Life changing events

What I am about to write about today seems trivial but at the same time huge. I have just deleted all the games off my iPad and iPhone.  

Are you a gamer?

If you are not a gamer and I am quietly chuckling to myself that I am even calling myself this.  Visions come forth of multiple screens, headphones and being linked into people across the world via gaming platforms.  That is definitely not my version of gaming, my games are very soft – the ones which are similar to scrolling through social media.  Mind numbingly simple but incredibly addictive. They serve little purpose except to take me away from reality for a short time… a short time, who am I kidding.  It would scare me to actually total up the hours I have wasted playing these simple games.

Major medical event

A kind and dear friend of ours has recently had a major, life changing medical event.  This  event has reminded me and I am sure many of our friends that this thing called life, is not a dress rehearsal. If you know me well, you would have heard me say this often, especially after the passing of my dear sister Toni – who has now been gone for nearly 11 years.  Toni died of bowel cancer at the age of 44, first being diagnosed at 41. With her passing I saw how short and precious life is, vowing to make the most of everyday but easily slipping back into a Matrix type existence. 

The Artist’s Way

I’m leaping around a bit here but bear with me.  I love personal development books and one I was drawn to recently is called “The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron.  It’s a spiritual path to higher creativity. I love to create but have a belief that I don’t have any original ideas.  I was drawn to this book and so I’m working through the processes in it.  One of which is to write 3 pages a day – by hand.  You literally write whatever comes into your mind when you first get up.

Time for a change

Lots of what I write down is gobbledygook and you aren’t meant to reread it but sometimes gems of insight come through and in this mornings writing it was how much time I waste playing games when I could be being creative. I could be searching out new and amazing suppliers for my studio and store (The Magpie Cottage Dipton – just in case you don’t know about it); read some of the amazing books I have purchased over the years; paint (still don’t know what); write; take photos… so many different things.

Life can change in an instant

I can see and hear Toni telling me to go for it and to stop wasting my time on futile things such as gaming and I can visualise my dear friend in hospital saying exactly the same thing.  That your life can literally change in an instant and to do the things you have always wanted to do.  They don’t have to be big life changing things like jumping out of aeroplanes or travelling the world.  It’s those little things that make up our days and make us who we are or at least who we dream of being. 

Honey dog seasons

With the passing of my beloved Honey dog at the age of 15 years old a few weeks ago, I also realised that at nearly 54, I may only have a couple of Honey seasons left in me, if I am lucky. And in all likelihood with only one of these seasons may I be blessed with good health and the ability to be able to do everything that I mentally and physically would like to do. 

Deleted

So, I have deleted Candy Crush – both versions; Blockudoku; Wordscapes; Royal Match; Subway Surfer and my most recent favourite Fishdom off my IPad and iPhone.  At this stage it feels liberating but I know the withdrawals of the pings and flashes will quickly kick in and I hope I am strong enough to beat them.

Unique gifts

No matter what your spiritual beliefs are about life and life after death – we only get one crack at us.  Only one crack at Kim Spencer-McDonald or Jane Smith. We are unique and we all have gifts and plans that are different from everyone else.  So why not go on your own wee journey, start by listening to that inner voice that keeps telling you to do X, Y and Z.  It doesn’t matter if it’s not a “success” and it is okay if you fail because in failing we learn our biggest lessons and they help make us better, happier people. 

Be gentle and go well.

Aroha nui 

Kim