Confidence
Hi, Thinking out loud here.
Welcome to Mindful Monday, week 13
Here is the link for this week's playlist. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6VWdEChsm6hUeQ4FvYlk7H?si=7d6bbd5cbad04265&pt=164c91da2fa84f28b56ce5886d52eea6 I hope you enjoy listening along to it whilst you read, I hope you find the music relaxing. If an ad plays while listening to the playlist, please stop reading and wait for the playlist to play again; hopefully, the playlist will be timed for you reading to the end of this blog post, with maybe one song running over after you have finished reading.
A little side note for today’s post, the playlist this week may not be timed exactly to this post as I have added a little extra to the end, which I haven’t added music for, but please, if you wish, let whatever music continues to play at the end of the playlist, as that will be what you are meant to listen to whilst reading the ending of today's post.
Get a drink, maybe even a snack, and find a comfy seat so you can relax. Let go of all worries and enjoy the next five deep breaths. If you have breathing problems, please take an extra mindful moment here. For those joining me in the breathing exercise, breathe out.
Now time for your first deep breath; take one deep breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. Hold for 1.. Breath in for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. And out through for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. Breathe in for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. And out for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. two more to go; breath in for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. And out for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. last one deep breath in for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. And out for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. now go back to your regular breathing pattern. I hope you now feel calm and relaxed.
Confidence
By Freya A Hatfield
Confidence runs through your body,
It floods your veins,
your thoughts,
It encompasses who you are.
Confidence is at the centre of everything we do
It pushes us forwards
Even when we are scared,
It shows us what we are capable of doing
Even when we think we can’t.
Confidence makes us
Bold,
Loud,
Strong,
Stubborn,
Proud,
Brave,
And courageous,
It makes us who we are.
Confidence isn’t always easily found,
So stand tall,
Hold your ground,
And it will always find you,
No matter where you are or what you are doing,
Confidence will always be waiting,
You might think the time isn’t right,
But confidence never waits for time to be on its side,
And neither should you,
There is no better time than right now,
So grab your confidence and fly high,
Don’t let anything or anyone stand in your way,
For you are confidence.
Let's finish with a three-deep breath breather.
Take one deep breath in through your nose for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. breath out through your mouth for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. breath in for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. and out for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1.. final breath in for five 1..2..3..4..5.. hold for 1..2.. last breath out for five 1..2..3..4..5.. no hold here you can now go back to your regular breathing pattern.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read this week's Mindful Monday. I really do appreciate everyone who takes the time to read them and listens to what I have to say.
Love always
Thinking Out Loud xx :D
Be proud, be confident, be you.
This is where the playlist will be almost finished, hopefully, the last song will be coming up to the final few seconds. Again please, if you wish to keep whatever plays next going, do so; also, if you wish to read the rest of this post in silence, that is absolutely fine.
I’m ending this week's blog post differently than my other posts. As it is Anzac Day today in New Zealand and Australia. I would like to take some time to think and remember all of those who fought in WWI and WWII. Who left loved ones and their lives behind, so they could fight for what they hoped and thought would bring a better life, despite not knowing the outcome.
They didn’t know how long they would be away or even if they would be lucky enough to come back home. Their families watched them go, waved goodbye and held on to hope. Some were lucky, but many weren't. Most families had multiple members go to war, and some even fought in both. Husbands, fathers, uncles, brothers, sons, wives, mothers, aunties, sisters, and daughters all helped, not to mention the animals who helped get them from one destination to another. Especially those animals that ultimately lost their lives to war.
Today could be seen as a sad day for families who still mourn the loss of loved ones they never got to meet or for loved ones who remembered the wars so vividly, for those who spoke about it, for those who couldn’t, for those who are no longer with us, and for those last few who were children of the war.
Alternatively, it could be seen as a happy day as we haven’t forgotten any of these people, we may not know them all by name, but the thought of them still remains, what they sacrificed, what they ultimately paid the price with their life, is still very much remembered, treasured, and will never be forgotten; therefore, they intern will never be forgotten.
As these soldiers, nurses, vets and animals all headed off to war, I think they would have hoped that future generations would learn that wars would end their grandparents' and great-grandparents' present and not carry on into our present and future. It might just be human nature or that last bit of wild animal instinct that boils up in some of us.
We see it in other parts of the animal kingdom; fights start, and in turn, little wars between different packs occur. The only difference is that they use just what they have on their bodies, no weapons as such, nothing ‘man made’ instead, it’s natural animal evolution.
So I guess what I’m saying is that we need to learn from them, remember not to repeat history, and learn that no good comes from fighting or from wars. Everyone talks and no one listens. We all want the same things freedom, no fighting, yet it creates more fighting, a safer place to live, yet it becomes unsafe.
If history has taught me anything, it is this. People in power, governments more so, will talk till the cows come home, but when it comes to listening, it’s like they have all of a sudden gone deaf. I want us as a globe to remember what these soldiers were fighting for, why they fought, and who they fought for, which ultimately was for a better future.
For a second, put aside the politics, the big egos that, dare I say, were beyond bruised. At the heart of the wars were families, loved ones, children, lives that were taken far too soon, and even some family generations being lost to war. What good did that bring, apart from pain and heartache?
I can’t deny the fact that we will remember them, we will not forget what they fought for, and we should never repeat what their present was, as it doesn’t have to become ours.
To the loved ones past and present, my heart is with you today. I give you strength as you remember those loved ones every day, and I give you pride for knowing how courageous and strong they must have been.
Again thank you for reading this post.
Love Thinking Out Loud
We will remember them, lest we forget.
