HOLDING ON

 I managed to do the first 20 minutes with the mike turned off and wondered why I couldn't hear myself through the headphones!  Oh well... we all live and learn!!!!  However, I did manage to get everything in, one way and another... and maybe nobody noticed!

#          Good Vibrations...

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... HELLO to whoever’s listening in hospital... and to those who may be listening online... WELCOME to you too!

A couple of weeks ago I was talking about LETTING GO... but today I’m thinking about HOLDING ON... which may seem a contradiction... and this should be interesting. I’ll be contributing my thoughts on that... in between the music... which I hope will give you food for thought... make you smile... and most of all lift your spirits...

#1        Hold On Tight to your Dreams... E.L.O.

I think the key is in the timing... there is a time to hold on... and a time to let go... because everything changes... and as it changes it evolves... nothing ever stays the same... and whether we like it or not... we change... hopefully for the better... in our attitudes and aspirations.  So maybe the dream we once had is no longer relevant... so we need to keep renewing our dreams... everything has to evolve... there’s a time for everything...

#2        Turn, Turn, Turn... (To Everything There is a Season)... The Byrds

Words adapted from The Bible, book of Ecclesiastes... Music by Pete Seeger
To Everything there is a season... And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time to be born, a time to die... A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal... A time to laugh, a time to weep
A time to build up, a time to break down... A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
A time of love, a time of hate... A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing
A time to gain, a time to lose... A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate... A time for peace, I swear it's not too late

#3        Let It Be.. Beatles

So Let it be... don’t go against the grain... that’s hard work... but go with the flow... and hold on to the certainty that life has its own cycles... simply trust that all will be revealed... that nature has a harmony that we can’t always comprehend... and when we hold on to trust... we can let go our anxieties and concerns... which have a habit of working out all by themselves...

#4        Down By The Lazy River... The Osmonds

Yesterday was Independence Day in America... so I’d like to honour those independent souls so many years ago who declared themselves FREE.  The Declaration of Independence... We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

These are noble principles ... but I’m not so sure about the PURSUIT of happiness... it seems to me that principle has led to the materialism that has spread through the western world... and further afield... where money, possessions, luxury and status are thought to bring happiness... rather than the simple pleasures of life.   In my experience... its simpler to find happiness in what we have and whatever we’re doing... rather than pursuing something so elusive as happiness!

#5        Oh Happy Day... Nana Mouscouri

Don’t forget that we always welcome your requests for a particular record, or a mention of someone or something special... and if 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 by phone on 01745-584229... or, if you’re here in hospital, on Extension 4360 or, or ask one of the volunteers going around the wards. You can also listen online at... www.rygc.co.uk

#6        So Happy Together... The Turtles

So why am I talking about HOLDING ON?  You know how heavy something gets when you hold onto it for some time? Well sometimes we hold on much longer than necessary... and suffer the consequences. And when we hold onto such things as... anxiety... anger... guilt... and fear... we soon lose energy and become fatigued... which can lead to allergies... depression... ME...   and many other illnesses.  And what makes it even worse is when we deny what we’re holding onto... because we’re ashamed to have such feelings... and it becomes our shameful secret... except that we betray what we’re hiding by our behaviour... it has to come out somehow... anyone can see there’s something wrong by the way we live and what we do... maybe over-eating... or drinking too much... smoking or indulging in other substances... and whether you’re a chocoholic or a shopaholic... any addiction is a way to suppress our feelings... to keep them locked away inside... “Keep quiet, Anger... have a smoke.”  “Stop whining, Resentment... take this chocolate cake.” “That’s enough, Guilty secret... here’s a nice drink to take away the pain.” It’s the way they make you feel...

#7        The Way You Make Me Feel... Michael Jackson

You may have heard me talk about EFT before... but if not, I’d like to introduce you to what’s  known as Emotional Freedom Techniques... that’s based on acupuncture points... because it’s a simple way of helping reduce any conflicts in the mind... and any negative emotion... and 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... maybe something that you’ve been holding onto for some time?  You know how it makes you feel? And where do you feel it?

·         Focus into your body... and notice any area of tension... pain... or discomfort... How bad is it? On a scale of 0 to 10?  (where 10 is as bad as it can get.)

·         Start tapping the Karate Chop Point... the outer edge of one hand below the little finger... with the fingertips of the other hand... taking a few deep breaths... while you focus on what you’re feeling...

·         Take a deep breath ... then say out loud...

·          Even though I’m feeling... this discomfort...   

·         I completely love and accept myself... I’m doing the best I can..

·         Even though I’m feeling ... this tension... this pain...

·         I accept that it makes me want to... eat... drink... smoke... go shopping... whatever...

·         Even though I always get this feeling when.............................. (whatever happens)

·         I forgive myself for letting this feeling get to me... I’m doing the best I can...

·         WRISTS... inside wrists together... I accept this feeling of.......................

·         Back of hand, below the 3^rd ring finger... I accept this feeling of................

·         TOP OF HEAD... this feeling... who needs it?...

·         Collarbone... Chest... (take a long deep breath)... I can decide to take responsibility for my feelings... accept my life... just as it is... I can choose to appreciate all the good things in my life... and focus on all that I love... and those who love me... I fill my heart with all that love... until it overflows into all the cells of my body... and makes my whole body feel good...

·         Keep breathing while you’re tapping your chest... until you feel loving energy moving through your body... and give thanks for this energy...

#8        Do You Want to Know a Secret... Billy J Kramer

There’s more to it than this of course... and you may need help... because when you start a dialogue with yourself... it can lead to a new understanding about yourself and your life. And although it may seem strange at first to say that you accept how bad you feel... when you try to ignore your feelings... when you repress your anxiety... and hope it will go away... does it?  Well... NO!  It just gets worse... keeps churning away inside... Right?   

When you do this simple exercise regularly... 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... those feelings begin to dissolve... 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...

#9        My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose     (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... or 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...

Never forget to appreciate those you love... and don’t hold it in... show them by a touch... a word... a great big hug. If you’ve never shown your affection before... you may be surprised at how good it feels... you’ll want to do it again... and again...

#10      It had to be You... Harry Connick Jnr.

So... when we hold onto our innermost values... and the qualities of love and confidence that inspire and motivate our life... we can let go those old fears that sap our energy... and stop us living life to the full...  

#11      Just the Way You Are... Billy Joel

Hold onto your hopes and dreams... but loosely... like a living thing... give them room to breathe and grow... and sometimes... when they’ve outgrown our capacity to actualise them... let them go... to materialise somewhere else.  We can never actually own anything... eventually we have to let them go and let someone else look after them... that applies not only to material possessions... but also to our family members... parents... children... friends and lovers.  We simply have the privilege of knowing them for a time... it’s all part of life’s rich pattern... as my Granddad used to say. I think I was very lucky to be brought up with such ideas.

#12      Sunshine On My Shoulders... John Denver

We love to hear from you... just to let us know how you enjoy these programs... brought to you by volunteers... who hope to bring you some relaxation and pleasure while you’re here in Glan Clwyd.

TIME: 58.15... fade...

 (20 secs.) 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... Always look on the bright side...