MINDFULLNESS COURSE

(dedicated to our Tutor who had her work cut out)


‘It’s important’ she said
To stay in the ‘Today’
Letting the present be your gift to yourself
The power of the Now is, after all, contained in the word knowledge.

She smiled at her students as she spoke.

Their anxious faces waiting to hear those gems of wisdom

… that would wash away those past mistakes and poor decisions

- that would calm the tummy flutters of anticipated catastrophes.

Chew each mouthful when you eat

Enjoy the journey when you travel

The here and now is hard enough without the

Poxy Past

Or Fickle Future

intruding on your daily grind.

Enjoy the Present moment; she repeated

Because, you know, it’s all you have.

*********

On a glorious day, in the People’s Park in Bray, as the church bells rang out for the Angelus at 12 noon, we assembled for Poetry Circle on the first Sunday of the Month.

A large turnout and an enjoyable time together.

We go round once ……. You can say a poem you wrote yourself or the poem of another or say nothing and pass to the next person.

Then we go round the second time. I recited renowned blipper’s poem Hotch Potch and it was met very well. All writers and poets can relate.

There is a brief window after each recitation to discuss the content and say how we feel about it.

Briefly here are some other poems recited

‘Blackberry Picking’ by Seamus Heaney (his 10 years anniversary) - a much loved Irish poet

‘I have been a 1000 Different Woman’ by Amery Hall

‘A Portable Paradise’ by Roger Robinson (this is particularly delightful).

****


It was very enjoyable. My main blip is taken at 8 this morning just before my dip. A full turn out of our swimmers (8 of us) and we had our flasks for post plunge coffee and comment on this wonderful world we live in. There is much bawdy laughter as the coming together of grandmothers who swim all year round is a force to be reckoned with. Yid (you would need) a brass neck to understand. (Smiles from Jean).

Weather great in Dublin/North Wicklow

Hope you all had a Sunny Sunday