Extract of 99 Words

"Resilience can only be attained by coming through adversity.

To truly get over something, you have to go through it - but when we do, we can be better human beings for it. More understanding, more compassionate, more insightful - a life lived with more purpose.

Embracing or understanding mental or physical pain can bring us closer to our authentic selves. From there we can recycle that experience into helping others which in turn nurtures our soul.

For a better world - strive to live authentically, flex the gifts you have been given, live with love and laugh wherever possible."

Matthew Johnstone

From the book 99 Words by Liz Gray, which is sub-titled: "You have breath for no more than 99 words. What would they be?"

Mantras for Mums #1

We all have them, the so-called "mom-isms," those lines you hear yourself saying over and over and over again. I'll add to this series as and when I realise what my own mantras are or when I come across particularly clever ones.

Here's my (sadly non-rhyming) top repetition to encourage good manners in greeting people. Although my little man is tremendously social and outgoing, like all of us he has off-days and new venues or unfamiliar faces can set off bouts of shyness. If he's feeling shy or just isn't in the mood for a full-blown conversation with someone, I still insist on him saying "hello." He can say it while peeking out from behind my knees or with his head barely lifted from my shoulder, and thereafter keep schtum* with me as his fiercest advocate, but a cheery "hello" is a must in our family.

"You're allowed to be shy,

but you're not allowed

to be rude."

Armour Academy

I admit I'll try for a "bye" as well as this is far easier for children since they know the exposure to the new venue/person is at an end and our sunny little mister usually adds a smile to his farewell and well they're just precious so any perceived rudeness is usually abated and everyone leaves the encounter happy.

*say nothing (surprisingly a Bristish saying of German derivation and not Yiddish as I'd assumed)

Dress for Success

"I think when you get dressed in the morning, sometimes you're really making a decision about your behaviour for the day."   

Demetri Martin

Struggling

"She struggled. She  found life a bit  of an  obstacle-course." 

Tubby Baker 

Jimmy "Tubby" Baker (as played by Michael Ball) speaking about his mother in Victoria Woods' Christmas 2014 TV musical "That Day We Sang."