on and observe one of my lessons. She wanted to see how I combine teaching English with personal development and spiritual topics. I also did a bit of cleaning and tidying in my colleague’s classroom, and called my friend Beatha in Rwanda as it was her son’s 5th birthday. Unfortunately there was no answer, so I will have to call again another day.
AND good deed(s) received: In an amazing story of synchronicity which I will share in more detail another day…a very treasured shawl, knitted by my mother, which I lost at least three years ago…came back to me!!! Another fellow blogger left a comment on my last post saying he too would join in…celebrate that!!! Thanks so much: http://mikeallegra.com/
Wednesday 29th
My good deed today was to return home briefly to connect with my garden, to give it a much needed watering, as well as a showering of less visible love and attention.
AND good deed(s) received: I received a beautiful, heart warming email from a dear friend.
Thursday 30th
I used part of my afternoon off to help cook a delicious traditional Brazilian dessert with one of my students, who brought the ingredients in his suitcase all the way from Brazil. I also picked up some litter on a brief walk, and gave the new teacher another hour of training and support.
AND good deed(s) received: One of my neighbours sent me a text to say she’d signed for a parcel for me. My teaching colleague arranged the chairs for the evening session without being asked or expected to.
Friday 31st
I helped a spider out of the sink with a glass and a postcard. I made time to have breakfast with a friend, which benefited us both. Seeing that there wasn’t enough after dinner Toblerone (chocolate) for everyone to have a piece, I chose that moment to get up and make tea, so that it would all be eaten/divided by the time I came back and nobody would need to feel uncomfortable.
AND good deed(s) received: At the end of a busy first week of lessons I received so much positive feedback, from students and colleagues…you know, the kind that just gets you…right there. Also felt very heard by my manager, who agreed not to extend the number of places available on the next course despite the fact we had ten on the waiting list, as I and others had shared that we believed the small class sizes we have are essential to the success of the program.
Saturday 1st
I continued to work in my garden and gave my flowers and veg more room to grow by freeing them from weeds. I took my neighbour’s seven year old grandson on a walk to the river for a couple of hours, so his grandmother could have some quiet time.
AND good deed(s) received: My other neighbour texted to say she’d seen me coming home but was now out, so I could let myself in and take my parcel from her kitchen table.
Sunday 2nd
I called ahead to the place where my students would be eating their lunch to make sure the reservation had been placed. It had not, so the cook was very glad I had called, giving him some forewarning of an extra 11 hungry mouths to feed:-)
I gave this book to my sister as a present for Christmas last year. She’s a very busy woman, so I thought to read something brief and ‘feel good’, with a passage for every day of the year, would be something she would enjoy.
It seems this book, which I have yet to read myself, has prompted others to follow in the steps of the inspiring author, and I recently read about a wonderful woman on wordpress who is doing just that.
Rosie, you in turn have inspired me to commit myself to weeks of good deeds, one week at a time, which may well, in turn, become a full year. But – there’s a twist:-) I will also record here the good deed(s) I receive each day. Just as I wish to become more conscious of my own power and potential to do good for others, I want to be sure I do not take for granted all the good others are doing me. So, here’s my first week…and I will set up a page where I will store these weekly posts as and when they come. Enjoy and let us know if you take up the challenge too:-)
And of course I’m also aware you don’t have to record it to do it. I’m sure for many of you, good deeds are an integral part of your lives already…but in my experience this last week, there is much joy to be found in keeping watch for opportunities to offer support in new and spontaneous ways.
Monday 20th May
Spent an hour scanning in photos at the library to email them to my elder sister for an album she’s making for my other sister’s 40th birthday. Hung out my mother’s washing. Sent a text message wishing my dear niece luck with her exams. Visited and appreciated, with likes and comments, blogs of beloved wordpress friends and started following a couple more. Oh…began a good deed week!!!
AND good deed(s) received: received £5 from a friend who helps me support a family I’m connected with in Rwanda AND another colleague contacted me saying she wants to have a coffee morning to raise money for the same family! (for more info on Beatha and her boys go to http://beathaandherboys.wordpress.com/ )
Tuesday 21st
Wrote an email to a fellow blogger who wanted to connect around the topic of Rwanda. I cooked dinner for my mother and I, even though I really didn’t want to because I was feeling tired and grumpy.
AND good deed(s) received: our neighbour gave me her left over lettuce seedlings, which I planted out straight away. We won’t be short on salad this summer! A friend gave me a £10 donation for Beatha and her boys.
Wednesday 22nd
Wrote an email to a dear friend which had been a bit delayed, felt good to catch up with that. Sent Beatha’s monthly money by Western Union. Made and wrote a thank you card for the friend who donated £10 yesterday, and delivered it by hand, though she was out at work. Rang my sister for her birthday, but she was busy working so I left a singing message on her mobile voice mail.
AND good deed(s) received:
Thursday 23rd
I gave the new teacher I’ll be working with over the next four weeks three hours of support in lesson planning and, noticing that she was getting nervous and had filled her head to bursting point I asked her to promise that she would take the whole of the following afternoon off to replenish and relax, ready to start on Saturday.
AND good deed(s) received: A woman to whom I give private English lessons served me with homemade cake and a delicious rose tea on arrival and also said, although she can’t afford to pay me much, she would be happy to offer me a massage in exchange!
Friday 24th
I dropped in to the office of the local paper to sign a petition against the demolition of a beautiful old church which a local group are trying to get turned into a community centre….and I was immediately rewarded by meeting a friend who was there signing it too, who gave me a lovely hug:-) Oh, and I planted out my Mum’s sweet pea seedlings and made a frame for them to climb because I knew she wouldn’t have time before leaving for two weeks early the next morning.
AND good deed(s) received: Our wonderful neighbour said she’d water my now treasured garden if it didn’t get enough rain over the next three days while I too am away.
Saturday 25th
I got up early to see my Mum off. Offered the better of the two classrooms for the residential English course I’m teaching for a month to the new teacher. Gave a friend a lift home when we met at the supermarket.
AND good deed(s) received: One of my new students spontaneously offered me a piece of precious chocolate after lunch:-) Oh, and another student gave me a present from his home country, Brazil – guava jam!
Sunday 26th
I gave a hug to someone who needed it, and the tears that fell on my shoulder were a blessing for both of us. I heard out a friend who needed to get something off her chest. I finished writing and then published…this post!…with the intention of inspiring further good deeds and blessings all over the world. It’s called good deed relay – I’m passing the baton friends:-) Who will receive it…?
AND good deed(s) received: A dear colleague and friend gave me this afternoon off!!!
