Autobiographical

A Mother’s Love

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A Mother's Love blog, written for Mother's Day 2024

Written for Mother’s Day, 12th May 2024.

Wishing you a meaningful Mother’s Day, reminiscing, grieving, celebrating, whatever that may be or bring up for you. I felt inspired to share and go within, feeling, as I, probably like most of us, have unresolved past stuff about my mum. It can feel raw, mixed up, filled with gratitude and regret. As we grow, our memories and perceptions usually change. Here it is for your reading and feeling experience. You are welcome to reply to me, especially if it stirs up feelings which you may need help with. Enjoy.

When we are young, for most of us, our mother is our survival as we are totally helpless, dependent babies and small children. Mum is warm, nurturing, always present, her love and attention protects and sustains us.

As young ones, she sustains us with her love and support, filling our lives as only she can, to the best of her ability, with the tools she has or had. No one is perfect, yet as little ones, we see our mum as all knowing, a Goddess, or an Angel. I know that I did at any rate and remember clearly seeing her like a queen in my life, with rose coloured glasses.

As we grow, we may draw apart, seeing her from more critical eyes. This can make us feel sad, regretful, in later life, missing her, the opportunities to be together.

What was or is your experience? Is your mum still living or has she passed away recently, or perhaps a long time ago?

It seems to be a common thing that I often read about when people share on social media, they miss their mum! No matter what age the writer is, or how long it is since their mother has died, they still miss her, even on a daily basis.

Yet our mum’s love, presence, wisdom, uniqueness, is everlasting. Somehow her energy continues to be felt and mum still lives on in your hearts.

Your experience may have been filled with judgment, which is natural as kiddies grow, piecing things together, forming their own personalities. We may grow up wanting to and trying to be different, to do it better, than she did. We unconsciously form limiting beliefs about our mother, which influences us for the rest of our lives.

I feel it is important to make peace with all of this, no matter your own experience. We need to heal within ourselves. Mum did her best, with what she had.

Stop blaming her or yourself for the pain and suffering you gave to each other, if that was the case. Forgive yourself and your Mum. Life is a journey, filled with richness. Experiences that make, break, test and strengthen us in wisdom. Learn from your experiences, share yourself with others, grow in wisdom and self-love.

Your life is a gift from God, whatever you conceive Him or Her to be. Be kind to yourself and allow the past to be let go of, to recede to where it belongs. Live in the present. Greet each day anew and yourself, others.

Our time is not a given. We can do better. Yes. We really can do better!

Our influence may be made positive from our footsteps upon the earth.

Ponder what have been the biggest influences in your life? Mum and parents figure right up there as being some of the biggest, for a time anyhow. Particularly mum’s, which unconsciously moulds us, with patterns, beliefs and programs.

We may leave our mother, become caught up in work, family, hobbies, fun, addictions. At times we miss the nurturing love, the special unique love that only our own mother can provide and the friendship that was possible between us.

Can you bring and embrace yourself with your own unconditional, nurturing love to be able you to feel thoroughly nourished on every level, within and to without?

There is still time, as long as you live and breathe, there is much growth that you can do. Then do it. Make each day count as an expression of your love and hope for the future, for humanity, for this our mother earth.

So much darkness is upon the earth. Do not give up the fight. Soldier on and remember the warmth of your mother’s love, allow it to feel your heart expanding in the night.

Rest up my dear and awake with love, hope and choose joy. Make it a habit each morning and throughout the day to remember to choose joy; it will become palpable, strong in your entire being. No matter what happens. Choose joy.

Love is the only thing that really matters and choosing joy can help us to express and be the vessel for sharing pure unconditional love. It will happen over time, each lifetime, it will increase.

Wake up remembering, be love, choose joy. Be love, feel love, unconditional love, not sentimentality, lose the sentimentality, believe in love. Love nourishes, each night ask yourself, was I kind, loving and choosing joy today?

My parting words to you are – forgive each other, light a candle, or incense, say a prayer, journal, be grateful for everything it was, whether you took the opportunity to embrace your evolution or otherwise. Resolve to do better every day and never, ever, ever, ever give up, for life is a journey and for ourselves and everything else upon Mother Earth. We are all in this together, as one.

Blessings and Love to You,

Lynette Mitchell xo

Minimalising and Laughter Yoga 101 in 2023

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Hello Everyone

I feel to touch on decluttering again and bring up minimalising, as they can be expressions of our personality, because our habits are ingrained in our daily lives. A high percentage of people hoard and buy stuff, or even live in a way where they are being busy being busy, because of low self esteem. It may well be unconscious too, as we can put on a bravado attitude, which covers it up with others and we can be led to believe our strong bravado, outgoing way is a ‘good’ thing, when in fact it covers up how we actually feel about ourselves. Ha. It is all very complex, isn’t it?

Attending a laughter club may help us to change for the better, as we let go of rigidity, which can improve the way we conceive of ourself in a natural and spontaneous way. My last blog on decluttering struck a cord in many people and there was positive feedback, as it really struck a cord, as we have in general, grown up in a material world, where we can look outside of ourselves, getting more and more away from nature and what matters the most. 

Many of us are aware of the value of releasing the hold that material possessions have on us for various reasons. I am doing well with letting go of possessions and enjoying a life where I feel more expansive, especially when I manage to create more space in our home. It has a beneficial affect physically on my life. There is also an awareness to review what I do, as many things have become, or have always been, unconscious ones which can make me feel flat. What we need is to wake up each morning with unbounded enthusiasm and positive self-talk, which releases positive endorphins into our brain and the more we do that, the better we feel, which is part of maintaining good brain health. 

If you listen to podcasts, Mel Robbins on Spotify interviews psychiatrist Dr Daniel Amen on 7th August, entitled ‘Optimize Your Brain: 3 Important Habits for Productivity….. (based on 2000,000 Brain Scans).  I hadn’t heard about brain health before, have you? It was extremely interesting to listen to.

We saw Peter Walsh from his TV show Space Invaders last week, as he was the guest speaker for Ryman Healthcare. I loved his presentation on downsizing, finding Peter most entertaining, informative and engaging. Peter spoke of two main reasons we hold onto so much material stuff, one is often out of duty, sentimentality and the other one we keep looking for fulfilment, instead of looking within and filling ourselves up. Peter’s third series is on TV now and he had been working 16 hour days filming it in Sydney, was obviously tired. I am looking forward to watching his show again, it is one of my favourites. Peter spoke of how we reach a stage that our possessions own us, we are so tied down by them, that we can feel suffocated and not have time to do things in our life that we would much prefer to do. 

Minimalisation

This, I feel is a softer feel to implement to the somewhat heady method decluttering. It is developing a sense of what is essential in our lives, which means we have more inspiration and energy to live a full and meaningful life. I found myself doing this and it is not rigid about getting rid of stuff, some advice is about experimentation of what we need and what would be better to release. Every possession has a drain on our energy and time. We can become lost in the humdrum of life when we keep on going the same way.

Books by Joshua Becker, a famous decluttering and minimalising genius from the U.S.A. have had a positive impact on me, in my journey of letting go of stuff that I have accumulated over 81 years. It is an ongoing journey for me. Joshua shares that everything we own takes up our energy. We have outlaid the money, things take time to look after, we need to create more open space, which gives us a feeling of being able to breathe, as we can feel so claustrophobic. Joshua has written several books, one being The More of Less. One of his famous quotes and portrays his philosophy is “The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don’t. Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. Owning less is better than organizing more.” I feel to share a YouTube video for you to connect you with who Joshua is. Click here to see it. 

Laughter Yoga

Laughter Yoga, is what we do at the laughter club, laughing and deep breathing. This helps us somehow to be more alert, conscious, aware, present and connected to life. It is such a great way to come together in a gentle, loving, kind, caring community. We have childlike, playful fun together as we move about, creating new brainwaves by singing, dancing and laughing, as we do in our version of improv theatre. It energies and instils light-heartedness in all of us. We do not tell jokes; rather we focus on spontaneity, being present in the moment which is just as well, as if we aren’t good joke tellers, it would be a very flat laughter session.

Laughter really is a fantastic exercise, where we laugh together followed by a cuppa afterwards, simply chat and share what we have been up to, everyday news and happenings in general.

Get in Touch?

Find out more on this website, which includes information on self-help classes, the laughter club and more. Feel free to connect with me if you need support or to find out more about laughter yoga. classes etcetera.

Cheerio for now and all of us at laughter club are looking forwarding to seeing you sometime!

Lots of Love and Laughter. Lynette Mitchell.

Click Here for Ferntree Gully Laughter Club page

Minimising and Decluttering, Why and How Laughter Yoga Can Help You.

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Decluttering has been part of many people’s intentions over recent years and, quite a mini revolution in many homes. It has been a prominent buzzword and a whole range of businesses have arisen to cater for de-clutterers who embark on their own unique personal journey of letting go of possessions.

Marie Condo wrote Spark Joy, which helped create this enormous clearing out of stuff movement. I love her book, reading it opened my eyes and started me on a long journey to reduce material possessions. These include various hobbies and collectables such as ornaments of horses and elephants. (I am keeping the swans for now). I have accumulated a lot over my 81 years. Many people have referred to me as a hoarder. Does that ring a bell with you too? We can all be hoarders of a variety of objects and not others. Our interests can change, yet we usually accumulate more things, rather than letting go of what has passed to make room for the new.

I prefer the term ‘collector,’ it is kinder, and I feel has a depth of understanding, of emotions or reasons why we like to keep things. There is nothing wrong with having anything, rather it is our motives about possessing, collecting, hoarding, hanging on to things that is paramount.

Spark Joy helped me to value, respect and treasure my possessions, to treat them with appreciation and look after them as well. For example, to thank the clothes as we fold it and put it away, not to squish it into cupboards. To treat our belongings with gratitude and respect. Marie says that things last longer when we do so and treat things as energy, even a low level of intelligence. That is an interesting concept, who knows? Perhaps there is a miniscule of intelligence in everything, as everything is energy resonating at different wavelengths. And think about this, our possessions need our attention and energy, otherwise their energy is weaker. You can even feel it.

Why do we have Clutter?

We become who and what we are in our upbringing and influenced by our parents or caregivers’ behaviour. Added to this has been the outer influences in our lives, radio, television, printed material, and innumerable other things. Now there is Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, Blogs, all sorts of modern age apps and the list grows exponentially.

All these modern conveniences impact on most of us as a general rule. There is less time, less sitting quietly in stillness, more of being busy being busy. Our minds and lives become cluttered as we tend to rush and try to fit more and more into our lives.

Low Self Worth and Wanting a Happy Fix

A major reason we hoard or collect things to excess that is most commonly spoken of is due to our lack of worthiness. Oftener than not, it is out of our radar of awareness, as we struggle to cope the best way we can, in varying amounts and situations. We may not be aware of having a lack of feeling worthy. Many of us have unconscious needs to be fulfilled, as we struggle with feelings of unworthiness. Buying or acquiring something makes us feel better for a short time. We feel a little happier for a moment or longer, as we try to fill ourselves up with things. Then look for the next fix, like a drug addict. Shopping can be an addiction in this day and age.

The temporary fix may be objects or activities, we develop a life and habit to be so busy so as not to feel negative things such as sadness, anxiety, depression or empty. It is a big and complicated subject. The theory and scientific evidence are that there may be some underlying cause which is making us want a full house. It could be an unresolved loss in our life, something so horrible that we have not been able to accept or get over it is occurring.

Isn’t it wonderful that there is greater awareness about all this now? There are many hoarders shows on TV and a favourite of mine is Space Invaders. Peter Walsh is the presenter, with a psychology background who confronts participants as he uncovers usually traumatic experiences, which led to the deeply seated unbalanced obsession of hanging on to stuff.

Decluttering sure is interesting and has led to me to delve into the subject of becoming a minimalist.

Minimalisation.

I love this one, as I am learning that to minimalise which is like a higher turn of a spiral, a more evolved, less mental way of looking at our possessions. It is feeling based, less thinking involved, it is gentler, with one being able to do it slowly, gently, learning and appreciating ourselves and life itself. We can embark on an interesting journey where we develop a graceful relationship with the universe and discover our needs are less than what we thought they were.

What we really and truly need in life is unique to us and ever changing, as we discover how free-er we become with less accumulated stuff around us. People wrongly may have the understanding that a Minimalist is a person who has hardly any possessions. That may be so, but those who think that is what it boils down to misunderstand.

They can be frugal with an empty looking house, storage areas, etc, but consider this, it is not about forcing change, instead it is learning to live with less over time, which ultimately unburdens us.

Essentially developing this way of living is having a growing appreciation of what life has to offer and to value it, unburdening ourselves of much that gobbles up our time and money.

We can then feel enthusiastic about our future, to find time to do what is important in our lives and develop greater appreciation of who we are and our direction.

How Decluttering and Minimalisation Links With Laughter Club and Laughing

Part of the benefits of laughing together are psychological and social. When we come together in group harmony as we do, we feel many beneficial things. A sense of belonging, being loved, accepted for who we are, without judgment. Over time our sense of humour hones itself in ways that we do not ourselves notice. Simply put, many wonderful things change in our lives which naturally induces greater self-appreciation, as well as compassion for ourselves and humanity. As our belonging grows, we feel sucked into place and hold hope in our hearts. The hope is unique for each individual person.

Gradually, people who come regularly somehow feel a greater hope and connection with mother nature, with spontaneity. Gathering afterwards for a social chat and cuppa helps as we have an opportunity to share with others who feel like family. I firmly believe and have observed people feeling better about themselves, simply by coming and being part of the group and what it offers.

that over time these improvements add to the way we view life and, in this way, we ever so gracefully, with courage and conviction, let go of stuff we have gathered around us to feel better or to cover up feelings of inadequacy.

A Golden Rule to Live By.

William Morris’s famous quote is “If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” I have also heard and live by an additional item, ‘Is it necessary?.” Many necessary everyday items these days and neither useful nor beautiful, possessing them brings ease into our lives. Necessary examples could be having a roof over our head, a car to drive, a television set.

Get in Touch?

Lynette is available to talk with you about this or other blog subjects, if you feel to reach out to her sometime. Also, she runs self-help classes, if you want to find out about that, you certainly can.

Cheerio for now and all of us at laughter club are looking forwarding to seeing you sometime!

Lots of Love and Laughter,

Lynette Mitchell.

Acknowledgements, Birthdays & Anniversaries

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During the training for my Holistic Living Counselling Diploma, the principle, Alannah Dore encouraged me to take stock, recognise and acknowledge my achievements; in this case the Diploma I had worked so hard for. Generally, I tended to move on to whatever is next and agree it can be important to take a moment to appreciate oneself and the efforts we put into our lives. Which one do you do? Mark an achievement or perhaps undermine the effort that you put into it and avoid a fuss and bother? It is a great question to ponder and act on, if you feel to.

This blog is to share some achievements and milestones, acknowledging the support of others who helped and supported me all the way. 2022 is a satisfying year so far and it heralds in fruition in many ways. Fruition and then, what is next on the agenda to focus my energy on? I will slip in here too, a reminder to have a nice balance of goals, work or retirement life and making sure too that you have quiet times and fun filled projects and hobbies. Of course, we are usually swinging between the extremes and that is quite normal. Sometimes it is steps forwards, then some backwards. As long as we are maintaining and progressing steadily in our lives, we are on the right track. That is my firm belief and especially, to not be in judgment of ourselves.

It feels timely to share about putting time and energy into looking after oneself, which is particularly directed to the older generation, like myself and my husband John. Be consistent with regular movement, any exercise that you can manage, and be involved with life in whatever way suits your personality. We regularly see a chiropractor and acupuncturist, for support and preventative treatment, which benefits us enormously. Health professionals encourage clients and patients to just keep moving, as much as you can because of a variety of reasons.

That is partly why we have kept the laughter club going now for 17 years in March, to keep up an interest and involvement in life, in addition to the plethora of benefits that laughing together brings. You can feel flat when you start a laughter club session, changing to becoming upbeat and enthusiastic at the end of the half hour.

In a nutshell, my 80th Birthday on 22 April, the 17th Birthday for the Ferntree Gully Laughter Club on 1st April and 8 years for writing for the Studfield Wantirna Community Newspaper.

Studfield Wantirna Community Newspaper

I am most grateful to have the opportunity to share the benefits of laughter and other beneficial things, attitudes, meditation, ideas, in this local paper. I have been contributing bi-monthly for 7 years, beginning the 8th year. Wow, whoever would have thought at the start for it to be ever continuing. So much gratitude to the team and supporters ongoing, my, how time flies.

Lynette’s 80th Birthday

I confess and am proud to becoming 80 in April, which I share with you to encourage you to never ever give up, keep on keeping on, don’t stop, or else you will stagnate and go backwards. That being said, it is also necessary to become more aware of your physical, mental, emotional bodies and take time to nurture and revitalise them. No guilt or self-judgment please!

It is good to be busy, but not good if we do not allow yourself recoupment time, to sit quietly by a stream, on a park bench, whatever works and you will know what a good thing will be to make more time for, if you have let it slip. Despite what I wrote to begin with, there will not be any big celebration, simply a quiet dinner on the day and probably a picnic lunch with the laughter clubbers, who play such an important role in our lives.

Ferntree Gully Laughter Club 17th Birthday

Once again, who could have ever imagined starting out that I would have been doing this for such a period. John joined me about ten years ago, he said he felt sorry for me as no body was turning up and I nearly gave it away many times. Then Pete came, on that last day when we said if nobody shows up today, we will give it away. God bless Pete!

The laughter club has been awesome for all of us, mostly there are six regulars, a small number and it is expanding since I started a Meetup group. In fact, people are travelling an hour to be there.

Acknowledgements

Thank you all of you who are reading this, of which I have no idea. It is rare to hear back regarding my blog or newspaper article, yet people share they read them from time to time. This ties in with not seeking recognition, to continue as a form of service, what one is drawn to. This also acknowledges you too, where do you live your life selflessly, without any form or desire for recognition?

Human beings can be wonderful, Australians are known for supporting each other in particular, when the going gets tough, due to natural calamities, disease, loss. We can be kind, compassionate, these types of times bring out the best in us, we are more connected on many levels, implying our very own spirit.

Thanks to everyone who has come into my life, John’s and my life, touched it in some way, fleetingly perhaps, or ongoing in some way. I would like to reach back and speak to many people who have had an affect upon me and are way back in the past, unable to get in touch with, or deceased.

Let’s all appreciate each other and ourselves.

I love you and encourage you to love yourself, without judgment, self-accepting and authentic. We are all works in progress, and I appreciate you. Some no doubt reading this will feel I waffle on a bit. Maybe. Others will resonate and feel my heart.

Love always, Lynette xo Sending you and your’s blessings.

Click Here for Ferntree Gully Laughter Club page

An Ode To Lynette

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Here is a poem, which helps you to understand a little more about me, hope you like it!

AN ODE TO LYNETTE

There was a young girl called Lynette,
Who heard about a mountain goat named Blanchette.
She decided to change her name to Lynne,
Largely because she wanted to fit in.

After a while Lynne began to feel sad,
Because her husband started to make her feel mad.
Sometimes she was up and sometimes she was down,
Lynne came across as always wearing a frown.

She began her life optimistic, like a fairy godmother,
But over time became wretched, like the ugly stepmother.
Lynne felt so disparaged, without a glimmer of hope.
Without hope, all was darkness, no joy, no scope.

Looking for and giving love, yet living in fear,
So tired, depressed; no hope was near.
Yet she never really gave up, her spirit regained its fire.
Lynne became stronger, resourceful, inspired to move, with desire.

Start a new life with her five children and move on,
On to new pastures, new adventures of her own.
Release the old and put it aside,
Go where she need not live in fear nor hide.

And so it was a new beginning, a new start,
Not easy, but different, with a broken heart.
Over time Lynne grew strong, independent and bright,
Learning many thinks, feeling fluffy and light.

Yoga, Tai Chi, Astrology, Theosophy, painting and sculpture,
A secretary, kids, dogs, rabbits and walking with rapture.
Lynne still felt angry, resentful and depressed,

At least it was her choice now whether to feel repressed.
More new – she now went out meditating and chanting,
The singing and meditation filler her life, was amazing.

Then she went to the Back to Dandenong Town Hall dance,
Where Lynne met her husband John perchance.
Though they remembered each other, it was love at first sight.
He followed her around with mini dim sims, as if it was his right.

Commitment meant things were not always rosy,
Lynne committed to John, they were married, pink posy.
The commitment was scary,
Past experiences made it feel quite hairy.

Still she did not give up, neither did he,
Both as stubborn as they could be.
Well.  Along came Michael and Linda King,
Can you imagine for Lynne what that could bring?

There was light at the end of the tunnel,
Some purpose and plan, for her it would funnel.
A new commitment, which was easy, quite easy,
She now knew what was up, what was down, easy peasy.

Seven years later came a revelation.
Change her name back – what a new situation.
Replace the old, bring in the new, which before ‘Lynne’ was the old too.
Lynette, what a turn about, so goodbye to Lynne and hoo roo.

Now things were flowing, she felt uplifted and grateful,
Her demeanour was far from hateful and her resolve was unshakable.
Today the flow and story continues along,
Lynette feels she can do anything, except sing a song.

There is still a ways to go,
“That’s life” her mentor says, “Make it up as you go”.
And thank you dear audience for your participation,
It has been my utmost pleasure to share with much anticipation.

I remain true and benevolent, humble I reckon and heaven sent.
Love and kisses, Lynette Mitchell, your servant.