Life and Living

Parent

Life is for living and enjoying: find your joy

All of us have someone or something that challenges us in our life. We came into a life to learn and these challenges are meant to stretch us and help us to learn. Life is full of ups and downs. But it is always important to remember life is a gift for living and enjoying.

Sometimes the stetch for a learning can feel excessive to the point where you can feel quite down. We have all been there, such as parental disapproval, a lover walking away, a job lost or a sick child. But the key question is;

How do you pick yourself up and get back into the flow of life and experiencing joy? read more

By Alison Wem, ago

ABC of love: l is for love

Love comes in many shapes and forms

Whenever anyone speaks of love they are often referring to romantic love between two people. I believe that love is infinite and can come in many forms. If romantic love was the only form of love, it would be quite exclusive and in limited quantities. It would be a hard world with only this type of love available to give and receive.

Fortunately for us love comes in many forms – parental, family, friends, pets, yourself. All of the important people in your life are available for you to love. In my view love is infinite and the more of it in your life, the richer it will be. Some people believe that you cannot possibly love a step or adopted child as much as a biological child. I disagree with this view. I think the choice is yours to decide how much you open your heart to love a person. read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Rumi’s Reflections: Alison Wem’s Journal – Day 14

It’s your road and your road alone.

Others may walk it with you, but no

one can walk it for you.

Jalal al-Din Rumi

My life is my own – who I choose to be friends with, to love and how I want to just ‘be’ in this life of mine.

Of course there have been and will continue to be bumps on my road. But it is my choice how I react to and handle those bumps.

Some bumps I find harder than others, especially when I loose someone. But I am grateful for the time I have had with them and the chance to give and receive their love. read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Family: love them or hate them?

We all have a family. I believe a better name for family is ‘loved ones’ which also includes friends, colleagues, neighbours, pets and more. Your family teaches you throughout your life to give and to receive love.

Love is such a powerful emotion – love for a child, a parent, a friend.  Enjoying that love is wonderful, loss of that love can be truly painful.

Love heals, makes you laugh and generally makes life worth living.

Here are my views on love:

Loving is for all, not just your partner, family and friends. It should also include yourself! Often, the most unlovable people are those that gain the most value from your love, be it a smile, a kind word or an offer of help. read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Have you been touched by one of the 3Ds: divorce, death, debt?

January is the prime time in the year for having to face one of the 3Ds – divorce, death and debt. After the extended festive period many couples realise their relationship has run its course. Or the cold weather takes a few people to the After Life. Or significant debt catches up with people who have over extended themselves and Christmas is the final straw that breaks the camels back.

Perhaps you have hit one of life’s 3 Ds – death, divorce/separation, debt. All of these are big life changing moments. You realise life will never be quite the same again. How do you handle such a moment and where do you find the strength to move forwards? read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Feeling sad from losing someone?: We should talk more openly about the dying process.

This week I have lost a good friend of over 50 years. He was my late husband’s best friend. They came to me as a cheeky pair and always made me laugh. We met as teenagers and stayed friends through all of the ups and downs of life. My friend held my son when he was only hours old having talked his way into the maternity ward. I always knew he would be there for me if I needed help. He was a good man.

Sadly my friend has been terminally ill for 10 months. We still met up and laughed but in the background our hearts were heavy. The dying process can be protracted and not easy to participate in. As my friend’s health deteriorated, he no longer wished to meet up. He was a very private man and didn’t want me to see him as he had become. I had to respect his wishes, but it wouldn’t have worried me how he looked. He was still the friend he had always been. read more

By Alison Wem, ago