sailing the sea of life

we will make mistakes...and life will be tough and it will be hard to find our way but there's no reason at all why we wont succeed and make our dreams a reality...

from time to time i'm going to get overwhelmed and swamped...my little boat is going to take on water and if i dont attend to it i'm going to sink and take everyone down with me...

but no need to panic captain for we have the bilge pumps...

i will check the water level regularly and when necessary turn on the pumps...and failing them get a bucket and start bailing...

writing...write it all down...every random, hurtful spare, inconsequential or supremely important thought...

relaxation...seek out new techniques and put them into practice

visualisation...see myself in a calm place un beset by foes and walking my path with my heart free and my head held high

talking...seek support when i need it

and in times of crisis when i'm in danger of going under

ALL HANDS TO THE PUMPS!!!

meaning do all of the above and ask for and accept help from anywhere and everywhere

when i find myself in a place that is dark and becalmed...when i can't see the way forward and i'm confused and lost...when i've forgotten every positive and can only see the negative...i will look for a lighthouse...

the picture of isaac and i in front of the aquarium...i'm a fantastic mum and i made that special day happen for him...no one else did it...it was down to my efforts...

the picture of simon and i at lands end, just married...i love this man of mine and he loves me...unconditionally...i am free to be myself...even if myself at that time is someone who is stressed, upset, angry because i am important and i deserve my feelings to be heard and acknowledged...

touch my fingers together...everything is going to be alright...

remember...you always do your best and your best is good enough...

remember...these feelings will pass...it is all temporary...

remember...you're on a voyage...nothing stays the same day to day...

remember...you're a fabulous success with boundless energy and you make the world a better place by being in it...

remember all those people who love you just for being you...and here is a list of some of them so you can't question it

Simon
Isaac
Shelly
Natalie
Karolyn
Adam
Ben
John
Lisa
Tom
Melinda
Dad
Tracy
Nan
Jean
Annette
Sean
Kerry
Rich
Mikey
Pugz
Potz
Ann...see!

today in counselling i came up with the analogy that i'm on a voyage, sailing my little boat through the swells, storms, fogs, sunshine and all the other things that life can throw at me...there is no paradise i'm striving for...life is a voyage and will be different at every turn...

i can't control the weather but i can maintain my vessel so it is at it's optimum to take the batterings that the sea will throw at it...

i can try and predict storms with charts and experience but sometimes a huge event will change the weather and i'll have to batten down the hatches and survive...

i can mark out safe havens for myself, plot the location of lighthouses and keep my sails, paintwork and tiller in good condition to help me on my way...

sometimes i will get blown totally off course and have to find my way back again...sometimes i will get blown totally off course and it will be the right thing to do...

sometimes the sea will be kind, the wind strong and the sun shining...sometimes it will be bleak, becalmed and foggy with no means of navigation and at those times i will seek out my lighthouses and look to the stars to guide me...

sometimes i will be able to retreat to a safe haven and weather the storm...

there's only room in this boat for 3...simon isaac and me...everyone else is there by request and at my permission...there will be no stowaways but maybe a ships cat...