GRATITUDE + CONSCIOUS LIVING Page 12 of 22

Making time for the things you love

LIFE-AND-TIME_550PX_LR

Now our #MakingTime series is over, we have done a little calculation: If everyone who took part took on board even a couple of the 31 time-saving tips we shared and saved just 5 minutes a day, over the next year, they would collectively save nearly SEVEN YEARS! That’s a lot of extra time for doing what they love.

Time is precious. Minimise the time you spend on things that aren’t taking you towards your dreams, and spend the rest on things you love! For anyone who missed Making Time you can sign up and start anytime here: https://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/makingtime

Life According to Mr K: New Beginnings (Fatherhood and Doing What You Love)

lifeaccordingtomrk

As we enter into a New Year we first reflect on the previous year. There will undoubtedly be aspects of our life that have been exhilarating and taken a breath away. There have also been times that will have tried our patience and prompted us to ask the question ‘What am I doing this for?’

I am very aware that my 2013 was a very special year and one which I will hold dear to my heart. Of all the changes and decisions made in 2013 the greatest moment was on Christmas Day when my wife and I became parents for the first time. Sienna May Kempton was born. The moment she was placed onto my wife’s chest, all covered up, was the moment my life changed forever.

Mummy and Sienna

(more…)

Make 2014 amazing (and meet our baby girl!)

Sienna May Kempton and Beth

Happy New Year! We hope you had a lovely festive season and have eased into 2014 with high hopes for the year ahead. Here at DWYL the past couple of weeks have been something of a blur after welcoming our baby girl into the world on Christmas Day! Sienna May Kempton was born at 3am as the perfect Christmas present, and has filled our days with wonder, smiles and not much sleep ever since! We feel like we have started 2014 with the ultimate new beginning, and are stepping into the greatest adventure of our lives.

We have no doubt that our sweet girl will change everything, and have a major impact on the kind of year 2014 will become. But we also want to consider our wider dreams and plans, and have been using our free kit ‘New Year’s Revolution’ to help us do this.

If you haven’t downloaded your copy you can get it here for free. You can also join the hundreds of people already in the New Year’s Revolution Facebook group where we will be sharing prompts, discussions and encouragement throughout the year to help you make 2014 amazing.

Wherever you find yourself at the beginning of this shiny new year, we wish you health and happiness, and hope you can make 2014 exactly the kind of year you want it to be.

Beth and the team

Our Christmas Miracle – introducing Sienna May Kempton

Our Christmas Miracle - introducing Sienna May Kempton dwylhq1

On Christmas Day we received the most precious gift ever – our baby girl was born. Sienna May Kempton arrived in the world at 3am, weighing 8 lb 15 ozs.

She is the most beautiful baby we have ever seen and we are truly and utterly in love.

Sienna May Day 1
One day old

Christmas was magical before. Now it will always be even more special. We wish you all a very happy festive season – we are spending ours staring at our little bundle of joy in awe and amazement.

Day 2Two days old

Beth and Paul

Festive favourites (A Christmas poem from Louise)

Love Christmas

This post is written by Louise Gale, a valuable member of the DWYL team who assists with our e-courses and project manages the beautiful Moyo magazine. Louise is a mixed media artist with a passion for colour, nature and energy. She lives in Spain overlooking the ocean with a view of Gibraltar rock, tiny fishing boats and the north African coastline in the distance. Feel free to pop by her website and say hi.

Festive favourites (A Christmas poem from Louise) louiseportraitBWcropped200

Festive greetings everyone! Paul and Beth kindly invited me to guest post on “What Christmas means to me”, so I thought I would write and share a little festive poem with you.

What does Christmas mean to me?
Family, friends and a beautiful tree

Frosty mornings, hear the robin red breast sing
Here are a few of my festive favourite things

mincepie

Making Mince pies with little stars on top
Toasting good health with champagne until I might just pop

Twinkle lights and exchanging smiles
Sending heartfelt greetings across the miles

Living in the moment of festive joy
Faces full of excitement on little girls and boys

Christmas crackers and mistletoe
Holly and ivy tied with a big red bow

Reindeers called Rudolph, Prancer and Dancer
Watching Christmas movies in my snowflake pyjamas

Handmade ornaments that tell a story
Neighbourhood decorations in all their glory

Decorating the tree and sipping mulled wine
Being thankful, loving and kind

wish cookie

To those less fortunate than ourselves
Take time to help out to stack their shelves

The wish I bestow upon one and all
Be healthy, happy and stand up tall

To love one another, give thanks and spread peace
Let go of fear, so any anger can cease

christmas is here

No matter where on earth I roam
Christmas isn’t Christmas without being home

Home is where the heart lives, so precious and true
so, take some time to reflect on….

What does this festive season mean to you?

Unwrapped: Can we celebrate Christmas differently? (A Christmas Message from Susie)

1459225_562400120497009_177055219_n

This post is written by Susannah Keene who is lending a helping hand at DWYL whilst Beth prepares herself for motherhood. Susie met Beth when they worked together at UNICEF in London and they then spent a couple of years working together in Ghana before moving back to the UK to get married. She is expecting her first baby in the New Year and in the meantime she’s enjoying exploring new opportunities for DWYL’s development and sharing growth ideas with Paul for 2014…

Susie Keene

If you ask someone to describe to you what Christmas means to them, I bet a lot of people would say that it is a time of celebration, a time to spend with your family, to share presents and indulge in copious amounts of food and treats. Year after year, we follow the same routine and, whilst the majority of us enjoy it, Christmas can just be an event in our annual calendars that we switch into auto-pilot for.

I vividly remember during my teenage years that every Christmas Day afternoon I would burst out crying; a release of the feeling that had built during the day brought on by the sheer number of presents that were exchanged amongst our privileged family. Did we really need all of this stuff? What about all of those people in the world who weren’t as fortunate as us? Why was so much money being wasted on things that were only going to be put at the back of a cupboard?

Christmas-tree-with-presents

And yet, I find myself today falling into this cultural trap of giving presents for birthdays, Christmas, weddings and christenings because it is expected of you.  So why do I do it?  Is it because I want them to do the same for me? Definitely not. The pleasure for me lies in thinking carefully about something that someone special might enjoy, in wrapping the present to make it look beautiful and in watching the joy of the individual receive the present. If this is the case, why do all of these things have to be achieved through giving a physical present?

One of the main reasons we have the custom of giving and receiving presents at Christmas is to remind us of the presents of Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh given to Jesus by the Three Wise Men. In our consumer driven society, our senses are attacked at this time of year by brands persuading us that we need to buy their product. But what if we looked at the gift of giving in a different way?  What if each year we decided to give something of ourselves at Christmas time instead of another bar of soap or pair of socks?

We all have individual talents that others would love to learn from us, own things that we can share and have time to spend with others so why don’t we give those valuable things at Christmas instead? I personally can’t think of anything better than opening a gift this Christmas from someone offering to spend a morning with me teaching me a new skill or spending an afternoon to go to my favourite museum.  Yes of course I enjoy receiving lovely new things for our house or new clothes to wear but they aren’t really the things that make me happy. This Christmas I’m looking forward to teaching my Mum how to read sheet music so that she can enjoy, and participate more easily, in her new choir.

But perhaps most importantly, or relevantly, you could spend some time with a loved one this Christmas to help them discover what it is that they truly love doing. If you’ve taken one of our courses, could you share some of the things that you have learnt with them? Could you spend some time to talk through and encourage them to find their passion and participate in a life doing what they love? The gift of giving doesn’t have to be the exchange of a physical item. I feel sure that if you helped someone find their passion this Christmas it would be the best gift they ever received.

For further inspiration around giving actions visit The Do Nation.

Nelson Mandela – tribute to a true leader

Nelson Mandela

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

A few years ago I had the great honour of meeting Nelson Mandela, one of the most inspirational men of our age. When I worked at UNICEF and was responsible for our relationship with Manchester United FC, I joined the team on their tour of South Africa. We had a private audience with Nelson Mandela. He was already an old man then, but he was such a strong presence.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Alex Ferguson and Ryan Giggs shared a few words about the impact he had had on them personally, and it was amazing to see some of the most famous footballers in the world humbled by this true leader of men. I felt incredibly lucky to be in that room at that moment. Nelson Mandela will long remain a beacon of hope, a symbol of good, and a demonstration of the triumph of the human spirit. Rest in peace.

On that same trip we visited a number of projects supported by Manchester United in Cape Town, including the Tygerberg Hospital and a community centre. The players were in high spirits, and there was something about that whole trip (and the country itself) which clearly inspired them and helped remind them how they can use their profile as a force for good in the world. Nelson Mandela was not just a man who inspired a nation, but a man who inspired people from all walks of life, all over the world. Here are a few pictures from that trip. – Beth

Ryan Giggs Soweto 069

Kieran Richardson & Ryan Giggs (image: Getty Images)

UNICEF-M.UNITED_5

With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, one of the most gentle, thoughtful and generous football players I ever had the honour of working with (image: Getty Images)

UNICEF-M.UNITED_7

Briefing the team on the way to the children’s hospital

UNICEF-M.UNITED_141

Darren Fletcher, Jonny Evans and Ben Foster say goodbye to one of the children who shared their story that day (image: Getty Images)

Big, heavy, slow… and grateful

Big, heavy, slow... and grateful DWYL BLOG TUNEINCHILLOUT 650X250PX LR

I haven’t talked much about being pregnant here on the blog over the past few months, but now I am at week 38 I just want to capture a few thoughts before we welcome our baby girl into the world. Right now I feel huge and heavy, I struggle to put my own shoes on, and I walk more slowly than a snail. But I feel well and happy, and am enjoying this very special experience very much.

When we found out about the pregnancy just a couple of weeks after our Spring wedding Mr K and I were both over the moon. It feels like exactly the right time in our lives for this, and we have been lucky to have an enjoyable journey over the past few months.

Pregnancy has been fascinating. It feels like a whole new world is opening up to us, and I have never spent so much time thinking about my body and what it is capable of. We have a new vocabulary now, and have had some hilarious conversations – sometimes with complete strangers at antenatal classes.

Beth pregnancy

At 37 weeks

As I have watched my bump grow, slowly at first, then at a slightly alarming rate in the past few weeks(!) the approaching new phase of our lives has felt more and more real. Each night I watch in wonder as my belly moves in waves, as baby stretches her limbs and tests out her little body. I love to imagine what her face will look like when she is smiling, sleeping, dreaming. The whole thing is a complete miracle to me.

Although we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here in the UK as many of our US friends do, this feels like the perfect time to share just how thankful I am for this life, right now, and for the one developing inside me. I am thankful for many things, but particularly for…

  • Being able to get pregnant at 36, and having a smooth and enjoyable pregnancy so far (touch wood!)
  • Having the most amazing, supportive, loving partner in Mr K to share this very special adventure
  • Having built a company which allows us to enjoy this at our own pace, in our own way, and has allowed Mr K to be completely involved at every point, coming to every ante-natal appointment, sharing daily morning walks to stave off the queasiness, and running the business while I am off. I am so very grateful that he is going to be share the daily magic of having a little girl in our life, working from home and being there for all the important milestones, as well as the little details of every day
  • Business partners who are incredibly supportive of the major life events we have experienced this year – time off for our wedding and honeymoon, and now for maternity leave – who are genuinely excited for us, and flexible as we learn to navigate this new stage of life
  • Friends, family, colleagues, this community… for your love and support, and for keeping us motivated and excited about what is to come. THANK YOU!

What are you grateful for?

Life According to Mr. K – Handwriting On The Wall

lifeaccordingtomrk

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!

Audrey Hepburn 

Where do we look for inspiration? Do we delve into books, relive great sporting moments, do we wait to be inspired by others, do we look back at historical events or can inspiration be found everywhere and anywhere if we are ready to be inspired?

Personally my inspiration has come from my family, friends, films, sport, travel and books and more recently my wife. This was until I joined Do What You Love.

Here at Do What You Love we are blessed to be enveloped by inspiration on a daily basis. People are changing their lives. No it isn’t always easy but, what worth having is? There is a growing movement of people who are finding the courage to step out from the life they have to create a life they want. They are finding courage from within a community that is reaching far and wide. Throwing away the shackles of insecurity they are empowering one another to give it ago and fulfil their dreams. How can you not be inspired!

I took some of our own advice recently and registered on a creative writing course. I had to start from somewhere to try and realise my dream of writing a children’s book. It has been fantastic. I have met other people with a passion and love for the power of words. By merely choosing the correct words and placing them in the correct order you can create something very poetic, dramatic, haunting or even humorous. This journey is one of blood, sweat and tears and then most probably a few more tears.

I have tried to draw inspiration from the likes of AA Milne, JRR Tolkien, Roald Dahl, Lewis Carroll and C S Lewis to name but a few. They have created worlds which have mesmerised children and adults alike for decades spanning various generations. They have even gone as far as to create their own languages.

My idea is starting to gather a little momentum but it will be a while until I have the courage to share it with you. Whether it will be worth the wait will be debatable but the enjoyment of writing and creating a world to harness dreams has and is a constant pleasure. Even if it only keeps my wife entertained.

I have been reading lots of different books and poems to see what I can learn. I stumbled across a great little poem which I thought I would share with you. I read it a few times and loved it. See what you think…

The Handwriting On The Wall

(author unknown)

A weary mother returned from the store,
Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.
Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,
Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.

“While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!
It’s on the new paper you just hung in the den.
I told him you’d be mad at having to do it again.”

She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,
“Where is your little brother right now?”
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.

She called his full name as she entered his room.
He trembled with fear–he knew that meant doom!
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.

Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,
She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!

She headed for the den to confirm her fears.
When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.
It said, “I love Mommy”, surrounded by a heart.

Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,

With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
Take time to read the handwriting on the wall.

Can you think of a moment or time you were convinced you knew the truth until it was put into context and it all changed?

Dreamcatching

Dreamcatching

This week a very good friend sent us a Dream Catcher as a late wedding/early baby gift. It was handmade by the talented Rachael Rice, in beautiful neutrals and pastels, draped in feathers and trinkets. We absolutely love it, and have hung it above the baby’s cot in anticipation of her arrival in the next few weeks.

I love the idea of Dream Catchers, and did a bit of reading to find out more about them. Apparently the Native American Ojibwe people have an ancient legend of the dreamcatcher:

“Storytellers speak of the Spider Woman, known as Asibikaashi; she took care of the children and the people on the land. Eventually, the Ojibwe Nation spread to the corners of North America and it became difficult for Asibikaashi to reach all the children. So the mothers and grandmothers would weave magical webs for the children, using willow hoops and sinew, or cordage made from plants. The dreamcatchers would filter out all bad dreams and only allow good thoughts to enter our mind. Once the sun rises, all bad dreams just disappear.” (from Wikipedia)

Isn’t that magical? What if all your bad dreams just disappeared when you woke up (or snapped out of a daydream), and your mind was only filled with good thoughts? What a powerful thing that would be.

When you are trying to make major changes in your life – which are inevitable if you want to move from doing something you don’t love to doing something you do love – then dreaming is an important part of that. But worrying about the worst that could happen tends to go alongside it.

This week, instead of getting caught up in the “But what if things go wrong…?” why not think about both sets of possible consequences, acknowledge the risks, but then also acknowledge the possibility of the best outcome if you do take that leap. Remember, if you do do it, something might go wrong. But if you don’t do it, you can guarantee things are not going to suddenly start going right!

This week imagine the Dream Catcher is working for you, harnessing all your good thoughts and dreams, and willing you along the path towards doing what you love!

If you are in the process of making any major changes, and find that this helps you, be sure to tell us about it in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter.

Happy dreaming!

Beth and team