Wellbeing Getaway in West Cork

Just back from our 4-day wonderful Wellbeing Getaway at Douce Mountain Farm where I got a chance to share my Well-being videos which went down really well with workshops and a deep level of sharing.

We started the day with a glass of green juice from my favourite Angel Juicer which is the Roll Royce of Juicers producing wonderful nourishing juice with almost no waste.

Then we enjoyed Gerd's meditation in his beautiful organically varnished meditation loft or outdoor meditation on the dry mornings.

Afterwards we partook in a wonderful natural breakfast with organic porridge barley/rice/maise/spelt depending on the day, and freshly baked souerdough bread with fresh goats cheeses and other nourishing toppings.

We proceeded to work with the Happiness Skills of Appreciation, Character Strengths, Positive Relationships or Problem Solving Skills, listening to each other's perspectives and experiences.

Usually we would venture off whether it be to a farm/mountain walk with Gerd, a walking trip in Guagane Barra or Glengariff enjoying a picnique lunch at some point after our river walks.

Later we would work on some Creative Writing with Vera Cait who would help us to connect to the inner child and imagination. The diamond poem in particular brought out a variety of beautiful poems.

Then a nourishing and healing sound bath from Harry who had set up a wonderful display of sound bowls and gongs which we enjoyed both outdoors and later indoors.

The three course organic dinner that Anna produced every evening were a delightful addition to the day.

Later we would chat and meditate before watching an inspiring film.
Then bidding each other goodnight and retiring to each our organically treated bedrooms for a good nights rest.

Sowing a Seed

Happy Father's day to all the Father's including my own!

Today I didn't feel like getting on my bike as it was drizzly and cloudy but I ended up on my bike anyhow. And what a lovely trip I had!

No such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. I put on a warmer dress, legging and a hat and voila, rain poncho in my bag. Nature is so healing and uplifting. 

Today I also got a chance to study the senior school curriculum around well-being and happiness. There is plenty in the curriculum to support the happiness skills series that I have created. I will be linking up with a teacher this week and hopefully we will get things moving within the school system.

Also I am back from Denmark where I spent my childhood- I left in my brochure and spoke with a number of interested parties. It is like sowing a seed and nurturing it, and little by little....

 One of my happy moment of the day was watching this little bird sizing up my toast before he took a bite of it!

 This one arriving a little too late!

Eco-psychology

Hello again
hope you are well.  
Amazing how nature can be such a healer and helper. All the sounds and visuals connect with a deeper DNA within us which is not so amazing when we realise that our bodies are made of stardust!

I am also busy fine polishing the seven videos as I would like them to appeal to as big an audience as possible. Also, I'd like to offer an experience for teachers of the actual skills as teaching something we believe in has so much greater impact than just passing on information.

 My happy moment today fighting my way through briers and difficult terrain to find this beautiful canal walk with two majestic looking swans suddenly appearing under the bridge.

It is the way you do it

Hello again,
busy week as always, this time putting together a trailer of the seven Happiness Skills videos which hopefully will wet the appetite of viewers to see more.

Also, I am looking at distributors of educational material as I need to go knocking on doors to let people know that we have a wonderful Happiness Skills series which will benefit pupils enormously -if they get a chance to see and work with it!

I have never claimed my material to be unique but perhaps the way I present it might appeal to a number of people who know that they need these skills to remain well and happy.

This week's happy moment: spotting this heron surveying his 'kingdom' whilst us mere mortals were walking the canal

A Trailer

Hello again
it has been a wonderful week looking through the videos in order to decide which parts would be suitable to make a trailer to introduce schools to the program. 

Also, I have ideas for Lesson Plans which can support teachers in bringing the material to pupils, and facilitators to bring it to participants. 

Today's Happy Moment: watching the fabulous bluebells under the trees - they faithfully appear year after year in spite of all weather

Wonderful colours

Spring is in the air thankfully. It has been a long winter but enjoyable all the same, I've still managed to be outside for at least an hour in spite of weather. No such thing as bad weather only bad clothing.

This week I am starting to plan approaching schools that would like to pilot the Happiness Skills series. I figure schools like to see something working elsewhere before committing themselves and yet with the great need surely there are schools who will love to offer these Happiness Skills to their pupils and be willing to pilot the series. So watch this space.

 My happy moment watching the burst of colour from tulips and other wonderful spring flowers.

Hello from An Carn

Hello again
Last weekend I had the privilege of travelling to Northern Ireland to a place called An Carn near Maghera, this is the the only Irish native speaking area in Northern Ireland and they have build a cultural centre there situated at the foot of Carntogher Mountain in the Sperrins. It was a welcoming place with a hive of activities.

We met local musicians for an evening session, we walked the wonderful ancient woodland, visiting the organic farm where cattle and sheep give birth naturally with no assistance as they are untouched by modern chemicals and treatment as is the land and forest around them.

I would highly recommend a visit and hope in the future when their cafe/restaurant with organic produce is built to bring a group for Positive Psychology as they can house up to 22 people in their lovely self-catering accommodation.

I'm delighted to also this week have been filming / reshooting Part One of the Happiness Skills series as it needed to come up to the higher standard of the rest of the series.

My happy moment looking at this unusual dry-stone structure which was used to cure fevers and pains up to the end of the 20th century. Natural healing!

Greeting from Edinburgh

Hello again! Good to be back sharing another few thoughts and a happy moment. I am still working on video 7 on Personal problem-solving, slowly but surely it is coming together. It takes creativity and time to visualise the process but I think it is taking shape. Perseverance and hope keeps me going as I believe this is a crucial skill to being able to truly enjoy our lives and the challenges life offers as we fumble along. I call it the DANCE process as I love movement and rhythm. 

Also, I'm investigating how to make my video happiness skills series known so people will avail of it. I should like it to be seen and used in Secondary schools wherever possible.

Here is my happy moment in Edinburgh watching the beautiful mountains from Edinburgh castle.

Easter Greeting

Sending healing thoughts and wishes towards one and all after celebrating the resurrection at 6.30am this morning with a people from all walks of beliefs and life.

There is always a resurrection, perhaps later than we expect but then we realise how much we've learned and loved on the journey of waiting and working towards success.

If we cannot unite with loved ones directly, in our hearts we can unite and carry one another beyond time, space and darkness.

Making good progress on the Personal Problem-Solving video. I filmed the speech and the narration this week and I'm now enjoying editing it all together. It is going to be a beautiful production thanks to all the support and additional input I am getting.

This weeks specially happy moment:

Watching the Easter Full Moon in all its Glory

Welcoming the Lambing season

Hello again
I'm delighted to have added more moving graphics to number one video on Nourishing Positive Emotions. Ken Kelly is a wonderful graphic designer who is animating the feel good brain and our para sympathetic system which kicks in when we focus on good events and people in our lives and of course when we put ourselves out to help others in some way or another.

Here I share this week's happy moment:

Watching the lambing season unfold whilst pausing for a breather on my forest walk - love the backdrop of the mountains

I'm looking forward to singing in choir over the upcoming week for all the Easter rituals. May you have a wonderful week.

Sharing a Happy Moment

Welcome to this very first Happiness Skills blog that I have decided to create with two purposes

1  to invite you to share a good experience as sharing good experiences boosts our happiness and well-being.

2  to keep you updated on Happiness Skills video series that I am creating for schools

So here it goes, my first happy experience share:

Connecting with my friend Bacchus in the snow whilst enjoying curious onlookers

Progress regarding the Happiness Skills video series built on my book Happiness Skills based on Positive Psychology: 

I am currently writing/producing session 7 which will be on Personal Problem-Solving. It is a privilege to work on these videos and I am looking forward to sharing them with you when the series of 7 are ready plus a short introduction. 

Watch this space