Prompt 278"reflection".

Why not take your SP as a reflection, in a mirror, window , puddle, or an object. Maybe you will use your journaling to reflect on the past year.

I have taken one of my first SP in Jan 08 to compare with today's photo Oct 08. Both photos were taken looking into a mirror in my dressing gown!

I can see that I am more confident in taking a SP and I think that my photography re light and position is slowly improving, though I have a long way to go compared to others!!

The dictionary meaning of reflection: 1. reflecting or being reflected- light,heat,colour or image. 2. reconsideration 3. mental faculty dealing with sensation and perception. 4. idea arising in the mind. mental or verbal.

Well I have reflected an image of myself and reconsidered the photo.

As I reflect on the past year I realise how quickly time and life goes by. That we should not waste anytime on the past but should learn that no matter how old you are we can change ourselves if we try! I have looked at my goals and have managed to achieve the following out of 10

Losing some weight, YES I am doing this :)

Stop biting my nails, yes I have!

Get my priorities right and think about myself more at times - Yes I am doing that

To laugh each day -most days

Keep the spare room tidier, yes at times!

Less critical of others, I think I am improving on this!

Iron more often ????? sometimes

Drink less wine - NO :(

Day 277
Prompt 277
"Listen"

The dictionary meaning for listen - make an effort to hear something, hear with attention a person speaking

Am I a good listener? - I am sadden to say I think nowadays NO!!

I would love to be a good listener and it is a skill you can learn. I know this because I taught this skill to children in schools BUT I find that my mind wanders and I do not these days retain information and would much rather talk then listen!

I know that when I worked I was a better listener to both the children in my care and colleagues that needed an ear for advice, a problem or just to talk something through.

I am sure I listen to Peter (at times!!), my children, grandchildren, friends on 365 and my team when they have a problem but to others at parties and people making 'small talk' NO!!

Day 276
Prompt 276
"Cherish"

Dictionary meaning of 'cherish' - foster, nurse, value, hold dear, cling to.

What to I foster? new friendships, my garden plants

What do I nurse? definitely not grudges but memories

What do I value? my life, my marriage,home and possessions

What do I hold dear? my faith, my family

What do I cling to? past memories

Day 275
Prompt 275
"Hold"

The word 'hold' can again be a verb( grasp,contain,possess,keep,observe, restrain,think/believe,not give away,be valid,restrain oneself-stop or wait) or a noun (the grasp - manner of holding, cavity in a ship)

I think we usually think of the word as a doing word, to hold onto whether it is a person or goods.

I like to hold on to possessions. In other words I am a horder and hate to throw things out. You should see our loft and garage!!

I think young children like to hold hands and I hate to see toddlers running away and refusing to hold an adults hand, but then again to hold a child's hand to restrain is incorrect and fragile bones can break. Then you hold their wrist - if you do need to restrain :( This I hated to do and there are other options before confrontation and restraint. This I learnt whilst in my job doing a restraining course.

September 30, 2008

Day 274

This week I am going to use a single word to inspire your journalling and photos

Prompt 274 "Care"

What do we mean by the word 'care' The dictionary says it is a noun ( trouble, anxiety, heed, caution, protection, serious attention or a verb (feel concern, interest or regard, affection and liking)

I like to think I am a caring person. I had a job of caring for children especially those with special needs and all those above words I would have used at sometime during my teaching career.I care very much about my family and friends and even feel the same to total strangers, letting them go before me at times in a shop queue or a bus queue or helping someone across a road. I have also found in the forum UKS some very caring peeps! What a wonderful world we would live in if everyone cared in the same way,!

Day 273
Prompt 273
"When spider webs unite they can tie up a lion.”
African Proverb
What makes you strong?

Well this is a tough prompt!

I actually hate spiders, they frighten me:( I do not like the way they entice and capture flies into their webs and at times I know that feeling when people entice me into a situation I do not want to be in AND cannot get out of!

Lions are not an animal that I admire, far too fierce for me! People who roar intimidate me, we must have all met those types at work!

I feel strong when I am confident in my environment, confident with those around me and feel I am making a difference to people.

I feel weak when I cannot help or make a difference and feel vulnerable!

Day 272
Prompt 272
"We need not think alike to love alike.”
—Francis David (1510-1579), clergyman

We all have the same ability and gift of love but do we all use this ability?

There are different loves. Love our neighbours, our partners and our enemies as we love ourselves How difficult is that at times! Romantic /sexual love we use the expressions 'make love' and 'falling in and out of love' and the Christian ( Biblical,Agape) love -(to be loving) how we respond and act towards a person which mirrors the selfless love God has for us. Peter in I Cor 13:13 wrote "now abide faith, hope, these three; but the greatest of these is love"love

This is the one kind of love I find the most difficult but strive as my purpose in my life on earth to improve on!

We certainly do not all think alike and I don't think we all love alike. I hope I am a good role model to our children, our grandchildren, friends and strangers showing them this wonderful gift of love.