Part 1

To say the view out my back window is a heaven of sorts is no exaggeration…Whether you believe in a heaven or nirvana or on to your next life, the importance of gratitude in this life cannot be underestimated. Gratitude, the new buzz word, is a valuable daily practice.

‘My day has been fantastic.’ How many posts on social media do we see on a daily basis, that tell us this! Beautiful quotes. Beautifully designed. Pictures or videos of beautiful people smiling at us fabulously. Daily exposures or reminders. Deciphering the authentic in life these days becomes trickier.

We all have our own ways of analysing who or what we believe. It all depends on which end of the spectrum resonates with you in your interactions with any of the platforms out there. There are so many, and they are meeting a perceived need by people. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, Tic Tac or whatever your fancy is. How we analyse depends on our life experience, particularly in your formative years of childhood. Some of us are moulded in a very secure environment. One where encouragement was provided and age appropriate honesty was pervasive, the good the bad and the ugly of life, so to speak. Alternatively, criticism may have been the order of the day…everyday. Love may have been conditional and displays of emotion discouraged. The good ole Catholic ethos of children should be seen and not heard is familiar to some. Do what God tells you or tells your parents to tell you. Straight to hell otherwise. Kinda bleak hey!

Coming from ‘your’ place of self esteem, are you the total sceptic who believes all forms of social media are rubbish? Logically can this be true. Might it not be fun or useful? Or are you the person that believes if I do what they say or if I look like that person, my life will be so fabulous… or at least more fabulous than it feels right now. Logically can this be true? Might it not be better being you? Some of you are screaming, at least inside your head, well of course that can’t be, because I’m right and that is utter nonsense. Just remember the person sitting next to you believes the same thing, only they are at a different end of that knowing spectrum. Oh yes and they are one of your siblings… or you best friend or your partner. Easier to disagree or agree if you are fundamentalist in your views, but perhaps a dangerous stance to take.

Part 2 next week…