great reminder...

You are not your age, nor the size of clothes you wear, 
You are not a weight, or the color of your hair.
You are not your name, or the dimples in your cheeks.
You are all the books you read, and all the words you speak.
You are your croaky morning voice, and the smiles you try to hide.
You're the sweetness in your laughter, and every tear you've cried.
You're the songs you sing so loudly when you know you're all alone.
You're the places that you've been to, and the one that you call home.
You're the things that you believe in, and the people whom you love.
You're the photos in your bedroom, and the future you dream of.
You're made of so much beauty, but it seems that you forgot
When you decided that you were defined by all the things you're not.

Erin Hanson - Not

probably true...

 

yes...

 

from the Iliad

 

THE WORST THING by Donna Ashworth

The worst thing you can be is not fat, or ugly, or stupid.

The worst thing you can be, is not different, or awkward, or ‘too much’.

The worst thing you can be, unequivocally, is locked in a prison of your own self-doubt, riddled with insecurities, afraid to venture out into this life, lest the world see who you really are.

In short, the worst thing you can be, is someone else.

When you were only ever meant to be you.

Donna Ashworth From ‘I Wish I knew’:

another gem from Donna Ashworth

 THERE WILL BE SOME VERY PAINFUL MOMENTS IN YOUR LIFE

There will be some very painful moments in your life my friend.

There will be moments, days even,

when the sun doesn’t seem to rise in your sky

and the breath feels sucked right out of your lungs.

When food has no taste, the world has no joy

and everything seems like an effort too far.

Yes, my friend, there will be very painful moments in your life.

But you will get through them,

‘This too shall pass.’

Because life has a way of throwing you a rope,

just at the very moment when you thought,

you couldn’t swim another stroke.

All you have to do is grab it.

And one day, as is the way of this life,

the sun will suddenly beat down on your face again

and the air will feel fresher than it ever did.

And there will be laughter.

And love.

And joy.

So much joy.

And life will be sweet, like summer after a long winter.

A winter that was so dark each colour that appears,

feels like the first time you are seeing it.

This is when you must live, really live.

For, just as the bad times do not last forever,

neither do the good,

‘This too shall pass.’

But that is life.

So, embrace the joy when it comes and let fear slide away.

And when the dark times come around again,

and they will,

remember you have what you need to survive.

And you will survive my friend, you really will.

Keep the important people close,

focus on what truly matters

and you will find yourself dragged to safety,

each and every time the storms come.

And on those days,

when your sun is high in the sky

but you notice another facing bad weather,

you drop your raft and you go to them.

And if they won’t climb in with you, to safety,

you simply stay with them in the stormy water,

till the sun rises again.

And it will.

it always does.

Donna Ashworth

From ‘to the women’https://www.amazon.co.uk/.../ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabt1...

today's serving from Donna Ashworth...

YOU CAN'T BE EVERYONE'S CUP OF TEA

There will always be someone in this life who just doesn't like you, no matter how hard you try to please them.
There will always be something that you say, or do, which causes offence or division.
Whether you meant to or not.
There will always be someone who finds fault in you, your life or your words.
You may never find out why, please don't waste your precious time trying to.

You can't be everyone's cup of tea.
Then there will be those who like you on impact.
A little fizz of energy that passes between you.
Silently, unseen, bonding.
Those people will not only like you but they will like you fiercely.
They are your people.
Whatever spare time you have, spend it on them.

You can't be everyone's cup of tea, but you can be someone's first sip of a cold drink on a sunny day...

Of a warming hot chocolate when you come in from the rain
or the pop of a long awaited champagne cork
or a stiff shot of tequila when things go awry

Find your people, love them hard.

Donna Ashworth
from "to the women"

a great reminder for me as i anticipate turning 68 tomorrow...

THOSE WHO WAIT…

If each of us knew how much time we had allocated,

perhaps we could play around with it.

But we don’t.

Believing tomorrow to be a guarantee,

is the biggest mistake we make.

Not seizing every day like the gift that it is,

is the biggest risk we take.

Waste time wisely my friend.

Time spent in rest, joy, company and kindness,

is never wasted.

As for the rest, just do it.

You won’t regret the things you tried and failed at,

but you will regret a life spent waiting.

Waiting for anything is a dangerous game because there is no guarantee the conditions will ever be just right.

Those who wait, wait..

but you,

you have a life to live.

Right here, right now.

Donna Ashworth