Feeling Philosophical At Alton Towers...Don't Look Down!

Life is a Roller Coaster...Enjoy The Ride!

Yesterday we went to Alton Towers as part of our 15th wedding anniversary celebrations. With our shiny new Merlin Annual Passes bought using Tesco Clubcard Tokens, we were ready to start our 12 months of theme park fun!  Kizzy has had a growth spurt and is now big enough to be let loose on the big rides and took to the idea with sheer enthusiasm.  Air and Oblivion were her favourites and seeing my baby girl laughing, screaming and loving every moment of the thrill of roller coasters was a joy to behold!  She really grasps opportunities full on and is so confident and independent.  A total thrill seeker and a lover of life!

Ian, Kizzy and Ella on Oblivion (first three seats on the front left)

As well as enjoying witnessing this rite of passage of my youngest daughter it also made me feel all philosophical about my life.

Sometimes life feels a bit like being on a roller coaster.  Sometimes I'm soaring the heady heights of  my existence, relishing my family life and my marriage.  Then other times I'm threatened with plummeting head long into an abyss due to some thing that I have no control over.

Don't Look Down

Recent events have caused me to feel like I may be slipping over that metaphorical edge.  My husband has become yet another victim of the economic recession and was made redundant just over a month ago following a cost cutting decimation of the company that he works for.  For a moment I felt a sense of panic and of absolute injustice.  But then I put it into perspective.  I asked myself what was important and what I could live without.  The answer was just so simple.  As long as we can afford to keep the roof over our heads, pay the bills and put food in our bellies then we are fine.  We have each other and we have wonderful kids who have never been demanding of material things.  It is a cliche but you truly can't buy love, health or happiness.  If we are happy and healthy, then anything else is just a bonus and not a necessity.  

At the moment there are currently a few things in the pipeline as far as Ian's job is concerned with the possibility of internal transfers and things actually look a lot more positive now than they did a month ago.  He is still on notice, but just knowing that we could weather even the worse case scenario makes me realise what really matters to us.  We've had so much support from so many people who care about us, it really has made me take stock of the things that make a positive impact on my life.  It is the friendships, my close family, my husband and my children that truly matter.  No amount of money could buy me a happier marriage or more amazing kids...and redundancy doesn't change either.  Just appreciating this has been a weight of my shoulders!

I think that when something happens that could have a negative impact on your life and you stare it in the face and don't allow it to beat you, you come away feeling so empowered.

I am definitely starting to view life in a different way and am taking a leaf out of Kizzy's book.  Her joie de vivre, courage and  enthusiasm for challenges are such a positive influence on me!  I have finally embraced optimism and my half full glass will soon be positively brimming over!

So if my life is a roller coaster, I'm holding on tight and loving every minute of this amazing ride with my loved ones by my side!

A New Month...Time For Reflection

My life has become a mixed bag of emotions at the moment.  Last month saw our family receive two life changing pieces of news...one good, one not so good.  So I am juggling my feelings and trying to find a balance between the two to keep everything on an even keel to avoid the roller coaster ride that is threatening to turn our lives into a metaphorical version of Alton Towers!

When something bad happens, it is easy to roll over and give up.  I used to let bad news get me down and tumble into depression.  But as I've got older I have become so much more philosophical and positive.  When one door closes it is an opportunity to find a new door to open and begin a new chapter in your life, older and wiser from the experience.  I won't let negative influences cloud my life and intend to put all my energy into the things that make me happy.  As long as we have our health and each other, any challenge is surmountable.

A wonderful old friend recently shared a quote with me:

From The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel;  "Things will be all right in the end, and if it's not all right, it isn't the end yet."


I think that is a great way to look at things!

Life is a Rollercoaster

A Journey Of 1000 Miles Begins With A Single Step!

I just had a flash of inspiration while chatting on Twitter today.  It was an epiphanous moment!  It started when I quoted one of my favourite quotes:

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

This is something I live by, knowing that I personally need to break down things that need to be done into baby steps.  I'm big on lists and organising myself into doing bitesized chunks to achieve the desired result.  It makes life much easier to avoid bogging myself down by big and overwhelming challenges.

This strategy has got me through some real tough times and continues to provide a mantra for when life threatens to consume me with its demands.

With the bit between my teeth, I am a force to be reckoned with.  I enjoy structure and striving towards an end result. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I achieve my goal and I am never more motivated than when something needs to be done.  Pressure and deadlines are things I can respond to well.  

Sometimes I wonder why I don't have my own business.  Or why this blog isn't as successful as it could be.  Or why I've never had a career?  For someone with elements of the qualities needed to succeed, why am I not a personal success?

Yes, I have an amazing family.  I dedicate myself to that role but they are my vicarious success.  I love knowing that I am at the heart of our home, and am in some small way responsible for the wonderful little people I have helped create.  But I would not presume to take credit for their achievements.    They swell me with pride and make my heart burst with love.  But their success is not mine...it is down to them.  Maybe I helped supply the tools but they created the beautiful end results.

So my journey will start with one single step.  A step that I will tread with purpose, vigour and with 100% commitment!  My only problem is I don't know where I am going!  I long to start this journey to my next destination in my personal development. Freddy will be starting nursery this year and with no more babies on my horizon, I need to start thinking about me.  This is so difficult for someone who has continually defined themselves by the roles given to them by other people: mother, wife, daughter.  Who am I??  What do I want? What is this thing I want to do, but can't quite work out exactly what it actually is?  Where is it that I want to go? 

One thing's for sure....I really need a map!