I Dreamed A Dream!

Image Credit ladyobama.com

I haven't blogged about an inspirational person for a while so decided today was the day to do so!  I have chosen Susan Boyle, as to me, she is one of my all time inspirational greats.  The first night I watched her on TV, and heard her sing, tears poured down my cheeks.

Susan is an inspiration to all women and in fact to all people.  We live in an appearance obsessed society.  Susan did not tick the usual celebrity boxes.  She simply had a beautiful talent and above all she had a passion to change her life.  She rose above the bullying and ridicule that could have left most people fearful of leaving their home and pushed herself to appear on television. The media hype was frenzied and this lovely lady had to endure yet more ridicule because of her looks. 

Susan wanted to make a difference, she wanted her life to change so she took control of the steering wheel of her life and drove her ambition in the direction of achievement and success.  She didn't wait until her hair was styled or coloured, she didn't wait until she was the perfect weight, she didn't wait until she had the perfect outfit or makeover. She didn't wait until everyone gave their approval of her decision.  She simply grasped life by the hands and made a difference to both her own and many other people's lives.

More tears poured down my face when I saw her appear in America.  There was a sea of ordinary, good people who felt uplifted by her story.  She gives hope to many people.  She made it possible for everyone to dream a dream and make it a reality.

To me, Susan Boyle is a modern day heroine and I applaud her.

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor

Do you know where you're going to?

Image Credit tonicnutrition.blogspot.com

I was listening to this song the other day and the words really resonated deeply.  How often do we step off the busy treadmill of life and take stock of where we are, what we are doing, where do we want to go? and what do we want to be doing?.  If we are bobbing along without any plans or goals and simply accepting the way life is, we are not participating in our life.  We are not taking control of that steering wheel and taking responsibility for what happens to us.  We are at the mercy of others, they shape our reality.

Read the words of this song carefully and even better listen with an open mind to this You Tube version and then take some time to think about your life and what expectations you have. What do you want to experience?  What do want to achieve? What do you want your life to look like in six months, a year, 5 years? etc.  Make goals and commit to achieving your heart's desires, you deserve to lead a great life, a full life that fulfills your dreams.  Take stock today!

Diana Ross - Do you know where you're going to!
Listen on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOil_ht0khI


Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to? do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for?
When you look behind you there's no open door
What are you hoping for?
Do you know?

Once we were standing still in time
Chasing the fantasies that filled our minds
You knew i loved you, but my spirit was free
Laughing at the question that you once ask me

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to? do you know?

Now, looking back in all we pass
We've let so many dreams just slip through our hands
Why must we wait so long before we see
How sad the answers to those questions can be?

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to? do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for?
When you look behind you there's no open door
What are you hoping for? do you know?

Don't let time pass on your hopes and dream, believe you deserve more.and believe you can achieve more. If you can believe it you are already on the road to achievement.  Enjoy the journey!

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor x

Take Heart!

Image Credit - relationshiptherapylondon.co.uk

In the Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man craved a heart, only to discover that he had one all along!  We see many articles about the heart being linked to romance and love.  We see many articles encouraging healthy eating and exercise to create a healthier heart.  I came across this article from Ed and Deb Shapiro on listening to your heart!

Your heart is more than your body's most important organ—it's also the essence of your spiritual and emotional being. Find out why listening to your heart is much more valuable than always making decisions with just your head.

"A good heart is better than all the heads in the world."
— Robert Bulwer-Lytton

When you fall in love, you feel your heart flutter, beat loudly or leap for joy; when you're rejected, your heart breaks. You are called heartless or cold-hearted when you show no care or love...and big-hearted when you extend your concern to others. You "take things to heart" or "talk heart-to-heart" about deeply personal issues. You love someone "from the bottom of your heart" but are half-hearted about something when you're emotionally uninvolved. You experience your heart as the center of your feelings, as seen on Valentine's Day when love-filled hearts abound. You know this instinctively, as you always physically point to your heart when you say "I" or want to express your deeper feelings.

Yet your heart is so much more than a vessel for romance. It has been described as the king, with the mind as the king's adviser. When faced with a decision, the king may ask his advisers for advice, may even send him out into the world to gather information, but ultimately it is the king that makes the final decision. Even though the advisers do not always agree with the king's decision, the king is invariably right, because the king's view not only sees the bigger picture but is also aware of the needs of others.

In the same way, when faced with a decision or conflict, your mind may come up with numerous, different and quite logical reasons why you should act as it advises, but if you listen to and trust your heart—however illogical or irrational it may seem—it is usually right and you are happier as a result.

There is great brilliance and beauty inherent within the mind, because it is capable of understanding the most intricate scientific and mathematical theories and can make complicated corporate decisions. Yet the same mind can get caught up in trivia and nonsense, becoming upset or even unglued over a seemingly harmless remark. It runs your life, pushing and pulling you in all directions, from attraction to repulsion, creating endless dramas in acting out your insecurities and fears, because it is not in touch with your deeper feelings. Living inside your head all the time is actually not much fun!

While the mind is the content of who you are, your heart is your essence. Your true heart is not subject to chaos or limited by pain, fear and neuroses, but is joyful, creative and loving. Some believe the heart can be too uncertain and even misguided, but that is the head talking! It is actually a source of great richness, and this wealth is one that cannot be squandered or lost. It is the core, the essence of your being, a reservoir of joy, powerful love and infinite compassion that lies within you.

I hope you enjoyed this article.

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor x

I win you lose na na na na na

Image Credit - myzerowaste.com

On Sunday I learned something about myself that I have never noticed before, I am not proud of this shadow trait that I possess......I am a bad winner!!!

Mr T and I took up badminton two years ago in an attempt to get fitter and to take our potato soft bottoms out of the chair at least once a week.  Every week I have diligently got dressed into tracksuit bottoms and trainers, braved rain, wind, snow, ice and extreme heats to go and play Mr T at badminton.  You would think that after playing for two years I would have significantly improved and be an able match for Mr T. Alas, sadly this is not the case.  Mr T is fairly good, he reads my moves well and anticipates where to hit the shuttlecock to cause me the most difficulty.  My mission and aim is to just hit the shuttlecock back over the net!!! My mantra is God loves a trier and I really do try every week!

Mr T wins almost every week apart from two fluke evenings when I managed to win by a hare's whisker.  I live in hope that he will take pity on my losing ways and throw a few games to make me feel good but he is a competitive man and shows no mercy.  I know most people want to earn their victories but I would happily take any winning pickings I could get.  Especially as Mr T usually has me running around that court like an extra from a Benny Hill comedy sketch!!

Today, things were different, we went along to the sports centre and almost from the first game I felt a sense that I could gain the upper hand. I swooshed and swatted that shuttlecock, I whacked it and batted it and after 45 minutes, Mr T could take no more and I was the WINNER!!  I was ecstatic, I came out of that sports centre on air, the sun was brighter, the air was clearer and I was gloating and crowing whilst poor Mr T hobbled behind me clutching his back.  Did I not say that he wasn't on form today as he has a sore back...........? Well as I said earlier I take pickings where I can get them!

I know I should be ashamed of my behaviour, I know that gloating at someone else's misfortune is not kind, but.............the sweet smell of success in my nostrils is making want to dance and sing Na Na Na Na Na, its not big and its not clever but is oh so very sweet!

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor - future champion Badminton player of the world maybe even the universe!

Seeing the beauty in everything

Image Credit flickr.com

Monday Mantra - today I have chosen "I choose to see the beauty in everything!"

Sometimes it is easy to believe that we lead very ordinary lives with a few extraordinary moments thrown in.  However, life is just one huge miracle from start to finish.  If we are prepared to look at life in a different way, we will find beauty in everything.  How many times do we feel fed up doing household chores and wondering if everyone else is living full and exciting lives.  There is beauty in the seemingly mundane.  When I was washing up this morning, I thought about the water, both hot and cold that was filling the basin, pumped into our homes in abundance, I thought about the soapy bubbles and the scientist who created the concoction of chemicals, smells and colours that clean our plates thoroughly.  I wondered about the artist who created a design on my plate, the kiln owner who fired the plate, the people involved in the making of that one plate from the supplier of materials to make it right through the process of making it, designing it, packaging it, marketing it, selling it, transporting it etc etc.  How often do you really look at everything around you and truly appreciate it?

Try today to see the beauty in everything. Jonathan Mead from Think Simple Now writes,

• Find beauty in the little things. It’s amazing to me how when I stop the incessant mental chatter, and actually just see things, I am blown away by how beautiful they are. The trees swaying, the leaves blowing around on the ground, the waves crashing on the shore. The simplest of things have the most profound beauty. But you can only see them if you’re really there. If your mind is brooding, if you’re off somewhere else, you’ll completely miss them.
• Embrace your artistry. If you think you’re not a creative person, I’m here to respectably tell you – you’re wrong. You couldn’t not create, even if you wanted to. Every time you open your mouth, every story you tell yourself about the drama in your life, is an act of creation. You’re constantly shaping, reinventing, and writing the story of your life. Once you recognize this, it’s much more powerful for you to see yourself as an artist, rather than a non-creative person. So the question is: What story will you create today?
• Live without limits. Some limits are positive and necessary (like speed limits), but a lot of the limits we place on our lives block us from experiencing our full potential. Arbitrary limits, like fearing to reach out to a homeless person or talk to strangers, restrict the flow of love in our lives.
• Realize that beauty can be found in the most mundane. Beauty is not always realized through a life-changing moment or a great epiphany. It’s not always hidden in a rainbow, in an earth-shattering orgasm, or found skydiving at 5,000 feet above the ground. Beauty is often found through looking into a newborn’s eyes, in the blooming of a flower, or in paint peeling off an old fence. It’s often where you least expect it.
• See for the first time. Sometimes we get bogged down in schedules and obligations, and we lose our sense of wonder about the simple joys of life. Just quieting yourself internally and opening yourself up to an experience can allow you to view it again for the very first time. When you’re listening to music, imagine that you might have not been born with the ability to hear. When you reach out to touch someone, think about how many people don’t have use of their limbs. When you observe your surroundings, imagine you’re seeing color for the first time.
• Live intimately with life. The next time you have a drink of coffee or tea, completely take in the smell and the flavor of the beverage. When you breathe, feel the air enter your lungs. When you walk, really feel the ground beneath your feet. The amount of beauty you experience in life is largely related to your level of intimacy with life. If you’re walking around disconnected, you overlook the wealth of artistry that is available to you right now.
• Make your passion a priority. It’s easy to get wrapped up in doing all of the things that we think must get done. Wanting everything to be perfect gets in the way of having time for the things you really care about. While the errands and things on your to-do list might be necessary, it’s important to make the things you love a priority. If you have a hard time with distractions getting in your way, make a specific time during your day that is sacred, where you only do what you really want to do. Maybe it’s an hour of Kung Fu or Yoga in the morning before the rest of the world wakes up. Maybe it’s 30 minutes of Mahjong before you turn in for the night. Whatever it is, you have to make it a priority or it will get lost in the vacuum of the minutiae abyss.
• Focus on the good. The reason still puzzles me, but we humans have a tendency to focus on the negative in events, circumstances, and people. We have a tendency to count our misfortunes and all the things that are lacking before we count our blessings. Make a habit of focusing on all the things you’re grateful for and you will open yourself up to experiencing the beauty of life.
• Give something away. I’ve found that the best way to reconnect with how beautiful life can be is to give something away. It doesn’t have to be anything material. It can be a compliment, a smile, or a positive intention for someone else. Sometimes the greatest gift you can give is sincerely giving your presence.

This list is, by no means, exhaustive. These are just the things that have worked for me. Experiment on your own and take chances. Sometimes a deep breath or a smile at a stranger is all it takes to bring you back into a state of presence.

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor

Inspirational Clips by Sivan Garr

Image credit - wallpaperseek.com

Here are some lovely You Tube clips that are loving, nurturing and inspirational from Sivan Garr! Whenever your faith in YOU wavers, play these for a boost of joy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVQJPeRwKek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es0B-rfF6wc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMIM3wF9YfQ&feature=related

I Love you, I believe in you, You are beautiful!

Jean Fisher-Taylor

Who you are makes a difference

Image Credit - desertculinary.blogspot.com

I opened an email this morning from a lovely friend Kim and found this inspirational story.  I felt really moved and wanted to share this story with others.  I strongly believe in self acceptance and self belief.  I strongly believe in appreciating yourself, your skills, your talents and you as a whole person.  This story is also a reminder that we need to tell others how much they mean to us.  Whether its our parents, children, partner, friends or colleagues, we should tell the people we care about how much they mean to us and why!

Not to put a morbid dampener on the day but I have chosen James Taylor's "Shower the people you love with love" as my funeral song because it hopefully represents the life I have lived, telling those who I love and care for that I really DO love and care for them, I make it a habit to tell them a lot!  I hope this story inspires you to tell someone what a difference they have made to your life.

Who YOU Are ... Makes a Difference
-- Author Unknown

A teacher in New York City decided to honor each of her graduating high school seniors by telling each of them the difference she felt they made as an individual.
She called each student to the front of the class, one at a time. First she told the student how they had made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented them with a blue ribbon imprinted with gold letters reading: "Who I Am Makes a Difference."
She noticed a considerable attitudinal change in the class. So she decided to do a class project to determine what impact such recognition could have on their local community.
She gave each student three more ribbons, and asked them to go out and spread an “acknowledgment ceremony.”
One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company, and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon and put it on his shirt.
Then the boy gave the executive two extra ribbons and asked him to find someone else to honor, and to in turn give them the extra blue ribbon so they could acknowledge a third person. The student asked the executive to report back to tell him what happened.
Later that day the junior executive went in to see his boss, who was known as a rather bad-tempered man. He sat his boss down and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The boss was very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon, and asked for permission to pin it on him.
His surprised boss gave his permission. The executive pinned the blue ribbon on his boss's jacket directly above his heart. Then he gave his boss the third blue ribbon, and told him of the boy’s request.
That night the boss sat his 14-year-old son down and told him: "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office and one of my junior executives came in and told me he admired me, He gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine that. He thinks I'm a creative genius.”
He then told his son he wanted to honor him, and pinned the last remaining blue ribbon on his son’s t-shirt.
The startled boy began to sob. He couldn't stop. His whole body shook. He looked at his father through his tears and told him: "Dad, earlier tonight I sat in my room and wrote a letter to you and Mom explaining why I was killing myself, and asking you to forgive me. I was going to commit suicide after you were asleep. I didn't think you cared for me at all.”
His father walked upstairs and found a heartfelt letter full of anguish and pain. The envelope was addressed, "Mom and Dad."
The boss went back to work a changed man. He called in each employee one at a time to let them know that they made a difference.
Who you are DOES make a difference!
Don’t forget it!
And make sure the people in your life
know how special they are!

Love and Blessings to you all,

Jean Fisher-Taylor