Simplicity and Freedom... how many of us have these in our lives?

Simplicity and Freedom... how many of us have these in our lives?

All it takes is:

a walk in the rain,

watching the birds fly high in the sky or the clouds rolling by!

Take a drive in the countryside or sit in a quiet place and listen to the wind rustle in the trees ....

Go turn off the television, your ipad, moblie phone and your games!

Stop buying those Take-Aways instead spend some time cooking tea with your partner and children!

Sit together at night time and play a board game or at the weekend take a kite to the park.

Yes...

in our busy and often complicated life, just take a minute or two to take a breather...

go sit outside, close your eyes and dream a little!

Hey, how much busyness and stress do we make for ourselves?

Yes just take a minute or two and think your day over - do you have time to relax or, is, every minute taken up,

doing....

working...

stressing...?

I challenge you ALL to listen to my call to Simplicity and Freedom as, in reality, it is a reminder of YOUR WORTH!

Realize this:-

Your Worth is NOT measured from the time spent being busy or,

your amount of involvement in things,

your achievements, money and possessions...

nor does it come from just mindlessly walking through life but,

it is far, far more than that!

Your worth comes from within:-

it is the depth of knowing who you truly are without it being buried by busyness of life,

it is recognizing that you are more than material things,

it is the simple things of life and the love, kindness and care which you bring to each precious moment - where ever you are, whom ever you meet and whatever you do!

But, too often, we are far, far too busy to notice who we really are inside and instead we, and others, measure our worth by those things mentioned above:-

our amount of involvement in things,

our achievements, money and possessions...

So...

Take my Challenge of Simplicity and Freedom from busyness and...

 GO FIND YOUR TRUE WORTH!

inspirational blog – RuAnCa  http://ruanca.blogspot.co.nz

twitter https://twitter.com.ruancaRuth 

facebook page - www.facebook.com/ruthannecaukwell

My ebooks -  http://www.amazon.com/Ruth-Anne-Caukwell/

kindest regards

Ruth

Are You Living A Life of Regret?

Are You Living a Life of Regret?

Regrets... Mistakes... is your past your today and will it be your tomorrow too?

We all make mistakes, we would not be human if we did not.

And yes it is important to acknowledge, learn and face up to any consequences but spending a lot of time regretting them is not okay!

It is not okay to live in past regrets!

It is not okay to live that time over-and-over again like a stuck record!

It is not okay to feel guilty forever as you will NOT have a future and it is NOT okay to let someone else make you always feel guilty over the past either!

The past is just that, the day that was before today, while today is the here-and-now, your current moment in time.

Your future is your tomorrow and depends upon the today that you are living now.

If you live your today, your current moment, living in your-day-before what will your tomorrow be?

It will not be a...tomorrow but, instead, it will be the ghost of your-days-before... your past!

Do you want to live as a ghost from your past and let your, today and your, tomorrows be overshadowed with regrets and DEFINE who you really are?

If NO, then....

OWN your mistakes - too often we look to others, circumstances or something else to blame. If we are ever to 'let things go' and get over the past we need to be able to acknowledge our actions, words, deeds (or whatever).

APOLOGISE - wow ... this can be difficult at times and requires us to admit certain weaknesses but, how empowering is it to acknowledge and ask for forgiveness. Turn this around and recognize this as an opportunity for you to show your strength... of character!

LOOK and LEARN from others - having an open mind and heart gives us opportunities to learn from those around us - their mistakes as much as their triumphs!  This can be a timely reminder that even the most inspirational people make mistakes from time to time!

Cultivate POSITIVE CHANGE - often mistakes disappoint others around us and those we love - friends, family, colleagues, etc., (as well as ourselves) who come to view us differently because of what we have done. But... making positive change will be so very empowering  and become a new yard-stick with which to live your life by.

Accepting and forgiving your mistakes opens a door for a future,

while focusing on the positives will bring in a new light into your life.

So, instead of letting adversity and regret make you weaker

let it empower you, and strengthen your might!

Live your life NOT in vain regrets my friends but, instead, with a strength and resolve of taking each day and making it the best that you can.  As then, and only then, will you truly be able to step into your future... one without the ghosts of the past lurking within!

inspirational blog – RuAnCa  http://ruanca.blogspot.co.nz

twitter https://twitter.com.ruancaRuth 

facebook page - www.facebook.com/ruthannecaukwell

My ebooks -  http://www.amazon.com/Ruth-Anne-Caukwell/

kindest regards

Ruth

The Resilient Self!

The Resilient Self!

The power of human nature to overcome is amazing,

wounds heal but they do leave scars - sometimes angry, red and sore.

Time marches on as it never stands still,

memories linger but sooner or later the hurt fades dimming more and more.

So too, will the scars, those ones which seemed to overtake,

 as the resilience of a person does kick in, if not for others but for their very own sake!

Sometimes we become like a bruised reed, frail and broken at the edge of life.

Once we were standing tall strong and ready to face the world but now looking in the mirror all we see is a person bent and battered by the winds of life...

Are you like that bruised reed?

Was it not that long ago you were full of life...

but, somehow, somewhere something happened which left you broken...

a wrong decision, a failure or mistake,

a friends betrayal, a spouses wrong,

a loss of a loved one or grief of some kind,

a lie or angry words,

violence or abuse,

maybe a loss of a job or a home...

Whatever it was it became the lynch pin that caused you to become broken and tired of life but...

you have within you a resilience, a strength far beyond what you know - all you need is to find it and let it blossom, flower and grow!

Yes, so many times in life events occur and they bring us down. 

Down so low that it seems as if our life is over but, somehow, 

we keep on going and moving on as,

 deep within us a strength lies there waiting... waiting... waiting!

Yes, so many times in life people hurt, abandon and do us wrong but, somehow, 

we keep on going even if we just do the 'motions of living' - we just keep plodding on... and on... and on!

Yes, so many times in life we think that we cannot go on another step for it is just too hard and we want it all to stop...

but life is far too precious and as each one of us is so very unique.

Reach within yourself and find your own strength and resilience but if you feel you need assistance do reach out for another, take their hand and let them help you along. 

Do not try when you feel it is hopeless to try 'go-it-alone'  as, sometimes, we need to have support and there is always help and love just around the corner - more than you realize or know.

Yes the power of human nature to overcome is amazing but, sometimes,

 all we need is that nudge...

our strength can be buried so deep within us that it becomes lost in the pain and the hurt.

There is no harm or shame in asking for assistance and we do not have to walk that pain of recovery all alone. 

The resilience of self and our self preservation is amazing but, sometimes, 

all we need to do is to find it within.

When the storms of life seem to close in my friend

and your eyes become blurred with the tears,

and even though you may lose much with the pain and the sorrow,

 never forget that you are an incredible life.

A life that is worth so much, is unique and very precious 

and the place that you hold within this earth is made just for you.

So even though life may seem so very difficult at times,

it makes us more aware of the resources contained within.

The resilience of self and self preservation holds the key for peace and survival,

 as peace and having a life worth living come not in the absence of conflict,

 but in the ability to cope with what is given! 

My hope for you today and always is that through your life you will find your own strength and resilience that, which is contained within ALL of us.  Whether you need help in finding it during times of difficulties that is okay - never be afraid or ashamed to seek out any help you might need.  In overcoming and learning what we have deep inside of us is amazing, and, as we 'come out' of the other side of a dark period in our life it is in finding, utilizing and relying on our strength and self preservation, that we do find a peace of mind.... nothing is better than this!

Step forwards in faith and belief in your own resilience as it is there lying waiting... just waiting within you!

inspirational blog – RuAnCa  http://ruanca.blogspot.co.nz

twitter - https://twitter.com.ruancaRuth      

facebook page - www.facebook.com/ruthannecaukwell 

ebooks -  http://www.amazon.com/Ruth-Anne-Caukwell/

What Legacy Are You leaving Behind?

 A couple of weeks ago I went for a drive and during one of my stops an amazing sight caught my eye. Behind some trees and half falling fence was a broken-down rambling old house.

It had broken windows, 

ragged curtains flapping in the breeze.

A tree growing out of the cracked roof and

vines entwined all over its wall.

The paths were covered over and the veranda sagging and rotten.

A child's discolored ball was lying not far from a broken trike, 

both almost lost in the long unkempt grass

As I stood there awed by such a sight I listened to the soft silence while the cool breeze touched my face,

I could hear distant footsteps and children playing as their laughter was carried away by the wind.

What was that?

Ah, yes it was their mother calling - "Hellen, Tommy, time for dinner so come on in and wash your hands!"

Ah, yes there in the distance, was their father, wiping his brow before slowly walking home!

Their's was a family of love and closeness even though hardships were just part of life.

As the breeze got up I pulled my coat closer and blinked to stop the grit from going into my eyes. I now heard only silence and saw no figures there at all, for, whoever lived there had lived there so very long ago. 

Who lived there?

Why did they leave and where were they now?

The children - how many where there and where did they go?

What was their legacy - their hopes and their dreams - how many had they nurtured and how many were achieved?

Yes, what legacies had they left behind for others to see -

had they been just like the house, broken down and forgotten or, 

had they been wonderful, ongoing and part of their future.

Sadly I would never know, and as I walked quietly away the lasting impression left within me was one of poignancy and wonder as to what lives had been lived there and why so little remained!

What LEGACY are you leaving behind as the day is coming to a close.

Is it one of heartbreak and broken dreams?

Do you take bitterness into the night and on towards the next day?

Do you moved from one place to another in an attempt to rid yourself of the pain and the hurt?

Or, 

do you say, "Enough is enough!' and are attempting to break that cycle of negativity and despair!

Our life is a Journey, a Journey of Life,

 and the paths that we take might be filled with some peace or some strife!

But, it is in the living that our legacy will remain, 

so,

 will your life be filled with regrets and remorse - looking backwards not forwards,

or,

will it be lived looking forwards to the future with hope, love and leaving no stain?

Realize that  no one can do it for you for it is up to you what legacy you leave,

is it one of happiness and laughter hopes or will the impression left behind make other people grieve?

Decide today what path you will take as each day once gone leaves some kind of trace!

No matter what life throws at you do you, at the end of each day, want that day's legacy to define who you are? Do you want it to be just like that shell of a house;- cracked windows, overgrown with weeds and full of unrealized dreams?

Or, do you take your adversities and grasp them by the hand before, throwing them up high and letting the wind blow them away? Do you decide to leave a legacy of strength and personal choice where you step out from what is dragging you down and CHOOSE to live your life in a positive happy way!

My hope is for you is to CHOOSE to live your life in a way that each day leaves a legacy of love, hope, kindness and strength. Life can at times be very difficult but it is in those adversities that you can find yourself and know just how great you are!

Written in love

Ruth

It is Time to Take Action....!

It is Time to Take Action....!

YES...

 it is time for YOU to take ACTION....

ACTION to make a CHOICE to take a CHANCE to make a CHANGE!

DO you have a Dream?

WHAT are the Stoppers in your life?

Are you READY to EMBRACE Change!

How is your Self Esteem and WHAT are your Values?

Is it TIME for you to Challenge your Thought Patterns

and

FACE... DISCARD those Masks that you wear!

Do you LIVE with Loneliness and a LACK of Hope...?

BUT

realize that YOU can have ALL the Happiness you long for if, only, you just go out and GRAB IT!

SO...

make THE  CHOICE to take the CHANCE to make a CHANGE!

 YES...

if you want to FIND your AUTHENTIC SELF then go on a JOURNEY OF SELF DISCOVERY

AND

LIVE the LIFE you were MEANT TO LIVE

You were born GREAT!

You were born AUTHENTIC!

You were born with everything you NEED because YOU are YOU!

You are an INDIVIDUAL!

You are UNIQUE and nobody else CAN BE YOU so…

BELIEVE in YOURSELF and take those steps forwards!

 GO OUT THERE and make YOUR JOURNEY OF LIFE… YOUR OWN!

(Ruth Anne Caukwell)*

My soon-to-be released inspirational book - 'Musings of a Blogger - Inspirational Thoughts for Your Life's Journey' WILL OPEN a DOORWAY for you!

It covers ALL these topics!

The INSPIRATIONAL WORDS...

The CONNECTING WORKBOOK and...

The READER'S GROUP QUESTIONS 

are written in LOVE for YOU!

SO...

CHOOSE to take the JOURNEY OF SELF DISCOVERY with ME and you will FIND a NEW YOU!

Musings of a Blogger - Inspirational Thoughts for Your Life's Journey'  - will be RELEASED IN DECEMBER 2015!

LOOK FOR IT!

MAKE that CHOICE to BUY IT.... 

TAKE that CHANCE to WORK THROUGH IT and...

YOU will EXPERIENCE the CHANGES as you JOURNEY towards YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF!

Just as the caterpillar, as it goes through its own personal cycle of life, turning into a chrysalis and then bursting out of its protective shell into a wondrous butterfly – being one of the most beautiful of God’s creatures on this earth – I have hope for you in knowing that this inspirational book will aid you in bursting out of your protective chrysalis and become such a being – beautiful and unique…able to spread your wings and soak up the sun of life and… FLY FREE!  

Go forth dear Readers burst free and live again and LIVE your life to the fullest!*

Ruth

* This quote and words are taken from my Inspirational Book 'Musings of a Blogger - Inspirational Thoughts for Your Life's Journey'

A Word Once Spoken...!

A Word Once Spoken...!

How many times have you said something and then wished that it had not been said?
How many times have you SPOKEN A WORD in ANGER...
JEALOUSY, or...
 in HATRED?
How many times have you SPOKEN A WORD before thinking and...
How many times has WHAT you have said,
either INTENTIONALLY or UNINTENTIONALLY,
 broken a HEART...
crippled a SOUL or...
destroyed a LIFE? 

Some of the hurt YOU are AWARE of,
 by...
a LOOK in an EYE or a TEAR FALLING DOWN,
a SOB from a VOICE that is BREAKING in PAIN!

But...
 HOW MUCH of this hurt are you UNAWARE of...
in the DARK of the NIGHT,
behind CLOSED DOORS or...
speaking a word and then moving on not realizing what HARM has been LEFT BEHIND?

As human beings we are not perfect and DO react to situations, sometimes in the only way we know how!
We  make personal comments...
laugh and join in with others!
But...
how many times do we WANT to TAKE BACK our WORDS...
our BEHAVIOR and...
 WISH we could TURN BACK TIME?

When you are hurt or upset by another's words it is tempting to 'DISH' out something in return but...
FORGIVING those who SPEAK ILL of you shows a COMPASSION and becomes a BALM for your LIFE and SOUL!

YES, as human beings we are by our very nature CONFRONTATIONAL and want the LAST WORD...

we are QUICK to STRIKE BACK when we feel ANGRY, FRUSTRATED and down right INSULTED!
Sometimes CRITICISM is too much for our EGO and we want to HIT BACK...
HIT BACK with WORDS that ATTACK... ATTACK... ATTACK!

This might make us feel GOOD for a MOMENT...
an HOUR...
a DAY or a WEEK  even,
but...
 WHEN we FEEL a SENSE of REMORSE and REGRET...
it WILL be far TOO LATE!

As...

THOSE WORDS have been SPOKEN...
the HURT has been DONE and...
often we INFLICT the GREATER PAIN!

Sadly those very people we hurt are most likely those who are the CLOSEST to us, so...

NEXT TIME you are TEMPTED to RETORT...
LASH OUT, or
'GET YOUR OWN BACK' 
on someone you LOVE, WORK WITH or even a STRANGER on the street...
REMEMBER that WORDS...
once ALLOWED to ESCAPE
can NEVER be RECALLED!

Forgive those who speak against or ill of you, and...
show them the compassion that they might have not shown instead.
As...
SILENCE is the balance of a calm mind and spirit, and ...
it is the CORNERSTONE of one's character!

(Ruth Anne Caukwell)

Dear Friends

I know how hard it can be to not retaliate when wrong has been done to you but, if you are to live in harmony with others - having tolerance, being forgiving and gracious - then your top priority is to TREAT others in the WAY that YOU YOURSELF would wish to be TREATED!

Anyway what is that saying......?

'What goes around comes around'

so... why would you want to 'dish' it out yourself?

written in love - Ruth

INTOLERANCE - The Link

What do ALL these aspects have in common?

Weight

Age

Colour
Disability
Sexual Preference

Religion

Creed

Culture...

They are part of everybody's 'make-up' - we LIVE with them each day, both through OURSELVES and through OTHERS - our friends, relatives, neighbours, people we meet each day and strangers that pass us by...

The tapestry of life is made up of many different stitches just as the texture of life is deeper and richer when you have a fabulous mixture of people as your friends!
(Ruth Anne Caukwell)

so...
WHAT do ALL these things have in common?

The ONE thing that LINKS them all is...

INTOLERANCE!

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines INTOLERANT as:-

not willing to allow or accept something
 not willing to allow some people to have equality, freedom, or other social rights

Sadly tolerance might start out small, a smirk here, a remark there... but if let go to fester it becomes like a germ - spreading and evolving until it becomes warped and is reborn into the different forms of HATRED... BULLYING... BIGOTRY... INEQUALITY and... DISCRIMINATION that we see, experience and read about in today's society!

Why are people INTOLERANT against others and where does it come from?

There are many reasons and sources:-

- a sense of power, control and domination over others deemed weaker, less inferior to another...
- a fear of differences and even, a fear of the unknown...

- a lack of understanding and knowledge about....

- social, peer or group pressure and

- even... a feeling of self inadequacy!

Have you suffered from INTOLERANCE?

OR...

Are you the ONE who is INTOLERANT?

Have you felt the pain and hurt of a LOOK, a WORD, a FIST or a DEED just because you might be different in some way or another?

OR...

Are you the ONE who has JOINED IN...!

Have you LAUGHED at a joke, seen someone else's discomfort, pain or suffering when the people you are with (or it might have even been yourself) has made a comment, raised a fist, spat.... 

ALL in the name of INTOLERANCE! 

THAT IS NOT OKAY!

YES... IT IS NOT OKAY TO:-

- have to suffer from INTOLERANCE
or...
- to DISH IT OUT!

Each of us has our own beauty and somewhere there is an eye to see it.

Each of us has our own truth and somewhere there is an ear to hear it.

Each of us is capable of love and somewhere there is a heart to receive it

as...

each of us is an angel but with one wing only

so...

if we are to fly we can do so by only embracing each other!
(Ruth Anne Caukwell)

We each of us come from a different space - we perceive, experience and live our OWN WAY! 

We each of us are...

 WHO we were BORN to be so*...

 regardless of our sex, physical make-up, colour, creed, ethnicity, or whatever, it makes no difference we are ALL part of the tapestry of life - none of us is better than the other!

Why then if someone has...

- a disfigurement they are a freak or, if disabled they are a drain on society?

Why then if someone is...

- overweight they eat too much or, if underweight they do not eat enough?

Why then if someone is...

- an aged person** they are useless, past-their-prime, use-by date and should be stuck in a home?

Why then if someone is...

- a different colour from you they are inferior, animals and not worth having the same rights!

Why then if someone's...

-  belief is different from yours they are wrong, they are misunderstood and maligned because of it!

Why then if someone..

- is different sexually or has opposite sexual preferences than you, they are not human, made fun of and discriminated against

and WHY.......?

We all measure others by our OWN YARD STICK - OUR cultural up-bringing, experiences and thinking, ethnicity, spiritual and personal beliefs and, the social NORMS that we are born into. 

And that is okay

but it is when our attitude and behaviour towards others is, or becomes, biased towards an INTOLERANT VIEWPOINT that it is then not okay!

Anyway just STOP A MINUTE and THINK!

What if ...

- you had an accident and became disfigured or disabled?

What if...

- for some medical or emotional reason you became overweight or underweight?

What if...

- one day you could be in trouble and a different coloured person from you comes to your aid... saves your life even,

 OR... maybe it might be someone who has a spiritual belief the complete opposite of yours,

OR... they have a different sexual preference...

AND...

There is no doubt that...

- one day you will be one of those aged persons too!

What happens to one can happen to another and what hurts one will hurt another.

This is because we are all part of the whole thus are all connected!

(Ruth Anne Caukwell)

Dear Friends

INTOLERANCE is INTOLERABLE! If you have felt its PINCH... as hard as it is you have to move past the hurt, pain and injustice! Seek others who are respectful of and embrace you just as you are! Have faith and belief there are many, many people out there who believe that everyone is just as good as each other - you are WORTH being just as you are and NEVER let anyone influence you to think otherwise***!

If you have had some INTOLERANCE**** today - maybe just have a look at where these beliefs or attitudes have come from... look around at others and see just how wonderful difference is... and can be...!

Live in GRACE, live with RESPECT and live EMBRACING OTHERS!

Love Ruth

*   Have a look at my entry on: 'Walking our own way'
http://ruanca.blogspot.co.nz/2015/03/walking-our-own-way.html

** Have a look at my entry on: 'The beauty of age'

http://ruanca.blogspot.co.nz/2015/02/the-beauty-of-age.html

*** Have a look at my entry on: 'Challenge you thought patterns today'
http://ruanca.blogspot.co.nz/2015/06/challenge-your-thought-patterns-today.html

**** Have a look at my entry on: 'Have you been judgemental today'
http://ruanca.blogspot.co.nz/2015/07/have-you-been-judgemental-today.html