Mirror Mirror On The Wall..

I've got this hand mirror and I think it's a little over 100 years old. Silver backed, the glass itself is a little worn around the edges now but it still throws back one's reflection very clearly. It belonged to my beautiful Nanny Ada - she passed away in 1966 and it came into my possession after my Mum passed away in 2010. I know it was part of a set, there was a hairbrush with it as well but I don't know what happened to that. They both use to be on my Nanny Ada's dressing table.
I could spend forever talking about my Nanny Ada - she was truly one of those rare and beautiful human beings who touch our lives with magic when ever we were with them...I miss her always.
This morning I was having a great granny - great mokopuna chat with my 3 month old great grand daughter Sapphire and I took the mirror out of the cloth I have it wrapped in to let her see her reflection. As her eyes fixed on her image she became very quiet for a moment and then started chatting away in her baby chat. As I moved the mirror to the left or to the right - or raised it over her - her eyes followed it everywhere - and all the time she would chatter away.
In that small moment as I watched her, I thought how many other faces had looked out from that mirror over the last century....and just for a moment felt rather than saw a shadow of a smile from long ago and knew my mokopuna was not chatting to herself. That was a moment to treasure.

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Growing Old Is Personal - To Me!

It's not even remotely funny this growing old thing. Ageing gracefully?...Pah! There's no choices left as to the way one wants to grow old - and one can delude oneself that it's a manageable process but it's not!.
I mean, there's all this happy happy joy joy thing with being the sweet little ol' gran whose grandchildren adore and love to be around. Well what is that? - is that a reward for being the conduit that created that reality? Who cares? - not me!.
I have to confess to loving my gran' with a passion and I know it was returned but did I truly appreciate the person that was her? I don't think I did in the way that I should have done - been more mindful and aware of her ageing process - I was 20 when she passed away and over the years have had many regrets that there were some gaps left of my making where she was concerned.
As my beautiful Mum went through her ageing processes I took a step back, not because my love for her lessened, in fact it grew stronger but on reflection that's what she was - a mirror in which I could see myself, and I did not enjoy the view - see what I mean about not managing the process?.
I can accept that growing old is inevitable and sometimes I do think about those who passed away in their prime, still young, cut off from living a full life or in some instances even beginning one and question my angst around growing old but in all honesty - on a particularly bad dotage day - I often wonder who is luckier - me or them?
As for bad dotage days where pain becomes a constant companion, well we've added to our family....so...good morning arthritis, rheumatics, heart disease, sleep apnoea, hypertension (waves to dementia waiting in the wings) and all the rest of the whanau...Have a good day! - and I'll be struggling to do the same....and as I said in my title...my growing old is personal - to me!.

What Is Mother's Day?

Mother’s Day is that one day in 365 to show your Mother how much you appreciate her for those other 364 days she  gave to you.

When you were small it’s that one day in the year to thank her for being  the nose wiper, the tears wiper, the hugs giver, the keeping you warm and safety provider

When you grow up it’s that one day in a year to thank her for being the broken heart mender, the carpet you walk on, the evergreen money tree, the free roof over your head, and the keeping the stomach full provider….(just part of the Job Description)

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When A Day Truly Is A Good Day!

I woke up this morning and I thought today is going to be a good day. I know it's because of one of the most inspirational and beautiful pieces of writing I have ever read and one I return to over and over again when ever I feel myself slipping into one of those negative spaces that constantly challenge and control my emotional well-being.
It was written by the late and truly great - Bob Marley.
“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.” - Bob Marley

............and it was a good day!.

Seventy Shades Of My Life

    
Sometimes I feel ancient, way older than I am in years. This morning was not one of those although that thought always hovers nearby – no, this morning I felt a kind of mature wisdom and I thought Wanda, you need to pattern your life – don’t think about how long that might be – just put some shapes and colours to whatever you may have left of it !. So I arose from my bed, with a little bit of a buzz about that thought.

As I dressed and tidied up our little bach my thoughts started to draft an outline as to where to start and what that outline might look like.

So with renewed optimism, I powered up the generator,  turned on my computer and my music listening to Elton John singing Empty Garden in the back ground. I’m not sure what colour this moment is but I know it’s a warm one with a quite pleasant shape.

I guess as I start out on this newish road of self discovery I will probably find my thoughts turning to many such ponderings – but for now I’d just like to wish the universe, everyone and everything in it a deep and heartfelt Good Morning and hope it has a great day – as I intend to – because there’s nothing that can happen today that together me and my lovely Friend upstairs can’t handle!.

"Get Off The Scale"!

I am one of those sad individuals who has been cursed with that fat gene so life has been all about constantly battling the bulge and standing to be forever judged by that 'hanging' judge - the bathroom scales.....and then, one day I literaturely met Steve Maraboli - and my whole life and my podgy place in the universe changed forever when he wrote...

Get Off The Scale!

You are beautiful. Your beauty, just like your capacity for life, happiness, and success, is immeasurable. Day after day, countless people across the globe get on a scale in search of validation of beauty and social acceptance.

Get off the scale! I have yet to see a scale that can tell you how enchanting your eyes are. I have yet to see a scale that can show you how wonderful your hair looks when the sun shines its glorious rays on it. I have yet to see a scale that can thank you for your compassion, sense of humor, and contagious smile. Get off the scale because I have yet to see one that can admire you for your perseverance when challenged in life.

It's true, the scale can only give you a numerical reflection of your relationship with gravity. That's it. It cannot measure beauty, talent, purpose, life force, possibility, strength, or love. Don't give the scale more power than it has earned. Take note of the number, then get off the scale and live your life. You are beautiful! - Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

I love you Steve Maraboli..xx