theamaranthinepen

[theamaranthinepen]

Keep Calm And Just Smile

Keep Calm And Just Smile

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ~ Matthew 11:28 Recently, we were out and about when we happened upon a pavement sign. The ad was displaying a sumptuous-looking burger. At first, I wasn’t certain about what had captured my grandson’s attention. And there I was scanning the surroundings but nothing, in my view, quite measured up to what had him so…

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Change Of Diet

“You’ve got to learn to leave the tableWhen love’s no longer being served.“ ~ Nina Simone There comes a time when you have to wake up and acknowledge that you’ve been feasting at the wrong table for far too long, smiling with the wrong faces. What do you do? You not only change your diet – to a healthy one, but you choose the right people to dine and grow with. Leave the table!

[theamaranthinepen]

Ready, Set, Write!

“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” ~ Anne Frank Old-school Days… Dear Diary! As I reflected on my journey since I decided to become a writer. A writer! (Hahaha!) Did I say, “writer”? It tickled my heart to hear my mind echo the word. But of course, I have earned the right to say I am a writer. A timid, yet growing one. In the past, I may have…

[theamaranthinepen]

The Prayer of a Broken Man

The Prayer of a Broken Man

Oh, Lord! Turn not your ears from my groanings. My pains, disappointments, doubts and fears have crippled my very essence. Am I not to complete my purpose? Wilt this be my end? Oh, Lord, my God, my Redeemer, my Buckler, my Rock, my Comforter, my Healer, my Defence, my Friend, have mercy upon me; let not your hand of compassion be short concerning me. Amen.

[theamaranthinepen]

Sweet Serenity

Although it is somewhat of a cliché, we know that we live in a world that is programmed in an instant mode.  Just about everything is demanding our time and our energies.  Take, for example, social media.  With the notifications going off every few minutes, we find it difficult to resist the temptation to respond.   And when it’s not the Internet, there are individuals in our lives who are vying for our attention; and this tends to bombard us. Hence, it is necessary to set boundaries and to take a break for the sake of our mental and emotional health.  Additional, preserving our physical is vital.  Our wholesomeness creates room for better relationships in every aspect of our lives. 

Have a look at five ways I use to invite and preserve that inner peace and physical vigour.  Bear in mind, though, that for the effectiveness of these approaches, discipline and consistency are essential. 

i. Enjoy some early morning alone time   

Everyone doesn’t always get this, but spending time away from even our loved ones is crucial.  And this does not mean that we love them any less.  Instead, to fully give of ourselves, we must appreciate the need for loneliness, so that we will be refreshed and ready to take on the world and its ever-present challenges.During this solitude, we should take the time to be very present for each moment.  This is called mindfulness.  That is, your state of being should be intentional, whether in thought or deed, e.g. prayer.  And during our mindful rumination, we simply breathe.  We slowly take in deep breaths through our nostrils, then via our mouths, we exhale moderately. These exercises release stresses and other forms of anxieties.  Of course, for deep breathing, there are more specific steps to go about this, so it’s best to do our research or to speak with our health professional.

ii. Enjoy nature's beauty Depending on where we live, this is not always

 possible.  Still, we can always find helpful ways to bask in the beauty of nature.  For example, we can find a quiet place to sit by our favourite tree and to be still.  And for those who don’t mind getting their hands dirty, try doing some gardening – and without the use of gloves.  Allow yourself to feel the warmth of the soil.  (Believe me, it’s quite therapeutic.)  But if that’s not your fancy, enjoy the beauty of the greenery or the colours of the varying flowers or plants in your garden or that of your neighbours’.

iii. Enjoy deliberate walks

Again, nature is good therapy for the mind and body.  So, going on intentional walks can help to release worries.  It is also a good idea to schedule these walks daily, where possible.  No phone.  No music.  Just you and nature – absolutely no intrusions.

iv. Enjoy unplugging from social media

Aha!  And here’s the big one – social media.  We almost don’t need to say more about this.  Nevertheless, let’s touch a bit on this topic.  Social media can be draining, as everybody wants a piece of us.  The notifications keep lighting up our phones, but the power is in our hands.  Turn off those notifications!  We can also rid ourselves of some of the apps we have installed on our phones.  Sure, we might experience withdrawal syndromes, but we’ll survive.  After all, our brains will do well with a little less dopamine, from time to time.  We just need to embrace the withdrawal one day at a time, then one week – and even a month.

v. Enjoy the do-nothing experience

This might be a tricky one for the people-pleasers.  But taking a break from everything and everyone to enjoy the stillness around you is good for the mind and body.  We should take the time to do absolutely nothing.  And leave room for guilt trips when being asked to do favours.  We can say no.  We can also say no to ourselves to tv binge-watching. We can engage our thoughts with an interesting book to read.  Or we can, instead, make room for other things that make us happy.  

Whatever we do, we should choose what brings healing to our minds, bodies and spirits.  In doing that, we also get to enjoy the sweet serenity that life offers.

[theamaranthinepen]

Love In the Time Of Corona (Part 3)

Love In the Time Of Corona

Spinach Soup “The Lord has instructed hearts to love and care for you.” ~ Stacie Ann Thomas I’m amazed whenever I witness how God instructs seemingly unlikely people to minister to us – to love and care for us when we’re at our lowest. The Lord uses whomever He chooses; and sometimes, the very instruments of God’s help can’t even fathom how or why they were the ones chosen to be His hands, feet…

[theamaranthinepen]

When the Rain Reigns

When the Rain Reigns

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 (KJV) Whether a Believer or a non-Believer, and despite the knowledge that the blessings of God falls on everyone, we all go through periods of storms. When this happens, we often wonder if God has forsaken us. Many of us may have asked the Lord to pour out His blessings on…

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It's Not Over Yet!

It’s Not Over Yet!

My dear Readers, Okay. Jaws clenched. Now, putting it lightly, please allow me to voice a necessary discontent. Sometimes we have no other option but to travel by public transportation. Presently, the options are via route taxis, minivans or buses. Of course, individuals required to wear a face mask – whether with a face shield and to sanitise and/or to wash their hands. However, some persons…

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Recently, I had shared a bit about my experience, during Covid-19. In this piece, I will tell you about the physical impact it had on me and my road to recovery. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) It was the usual winter in England – nippy. I was under the weather but the…

[theamaranthinepen]

Love In the Time of Corona

Love In the Time of Corona

Isolation magnified the longing in the hearts of younger grandparents, like me and vulnerable elderly parents, especially those in care homes, as the spread of the coronavirus hovered over the rainy England counties. The country was under lockdown; hence, family visits were forbidden. The streets were like ghost towns; but the pigeons, seagulls and magpies had taken over the rooftops, streets and…

[theamaranthinepen]

WORK FROM HOME: CORONA REDEFINES THE WORK SPACE

WORK FROM HOME: CORONA REDEFINES THE WORK SPACE

I sat reflecting on the alarming statistics of the global effect of the present coronavirus outbreak and how the pandemic has manipulated businesses to focus on a work-from-home (WFH) mindset. My thoughts also went back to Hurricane Gilbert which affected Jamaica in 1988. Many Jamaicans were significantly impacted; hence, a paradigm shift for the islanders was necessary. Things were slow, but as…

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Hello, I'm Back!!! ;-)

Hello, I’m Back!!! ;-)

Hello, my dear readers!

Welcome back to my garden of thoughts!!!

Plenty has happened, since my Farewell post, dated December 31, 2018 (https://www.facebook.com/TheAmaranthinePen/posts/1960229907618565).

To cut to the chase, I noticed several visits to the page. Additionally, folks have been inquiring about whether I had stopped writing and that they missed my inspiring pieces. Okay, rest…

[theamaranthinepen]

It is imperative that we each take that QUIET, LONELY JOURNEY... #yourjourney #walkingalone #selfgrowth https://www.instagram.com/p/CBkfoU_huUNJ6DqEOFsyPvP9sloCgF6s9IQhCg0/?igshid=wd62zw33y5zl

[theamaranthinepen]

Where Do We Go From Here? Relationships, regardless of the nature, take work. And you don't need to be a relationship guru to have a reasonable appreciation for and understanding of what it takes to build and maintain a healthy relationship. Yes, I said 'healthy relationship'. After all, what is its purpose, if its association is not fruitful to all parties involved? #relationships #healthyrelationships #buildafuturetogether https://www.instagram.com/p/CBYIAFjh6DJ33UpX3USVohyCSwPE4IaT0BQIxA0/?igshid=1r2zv56n9nbsc

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PICK YOUR BATTLES Peace can't be bought; it must be created and constantly fed. So, would you rather be right? Or, would you choose peace? #peace #pickyourbattles https://www.instagram.com/p/CBS-7crhEvgmEzVv6Xt0i3Dqa24KercHKo8_s80/?igshid=gxwfi6gxkm6

[theamaranthinepen]

WORK IN PROGRESS: Tending to my vineyard, with the view in mind to produce fine wine from the fruits... #caringformyvineyard #workinprogress #spiritualgrowth #personaldevelopment #selfcare #beingmybestme #ToThineOwnSelfBeTrue #CacaoDeJamaïque https://www.instagram.com/p/B2WXVC-BMdWZJbDZt319w3DY9aJuYWgS5l7jeM0/?igshid=1q4cr25qhonrf

[theamaranthinepen]

Farewell Yesteryear and Hello, Hopeful 2019!

Farewell Yesteryear and Hello, Hopeful 2019!

No doubt you have spent some time in reflection on this soon-to-pass year. You have weighed the joys, the pains, the successes, the failures, etc. Perhaps you might have even asked yourselves, “What could I have done differently to have ensured a more fulfilling 2018?” Did you rekindle and encourage relationships that had died many moons ago? Were you your best self by being true to yours truly?…