THE JOURNEY

#          Good Vibrations... Beach Boys

This is Patsy Wynne inviting you to share the next hour with me... enjoying my choice of music... which sometimes surprises me... and always delights... WELCOME to whoever’s listening in hospital... and to those who may be listening online... HELLO to you too!

1          In my Life... Beatles...

I wasn’t here last week, because I was on a road trip with my daughters... and today I’m thinking about life as a journey... and as we followed the A5 back towards London, where my children were born... (that’s literally... we didn’t use the motorways... and it was easy driving away from  the frantic traffic of the M6 and M1...) we re-visited places where we lived before and after settling in North Wales nearly 30 years ago... recalling the music invoked by memories from the past... and so today I’m playing music from the 60’s to the 80’s... that I hope will trigger some good memories for you too...

2          Isn’t she lovely...  Stevie Wonder

You know what it’s like when you go back to somewhere you lived as a child... and how everything looks smaller... and so different from those childhood memories.  But some things never change... and when we went back to a village in the country, where we lived for a few years... it was surprising how little had changed... except for a rash of new housing... and the fact that one of the village pubs is now an Indian restaurant... the food was very good too!

3          I’m not in Love... 10 CC

 But going back can also evoke painful memories... and there were moments on our trip that were quite emotional... but cathartic in a good way... as we confronted some of the issues that often get in the way of good family relations... certain frustrations and resentments... all those emotions we try to hide... and hope that forgetting will make them go away... that we were able to talk through... in a way we’d not had an opportunity to do before... 

The view from Dunstable Downs

4          Baker Street... Gerry Rafferty           

Life is a journey... and whenever relationships fall apart... it happens... when marriages end and one partner moves on... the effects can be devastating.  But when the one left behind is a mother (or father) with children... the deep emotions she, or he, may be going through... grief, despair, resentment, even rage and hatred... are passed on to the kids... not because she means to... but because children pick up on emotions even though they may not be expressed. And all that emotional turmoil can affect a child... not only at the time... but for years after... which often surfaces in a mid-life crisis... one way or another... which I see in many clients who need therapeutic help to move on in life...

5          Wuthering Heights... Kate Bush

While confronting past memories can sometimes be painful... it’s really good when we can release all the pent-up feelings we’ve held onto for too long... and its only then we can be free to move on with life... because life goes on... whatever happens... and we can get stuck in the past if we don’t accept that.  This is one my kids were playing when they got to their teenage rebellious years...

6          This is My Life... Billy Joel...

This is what I teach my clients who are bothered by past memories... it’s a technique known as EFT... that’s based on acupuncture points... but without needles... which helps reduce any conflicts in the mind... and any negative emotion... because just doing the tapping helps balance the emotional energy systems of the body.  If you’d like to follow along with me...

• First identify what you’re feeling... where do you feel it?...  In your mind... when your mind just goes round in circles... and maybe in your heart... where you feel a heaviness... and disquiet... or physically in your body... like a sick feeling or butterflies in the stomach... or a feeling of restlessness... when you can’t relax... tapping feet or fidgeting hands...
• Start tapping the outer edge of one hand below the little finger... with the fingertips of the other hand... taking a few deep breaths... while focussing on what you’re feeling...
• Take a deep breath ... then say out loud...

•  Even though this old memory makes me feel... fear, guilt, shame... (whatever)

• I love and accept myself anyway...

• Even though I’m feeling ... fear, guilt, shame... (whatever)
• I completely love and accept myself...
• Even though this feeling keeps bothering me...
• I forgive myself for holding onto this for so many years... I’m doing the best I can...
• WRISTS... inside wrists together... This old memory...  
• Back of hand, below the 3^rd ring finger... This feeling of...
• TOP OF HEAD... It’s not my fault... what’s done is done... I’m ready to move on...

There’s a lot more to it than this of course... and you may need help... but repeat this as often as you like... when you wake up and go to the bathroom... while taking a shower... waiting for the kettle to boil... or when you find yourself staring into space... It’s  a good habit... you begin to feel easier...  and the more you do this, the better you feel about yourself and the easier it is to accept, love and forgive yourself... and others... just try it and see...

7          Bohemian Rhapsody... Queen          

Don’t forget that we always welcome your requests for a particular record, or a mention of someone or something special. Maybe you have an interesting or funny story to tell, connected to a special song. We’d love to hear from you.   You can contact Radio Glan Clwyd on Extension 4360 or 01745-584229, or ask someone to do that for you.

8          Money... Pink Floyd...

That is so appropriate... my family have always had money issues... and that’s true of many people... you earn it... spend it... never anything left... hand to mouth... but that’s not true of everyone.  Some people have the knack of earning enough... or maybe spending less... so they can save up... for something they want... or a rainy day.  Now I’m lucky... I’ve never really been down and out... but when I’ve had money... I’ve had to use it for something... so I’ve never been able to keep hold of it. Anyway... that’s what keeps money circulating... which its meant to do... its only energy after all... an exchange of energy... so let’s dance...

9          Dancing Queen... Abba...

Life is a journey... whether we like it or not... and if we try to hide what hurts... our life can become stagnant... repetitive... unproductive... and depressive... which can lead to dis-ease...

10        Ommadawn... Mike Oldfield...

 (FADE>>> talk over... )

Whenever you’re feeling disturbed... or restless... give yourself a break.  Now and then... take a walk in nature... somewhere quiet... by yourself... if you can... or go somewhere beautiful... in your mind... maybe some special memory... of a place where you feel safe... at peace with yourself... breathe deeply... slowing down each breath... relaxing into yourself... noticing whatever you see... or hear... anything you sense... without any judgement... slowing down the mind... all those thoughts whirling around in your mind... just let them float way... like little puffs of smoke... slowing down... relaxing the body... breathing slow and easy... just BEING... with yourself... and notice how that feels... with a peaceful mind... and love in your heart...

11        Brown eyed girl... Van Morrison

Funny, isn’t it... how there are those who stay in the same place they were born... among their family... even moving into a house in the same or next street when they leave home and get married... never thinking of moving away... or maybe feeling safer to stay where they are... drinking in the same pub... meeting the same friends.  While others, like my family, have been so different... moving because of many different circumstances... and enjoying the experience of exploring new places... new people. Much of the music I’m playing today was new to me, in my 40’s...and  so different to the music of my formative years... my old favourites... Sinatra... Ella... Nat King Cole... but I appreciate the music of the 70’s just as much... because of my very special memories of that time... 

The Old Bridge, Ilkley in the rain

12        Rocket Man... Elton John

It’s so important to let our loved ones know how much we appreciate them... because how will they know if we don’t tell them?  So my thanks go to my girls for our A5 road trip down memory lane... and the boys, who weren’t with us... especially Mark and Richard... for their companionship through the difficult times... and all their love and support over the years... and Damian in Australia... who may or may not be listening in... we love you...

13        Mr Blue Sky... E.L.O               

I’d like to thank you all for accompanying me on this journey today and I trust you’ve enjoyed my take on Life, the Universe and Everything... which I hope will help on your journey through life... and this is Patsy Wynne signing off for today... from Radio Glan Clwyd...and remember...

14    Always look on the Bright side of Life... Monty Python...