CONNECTING

I've been more or less confined to the house for the last few days. For one thing, I've had a bad cold and irritating cough, which maybe I'd expect to get at home, but here in the heat? Anyway, the other reason is that Mark has been so busy he's hardly here... and when he's not here we don't go out... and I don't go out because its too hot to walk or even cycle far... so I stay in air conditioned comfort and travel round the world wide web instead.

I subscribe to a few inspirational newsletters... that give links to podcasts and ezines... that offer free access to books and recorded teleconferences... that send me off to more blogs... and I'm amazed and delighted at how much transformational communication is going on around the globe!

It lifts my spirits to realise there are so many people out there intent on raising conscious awareness in the world. Just for a start join a circle of enthusiastic people at energycafelive.ning.com. Or follow The Art of Nonconformity by Chris Guillebeau. You can log into http://LivingOnPurposeTelesummit.com/webcast.html to hear inspirational speakers. Get the latest scientific research at Global Coherence Initiative... www.glcoherence.org
Just sign on to one interesting newsletter and you'll find more links than you can can deal with.

Meet you at The Energy Cafe Live?

Happy Birthday to me

Well, I really thought this birthday would pass without much comment. However, after the evening class I was to discover that Mark and the students had organised a meal at a local restaurant... with a real Birthday Cake and they even insisted on decorating it with these sparkly candles!

These cakes are beautifully decorated in a very strange soft cream. Now I doubt this is real cream because it seems to be more like the stuff they use for 'pie in the face' slapstick comedy routines! However, I don't wish to criticise these cakes made at Mr Siu-Siu's bakery... this businessman was a student last year! He provides these beautiful creations for every event and everyone loves them.

Here are some of the students from Mark's advanced class... all excellent English speakers. From left to right... Jenny, Thi and Helen. Then Trang, also known as Teresa, Gina and Trang. A mixture of their real names and English nicknames.

And a good time was had by all... they really made my day!!! That's Mr Nick, who shares our house, sitting next to Mark.

Limiting Beliefs

I'm so lucky to have found EFT, not to mention many other healing techniques; especially Hypnotherapy and NLP.
I've been listening to EFT Master Carol Look on financial challenges... I hope this link will work so you can get this... Carol Look:
http://attendthisevent.com/?eventID=10901865

If there's one challenge I've still not got sorted, it's MONEY! Maybe you too?

I've always considered myself to be hard up, because growing up, my dad's mantra was... 'we can't afford it'. So this is what I've been repeating all my life... and guess what? It's been true for me too.

However, I know there have been times of abundance... only I've never been able to hold onto it... in spite of the fact that I rarely indulge in luxuries, have never stayed in expensive hotels or shopped for expensive clothes... I could never afford to. Whatever I've had has trickled away like leaking water. I've used some to travel, which I'll never regret, but I've also let others take it off me without a fight, when under emotional pressure, as though its just not important.

Working on my limiting beliefs with EFT I've uncovered SHAME for being poor and GUILT for having more than others. How's that for conflicting beliefs? I have to admit reluctantly, that all my life I seem to have beeen more comfortable living on the breadline... because then I can't be accused of being better off that anyone else and I could happily grumble about it.

OK... It's about time I changed all that. I'm working on it.

Even though rich people are not nice people... (how true is that?) and money is the root of all evil (that's my religious upbringing)... I'm ready to accept that money is just energy... a simple means of exchange... which is just as valid as barter... and must be valued for the good it can do.

Even though I've always had to work hard for money... money has never worked hard for me... and I accept that my relationship with money has been very poor.

Even though I've never really valued money... I accept that's just a limiting belief that's caused me to work against my own interests.
Even though I've been ashamed of having more than others... and maybe I just don't deserve it... now I realise that money must be valued like a good friend... contacted frequently... invited into my life... nurtured and made welcome.

That's it, in a nutshell. Now I'm ready to accept with gratitude all the abundance that's around me... because we do live in an abundant universe, in spite of our limited viewpoint.

Happy Birthday Annie xxxxx

Thinking about my dear daughter and hoping she'll read this, although I will phone her on Skype later today because it's 4.00 am there at the moment.

I just want to tell you about a movie I watched last night with Mark; a Pixar animation by the makers of Toy Story and many others, called UP. The Pixar movies are wonderful; I went to an exhibition of their work in New York about 4 years ago, that I found fascinating... though I've no more idea of how its done!

So what's so special about UP? you may ask. Well, as its about an old man facing the prospect of ending his days at the Shady Oaks Retirement home, it speaks to me personally as someone well into the last stages of life. He remembers his adventurous ambitions and escapes in his own home... I won't spoil the story for you. On his adventure he faces challenges and dangers, finding his inner strength, regaining physical agility and finally throwing away his walking aid.

What really resonated with me was how he had to let go of all his treasured possessions and finally his home, gaining an even better mode of transport in the end. I highly recommend it to anyone who has trouble letting go, like me.

Sometimes we need a sign to reinforce the thoughts and ideas that we're not sure about. UP has helped to clarify my feelings around the idea I wrote about in the last blog.

Yes... it's a revolutionary idea... but I've done it before. Yes... it could be risky at my age... but what's age got to do with anything. Yes... I will have cramped living conditions... but the whole country will become my garden. Yes... I may get tired of being a nomad occasionally... but I hope I'll always have my wonderful family to stay with.

Will I miss my comfortable home? Maybe, but I love to be on the move.

Will I regret letting go all my treasured possessions? Maybe, but when I'm away from home I don't even think about them.
Will I be lonely? Maybe, but I'm hoping to meet many more interesting people than I do now and I'm open to invitations from anyone to go anywhere!

I'm looking forward to hearing from anyone out there with comments or advice.

Infinite Possibilities Review

I've been reviewing my life from a very objective viewpoint with all possible future options in mind. As you know, I do love travelling and was never happier than when I had a motorhome some years ago. It was my home for two years before I settled for the security of bricks and mortar.

My life at home is cosy and comfortable, but up in my ivory tower I do feel somewhat isolated and feel I have to make an effort to go out and meet people. Now that might be alright for some old biddie who's given up on life and just wants to be left alone with her TV, but I'm not really like that. My living expenses are quite high with a substantial mortgage, and I never seem to have enough money to do all the things I really want to do before my time is done.

On my travels I've met several Grey Nomads; people who've retired and sold up everything to go travelling, which makes me feel I could be wasting my time and money keeping a home.

We all know that there are no certainties in life and security is an illusion, especially with the economic situation these days. Which brings me to an idea that's been going around in my mind and won't let me rest. Am I brave enough... or foolhardy I hear some saying... to sell up, dispense with bills and mortgage and buy a van to live in? What's to stop me being a traveller?

Interestingly, I've read two inspirational newsletters recently from different coaching and therapeutic people proposing much the same thing. A couple are going to take their show on the road to bring EFT to the American public while Angela Treat Lyon is Deepening her Dream by integrating art, business, marketing and EFT tapping. http://AngelaTreatLyon.com. She wants to visit all the sculpting symposia held throughout the summer in the US.

I couldn't believe it when I just read that, because my idea has been buzzing around since New Year. Must be something in the air! My idea is not to drift aimlessly, but ask people to invite me to visit them so I can teach EFT and work with their issues, just asking for contributions to keep me going. I'd also be able to attend Glastonbury, the One World camp and all the summer festivals in comfort, to teach and inform. I think I've always been a gypsy at heart.

I feel so excited at the prospect. However, it will take time to sell and get this off the ground, so please feel free to send your comments.
Am I crazy or what? Email pat@who2.co.uk if you'd like to talk.

UPDATE

A week into the New Year already and I've done no travelling, except online. In fact I've hardly stepped outside because of having a sore throat and flu-like symptoms, though not too bad. Not bad enough to keep me away from the computer and my writing assignments anyway.

I'm thrilled that two people have emailed JUSTASKPAT and our correspondence is already beginning to yield results. I'm prepared for more than two... so please don't hesitate to get in touch. As usual I'm attempting to keep Mark's filing in order and ensure he goes out with everything he needs. He constantly writes interesting essays to challenge his more advanced students and relies on my eagle eye (just one) to spot any mistakes, which I do enjoy doing for him.

In fact, my enjoyment of the English language never wanes and I'm devouring any books I can get my hands on as though I've been starved; novels I'd never normally read such as Red Square, set in post cold war Russia, by Martin Cruz Smith, and Polar Star, which I found compelling reading. Then I wolfed down John Grisham's The Associate, a fascinating thriller set in the world of American Corporate Law.

Last night I started The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, which kept me awake till midnight and now I'm about to read the last half! So Goodnight for now and sweet dreams.