New Beginnings

"The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance. The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you, as perfect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted or misapplied a single moment in your life. You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose." (Arnold Bennett)

Every moment is a new beginning.

I've used "the only constant in life is change" so many times over the years, and it wasn't until writing this week's blog that I discovered who the quote is attributed to. It dates back to ancient Greece and the philosopher Heraclitus, who said, "panta rhei" ("everything flows").

The phrase imparts a universal truth that everything is constantly changing, and the world is always in motion. Understanding this essential reality promotes adaptability, flexibility, and a more open attitude towards new experiences and challenges. From a personal, self-awareness standpoint, there is comfort in knowing that we change too - that we can evolve, develop, and transform ourselves.  

"Geronimo!"

A few weeks ago, I made a life-altering decision, shifting course in a way that I wouldn't have anticipated. It was also out of character, going against my cautious nature and propensity to overthink and catastrophise nearly everything. I've had ups and downs over this period, wondering if I'd made the right choice. The people-pleaser in me also obsessed over whether my decision to change had hurt or disappointed anyone. As the weeks passed, I became more and more resolute - knowing that when push came to shove, I did what I felt was best for me. And, for the first time in a long while, I think I made a choice that wasn't only for my benefit but for those around me, too. Am I as courageous as the Apache warrior, or the test platoon that uttered his name as they parachuted out of fighter planes? Of course not. But for cautious me, making this life-altering decision felt like leaping out of an aeroplane with nary an umbrella to break my fall. Now, as I look toward the future, I feel a flutter of excitement and a flickering of hope. Nervousness and anxiety that once so frequently lay coiled in the pit of my stomach like a venomous snake appear to have loosened its grip - no longer intent on poisoning its host.

So, new beginnings. Out with the old, in with the new. I ended last week's blog post with a non-committal paragraph because I wasn't sure how my week would go. Thankfully, it went very well, and anxiety and nervousness have bowed in deference to hope and positivity. Long may it last. I'm not so naive that I think I've reached a point where nothing will bother me, that I have found happiness and peace. No, that's not accurate. What I have found is that the past is something to reflect on when you need a reminder of its lessons. The future is not mine to worry about - it will arrive when it will. This moment is pretty awesome, though, and I'm going to revel in it. That's the 'power of now'.

I opted for a poem this week, one I found both apt and inspiring. It's by Julia Delaney, and you can find it here. The highlighted sentences really hit.

In the Light of New Beginnings

In the whisper of the morning, where the light begins to play,

there’s a story being written, in the hues of break of day.

Each ray that dances gently, on the leaves and on the dew,

speaks of quiet transformations, old things becoming new.

In the subtle stir of breezes, in the bird’s first cheerful song,

lies a melody of hopefulness, that I’ve craved for oh so long.

It tells of strength found in softness, in the quiet, in the calm,

in the beauty of a morning, in its soothing, healing balm.

As the world awakens slowly, shedding night’s introspective shroud,

there’s a promise in the sunrise, not spoken, yet avowed.

That every dawn brings a newness, a chance to start afresh,

to paint our lives with boldness, in the canvas of today’s sketch.

Beneath the vastness of the sky, in its ever-changing hue,

I find a mirror of my journey, in shades of pink and blue.

Reminding me that change is constant, as constant as the dawn,

that every ending paves a pathway, for new dreams to be drawn.

In the simplicity of morning, in the quiet, in the light,

there’s a profoundness often missed, in the haste of day and night.

But if we pause to listen, to the whispers of the day,

we find in them a wisdom, guiding us along our way.

l embrace the morning, with its subtle, tender call,

to find joy in simple moments, to stand resilient and tall.

To see in each day’s beginning, a gift of time untold,

a story waiting to be written, a new chapter to unfold.

Here’s to the beauty of beginnings, to the hope each morning brings,

to the songs of the earth waking, to the peace the quiet sings.

May we find in each new sunrise, a reason to stand tall,

to face the day with courage, in the grandness of it all.

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Coming Up Next Week

I'm going to err on the side of caution and not name a specific text at this point. The last few weeks have definitely impacted my capacity to work through books (and even podcasts), but I'm pleased that, despite this, I've been able to post something each Sunday. I will be back on track soon though and I look forward to getting stuck into a full book soon.

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#anxiety #depression #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #thereisnostigma #youarenotalone #mindfulness #wellness #selfhelp #selfcare

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