Learning from friends, the Pretty Little Girl in Pinks and the Malvern Hills

My adopted hill, just for one hour 

Magic Trekking Boots 

Still alive and kicking.  I knew I would be, but felt it such a difficult week I wanted to quickly end and did not like much of it at all.  Extremely unsettling with obvious lessons to be learnt. I think a few good friends also had this feeling.  Friends experiencing their own fair (or is it unfair!?) share, testing moments surface with great force this week. We have all prayed for that “magic wand” to wave for each other to make things peaceful, harmonious and feel grounded. I offer love and best wishes to those friends who have showed great care and thoughtfulness. A positive to a difficult week is becoming aware of some precious, true friends. Thank you! I hope things settle for us all soon (((BIG HUGS))) One lesson learnt was to discover the amazing  kindness shared together.  Golden, when you need a little faith restored.

This week I felt overwhelmed by diverse, various issues and concerns, niggles, thoughts and feelings. As though bombarded by water bombs being hurled from all angles, heights, different sizes and forces thrown. Trying to avoid them and prevent them from hitting me. The impact and turbulance wouldn’t kill me. I knew I would eventually get through and past whatever this week was teaching.   This realisation didn’t take away the wish to prevent what each hitting bomb released. Feeling stung, smarting, drenched and drained. Various quotes by the Dalai Lama came to mind to try to create some calm again:

Dalai Lama XIV

"When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways--either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength."

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." 

I thought about his teachings and my November trek, and found inspiration to offer befriending services at Acorns. It had been a while since working one to one with a child at Acorns. Last year due to training for the Sahara Desert trek and visiting my step-mother fighting cancer, which sadly she lost life to, I could not find time to assist at the hospice. I felt a little nervous.  This soon passed after saying hello when introduced to a lovely little girl aged 15. The little girls mobility and speech was very limited. I did my usual panic "What can I do to make sure this little girl has quality time?"  At befriending meetings we all shared we can over try.  We can try to do too much, bringing out too many toys, putting on too many stimulating attractions in the sensory room for sight, sound and touch. My gut told me to simply sit along side her on the water bed, with her favourite Princess film for her to watch.  Sensory room soft lights glowing from the bubble columns, she seemed at ease. Grooming her hair and massaging her hands, this made her smile.  She starred into my eyes for ages, as I stroked her hair, until the eyes slowly close resting in a sleepy trance. The pretty little girl in pinks, gave me the gift of putting some unease I had into perspective. 

Sunday gave me energy, to get up early and drive to my favoured Malvern Hills.  Still feeling a little heavy and  a mind overloaded with chatter. Meditation music helped to encourage thoughts to drift in and out. Let go of them without over analysing or predicting. I found I focused on my efforts walking steep areas to help release tension built up over the week. Although my appetite had been suppressed all week, I surprisingly had lots of energy.  After a few hours it was time to take a break.  A little hill caught my eye.  I decided to adopt it and make it my own just for one hour. Listening to music, capturing the view, letting things drift to mind and out, my mind had calmed. I reflected on the Sahara and gently imagined with curiosity what my next trek will bring.  It felt good to have an appetite back to train with enthusiasm, get fit and healthy for the Himalayas challenge.  Thanks to friends, the pretty little girl in pinks and the hills for the lessons and helping me to clear and find some head space.