A letter from your recovered self

Dear Joyce (Insert own Gorgeous Name),

I have finally decided to write to you as I feel it's the right time..... you have come a long way and I feel that if you have this from me to look on when you're feeling challenged that it will most definitely get you through to the end.

Just so you know - I exist. I am already inside you. I am the voice you hear that says 'come on Joyce.' I am the voice you hear that says 'I love you.'

Let me tell you a little about my life.....

I wake up most mornings before my alarm goes off - sometime I wish I didn't though because my clock radio is set to Lyric FM and I wouldn't mind being woken by that every so often. I get out of bed, I look myself in the mirror and I tell myself how wonderful I am and as I brush my teeth I go through my wonderful day ahead planned and unplanned. I take a beautiful warm shower and care for my magnificent temple and locks and massage my arms and legs and scalp - ordinary as this may sound Joyce - it's often the favourite part of my day..... I dry off and light my favourite scented candle - vanilla - I moisturise my body with that gorgeous body butter from the Body Shop, you know the Mango one you always liked as a kid? Then I dry my hair - sometimes I dry it straight, or sometimes I flick it out or sometimes I curl it - it all depends on my mood, then I go to my wardrobe and get excited by the sight of so many clothes and garments that are all so colourful and vibrant and texturous, I know the way you love dresses so I often wear them thinking of you.

Then I go down stairs and have my breakfast as I look on to the garden lawn as the night time dew evaporates and thrushes and blackbirds come in numbers to make the most of the moist soil and take all the worms they can get, I stand by the window with my tea and now admire nature and the calm stillness and beauty that resides within me too, I love feeling full from the inside out and I thank life and God for the world I'm in and the person I am.

If it's during the week I might have an interview to go to or photographs to take or some investigation to carry so I pop in my car and put on my CD and listen to Louise Hay talk about how wonderful life is - the car is a great and private haven for me - and yes you're right Joyce I have a vanilla flavoured air freshner there too!!

I go about my day with a steely resolve but a near sub conscious trust that everything works out as it should and my days are filled with joy and peace and contentment - I can't describe these feelings any further because they can only be known through experiencing them - so I'll leave you the suprise of getting to know them all for yourself - believe me you won't be disappointed..... I get to meet so many wonderful people everyday that interest and inspire me and I write about them and their lives or their projects and I know that my work is contributing to the world - now that's a great feeling and I get to be creative in it too.

Mostly I work from the city centre and I meet friends or family for lunch and we go to gorgeous vibrant cafes like Cornucopia and Avoca and become part of the hustle and bustle of the lunch time swirl, when we feel we need a break from the action we sometimes go to the markets and take our ingredients home and have long lazy lunches in their places or mine - sometimes we even catch Oprah - but there is something I still find odd about tv watching in broad day light.

For the afternoon I go to my place I work on my research and assemble information and after my mid afternoon tea break I go about writing it - that's my favourite bit - the icing on the cake - the freedom to create it and just let myself flow - some friends of mine go to meditation classes together but for me this is my deepest state and I love it.

In the evenings I like to catch up my boyfriend and we either go for a walk on Dun Laoghaire pier and sit and watch the sun go down and the people go by, sometimes we'll have friends round for tea, sometimes we'll go the movies (I know you love this Joyce), sometimes we go to Dundrum to run an errand - it's great that that place is open till 9. Sometimes we'll call around to relatives and in the summertime or any long evening we take canoes out into Killiney Bay and scoop along the water's surface looking in at the rocks and caves and cliffs.

I go to bed earlier now than I ever have I guess it's because I have more to do and want the best for myself and those around me. I thank the day I've had and I thank myself and those who helped me for letting go of all those things that trapped me like unforgiveness, resentment, criticism, guilt, being unloving and replacing those things with beauty, joy, love, acceptance, understanding, compassion, forgiveness and humanity.

I have more friends now (from every generation and walks of life) than I ever had before and at the same time I spend better time with myself now than I ever did before.... I know what I want now and whether that's admiring the flowers in Powerscourt or going for a drive in my car or hitting a hockey ball or spending time with loved ones it's brilliant to be able to hear myself and respond to what I hear.

Today my thoughts really are my best friends and as I once heard someone quote from the book 'Eat, Pray, Love' - my mind does not harbour any negative thoughts - that's how I am and as a result my life works. I'm more than thankful and I love giving as a result.

Today I feel great on the inside and on the outside, I feel content and fulfilled and satisfied and the most important thing for me - I exist only in the present, for I am a present, from me to you, and oh how it's so great here - the only thing that's missing now, is you...........

Please come soon Joyce, I'm dying to get my arms around you and show you how much I love you.

Lots of love.....
Recovered Self

Please use this for yourself.....different situations, challenges, wishes, outcomes.....we CAN all be free we just have to listen and respond and fil-full our unmet needs

Joyce
xxx