...and that's who I am!
Welcome the last few hours of April as we approach the month of May and another bank holiday weekend!
I have been deliberating the focus of this month's blog with great consideration, especially as we continue to celebrate longer days and extra sunshine as we head towards summer. I recently heard a composition which included the repeated words of "I was..." and it made me think more about how much time we spend on thinking back about who we were, rather than focusing on who we are and will be. The words which began the blog by Nikolai Gogol demonstrate the importance of accepting who we are in the present moment.
William Ernest Henley said:
“I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul”
I really appreciate the words by this poet, writer, critic and editor in the late Victorian era, most especially because of the vivid image which springs to mind. It is easy for us to picture the captain of a ship, standing at the helm and operating the sails and foils of a ship. Similarly, we can think about our own lives and how much we are battered by the wind and waves of circumstances, and whether we worry about the weather to come because of past experiences, or whether we look to new horizons with fresh eyes, having learnt from our mistakes. Clearly, there is a balance to be sought, but I think it is a useful time now to consider our priorities ahead of the summer - who do you want to be? What can you learn of who you were? And importantly, how can you move most effectively from who you were, to who you will be in a positive way?
William Ernest Henley is best known for his poem called "Invictus", as follows:
Out of the night that covers me
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my soul.
This poem uses very vivid imagery, and we can feel the emotions and feelings throughout the stanzas. William wrote this in the early 1870s, having endured one leg being amputated, and facing the possibility of the other being surgically removed also. His other leg was saved by the English surgeon Joseph Lister and while he was recovering in the infirmary after multiple interventions on his leg, he wrote the poem "Invictus". It is clear that he was of the firm belief that the body could suffer extreme pain but one could always maintain control, if one had the discipline. It is interesting to notice how the "menace of the years" of experiences does not cause fear in the poem, but the individual remains resolute and determined.
I do not suggest that we torture ourselves or cause extreme pain, but the composition that I heard with the words "I was" made me stop to think about our own mental and internal dialogue. How can we turn a negative experience into a positive one for the future with our mindset?
Take a moment to look at a flower which is budding, or perhaps in full bloom.
Can you imagine the flower deliberating whether or not to turn towards the sun, because of a previous bad experience? Instead, they turn towards the sun, and then adapt themselves in the environment in which they settle into...
Rather than worrying about a new experience which may escalate into something that has happened before, why not consider it as an opportunity to learn something new?
Rather than worrying about not being able to improve from previous situations, why not consider giving it another try?
And finally, rather than worrying about making too much of a radical change in your life because of the past, why not consider taking a chance?
Terry Goodkind said: "I am who I am; no more, no less" and I hope this encourages you to feel content and happy with yourself. Seize the moment to think about not who you once were, but who you are and perhaps even who you will be...
I hope this blog has given you confidence and a prompting to think about the person you would like to be, and even inspire you to try thinking in a different way. Enjoy the foodie delights below, and remember the beauty of Nature in every form...
Thank you for all your continued support for the brand instagram account, and I hope you have enjoyed all the Easter-themed content, some of which is featured above. Easter is always an enjoyable time of year, particularly as the week was filled with sunshine and I hope you were able to take the time to relax and indulge in some delicious food and drinks. It is currently a very busy time of year at work, and I hope you find the quick and easy meals useful for inspiration, especially when you would like some satisfying, nutritious and fun food during the week and weekend. Please do let me know if you have any particular request for foodie inspiration!
Wednesday Wind down With Sitara continues every week 8-10pm on Lymm Radio with a fantastic variety of weekly themes, songs and quotes! Please do message in with your song requests and special mentions as it is a pleasure to include your favourites!
I have updated the show with a new and exciting 'sports spotlight' which introduces you to different sports each week, and some fun and interesting facts which may inspire you to try something new this summer!
Tune into the radio show via your smart speaker or via this link...a positive way to start the day! #localradio
I conclude April's blog with the following inspiring words:
"I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become"
I hope you are able to keep focused on who you are right now, and keep looking forwards, instead of looking behind and worry about what has occurred previously in your life. Enjoy the month of May and the promise of all that is yet to come...
Love,
Sitara xxx
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