Important Things In Life

<p>I've always found writing my thoughts down very therapeutic and from a young age I discovered that I would often automatically write in rhyme.</p><p>I didn't find the courage to share my writing with anyone until at High School when I was 15 our English Teacher asked us to write a poem about 'Sight'. It was very poignant as my Mum had recently been diagnosed with a disease that would gradually rob her of her sight so I wrote from my heart. When our teacher said she had “a particularly beautiful poem that had been handed in and wanted to read it to the class” I was amazed when it was mine!</p><p>As life became busier with work marriage and so on I found that it was at the saddest times of my life that I would feel compelled to put pen to paper.  When I devastatingly miscarried our first much-wanted long-awaited baby I took some comfort from writing poems for her and then when our incredibly precious son arrived I was able to see the world through the eyes of a child again and wanted to convey the magic around us in my writing.</p><p>In 2010 I trained to be a Reiki Healing Practitioner and in order to get to know the others in the class better we were asked to tell a little about ourself and our interests. I mentioned that I wrote poetry and though I was reluctant at first I was persuaded to share some with the group.  The teachings I received from the course gave me more confidence and self-belief things I had been distinctly lacking and helped me to regain a sense of inner peace which was then reflected in the type of things I wrote about.</p><p>I wrote the poems in this collection over a period of more than four years – from 25 January 2012 (<em>Before your life is through</em>) to 22 June 2016 (<em>Survive and thrive together)</em>.</p><p>In March 2013 I went to bed one night feeling absolutely fine and awoke the next morning barely able to move with no feeling at all in my right arm. I spent a few months in absolute agony unable to use my hands I wasn't able to do much for myself and could hardly walk before I was eventually diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Treatment began easing things a little but the following year I was dealt a second blow when I was told that I also have Scleroderma a rare disease for which there is currently no cure. I decided then that I couldn't give up.  I had to fight all the way.  I wanted to help raise awareness and use my experiences to help others who are encountering hardships to understand that our mind is a powerful tool and whatever life brings we can choose not to dwell on the negatives and find something positive to focus on.  The illnesses reduced my physical capacity profoundly<strong>.  </strong>They can often be life-limiting and drastically reduce life expectancy.  I have chosen to let them give me a new perspective on life – how we have to cherish everybody and every moment while we still can.</p><p>If through my words I can encourage even just one other person to connect more deeply with life’s riches and develop new optimism my life won't have been in vain.  I have selected the poems for this collection specifically because I have a passionate wish to help others to benefit from the very precious help and guidance I have received. </p>