Taking time to take stock

As the end of the year approaches there is perhaps time for reflection and contemplation. I'm no navel gazer, for the sake of it, but find much merit in taking stock of the year that's been, in order to appraise and inventory hurdles encountered, obstacles overcome, projects embarked upon and, hopefully, completed. Our achievements are numerous, in each and every day, if only we stop to notice them. Week on week we progress, and grow. Sometimes we need others to reflect this to us, but a quick flick through an appointments diary can reveal some startling stats - where we've been, what we've accomplished, the people we've spent time with whose presence in our lives has added meaning.

"Contemplation seems to be about the only luxury that costs nothing." Dodie Smith

"Few people even scratch the surface, much less exhaust the contemplation of their own experience." Randolph Bourne

With 2012 just around the corner, who would you like to be next year? What is it that you want to take forward, and continue in the months ahead? What would you like to develop? What are you looking to change? With the holidays looming there may an opportunity to afford ourselves some time and space to consider how we might go about realising our ambitions, and implementing those new year's resolutions. Good intentions are admirable, but progress depends upon action: what support might you need? Where will you get that?

Making commitments imply taking responsibility, and becoming accountable. Sometimes we need to articulate our dreams, in order to bring them into being. Who might you share yours with?

“Turning inwards is not a turning at all. Going inwards is not a going at all. All journeys are outward journeys, there is no inward journey. How can you journey inwards? You are already there, there is no point in going. When going stops, journeying disappears; when desiring is no more clouding your mind, you are in. This is called turning in. But it is not a turning at all, it is simply not going out.” Osho

Comments

Table. Apple. Penny.

Whilst there were several places I might have been that morning, I wouldn't have been anywhere else. The practitioner from the Memory Service arrived promptly. I liked her instantly. Mum was nervous. I think I was a little, too. It's been a difficult year. "It's Friday, it's the fourteenth of December and I'm at home..." No problems there. CAMCOG, or the Cambridge Cognitive Examination is a thorough assessment tool used to assess the extent of extent of dementia, and to assess the level of cognitive impairment. The standardised measure assesses orientation, language, memory, praxis, attention, abstract thinking, perception and calculation. "Table. Apple. Penny." Three everyday items that were introduced at one point, and then referred to again later on. Again, Mum was able to recall each. I am reminded that the...

Glass half full? Glass half empty? Or perhaps the glass is broken

I am, constitutionally, a glass half empty gal. I will always first acknowledge what I don't have, what I have lost, and what it is that I am seeking. I tend to overlook my strengths, concentrating only on those bits of me that are underdeveloped or weak. I refer to myself as a realist, but in doing so compliment myself and insult those who genuinely are simply realistic. My modus operandi is to identify what's not working and acknowledge this before seeing more clearly what functions perfectly well. This has its place: I edit others' written work pretty well. My fastidious attention to detail serves me, and the author. Accuracy counts, for me and I have an excellent memory. I can remember a great many of my sessions with clients verbatim. Even this asset is something I can, and do, diminish the true value of, by concentrating on 'I should have said...' or 'why didn't.... occur to me during the session?' Earlier this we...

Pausing in the sunshine

And so, chemo is over. My best friend's diary has been chocker... Line cleans, blood tests, scans and 18 weekly doses of the gruelling treatment itself. Summer seems at last to have arrived and with it, we hope, some time, peace and space. She is, we acknowledged over a rather yummy luncheon served to us beneath the beautiful canopy of creepers and climbers at Petersham Nurseries, an inspiration. A small group of us gathered to celebrate her forthcoming marriage. The sun's rays joined the warmth we all have for this very special woman. Warmth and, in my case at least, pride. It is the greatest privilege to call this woman my best friend. She continues to epitomise my understanding of grace. Our bodies are fragile things. Our minds are frailer still. In her composure and wisdom, she possesses an outlook I can only aspire to adopt. From you, dear Charlotte, I learn and I learn and I learn. The ...

The Reward is the Journey

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