He he ..... I can just see you with your calculators working out how old I am. And if you remember his cardie and the rocking chair – then you can’t be far off my great age either.
Remember with great age - comes great wisdom J
A line of the song Val’s best remembered for came into my head this morning. I’d stepped out to walk down to collect the post from the plastic bin at the end of our drive about a mile away. I am blessed to live in one of the MOST stunningly beautiful parts of Mid-Wales. Rabbits to the left of me, grazing lambs to the right and Red Kites circling lazily overhead.
If I turn to the North-West I can see the ridge of Cader Idris mountain sharp against the skyline and to the South East the mist hanging over the valley and the River Rhiw.
So what am I doing? I am walking, head down, pondering. Fretting away at niggling worries AND chewing my lip for maximum anxiety effect - not to mention the wrinkles I’m growing with my furrowed brow. When I reach the gate and collect the post from the bin I stop. Then it hits me. I have reached the end of the road and I have seen nothing, nothing – well other than the mud, stones and puddles at my feet for the last mile.
“Erm hello Lesley?” My ears prick up – important message to self coming in over the air waves. “Just what do you think you are doing?” Internal Self has clearly decided to give External Self a good talking to this morning – so I’d better listen up.
“Straighten that spine girl – go on really stretch it. You might even find another half inch of height in there if you really try. Good. Now, drop your shoulders - ALL the way my girl. Wearing them as earrings is never a good plan. Now lift your head up. Go on chin UP! That’s it ALL the way. Uh huh! Clever clogs. No, not so your nose is pointing at the sky eejit – just so you can ‘look the world right in the eye”. Now breathe and look around you slowly, take it all in. Press the pause button on that infernal, internal chatter and let everything calm down inside. Breathe .......Keep looking around.Slow it all down, take it all in. Now doesn’t that feel better?”
And it did. The internal hassle and bustle and worry bead counting had stopped. My heart rate was steady and my worries seemed far less important. I looked at the beauty around me, heard the noises of the countryside, felt the breeze on my face and could see what lay all around me. Wowzer! I set off back up the drive – this time with my head up, my back straight and breathing more easily and openly. Once home I went upstairs to my office, dumped all my worries down on a list, made a cup of tea and started to work through them.
Life is not fair, life is hard and sad and full of hurdles to be overcome. That IS the nature of life. However, it is also GOOD and how we view it, determines how we deal with it. In Val Doonican’s song a mother gives her son sound advice. When you look directly at what lies ahead of you, take in the bigger picture with a clear view - your energy and feeling levels shift into a more positive frame. You are better equipped to tackle what needs to be done.
So all together now girls” Walk tall, walk straight... and look the world right in the eye”
Wild Women – Go DO!
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