A moment in the sun

Inspo: this little laddie enjoying the sunshine in my garden.

(Extract from email newsletter of May 8th, 2025)

The gorgeous bright weather has brought on a flurry of productivity in this household. Everyone, including the kids, is clearing out the old and sprucing up the rest.

After my last newsletter, someone recommended to me a book called "Atomic Habits" by James Clear. I've been listening to the audio book while I'm on my buzz of home improvement and it's really starting the resonate with me. It's about how to create good habits and shake off bad ones but what I really like is how compassionate it is to what it is to be human. It recognises how we're inclined to do things that scupper our best intentions and why. Then with that understanding we can help ourselves to do better. There's a lot more to it than that and definitely worth a read/listen.

It reminds me of this poem by Danna Faulds about self-compassion which I often think of in moments of head-spinning self-criticism or just in savasana:

Reach deep inside

to find the kindness

needed to forgive

yourself for all

your trespasses.

Break the cycle

of harsh mind to

offer understanding

and compassion to

your own small self.

This doesn't mean

ignoring faults -

embrace the whole

of you instead of

judging separate parts.