Sunday 17 July 2016

On finding mantras to help us deal with daily life

A mantra, to me, is a phrase which I can say to myself, to help me deal with the ups and downs of life, the everyday disappointments, hurdles and hurts which seem to crop up all the time. Just when things seem to be nice and settled, relationships running pretty well, house and home generally sorted, whoops, there we go, the apple-cart is upset again!!
Over the years, I've had a few good lines, many of which have disappeared down the drain of my shocking memory. "Take no notice" was a great help ten years ago when husband was giving up smoking, having had a 'gun-at-the-head' health blip! He, of course, has no memory of my need for some sort of mental life belt - so no surprise there, then!
Over recent months, a few helpful words have come to mind, which I felt I'd like to share, in case anyone 'out there on the e-waves' might find them useful when upsetting situations arise.
  • No-one's perfect.
  • Nothing's perfect.
  • Keep your own peace. Don't allow others to disturb you.
  • Close your lips and try to remember to consciously breathe in and out.
  • Walk away.
  • That's the way it is.
  • That's the way they are.
  • That's the way you (speaking of myself) are.
The trouble is that, of course, I tend to forget to apply them when I should and there I go again, getting terribly upset at hurtful words and the injustices and inequities of life in general and mine in particular!
What I would really like do is stamp my feet and fly into a rage but, in my case, I'm too bothered about what people think of me and also scared of them shouting back at me which generally makes me want to cry. That's the seven-year old still living inside me, I reckon!
It's so easy to be philosophical after the event, I find; ah well, keep trying, eh.


Saturday 2 July 2016

On the difference between the English and Welsh football teams

On chatting over the result yesterday evening with son, S, we spoke of the marvellous spirit of the Welsh team. It was obvious that they played with a passion for and pride in their country and their team, which was marvellously reflected by the Welsh supporters. The overwhelming judgement of our team has, understandably enough, been quite the reverse, but are we being fair to them.
Do we, the people of England, feel that kind of passion for our country? I don't think we do, so why should we expect eleven footballers to take on a mantle which we have not been able to supply. We pay them a lot of money, they receive our adulation, but is that enough? Obviously not, I'd say. How could we develop that identity in which we could take pride.
Perhaps now is the time to look at our society in general and ask some searching questions along those lines. We have so much to be proud of but we need, I believe, to return to the kind of values which almost seem to be unfashionable in these times, co-operation, discipline, effort, fair play, good manners, hard work, inventiveness, justice.
Shouldn't we rather lose the game (of life) having played (lived) in this manner than win (live) in any other way.