"Those were the days my friend....!"

Image Credit - judibug007friends.wordpress.com

I have just been reminiscing with an old friend about days gone by!  It made me look at the friendship groups I have in my life and how each and every one of them has played a huge part in my life.  My oldest friend Antoinette (and I say this as it annoys her immensely as she is one month older than me!) has been in my life for 39 years.  We started school at the age of four.  She was a fiesty redhead and we made life long friends on the first day.  We were each other's bridesmaids.  She is only a phone call away! When I went to senior school, I met two rocks, Jane and Vicky who have given me the most laughter and fun in my life.

When life hit an all time low after losing my husband, these two girls were there helping me to move from the depths of despair to happier days.  My first job brought me my lovely friend Sally who took me under her wing and protected me.  My Civil Service years produced some of the happiest times of my life (work apart of course).  I met a friendship circle like no other, Liz (who passed away but left a legacy of laughter and ridiculous fun), Jenny and Margaret (two of the most glamourous women in the world who fail to age), Anne,(princess pashley, can burp louder than anyone I know) Jackie, Carole, Joy, Kevin and above all Cathy, a women of wisdom, genuine kindness and someone I admire so much.

Along the way, there have been many others, my sisters friends who adopted me, Carol, Kim, Ann and Val (the sisterhood who all bared their breasts on a drunken night in Spain).  My lovely friends Suzanne and Marion who have made me laugh until I have cried and have ached for days after our get togethers.  Mandy (An angel who appeared in my life, I wish I could take away the pain she has at this moment).  Sally, a neighbour who lost her husband six months after I lost mine.  We went through the worst times together and have seen happier days shine for us both.  Pasqua and Liz, a time of wind ups and incredible sillyness. My sister in-laws Tracy and Catherine and Gail.

Jan, Judith, Lin, Mandy, Linzi, Sammie, Angela, Maureen, Sharon (All met through my late husbands job as a police officer), rocks of support and kindness.

The friends who came along to help me on a new path and journey - Kim (adorable), Susan (my teacher and guru), Debbie (an Angel), Amanda (beautiful), Lucy (A wise one) and her lovely mum Karen. Kathleen (illuminated).

There have been so many new friends of late Jackie (from Happiness Coaching) Ros, Shirley, Sharon, Claire, Sue, Emma, Clare, Kirstie, Lorraine, Gabriella, Brenda, Heather,  Julie, Jane, from workshops and Reiki.  My newest friend a Twitter soul sister Carrie!

Finally, my sister Ann who I love with all my heart.  She knows me inside out, she listens to all my moans and groans, makes me laugh, believes in me and is there for me always as I am for her and all my friends if they need me.

This hasn't been an exercise on "look how many friends I have" but one on looking back at the young years, the good times, the sad times,the worst times and seeing a tapestery of love, laughter and tears woven in as the people we call friends share every one of those times with us. Friends stand by you, they provide you with unconditional love and support and above all they wish the best of everything for you!

I hope you take the time to look back at the friendships in your life and treasure each and everyone of them!

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor

Along the way

Happy Holidays!

Image Credit - christianworldtraveler.wordpress.com

Hello Everyone!

If you tune in regularly to my blogs you will have noticed that I have been absent for just over a week!  I have been away on holiday with Mr T, cruising around Spain and Italy! We had a wonderfully relaxing break and have I have returned refreshed and calmed.

One of my favourite things to do when I am away (as well as eating lots of yummy local food and sampling the local tipple) is to go in to any place of worship, whether its a church, a monastery, a temple or a cathedral.  For a short while, I lose myself in the sacred space that is so tranquil and infinitely calm with peace, serenity and above all silence.

In the silence and serenity, I find the sacred space inside of me.  The one that has no needs, no doubts, no fears, no anger, no hurt and no judgement.  It can create a sacred space like no other even if it is only for a short period.  There is a sense of something bigger than life in all places of worship.  There is a sense of power and strength within the marbled walls.  There is serene beauty in the artworks and statues. 

I have discovered that over the years I have become interested in all faiths and beliefs.  I pick and choose the beliefs, rituals, prayers and deities that resonate with me.  I had tears streaming down my cheeks when I received a papal blessing this week in Rome.  Seeing the Pope was an amazing experience.  When I read books on Buddhism, my heart swells with words of wisdom and I recognise my own truth.  I keep mantras on my desk to Ganesh and Lakshmi from the Hindu faith.  I use Feng Shui and I have talismans of love, wealth and health in every room in my house.  My purse is bulging with crystals, prayer cards to favourite saints and of course I have Angels EVERYWHERE!!!  That is my faith, my truth and probably why I feel at peace in any home of worship.

Where do you come home to your sacred space inside of you? What are your truths? What gives you faith?

I love going away and exploring the world but nothing beats the feeling of coming home!

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor x

The Three Foot Giant

Image Credit - carlosxuma.com

This article arrived in my in box and this inspirational man, Sean Stephenson popped up on my screen, I wanted to share this with you as a reminder that no matter what circumstances you are in, you are capable of creating your magnificent life.  You are one thought away from creating miracles.

http://www.mindmovies.com/mm21/special_video9.php

Sean's website is http://seantimes.com/

I hope you enjoy!

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor x

The Invitation

Image Credit - ehow.com

This is a poem from a book that I have been reading called the Invitation.  It is very thought provoking and the book is well worth reading.

Website Credit - http://www.weboflove.org/bestinspirationalpoems
To read more about the Author - http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com/

The InvitationBy Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for,
And if you dare to dream of meeting
Your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
For love, for your dream,
For the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow,
If you have been opened by life's betrayals,
Or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain,
Mine or your own,
Without moving
To hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy,
Mine or your own,
If you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
Without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic,
or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself,
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.
I want to know if you can be faithless and therefore be trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty
Even when it is not pretty every day,
And if you can source your life
From its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure,
Yours and mine,
And still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair,
Weary and bruised to the bone,
And do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn't interest me who you are, how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
In the center of the fire with me
And not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
From the inside
When all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
With yourself,
And if you truly like the company you keep
In the empty moments.

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor x

Talk talk!

Image Credit - sienel.net

Another week! Here is this week's Monday Mantra!

I lovingly communicate with everyone in my life!

One of the most congested chakras is the Throat chakra!  This can manifest itself as a sore throat, dry throat and mouth, difficulty in swallowing and at times bad breath.  The reason that so many people suffer with these problems is the difficulty we can all have with speaking our truth.

We are very conscious of others feelings.  We would rather swallow angry words than make waves and cause arguments.  We fail to speak up for ourselves in case we come across as moaning or petty.  We don't say what we want in relationships, friendships, business transactions and worst of all, sometimes we have difficulty in even admitting what we want to ourselves.

We can end up in a cycle of putting up and making do rather than speaking out.  I can easily defend another or speak out against an injustice against another and yet I clam up when it comes to defending myself.  I recently wrote about a situation that I had failed to address where someone was crossing over boundaries.  It has taken me several years to assert myself and make my voice heard.  It wasn't easy for me to do this but I have felt so much better since.

I urge you to find your voice and to speak with love and truth when you need to.

Love and Blessings,

Jean Fisher-Taylor x

A Bucket List

Image Credit flickr.com

Have you ever sat down and compiled list of things you truly want to do, experience or have before you die?  I am steadily working my way through my list and constantly adding to it.  When you release your inner most desires, hopes and dreams from the captivity of your ever thought flashing mind, you allow the universe to conspire to bring about the people, events and opportunities to achieve your heart's desires.

Here is a list of 100 examples, you will probably have dozens of your own.  Create a list and then enjoy ticking off the achievements as they come along.  Also, keep looking out for other things to add to the list along the way.  I read about someone who created a food Bucket List of all the things they intended to try before they died!

100 Ideas For Your Bucket List

Here are 100 ideas to help you get started creating your bucket list:
1. Learn to salsa dance.
2. Write a novel.
3. Write a movie script.
4. Witness a solar eclipse.
5. Ride a gondola in Venice.
6. Learn to ski in Austria.
7. Meet your favorite Hollywood star.
8. Shake hands with the President of the United States.
9. Run a marathon.
10. Go skydiving.
11. Get married.
12. Become a parent.
13. Start a successful small business.
14. Invest a million dollars in the stock market.
15. Go to Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.
16. Go to Oktoberfest in Bavaria, Germany.
17. See the Monalisa.
18. Attend Loy Krathong, the sky lantern festival in Thailand.
19. Participate on American Idol.
20. Go on safari.
21. Learn to play golf.
22. Dance the tango in Argentina.
23. Read all of Shakespeare's plays.
24. Learn another language.
25. Learn to play the piano.
26. Join a band.
27. Write a song.
28. Learn to fly a plane.
29. Learn to surf.
30. Go parasailing in Acapulco.
31. Learn sign language.
32. Participate in the Peace Corps.
33. Become a black belt in Karate.
34. Meet the Dalai Lama.
35. Walk on fire.
36. Save someone's life.
37. Test drive a Ferrari.
38. Go shopping at Rodeo Drive.
39. Go on a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon.
40. Go Bungee Jumping.
41. Go Zorbing in New Zealand.
42. Eat gumbo in New Orleans.
43. Climb up the Statute of Liberty.
44. Visit all 50 of the United States.
45. Live in a foreign country for six months.
46. Become a vegetarian.
47. Read all of Agatha Christie's mystery novels.
48. Fire a pistol.
49. Be at Time's Square for on New Year's Eve.
50. Go whale-watching.
51. Visit the Vatican in Rome.
52. Go to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam.
53. Visit the Acropolis in Greece.
54. Go on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
55. Ride a camel in the Sahara desert.
56. Watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
57. Go to Las Vegas.
58. See the Iguassu Falls.
59. Go to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC.
60. Visit the Great Wall of China.
61. See Mount Rushmore.
62. Have a street named after you.
63. Be in a commercial.
64. Go to Disney World.
65. Be an extra in a movie.
66. Go on a cruise.
67. Swim in the largest swimming pool in the world, off the coast of Chile.
68. Learn to play chess.
69. Learn to play poker.
70. Learn to juggle.
71. Learn to draw.
72. Solve a Rubik's Cube.
73. Take up gourmet cooking.
74. Sail around the world.
75. Become a wine connoisseur.
76. Restore a classic car.
77. Be known as the best in the world in something.
78. Discover what makes you truly happy.
79. Spend a week in silence.
80. Get an MBA.
81. Make the front page of the newspaper.
82. Donate blood.
83. Sell your original artwork to a stranger.
84. Become an art collector.
85. Start a blog.
86. See a koala bear.
87. Own a dog.
88. Go bird watching in Costa Rica.
89. Touch a dolphin.
90. Go to the Super Bowl.
91. Ride a motorcycle.
92. Travel to space with Virgin Galactic.
93. Climb Mount Everest.
94. Follow Marco Polo's route through all of the Middle East, Asia and China.
95. Attend a Native American Sweat Lodge Ceremony.
96. Go to the Kentucky Derby.
97. Hold the Stanley Cup.
98. Participate in La Tomatina (a giant street food fight near Valencia, Spain).
99. Throw out the first pitch at a Major League baseball game.
100. Experience weightlessness

Lots of Love and Blessings for a wonderful weekend.

Jean Fisher-Taylor xxx

A time to believe.

A Time To Believe
by B.J. Morbitzer

To believe is to know that
every day is a new beginning.
Is to trust that miracles happen,
and dreams really do come true.



To believe is to see angels
dancing among the clouds,
To know the wonder of a stardust sky
and the wisdom of the man in the moon.



To believe is to know the value of a nurturing heart,
The innocence of a child's eyes
and the beauty of an aging hand,
for it is through their teachings we learn to love.


To believe is to find the strength
and courage that lies within us
When it's time to pick up
the pieces and begin again.


To believe is to know
we are not alone,
That life is a gift
and this is our time to cherish it.


To believe is to know
that wonderful surprises are just
waiting to happen,
And all our hopes and dreams are within reach.


If only we believe.
Love and Blessings
Jean Fisher-Taylor x