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?✨? Happy Magic Monday my Fabulous Ones ?✨?

We all have been gulity of thinking and behaving through our ego and not being our true selves. I guess my thinking as to why we do this is because we feel safe and in control. It’s not long before keeping up pretense gets too much, wishing we never started this game and all we want to do is open our authentic hearts, but we feel embarrassed by the contradiction this would create.

I have worn these shoes, thinking that these were fashionable and were liked – how wrong was I? For those of you that have been following me for a while will know I have Cerebral Palsy. Due to this I need a little more help than most to do things – you know where this is going, right? Even though I am completely okay with having to need this help and am extremely grateful for those who do help me, sometimes I try and to things myself and end up wishing I’d asked for help and I get that told you so feeling.

I guess in a round about way I wanted to say that it OK and really usual not to having all your ducks in a row and ask for help even if you think this is silly(not in a all knowing kindof way- I hope you know what I mean). Lately I have asked for a lot of help on something which I had zero glue about and had to swallow my pride and just ask about my uncertainties even if Iooked really silly. You know how the saying goes I’d rather be silly for a minute for a lifetime.?✨?

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Celebrations and Announcements!!!

Dear Reader,

I am writing to you today with a whole lot of excitement along with a few nerves!! I have been itching to tell you something for so long but you know when you are unsure whether it is right timing? Well, this is something I have debated and, oh my, the amount of fantastic imaginative stories my little brain has cooked up-some are  completely delicious, while others I would rather pass on. But, my fabulous dear one, as we have previously discovered the time is now-live on the other side of fear!!!

This also comes on a day that marks my second year of blogging! Time that has gone so fast. Time that has in some ways allowed me to be more open and honest, especially this last year. Time that has removed one of my big fears and has allowed me to find my shoes, at least for now. All of this has come from writing to you and sharing my thoughts that you have very kindly read and have also shared your views, which I am hugely thankful for!!

I have recently watched a speech that one of my favourite authors, Elizabeth Gilbert, gave a few years ago about passion and curiosity. She tells her audience not to get too hung up on finding their passion and just be curious, explaining that by being curious “[It] Just might lead you to your passion!” This is exactly what happened to me through writing on here; when I first started writing I didn’t know really where it would lead. It was a hobby but then it grew into something that I loved, that truly awoke me.  I write with, hopefully, an empowering message that you can, that there are no limits, to reach for you dreams and to be present- using every moment to be an opportunity to enhance yourself; this is not only for you, but to remind myself as well when I don’t feel as fabulous as I should!

From the support of you and my family and friendd (and also my fluffy friend Talulah, seen in the picture above) my self-believe has grown, allowing mee to take my writing one exciting step further (gulp)…. I am in the middle of writing a book!! This is something I am really exciting about and cannot wait to share more about this with you.  I do not want to give away too much yet but what I will say is that these writings are, on the one hand, very personal and also, on the other, universal and are words that represents in every way a beautiful journey.  Through this project I have learnt to let go of my fear of not knowing where life is going and just dance in the moment. It is my wish that you can do the same and feel joy when finding your shoes

Within the following months, I hope to share with you more about this exciting venture, but for now I want to thank you for your continued support- it means more than you will ever know!!  Every comment, every thought is truly appreciated in their own right. Remember to live well and be happy!

All my love XX

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A Suprise Meet with Confetti Crowd!!

Dear Reader,

Let’s talk about Girl Power!! Girl Power is hugely important and something every female should have FULL STOP!! It’s the start of freedom. It’s a start of standing up for your rights. It’s about going after the things in life the makes you fully awake and not listening to that out-of-date, never-in-date, record that you can’t do something because “you’re a girl”!! It’s about supporting other girls and together accomplishing goals. It’s about living and breathing your worth because, my fabulous one, there is no other way to be alive!!!

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And who better to represent the true essence of Girl Power?? None other than the inspirational Confetti Crowd!! The Confetti Crowd is made up of four beautiful ladies: Heidi Pettie, Helibells, Lulutrixabelle and Tiger Lilly, who promote female empowerment and work to encourage girls to be their own boss and ultimately just be themselves, collectively and individually (through their own brands)-basically everything  that makes my heart sing!! Plus to say they love rainbows would be an understatement-they embrace every inch of living life in colour and wear just exactly what they want, always looking fabulous!! I have been following these women for quite a while through their social media platforms and just love what they stand for, so meeting these ladies would be a dream….

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Cut to last month, Mermaid, my sister (an amazing lady who I first introduced you to in my post Mermaid and I) said that she was taking me to lunch, we always like to do something together whenever we can, so this was very normal. We got ready arrived at the carpark near the restaurant,, okay still very normal, I was then told by Mermaid to look down- my weirdmometer scale comes out as this was a tad weird- but I just went with it. Then we went into the restaurant and were taken to our table however the table had more than two seats around it, the weirdness on the weirdmometer goes up slightly. Mermaid then told me just to look at the menu, ok now the weirdness on the weirdmometer went up quite up bit. AND THEN… I heard a hello! I looked up and it was three of the Confetti Crowd, Heidi Pettie, Helibells and Lulutrixabelle, along with their lovely videographer Alicea Lewis!! Now the weirdness on the weirdmometer was off the chart!! I was completely shocked, to say the least!  I did not know what to say or do a first. I was beyond excited!!! A quite lunch turned into something extraordinary!! After a chance to try and take all that was happening in everyone sat down, order some yummy food and chatted all things Confetti, empowering and just life!!!

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What I love about these girls was how incredibly supportive they are- just the way girls should be but for whatever reason these qualities get left behind, or they get blinded by something else that stops them embracing and spreading Girl Power.  The Confetti Crowd are true living example of what it means to encourage other girls and together conquering the world!! I felt this throughout our time with them, sharing stories and dreams, with the ultimate message being “Go get it!” As I mentioned before three of the four girls, was at this exciting lunch date. This was because Tiger Lilly is on her annual trip in Thailand working on new fashion lines for her brand. This, right here is why I am so inspired by these girls-they have dreams and they go and accomplish them e.g. Tiger Lilly’s dream of designing festival fashion clothes continues to come true, this is everything and more that makes me do a happy dance!!!

Thank you so so much Confetti Crowd for you constant motivation and have made me more determined than ever to go for my dreams. A huge huge thank you also to my beautiful Mermaid for making the dream of meeting the Confetti Crowd come true along with Alicea!!!

All my love XX

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The Mystery Blogger Award Nomination

Dear Reader,

I got the most lovely gesture from fellow blogger, With Being Alive, nominating me for The Mysterty Blogger Award-thank you sooo much for this. With Being Alive is a blog with inspiring words about living beyond Mental illness and not letting it being the definition of who she is! In other words, in my language- a fabulous human!!! Her words are so honest and because of this, she allows her readers to deeply connect with her posts, I know I have!! You can check out her blog here!

So, what is the Mystery Blogger Award?

Well the creator of this award, Okoto Enigma, says “It’s an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, a1nd they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging, and they do it with so much love and passion.”

The rules are:

  • Put the award logo/image on your blog.
  • List the rules.
  • Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
  • Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well.
  • Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.
  • You have to nominate 10 – 20 people.
  • Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.
  • Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify).
  • Share a link to your best post(s).

My questions from With Being Alive were:

What is your favourite song and why?

Gosh, that’s a hard question because there is sooo many!! But at the moment I am really into anything by Chic!! The classic are the best!! They have such feel good songs to make Everybody Dance ; )!!!

How has your blogging changed since you first began?

Blogging has changed me in so many way! When I first started blogging it  was just something to do, writing about the world around me with a glass half full attitude. Months and months down the line a started to be a little more open and honest, sharing a little about me and my disability.  Through writing about this it made me think about disability in different ways, motivating others not to be defined by a label. So blogging has made me more open and my passion for writing has got stronger. This sounds cliché but writing has truly made a difference to my life!!

Where is your most favourite place?

Last year my Sister and I went to Greace. We spend most of our time on the beach, sitting on the shore allowing the sea to take the weight of our legs! It was that moment where I felt most alive looking across the endless blue sea and in complete peace!! Every time life seems to get a bit manic I go back to that place in my mind. And that is my favorite place!

If there was a movie about you, who would you want to play your character?

Ohh nice question! The one and only Julia Roberts – She is just an amazing actress

What is your favourite word and why?

My favourite would is equality because it means fairness and that how I think the world should function-How beautiful would the world be if it did?!

Three things about me:

  1. I love penguins!!! I have not one, not two, but three penguin bears, three sets of penguin pyjamas, a duvet with a mamma, papa and baby penguin on it, penguin gloves and to confirm my penguin obsession my sister recently got me a mug with the words “Crazy Penguin Lady.” But how can you not adore their little walk?!!
  2. My favourite quote is by Hafiz and it goes: “Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth, ‘You owe me.’ Look what happens with a love like that. It lights up the whole sky.”
  3. This is a weird one, but if I was an animal I would be a bird- I could go anywhere I liked, when I liked (listening to Everybody Dance 😉 )!!

According to WordPress, my best blog post was Mermaid and I. This was also my favourite post to write!

My Mystery Award Nominations are:

My question are:

  1. What do you like most about blogging?
  2. Who or what motivates you?
  3. If you had a super power, what would it be?
  4. Music or books(including audio books)? Which one could you live without? You have to pick one.
  5. What would is your golden rule for life?

 

I am really looking forward to reading your answers! Please do not feel pressuried to respond as I know this is not everyone’s type of thing! Thank you so much again to With Being Alive for your nomination, I really enjoyed doing this.

 

All my love XX

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A New Perspective of New Year

Dear Reader,

Wishing you, my dearest fabulous one, a very Happy New Year!

The start of a new year has a tendency to connote expectations and in turn induce pressure to live up to these. This is where our friend fear makes an appearance and dances upon joy, which should be soaring at the prospect of a new year! We hear chatter of ‘new year resolutions,’ spoken half-heartedly not because they are lying but because somewhere deep inside they are questioning themselves: “Will I be able to fulfil this resolution?” “How long will this resolution last?” I have done this. I have done this sooo many times. I said I would do this, this and this and by the end of the month most of my aims, if not all, would be inactive. I then might feel like a fraud to myself and go down that rabbit hole for a while. Then I might think ‘oh new year just sucks.’ This is a sequence of events that have been repeated several times, until one year I this skipped to the last part and completely forgot the beauty of a new year!

I recently read how we get a brand new year totally for free. A- HA! YES! BINGO! Finally it has clicked I thought! I interpreted this as going back to being grateful and thankful for the opportunity of seeing a new year! We have a whole year to fulfil our wishes, create our own magic and evolve into the person we want to be, developing in our strengths! We can do all this without setting New Year‘s resolutions and chiding ourselves for not doing the thing that we think we should be doing! So what if you have a bad day; as much as it would be a brilliant to be a go-getter every day, we all have dips of motivation. But that does not mean that you have failed, or that you should give up, or that your spark has gone forever, it just means you need to rest and retreat in another love to reset your mind for a while.

If you resonated with my first thought of the idea of New Year, thinking it was something to be feared doing a negative introspection, please I ask you now to stop this. Stop wishing your year away and remember the beauty that maybe uncovered in the year ahead. Who knows what this year could bring you?

All my love XX

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The Gift of Breath at Christmas

Dear Reader,

It is so unbelievable that I am writing a Christmas post to you again- I am sure Santa’s sleigh just touched back down in the North Pole! Ok, you got me, I might be a bit of a secret believer – but I did think that that last time that we spoke we established that the possibilities were endless?? 😉

Anyhow!! How are your festive preparations going? Are you ready? Have you done all your shopping yet? Have you got many things crossed of your list? What’s left? Do you know where or how you are spending Christmas? And what is the dish of that day? Wow that time is ticking so fast, are you sure you will be prepared in time?..Oh, and how are you??

Mmm, sound familiar. This is the sound of panicked voices, voices that cries the need for perfection, voices that are carried by the wave of Christmas mania, voices the have not learnt to breathe yet! This time of year can be a complete carousel of emotions, thought and behaviours, all feeding into and maintaining one another only speeding up more and more; the vision of everything else becomes blurry, or is seen in only one way. This can be also applied to anytime of the year. These voices have been listening to this tune and anything else that has made them participate in pass the parcel; they have yet to listen to themselves and the things that really matter. I think we are all guilty of this at one point or another, whether we meant to or not- you included so put down your ego hat, it’s not that warm anyway. I know I have been caught in this trap; I have moments where I think won’t get things done on time and spend an equal amount of time thinking how I can work around it and in the mix of it all, I forgot what I should rather be doing. If we were all to take a breath lose focus on what we are focusing on and find our focus in what our intentions are, how would this change?

My focus would be to make sure I am doing things with happiness and pleasure, without pressure- being wholehearted in what I am doing will have more of a positive impact, rather than doing things just because-. My focus would be to participate in things that would only aid my development and allow me to feel alive. My focus would be to be grateful for all and who I have in my life- life is far too precious, do things and speak with love-.

This Christmas remember the true meaning of this season, of goodwill. Think of others who may be less fortunate without judgement as you do not know their story; even if you are not in a position to help, just by thinking of them and wishing that they will seek comfort can go a long way. Smile at a stranger who you pass by, it might be the only smile that they will receive today. Go forward with gratitude and allow yourself a moment to enjoy your own company!

This year my lovely Sister is running a campaign to raise awareness of Mental Health, a cause which is close to our hearts. My sister has designed and made chokers, which can be found on her online shop, with 50% of the profit of every choker sold going to the U.K. charity, MIND. This time of year can be hugely challenging for those with poor mental health and can trigger lots of negative thoughts and feelings. MIND work tirelessly to provide resources to support those who are struggling with their mental health, which can be even more testing over the Christmas period. Each and every penny that is donated will go towards helping maintain their fantastic services they provide and will allow them to reach more people who are in desperate need of help. More information about this cause and how you can get yourself one of these chokers will be can be found here.

I sincerely wish you peace and happiness this Christmas.

All my love XX

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A Beautiful Awakening

Dear Reader,

Have anyone ever told you that the possibilities are endless? Well, my fabulous one, the possibilities ARE endless!!!

I have recently and have experienced and reaffirmed this. This has allowed me to simply feel, in every sense of the word, alive!!! And this all started with a text. Yep, that right a text from my gorgeous Sister-who I have previously introduced you to as Mermaid-, with the words ‘the holiday is booked.’ This random, out of the blue message left me, as you can imagine, a tad confused. It turns out that we would be going to Greece and would be next to the sea. A type of holiday I have always dreamt of, but somehow I thought would never happen. Maybe I subconsciously I feared ‘how this would work?’ and with this, I am referring to traveling to somewhere like this with a disability and my wheels. I always write to you to say go live your dreams and don’t be feared out of living and I think I have been honest with this, but even I sometimes get double-thinking and question myself, until I either wake myself or get woken. This time Mermaid beautifully woke me!!!

Me and Mermaid

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Sooo, last month I saw, I felt, I smelt, I heard and (of course-this is me) I tasted Greece and it was noting short of magical!! Greece welcomed as we were touching down witnessing the most beautiful sunset –the excitement began!! The first glimpses of Greece in morning rays were stunning!!

One of the things that I love most in life is trying new things and going to different places as it constantly allows you to shift your perspective. My time in Greece definitely allowed this to happen. Just going with the days, being present in the moment and absorbing all of what the days had to offer is something I did, with my full attention captured by what I saw before me. The ability to fully be in the moment is something one should be able and allowed to do regardless of where they are; in their daily routines or in new environments. However by being somewhere new, the ability to stop the busy mind or at least, allow the mind to be a little calmer is, somewhat, easier; there are no pressures, no deadlines and there is a complete disconnection from your own culture for a while; you can just be with the environment and the people you are with.

I recently heard someone say that life is lived in moments and I wholeheartedly agree with this; for me, how you relate and behave to life is reflected in the moments you live. Therefore, the obvious question is then, how to you live your moments? Are they lived stationary? Are they lived mundanely? Are they lived repetitively? Are they lived through fear? Are they lived through boldness? Are they lived individually? And most importantly, are they a reflection of you? Whilst being on the beach, I realised just how different the definition of enjoyment is for each person and how they wish to live their moment on the beach; some relishing the rays of the sun and sunbathing, some were enjoying a walk along the beach, some were swimming in the sea, some were paragliding and some were –what looked liked- introducing their children to the sea. We all see, feel and think in unique ways and play out these senses in ways we feel fit best. I lived my moment on the beach by being by the shallows of the sea and watched the waves covering my legs like a warm blanket! The refreshing air, the sea breeze and the lovely company I had with Mermaid are times I truly cherish, being a perfect retreat for the soul!!!

As I sat there looking across the deep blue sea, I realised what living and being alive actually is. All these stories and lies we tell ourselves do not serve any nutrients for growth, it does the opposite and eats away at the ones we have. We tell ourselves we can’t, that it just too hard- but we are still picturing in our mind what it would be like to do that thing we want although ‘we can’t.’ I was able to do something that excited me everyday, unaware of what each day would bring but eager to find out how the day would unfold!! This was a long way from that subconscious thought I had! My wheels allowed me to see Greece- hugely helped by Mermaid and made me see that whatever obstacles you have, there is always a way!!

My fabulous one, you should not be feared out of your desires. The dreams that you have, you have dreamt of them for a reason-it is your duty to live them!!!Thank you to my beautiful Mermaid for this reminder!!!

All my love XX

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I Am Proud of Me!!!

Dear Reader,

A few months ago, when I posted Here’s to you! Here’s to me! Here’s to us! I asked you to celebrate you and the amazing things you have achieved; no matter how big or small you think they are, they ARE significant!! I would like to share with you something very important to me that I achieved over the last few months!!!

*Search for the little girl inside of you needed for this part.* As young girls, some of us admired the magic and mystery of dress up and make-up taking notice of what routines our mums and/or other influential women in our life undertook as they got ready. The curious little ladies that we were, would be vocal with our curiosity and ask questions such as “What are you putting on your lips?” She would reply and show us how the lipstick is applied and ask us to be their model and apply the glitzy lipstick on us, hell yes we thought-we are already in position!!! “Now press you lips together for that beautiful smooth finish” she would say after putting it on our lips, showing us this action. We would then copy with excitement and maybe do this action countless times, (yep I did this,- I’m pretty sure that lipstick didn’t stay long on!!) feeling really adult!!!

When we get older we might develop more of an interest in make-up and wearing a little ourselves, wanting to be a little woman. I know I did!  I was around 14 when I got my first powder – it was in a round, mint green box by Miss Sporty I felt so excited to try it out-the little woman in me was unleashed! As you might know, if you have visited my blog before, I have Cerebral Palsy and as part of how I am affected is that my hands can be a little uncoordinated, so me applying make-up…well you could definitely I see I had something on my face but I am not so sure that it would have been finished look I was aiming for! So to avoid looking like a clown or something along those lines, someone else would apply my make-up, this would be either my mum or my sister. I feel really grateful that that these beautiful ladies- who are my influential women of all time- took time to help me get ready and knew that it was important to me but as I got older and especially recently I wondered what it would be like to do my own make-up when going out.

So…..instead of just wondering-because we all know that don’t lead anywhere most of the time- a few months ago I thought I would try. At first I was worried in case I couldn’t do it and scrutinize what I might have done, comparing it to a picture in my mind, and be more annoyed than before with not being able ‘to go and do my thing.’ Whilst having these thoughts I then realized I am doing the exact opposite of what I say to others when they experience symptoms of fear, telling them to ‘just go for it.’ Having answered myself the question to ‘what I would say to someone else?’, I psyched myself up and decided I would just see what happens; I took out my make-up bag, sat at my  dressing table and started to apply! I started with my powder, took my time and just allowed myself to enjoy the feeling of DOING my own make-up! Now, as you know I am a big supporter of self-belief, but it is nice to seek reassurance when you are not 100% sure on something. So on this day I asked my sister for advice on how the make-up looked. It turned out I didn’t do too badly!!

From that day, I have continued to do my own make up when going out, getting better and more confident with this. The feeling of getting ready has totally changed, getting ready is definitely more fun!!! The other day my sister and I were going out and we could get ready TOGETHER, rather than my sister doing my make up for me. With this we could ask each questions, such as ‘have I got too much blusher on?’ and just enjoy the getting ready process, whilst jamming to some tunes of course!!

There might be some who will read this and not ‘get’ why being able to put on make-up is a big deal but duuuude, it is-to me it is-.  Being able to do something you couldn’t do before is a huge deal giving you such an empowering feeling-you know all thatdetermination and hard work has paid off!! Dig deep and shout your personal achievements loudly and proudly!!! You could start-if you wanted-by sharing in the comments below, what you are proud of yourself for?

Looking forward to celebrating you!!

All my love XX

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Keep Your Passion Alive!!!

Dear Reader,

Let me start of by saying how sorry I am for being off the blogging radar this month. Writing to you is something I, wholeheartedly, hold dear, being able to write to you is refreshing, knowing that I will hopefully be understood by and connect  with you due to the platform you are meeting me and I am meeting you on; both having a passion for word and a love to explore thoughts and feelings.

BUT this does not explain my silence on From This Window this month, nor would any excuse. But what I can say is that you have not been forgotten, I promise you that. While I haven’t been sharing with you thoughts, I have been planning posts for the coming weeks, which I am very excited to share with you. I think at times we all need space to grow and sometimes that may mean taking a step back, in order to seek clarity of your direction. I guess my reason for writing this post is to say not to lose sight and hope of your passions, keep it close and to remember it is a part of who you are- exercise that passion like it’s a muscle, in any way that feels right for you!!

I won’t be too far away- doing happy dance of excitement to write to you again already!! Wishing you had a wonderful October and enjoying autumn.

Remember, my fabulous one, to live well and be happy!!

All my love XX

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Autumn Sunshine

Photos in this post were taken by my beautiful sister, she can be found @thewanderingmermaid_xox

Dear Reader,

This time of year, many of us experience the all to common and perhaps overly thought ‘summer blues’; long hazy days are shortening, day trips in the great outdoors are more depended on ‘weather permitting’ and if we do decide to go we make sure we have an umbrella or a coat or something warm or anything we think we might need ‘just in case.’ We think the best and brightness days of the year are mostly behind us, wishing for summer to come back sooner than scheduled!!

But can I let you into a secret?? As well as summer I also love autumn! There is so much excitement in a new season; different things to do, different pace of life (maybe you have exciting things coming or may it time for you to have a little peaceful recline), different atmosphere. More noticeably nature shows us how change can be so very wonderful; the colour of the leafs turning from vibrant green to golden brown and shades of purple, the fresher, the fresher air making you feel more revitalised, the crunchy sound as you walk on the many fallen leafs on the footpath and you being an expectant witness of an elegantly falling leaf as it finds its place on the ground. The latter imagery of autumn may bring about an air of sadness and of loss with the idea of things ending, but, like everything, there is ALWAYS a flip side; falling leaves demonstrate the need for something new.

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The above quote beautifully captures a definition of autumn and connote that it does need to be so melancholic: nature, like humans, is a process of continual growth, shedding those things which do not serve this growth in order for more flourishing acts to take place-for nature this means developing its hypnotising colours ready to display them in spring and for humans this means developing in our strengths so that we can radiate our vibrancy. So autumn acts, metaphorically, as a backdrop for personal growth. Identifing the things you need to let go of is diffcult, thinking those are the very things that will keep you safe but actually they are keeping you captive. What is it you want to develop? What is it you need to let go off in order for this growth to take place? The next time you take an autumn walk and see leaves fluttering in the air think of the things you want to let go of and imagine they were the very leaf that passed you by. Breathe and let go. Enjoy the autumnal landscape and all the beauty it has to offer!! Redefine YOUR autumn!!

All my love XX