Love Creations

I'm still busy making Love Creations. Here are some more:

Felt Love Heart -


Cross Stitch Puppy Love -


Watercolour Love -


Sticker Garden of Love -


Felt Love -


Origami Tulip and Horse - (I love tulips and horses!)

Wise words from Steve Jobs

"You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Gotta love the Dalai Lama!

Love Creations

After a very successful trip to Hobby Craft on Monday I've been busy creating things. I'm enjoying it so much! I feel like a kid again. That's a good thing, right? ;-)

Here are a few of my crafty love creations...

Love Heart Mosaic - pre-grout:

post-grout:

Random Love Creation with origami hearts, ribbon and buttons:


Origami Heart art -

These origami hearts were made by my wonderful sister, mum and girlfriends during my Hen's night back in June. I wanted to use them to create an artwork so I could always see them and be reminded of how amazing all the women in my life are, and how grateful I am for their friendship. Thanks ladies!

Love Creations

After a long talk with a very wise friend of mine (thanks K!), I've decided that writing need not be my only creative outlet. There is more creative potential in me folks, it's just a matter of allowing myself to tap into it! :-) So with that in mind I'm going to let myself create just for the fun of it, in whichever medium I so desire. And the theme of these new creations will be love, because....well...why not?! Everybody loves love, right? I know I do! :-)

I want to bring the joy back into creation. I want to create for creation's sake. Like when I was a kid and I drew endless pictures of horses, or I made a cross-stitch bunny for my mum, or I made a fabric loveheart-shaped photo frame for my dad. Remember craft? It was a joy, and it didn't matter whether it was 'good' or 'bad', it was enough that I'd created something in the first place.

So here's my first 'love creation': Candy Love! I took all the rock candy and chocolates I still have left over from our wedding favours (they make you buy these things in packs of 100!) and I made a little something.


I'm also working on a cross-stitch picture which I will post about once it's all done. And I feel a trip to Hobby Craft is on the cards! :-) Who knows what I'll come up with? Stay tuned...

Inspiring video

What courageous women these two are. Makes me proud to be a woman. And shows how something inspiring and positive can come out of suffering.

Inspirational Quote

“Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” — Albert Einstein

Priority Shift

My rant about consumerism yesterday focussed on the idea that the world has become driven by power and money. Thinking some more about this I’ve realised that an important distinction needs to be made. Money and power themselves are not bad because they are both a neutral form of energy. It is the way they get used that is the problem.

Money is a fact of our reality, it is our method of exchange and it isn’t going anywhere. We all need some money to survive in the modern world and wanting to prosper is not a bad goal in itself. Where things get sticky is when we start to love money a bit too much. We start to desire money for money’s sake, just to have it. We start to see the accumulation of money as proof of our success and power. We start to view ourselves as superior to those with less money. And we start to believe that we’ll never have enough.

Power is also necessary in the world. We each need our own sense of empowerment if we are to ever see our dreams fulfilled. Without empowerment we lack confidence and we begin to doubt ourselves and our abilities. Without power we can never reach our potential. Power, as a positive attribute, allows us to stand up for ourselves and be treated with respect and love. But when used in the wrong way power can corrupt and devalue others. Power can be used to maintain superiority.

The way I see it, what the world needs now is a shift in priorities. Working to accumulate money is ok. In fact, it is a necessity in today’s world. But perhaps a line needs to be drawn. Just how much money does each person really need to survive? There is enough money in the world to feed us all, and then some. A more equal distribution of wealth would make more sense than what is happening now - some people being absolutely saturated with money while others do not even have enough to buy food.

Our value system needs a shake up. We need to realign ourselves with the desire for personal growth rather than financial growth. We need to choose to experience interconnectedness with all others instead of seeking superiority. We need to remember and live in accordance with the values of joy and love and generosity and compassion. Our work needs to be a way for us to contribute to the greater good, not just a way for us to contribute to our ever expanding bank account!

This quote I found sums it all up –

“Let’s stop loving things and start loving people. That is the measure of true wealth.”

love this!

Consumer Greed

I want to start this post by saying – I hold my hand up; I’m a consumer just like everyone else. I sometimes buy things I don’t need. The majority of my possessions aren’t necessary for my survival. Without them I would still continue to exist.

But that’s the thing about modern society – merely existing is not enough anymore. We want to thrive. And in today’s world that means owning a lot of ‘stuff’, and having lots of money in the bank. We’ve all become conditioned to see success as financial abundance alone. I fall into the trap – thinking that if I just had that new pair of jeans or that new book or that little bit more money in my account then I’d feel complete and happy. But it never ends – I just keep wanting more and more and more.

I do understand how we got this way. After the First World War and the Depression we wanted to embrace life and create a world where suffering didn’t happen. We wrongly assumed that by increasing our wealth we would in turn increase our power and then no one could hurt us again. Power, it seems, became the driving force.

To this my father would say – humans are animals therefore we will always be competing against one another to secure our place at the top. The fittest survive, that’s the way the animal kingdom works.

And he’s right; we are just animals. But the difference between us and other animals is that somewhere along the line we grew a brain that is capable of awareness. We’re able to view our behaviours and our actions and decide if they work or not. The lion does not consider his behaviour good or bad. He attacks and kills the other animals so he can eat, so he can survive. His motivation is hunger. He has no other choice. He is not able to set up a veggie patch in his backyard and grow his own dinner!

Humans on the other hand have a so called ‘intelligence’ that we’re supposed to use to our advantage. We’re supposed to use it to come together and help one another. We’re supposed to use it to make the world a better place. In many ways, I think we’ve failed. All we seem to care about these days is our own superiority. We’re power–hungry. We’re greedy. We’re selfish. We’re irresponsible. We’re morally corrupt. And we’re a bunch of hypocrites.

I admit when the riots were happening here in London I was angry and scared of the young people running around the streets. I watched them on the news and thought ‘how stupid are these kids. Who do they think they are?’ But slowly I began to realise that I’m part of the problem myself. I’m not helping these kids, trying to make it all better. Instead I’m sitting in my flat judging them, feeling superior to them because I don’t resort to violence to be heard. Don’t get me wrong, I know that violence is never, never the answer. But why is no one addressing why these kids are acting out? Why is no one trying to help them? Why do our governments spend millions on the Olympics (where we once again compete against one another), but very little is spent to help those who really need it? Why is a movie star paid millions more than they need while people are starving in the world? Why do the mega-rich find legal ways to avoid paying taxes? Why are there legal ways to avoid tax in the first place? Why are we so quick to applaud the wealthy and judge the poor? Why have we let money and power become the cornerstone of a successful life?

What has happened to compassion and community?

I don’t know what the answers are, but I know we must start to admit the part we all play in creating this type of world. It is not just someone else’s fault, it’s not just the politicians fault, it’s not just the wealthy person’s fault, it’s not just the uneducated or unemployed person’s fault. It’s my fault and it’s your fault. For as long as we continue to mindlessly consume, to go after more wealth and more power, to ignore the harsh realities of the world we created, then we’re all to blame.

We need to change now, no matter how much it scares us to give up our comforts or our time in an effort to break out of this money-driven mentality. Because you know what is a hell of a lot more frightening than change? - what will happen to our beautiful Earth if we continue like this.

Spread the Love

This past weekend my amazing sister organised a two-day surprise Hen’s event for me. She cooked my favourite food (fajitas!), stocked the fridge with my favourite beer (Corona!), packed the freezer with my favourite ice cream (Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked!), made sure there was time to watch my all-time favourite movie (Dirty Dancing!), organised a spa day and booked me in for a hot stone massage (brilliant!)…AND she brought together my wonderful girlfriends to celebrate with me. To say I’ve been feelin’ the love is an understatement. I am feeling very, very blessed.

I was reminded how truly fortunate I am to have each of these unique and special women in my life; women who care so much about me and wanted to wish me well in my future marriage. This weekend I’ve created memories that I can call upon whenever I need to feel appreciated and loved. Because that’s sure what I felt a lot of over those two days with my friends by my side.

So for those ladies who I know are reading this blog - thank you for sharing the joy with me. Thank you for all the well wishes and kind words. Thank you for the laughter and the hugs and the all-round good time! Thank you, especially, for your friendship.

Today is Gratitude Day!

Concluding my list of '100 Gratitudes', I am grateful for...

97. travel - I went on my first overseas trip when I was ten. My mum, dad, sister and I went to the U.S.A. I remember being stunned by everything that was different. I'd grown up in a very, very small town so America was definitely an eye-opener! Looking back, I suppose that's when I got bitten by the travel bug. I've been to some amazing places since then; some I dreamt of for a long time. I can't help but pinch myself when I think over all the wonder I've seen with my very own eyes. I am eternally grateful. Nothing can ever take those travelling experiences away from me. They'll live on in my memories for the rest of my life. If I want to return to the safari in Namibia, or Karnak Temple in Egypt, or the crystal clear ocean in Zanzibar, or the snow-covered mountains in France, or the grungy cityscape of Berlin...all I have to do is close my eyes and I'm back there. What joy!

98. Australia - I've actually seen very little of my own country. I've never been to Uluru or the Great Barrier Reef. I always imagined I would see Australia when I was old; a grey nomad! So I still have that to look forward to. :-) I know there is some truly magnificent scenery to be seen in Australia. I'm very, very fortunate to be able to call such a beautiful country my home. I'm grateful to my homeland for making me into the person I am today. Travelling the world may have opened my mind and I may currently live overseas, but the Australian in me is always there.

99. love - this is the most significant thing I am grateful for. I live for love. That might sound lame, but it's my truth. People find it hard to explain love, and I'm no different, but it's something we've all felt - whether it be from our families, friends or partners. Even strangers. It's the one thing that brings us all together, a common goal. We're all searching for it, hoping for it, longing for it. I love and I am loved. That's all I could ever wish for.

100. my life - cliché I know, but I had to end this gratitude list with something really important. And what's more important than my own life? I can't think of a thing! I'm so very grateful for not only the life I am living, but my life in general. I'm grateful for having this opportunity to think and breathe and experience. I'm grateful for simply being. My life has its ups and downs just like everyone else, but when I step back and look at everything I'm experiencing and feeling I am reminded that life is pretty fantastic! I only get this one chance to live my life in this particular incarnation, so I want to enjoy it! That's why I started this list; to remind me of what makes me happy in this world. I am absolutely filled with gratitude as a result. Blessings!

Today is Gratitude Day!

Continuing my list of '100 Gratitudes', I am grateful for...

93. 'The Sky is Everywhere' by Jandy Nelson - this is a Young Adult novel I came across while browsing the Lovereading website. It follows the story of seventeen-year-old Lennie as she deals with the death of her older sister. As the younger, quieter sister Lennie was used to living in her sister's shadow, but now she must learn how to shine. A part of me can relate to the feeling of living in an older sibling's shadow, but what really makes me grateful for this story is the way the author Jandy Nelson inhabits the world of the teenager so convincingly. Reading the novel made me feel like I was in high school again, going through all the rollercoaster emotions, desperate to be an adult but lacking the emotional maturity to really be one. Oh the joys of adolescence! :-) This book reminded me how far I've come since I was a teenager, but that even as adults we're always learning, always growing. I haven't read YA fiction since I myself was a young adult (apart from Harry Potter of course) but this novel has shown me that it's a genre worth exploring.

94. Ancient Egypt - I've mentioned The Pyramids in this list already, but I come back to Ancient Egypt because last week I went to the British Museum to see the Book of the Dead exhibition. It was fascinating! It's hard to believe that the papyrus they have on display is thousands of years old because the colours are still so vibrant. It's wonderful to be able to get so close to ancient cultures, almost as though they still exist to this day. When I look at these ancient hieroglyphic-covered papyrus I always imagine the scribe who wrote them. I picture the person bent over the papyrus, their writing so delicate and precise, and I'm reminded of the art of writing. These ancient scribes were artists as well as storytellers and record keepers. I like to imagine all modern day writers as descendents of ancient Egyptian scribes. Myself included! :-)

95. writing - I don't think I need to explain why I'm grateful for writing; it's obvious isn't it? But let me just say this - having an outlet for creative expression is so important to all of us, even those who say they have no artistic talent. That's the thing - it's not about talent. It's about finding something that allows you to say what is in your heart, a way to bring your truth to the world. Mine is writing. What is yours?

96. 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron - reading this book was the first time I became aware of writing being a spiritual practice. Before then I thought spiritual practices were confined to the church, something I had no interest in pursuing. So it came as a welcome surprise to find that something I enjoyed doing so much could help me connect to the divine and help me live a more spiritual existence. For those who aren't familiar with the book, Julia Cameron asks you to write three pages each morning, ("morning pages") as soon as you wake up, to get all those niggling doubts and thoughts down onto the page and out of your system, which allows the real creative energy to flow. Once you're connected to that energy, you're able to create with much more ease. I'm grateful for anything that helps make the writing process easier! :-) I'm also eternally grateful for anything that helps me live in harmony and balance. That's what writing with spiritual intent does for me.

Today is Gratitude Day!

Continuing my list of '100 Gratitudes', I am grateful for...

89. 'The Five People You Meet in Heaven' by Mitch Albom - I came across this book when I found it on the bookcase of a houseshare I was living in (it belonged to my flatmate). I had never heard of Mitch Albom nor his famous memoir 'Tuesdays with Morrie' (which I have since read too), but I was drawn to the premise of this book; that when we die our life is explained to us by five people who were in it. I loved the idea that our lives can affect others, without us even realising. It made me think about how connected we all are and that our lives are meaningful even if we consider them the opposite. It is impossible to go through life without influencing or inspiring other people, whether we do it intentionally or not. I like that. It's nice to know that something will always be left behind once we're gone; that in one way or another our lives make a mark on this earth.

90. Eckhart Tolle - both of Eckhart's books, 'The Power of Now' and 'A New Earth' have had a strong effect on me. Before reading them I never thought much about living in the present moment. I was just like everybody else who gets caught up regretting the past or worrying about the future. I still get sucked into that sometimes, but now at least I have the awareness to recognise when I'm getting bogged down in negative patterns and I can consciously bring myself into the now. It works! Eckhart is right - the present moment is all there is; the past is gone and tomorrow is yet to come. Where we can discover our power is in the present moment, in our awareness of what is happening right now. The now can remind us of the joys of life and the happiness we're capable of feeling if we only allow ourselves to let go. We don't need to keep striving for more or trying to prove our worth in this world - we're already worthy just by being alive. That's the wonder of life; each of us is as magnificent as the planet, the moon, the sun, the stars. If only the human race could recognise how amazing we are and respect our magnificence...maybe then love would prevail and suffering would end forever.

91. Elizabeth Gilbert - this is the second time I've written about Elizabeth Gilbert on Healing Scribe. In June last year I wrote a post about creativity after having been inspired by Elizabeth. I continue to be inspired by this wonderful writer, not only because of her writing success but for what she has brought to the world, and to me in particular. I'm grateful for what I feel is an artistic and spiritual affinity; Elizabeth is a writer trying to make sense of her world and using the written word to do so. All writers do this, of course, but for the way her words have changed me and helped me to grow Elizabeth deserves a special mention in my list.
Check out my earlier post -
Musings on Creativity, with a little help from Elizabeth Gilbert

92. Movie Yoga - my wonderful sister bought me the book 'Movie Yoga' by Tav Sparks for Christmas. The minute I started reading the book I thought 'I've found someone else who understands how powerful movies are!' It's not that I don't know other people who enjoy movies. Everybody I know does, actually. I've never met a single person who hates movies. But there is another level to my love of film. I think I've mentioned it here before, but I'll say it again - I've learnt a lot about life and about myself by watching movies. And that's what Movie Yoga is all about. Tav suggests that the way we relate to a particular film, the way it affects us, is a transformational experience that can help us get to know ourselves better. And here's an example from my recent movie watching - I saw The King's Speech and felt my heart pull when King George VI screams "Listen to me. Listen to me!...Because I have a voice!" Now my reaction to this wasn't just down to Colin's magnificent performance, oh no. I had an emotional response to these words because at times I've often felt that I don't allow myself a voice. I sometimes mumble, or I just keep my mouth shut, even if I want to speak up. Watching The King's Speech, with my new Movie Yoga knowledge in mind, I was able to recognise an emotional issue that has stunted me in my life (my fear that my voice isn't worthy of being heard) and I was able to work through it and try to heal it. All because I went to the cinema. Brilliant! Movie therapy - gotta love it!
Of course, writing about my fear here has been hard (years of thinking that whatever I have to say is unimportant), but I don't do it for sympathy. I do it to help me move past the issue, so I can let go. I do it so my voice can be heard.

Today is Gratitude Day!

Continuing my list of '100 Gratitudes', I am grateful for...

85. Reiki - I don't know who I'd be if Reiki hadn't found its way into my life. I've mentioned a lot in this list the things that have helped me to grow and change; Reiki would have to be the most significant of these. One of the first posts I wrote on Healing Scribe was about my journey to Reiki. It sums up just why I'm eternally grateful for this magnificent healing art.
Read it here -
My journey to Reiki and beyond

86. 'Eastern Body. Western Mind' by Anodea Judith - once I learnt Reiki and discovered the world of energy it was inevitable that the chakras (energy centres) would come into my awareness. I began to devour books about the chakra system. The best one, by far, is Eastern Body Western Mind. This book, like its title suggests, weaves together the eastern understandings of our energy body with the western traditions of psychology. Not only did Anodea Judith give me a wonderful knowledge of each of the seven major chakras, but she also passed on her wisdom of how each chakra affects us as we grow from baby to adult (and continuously in a cycle throughout the rest of our lives). For example - the first chakra found at the base of the spine relates to grounding and coincides with our initial stage of development; our new life as a baby as we learn to crawl and then walk. We are finding our footing in this world - literally and energetically. Knowing more about the role of each chakra in my energetic development has helped me to understand my personality better and where my specific issues came from. I've been able to let go and heal myself of past emotional pain. For that I'm very, very grateful.

87. crystals - last year I studied Crystal Healing. Doing my twenty case studies blew everything I thought I knew about the energetic power of crystals out of the water! I've always been attracted to crystals (especially amethyst - purple!!) and I had an abstract understanding of their energy and healing qualities. But when I was able to witness it myself, among my case study clients, I realised that crystals have very, very strong healing energy. Using them in conjunction with the chakras gave the client a powerful healing session that balanced their energy body, aided their wellbeing and helped them to feel relaxed. I'd seen these same responses during Reiki sessions, but during my crystal case studies I did not channel Reiki energy at all. The healing that occurred was a direct result of the power of these little gems of the Earth. How magnificent!

88. affirmations - while I'm talking about energy I can not forget to mention the energy of our thoughts. Yes, thoughts have an energetic vibration as well. They are not just confined to the insides of our brain. They move beyond our heads to the energy soup that is our universe and they attract their physical manifestations into our lives. Feeling sad and being hard on yourself, that's what you'll continue to attract - more painful thoughts and an even more painful reality. On the other hand if you're conscious of your thoughts and try to maintain a positive frame of mind, you will inevitably attract more and more joy and prosperity into your life. It's the law of attraction. Fact. That's why affirmations are so valuable - they can be used to retrain your thought patterns and get rid of those nagging self-doubts that plague you.
Try saying this affirmation daily and see if you start to feel lighter, happier and more content with who you are and the life you're living... (it works for me!)...
'I love and approve of myself.'

Today is Gratitude Day!

Continuing my list of '100 Gratitudes', I am grateful for...

81. massage - one of the best massages I've ever had was at the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. You think massage inside a therapist's treatment room is wonderful...try getting massaged while floating on your back on a mattress in the warm waters of the Lagoon. The floating just adds a whole other level of relaxation. Amazing! But of course there is also massage I enjoy much closer to home - I recently went for my second ever Kahuna massage. I loved it! In fact, I was in heaven afterwards. Kahuna literally is an all body massage as the therapist works on your front as well as your back. It's all about long, continuous, flowing strokes. It's all about harmony. :-) In Hawaiian, kahuna means 'loving hands'. Enough said.

82. showers - this is my everyday massage! I'm one of those bad people who take long showers. I try not to but I just love them so much. The hot water cascading down my back, the steam filling my lungs...what's not to love? :-) I often get creative ideas pop into my head while I'm in the shower. Or if something has been bothering me or stressing me out, a solution will appear. Now that I've gotta be grateful for!

83. bed - if I'm talking about relaxation I have to mention bed! I can't name one thing better than curling up under the doona and feeling my head sink into my pillow and feeling my tired body surrender to the comfort of my mattress. Actually, there is something better - that feeling I get when I wake up but I don't have to get up. You know it? When you can simply roll over, close your eyes again and drift off. Ahh sleep....I adore it. Ahh bed...what a wonderful invention. :-)

84. walking - that's right; I don't spend all my time asleep. I do love to go for a walk. It's another very relaxing thing to do, another way to clear my mind so I can come up with new creative ideas. In the summertime, especially, I like to go to the park and walk. There is always a buzz in the air and I make sure I breathe it in! Plus, you know what I adore about walking - it doesn't feel like exercise. It feels more like meditation.

Today is Gratitude Day!

Continuing my list of '100 Gratitudes', I am grateful for...

77. IMDB - how great is The Internet Movie Database website?! Want to find the release date of an upcoming movie - it's on there. Want to know who wrote or directed a film - it's on there. Want to know trivia, goofs, soundtracks, memorable quotes - they're all on there! It doesn't get any better for a movie fan like me.
www.imdb.com

78. Drew's Script-O-Rama - another wonderful movie website. This one has hundreds of film scripts for you to download. Both the movie fan and the writer in me is grateful for this magnificent resource. My slightly out there writer's dream is to see a film script of mine made into a movie; and if they wanted to honour me with an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, I wouldn't turn it down! :-) This website is invaluable because as all screenwriters know - the best way to learn how to write a movie is to read scripts and watch films!
(In case you're wondering...yes, I have written a screenplay. But the film studios haven't come knocking at my door yet!)
www.script-o-rama.com

79. Wikipedia - I can spend hours on this site. I go on there searching for info on someone or something and I end up following links to related people or events. Just this morning I looked up U2, just for curiosity. I read about how the band started, then I moved on to read just about Bono, and then his wife, and then about their charity work. Talk about accessible information! I think it's brilliant.

80. Facebook - Mark Zuckerberg has successfully taken over the (virtual) world, whether that was his intention or not. We can't deny how much this little social networking site has changed our lives. And I for one think it's great. Admittedly, I don't go on there as much as I did when I was caught up in the initial buzz of it all. But I check in every now and again to see what friends are up to. I love that it only takes a simple status update for everyone you care about to know your latest news. This is especially great when, like me, friends and family are spread out all over the world. It's an easy way to stay in touch. And I know it shouldn't replace face-to-face contact, but when that isn't possible it offers the next best thing.

Today is Gratitude Day!

Continuing my list of '100 Gratitudes', I am grateful for...

73. Tea Tree oil - I get cold sores. Something I am most definitely not grateful for. I hate them. I wish they didn't exist. But I have found that tea tree oil is the one thing, when applied directly to the spot, can stop a cold sore developing (if I catch it early enough). If not, I still apply the tea tree oil regularly throughout the day and it dries that cold sore up quick smart. Of course there is no way to avoid the unsightly scab, but all things heal in time. I just call myself scab face to add a little humour to the situation. ;-) Tea tree oil is nature's antiseptic - now, that's pretty cool; another example that nature provides everything we need to survive on this planet! And you know the other great thing about tea tree oil? It's native to Australia. Like me. Love it!

74. Essential Care - while I'm on the topic of tea tree oil, I have to mention the organic company that produces my face cleanser. Essential Care is a small family-run business who make skin care products from almost 100% organic ingredients. I swear by their Lemon and Tea Tree Facial Wash - it keeps my skin clear and I feel fantastic knowing I'm putting only natural, organic ingredients onto my face.

75. Aloe vera - if I'm talking about nature's gifts I have to include aloe vera! Ohh the amount of times aloe vera gel has soothed my fiery sunburn! Yes, that's right - I did grow up in one of the sunniest countries in the world (so you'd think my skin would be tough!), but my skin is still susceptible to sunburn. (Of course this can always be avoided by simply wearing sunscreen, something I admit to forgetting most of the time. oops!) The wonder of aloe vera is also the main ingredient in my favourite lip balm; which is another product I use to ward off those dreadful cold sores. So aloe heals me again and again - gotta be grateful for that!!

76. the organic movement - I know that everything organic is big business these days, which is, ironically, the opposite of what the movement stood for when it began. But I have to be grateful for what the movement brought to me - a new way of viewing the world and our interconnectedness to all things. It has raised my awareness and reminded me that I want to live as natural a life as I can.

Today is Gratitude Day!

Continuing my list of '100 Gratitudes', I am grateful for...

69. clear blue skies on a London winter's day - last week as I wrote my blog the view from my window was gray and dreary. Today I look out and all I see is a baby blue sky without a single cloud, and the morning sun flooding the buildings. Ahh the difference the sun can make! :-) I wouldn't have thought the weather could have such an effect on me. I try not to let it because I know it's only weather and we can't change it. I try to remind myself that it's just Mother Nature moving through her cycles - cycles that are necessary for life on this planet. But best laid plans....! Sometimes the winter gets me down and I long for the sunshine. So I'm grateful the weather gods are smiling on me today.

70. chocolate - I eat too much of this wonderful stuff, I admit it. But I just can't help myself. I once stopped for a short time - until I realised I'd only replaced eating chocolate with drinking hot chocolates!! Some way or another I always get my fix. That makes me sound like an addict...well, maybe I am. It just tastes so, so, so good.

71. Lightworker Magazine - I only just discovered this online magazine. It describes a lightworker as someone who is "committed to the art of positive living." The magazine is full of inspiring articles. I've only read the latest edition, so now I want to go back and take a look at all their past ones. Best of all - we can all do this online, for free! I love what the people at Lightworker Magazine are doing - spreading the word in an accessible way. I appreciate that. And it makes me grateful for those in the world who just want to help others, in any way they can.
Check it out - www.lightworkermag.com

72. Toni Carmine Salemo - I bought a couple of prints by this Australian intuitive artist at the Mind Body Spirit festival last year. I was captivated by his beautiful images - they spoke directly to my soul. I think Toni is a magnificent artist who has an extraordinary talent. He is able to let go and connect to his spirit, and then translate what he sees and feels so stunningly onto the canvas. When I look at his work I feel a connection to the divine.
Check out his online galleries - www.tonicarminesalerno.com/gallery1.htm