Author: HensBlooms

I believe in God, love and life! Married to my friend, mentor and rock. We have been blessed with two beautiful girls. My personal journey provides opportunities for me to empower individuals to lead better lives. I have had a real desire to work with people for a long time and have always been fascinated with human behaviour and understanding how the mind works.
I love the following quote by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. “Remember that children, marriages and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get”

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Living Life

Give and You shall Receive

The bible verse (NKJV) “Give, and it will be given to you” made me wonder about the reasons we give. Is the reason to receive in return? Giving love and receiving in return is wonderful though. Working and giving of our time, and receiving monetary reward is great and very necessary to live comfortably. To give as a volunteer, the benefits are enormous to your health, happiness and so much more. When you’re able to fuel yourself with goodness so that you can give more to others, it is good not only for you but others too. Therefore, I believe, it is important to let go of anger and resentment and to embrace forgiveness and give and share compassion and love.

My mind overflows with thoughts of giving and receiving…

The old adage come to mind ‘what you sow you shall reap’

What am I sowing in this world?

Is it anger, hatred, or peace and love?

No one is too poor to give appreciation, compassion, help, love, understanding and so much more. Being rich doesn’t mean you shouldn’t receive something, everyone needs compassion, happiness, and love. Anyone can give something, and anyone can receive something.

Studies show that when you give to others, your generosity is often continued down the line to someone else or returned to you. Anne Frank stated, “No-one ever has ever become poor from giving.”  It probably is in giving that we receive the greatest gift.

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Living Life

Bracing and Embracing Life.

My attention was drawn to the heading in a local news article from News24 – Brace for a bumpier 2023: Experts predict a tougher year and global recession. This made me think about the cost of living and how it continues to rise, and that there’s not much hope that it will ease this year. The cost of living and several other forces are set to shape South Africa’s economy, the biggest being the country’s energy predicament. Experts also speak about taking the necessary steps to help weather the storm and warns that there’s no sure-fire way to position your investments during a recession.

I might not have the powers to control the economy but I know that I have control to invest in my personal self (read my blog https://hensblooms.com/2022/11/27/21-days-of-investing-in-yourself/ previously posted ) and that it will help me reach my personal goals and plans for 2023. I’m quite aware that goals and plans can be derailed, but I’m cognisance that planning can help to brace for circumstances that often happen unexpectedly. I find myself working at or striving to be better in everything I do. For me it is always good to do introspection and it’s always a time to reflect on the good and the bad. I know I come short and that I can always show more kindness and compassion towards others. For me it is very important to continue planning, with good practices, change the undesired and hopefully it will help me to brace for the bumpier times ahead.

In Robin Sharma’s book, The Greatness Guide, he writes about Grace under Pressure – explaining how no life is perfect and that we all face challenges but also that we all have the power to choose to rise above our external circumstances.

May we all find the power to rise above our circumstances, brace for the hurdles ahead and continue to embrace ourselves.

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Living Life

New Year New Beginnings

Blooming New Beginnings

New year new beginnings

I wish you

Grace and Gratitude to count your blessings reminiscing the old

Power and Strength to embrace the lessons that will help to build

Happiness and Joy to take with every step of the way

Calm and Peace in your heart embracing harmony

Kindness and Love filling your days bringing prosperity throughout the year

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Living Life

The Joys of Christmas

Cape Town South Africa

I find myself in the Southern Hemisphere, celebrating Christmas in sunny South Africa.

South Africa is a diverse country with a “Rainbow” Nation and a climate that varies from region to region. Usually, the summer lasts from about December to March. In areas like Cape Town and the Western Cape, you experience dry and sunny days and tropical thunderstorms are expected throughout the rest of the country. With fuller waterholes, lush vegetation, and blooming flowers, we have many reasons to appreciate, enjoy and celebrate life.

We gather first for church service

Dressed in new clothes and feeling our best

Everything seems brighter and bigger too

The air is filled with excitement and expectancy

Knowing that presents are left under the huge Christmas tree

We’re dozens of cousins having a ball of a time playing outside

Enjoying watermelon on the hot sunny Christmas day

Having more fun sliding on the watermelon peels

Nothing forbidden, it is Christmas day after all

The joys of Christmas as a child

We gather for church services

Glowing sunshine beautiful blooming flowers everywhere

Classic traditions like Christmas trees, pudding, and markets too

Celebrating from candlelight carols to Christmas lunch or dinner

Enjoying the company of friends and loved ones

That brings much joy and adding to the Christmas cheer

The joys of Christmas…

No matter what part of the world you find yourself in, wishing you much joy over the festive time, Merry Christmas to all in the world! Christmas blessings to you all.

I’m taking a much-needed break and hope to see you all next year.

Categories
Living Life

21 Days of Investing in Yourself

The end of the year is drawing closer and I’m looking forward to the holiday season, a time to celebrate and a time to rest. To me the holidays are all about celebrating the values that bring us together in life, such as our friends and family. At this time of the year, it is also necessary to recharge and to invest in yourself. I was so happy for the encouragement and the reminder in the message below reflecting “21 Days of Investing in Yourself.” I do some of the things mentioned below, but I also know that I can do so much more. I’m sharing, hoping that we will all take up the challenge to be kind to ourselves. In this way we have much more to give to others and we can make these important connections that can bring us unity through generosity, and gratitude.

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Living Life

My Imagination is Swept Away

Imagine

My imagination is swept away

Imagining a world that potray people in a positive way

I imagine kindness and tolerance taking over in a wonderful way

Performing good gestures to uplift each other in every possible way

I imagine a selfless world and everyone considering one another always

As we take care and embrace each other all the way

I imagine that our thoughts become feelings to consider others in every way

My imagination turning into actions allowing reality to be this way

“If you care, do something. If you don’t care, please stay out of the way of those who do.” – Simon Sinek

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Living Life

The Secret Ingredient

What’s your secret ingredient in caring for your garden, is it love?

If you continue to sow seeds of tender loving care, pruning and clearing the path

Sowing seeds of kindness will help to eradicate the weeds

What’s your secret ingredient in caring for others, is it love? 

Giving freely expecting nothing in return and finding much joy

Leads to the creation of so much more kindness and loving care

My wish is that the secret ingredient for life becomes love

Caring, cooking, giving in whatever we do

We have much to live for if we add love

 Enjoy

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Living Life

How Wolves Change Rivers

Why do we need wolves? Did you know that wolves play a key role in keeping ecosystems healthy? They improve habitat and increase populations of numerous species from birds of prey to pronghorn, and even trout. The carcasses of their prey also help to redistribute nutrients and provide food for other wildlife species, like grizzly bears. Watch this interesting YouTube video “How Wolves Change Rivers”

Wolves returning to Yellowstone National Park in the United States helped the ecosystem return to normal by doing what’s natural to them. What are we doing as human beings to help the ecosystem but also to help ourselves return to normal again? We do help in regulating the services of the ecosystem by planting more trees, maintaining a good habitat for a mixture of species and a home for a large amount of wildlife. The actions of humans have a great influence on the environment, we have a positive impact on the ecosystem but we’ve also had a negative impact. It is so important to continue the process of making everything balanced in the environment.

It is also very important to balance our physical and mental health. I know that physical exercise can reduce feelings of stress and depression and improve my mood.  I’m also aware that good nutrition and getting enough sleep can improve my mood and can also reduce anxiety and stress. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines: health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The month of October has been proclaimed Mental Health Awareness Month. The purpose is to educate the public about mental health but also to reduce the stigma and discrimination that people with mental illness are often subjected to.

While bringing more balance into your life, contribute to a healthy ecosystem, continue to strive to become both physically and mentally healthy and always reach out in love and care.

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Living Life

Consciously Thankful

This world is filled with intentional wrongdoing and harm and perhaps some started out unintentionally. How willing are we to rectify our wrongs, especially once we become conscious of our actions and deeds? My mind is filled with these thoughts as I read and hear people talking about evil, immoral and inhumane world-wide happenings.  I was further reminded during one of our church services about our conscious and unconscious actions. With these thoughts I was forced to do some introspection, and I wondered how willing am I to correct my unconscious wrongs when I became aware of it.

I’m writing this blog as we approach our thanksgiving celebration church service. I further do introspection as to how I can do better and show gratitude. I’m especially thankful for my willingness to work on my shortcomings. Thankfully there is time to rectify the conscious wrongdoing into conscious good. The importance of appreciating others can only but make me a better person. Showing gratitude is as rewarding as receiving it. Small gestures of appreciation can make someone’s day. Alongside humbleness is kindness which is free to give and can be shared at any time. If anything, just be kind.

Happy Thanksgiving.

“The world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered fields, and sandy beaches. It has plenty of stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day. What the world needs more of is people to appreciate and enjoy it.”
—Michael Josephson

Categories
Living Life

Thoughts of Sensitivity

Noise, footsteps, doors slamming especially late at night

Booming levels of noise continuing, forcing the entire family out of bed

The disturbance caused by my father, he was intoxicated, habitually drunk

Constantly feeling as if living with a grenade and waiting for it to explode

Those are some of my childhood memories…

My childhood, probably the cause of heightening sensitivity in me

I still wake easily to noise and sound at night

I choose to create a path to connect to my innate sensitive gifts

Helping me to constantly grow and contribute to healing

May we all continue to heal at a very deep level.