Right at the beginning of this series we spoke about the attitudes of mindfulness & the importance of kindful acceptance.

As we start to meditate & practice mindfulness we become more aware of our thoughts, feelings, emotions & behaviours & we may not always like what we discover. Sometimes it feels like the meditation or the mindfulness is highlighting all our perceived ‘failings’.  The stillness & the silence seems to amplify what is inside, as though meditation & mindfulness have shone a light on what we may not want to see – this is the work that needs to be done. But instead of beating ourselves up, judging, criticising if we can choose to accept whatever we discover, this creates space to do the work & heal.

Acceptance is a practice in itself & is really closely interlinked with forgiveness, letting go & compassion. Indeed, once we learn to let go, practice compassion & forgiveness we inevitably find acceptance slots into place too.

Acceptance isn’t a passive giving up or giving in. It doesn’t mean we have to like want or support whatever it is we are choosing to accept. It means we are choosing to make space for it without layering on judgment or criticism, shame or beating you selves up. We all experience pain, it is a part of life. The suffering comes when we try to resist the pain, fight against it. When we choose to accept whatever has happened we reduce the suffering.

We have a phrase in the spiritual community what you resist persists, what you accept dissipates. If we push something away, try & brush it away, resist it, the Universe will keep giving us the same lesson until we learn it & will make it increasingly uncomfortable in order that we make the decision to embrace the lesson. By choosing to accept a person, relationship or situation, our past, emotional or physical pain we are making an active decision to create space for healing by letting go & whilst it can be difficult at first, the more you practice acceptance the more you forge those neurons in your brain, making it easier to do next time.

Acceptance doesn’t mean that you are giving up, it often creates the space to do the work & change. Change is a process. It starts with awareness, progresses through acceptance into change. For example, I went through a really acrimonious divorce (is there any other kind?) & I had a terrible relationship with my ex-husband. But as soon as I accepted him for who he is, accepting he is unlikely to ever change, our dynamic changed. I accept him for who he is. We will never be best friends but we can civil & amicable for the kids now.

Same with my mother who is a challenging personality shall we say & I have had a difficult history with her. But again as soon as I accepted that she is who she is, our relationship is the healthiest it has ever been. Adding kindful to the idea of acceptance is simply a reminder that this is a conscious choice we are making in a kindful way. It takes all the angst of ‘having to’ accept away.

Choosing acceptance is a beautiful gift which makes life flow with more grace & ease. The more you do it the easier it becomes & the easier & more fun life becomes too. And the more you will find yourself channelling self-acceptance which is the most powerful of tools.

Let me sum up by leaving you with the serenity prayer:

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change

Courage to change the things I can

And wisdom to know the difference

This week’s meditation is a coping breathing space meditation – it helps us to reflect on our difficulties by asking questions of our self to move into a place to kindful acceptance . To obtain your copy email Alex at alex@alexbannard.com quoting FROSTCBS.

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Her mission is to help everyone discover a more mindful way of living & to encourage them to embrace regular self-care practices for a happier & healthier way of being.

If you would like more information on how to practice mindfulness, meditation & yoga message her at alex@alexbannard.com.

For free resources check out her Facebook group: Mindfulness & Yoga for Self-Care, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MindfulnessYoga4Relationships

Alternatively please check out her website: alexbannard.com

There are so many things that you need to consider when you are trying to improve your property. And it is really important that you plan for this and make the right decisions for the future moving forward. Improving your property and taking steps to look after it is one of the most important things that you can do moving forward. 

You have to make sure you think about the best ways of being able to take things to the next level. There are so many ideas that will help you focus on this moving forward, and this is something that plays a massive part in this process. Try to make sure you come up with hacks that will help improve your property, and these are some great ideas. 

Fresh Coat of Paint

A fresh coat of paint can make all the difference when it comes to improving and assessing your home and how it comes across. You have to make sure you do your best to improve the way your home looks, and one of the best ways of being able to achieve this is to go for a fresh coat of paint. There are a lot of elements that you have to consider here And this can really help to transform the way the home looks and comes across afterwards. 

Build an Extension

There are a lot of things that you need to keep in mind when you are looking to improve your property these days, and one of the best ways of being able to do this is to build an extension. There are so many factors that play a role in helping with this, and you need to make sure you come up with some of the best ideas that can help you when it comes to this. The right extension not only improves your home, but it can add significant value to the property at the same time as well, and helps with selling your home. And this is something that you need to make the most of moving forward right now. 

Make Repairs

Try to do as much as possible to try to focus on improving the property, and making much-needed repairs is one of the best ways of achieving this. You have to make sure you do as much as possible to improve this, and there are a lot of ideas that play a part here. Hiring experts is a key way of being able to deal with this, and Debary foundation repair services can be transformative for your home this year. 

There are a lot of things that can play a part in helping you with this process, and you need to make sure you do as much as you can to help make the most of this. Come up with ideas that are going to allow you to focus on making the right decisions, and this is something you have to get right. These are some key tips that will help you to achieve more success, and it is important to get this right.
Collaborative Post with our brand partner.

Williams Handbaked are as busy as ever, in fact  busier as they are expanding almost weekly but still have the time to share news of other entrepreneurs with us.

Williams tell us that they wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for their wonderful stockists across the UK. ‘To launch our series of posts focusing on these stockists, we visited Honeywell’s Farm Shop in Woodplumpton, a few miles from our bakery in Preston. Honeywell’s was one of our very first stockists, and they still stock our biscuits and cakes today.’

Honeywell’s began life in 1970 as a small farm and butchery founded by brothers John and Anthony Gornall. They started their business by selling home-reared pork from their garage, quickly moving the operation to their barn for extra space. Following continued success, the Gornalls eventually built their own farm shop on Eaves Lane, Woodplumpton.

Honeywell’s have since opened butcheries in Barton Grange Garden Centre near Garstang, Preston and Bents Garden Centre near Warrington.

Williams caught  up with Sue Gornall, one of the directors and wife of Anthony, along with her daughter Liz, who works as a buyer and head of marketing and learned that Sue had been working in Honeywell’s since 1972 and Liz for as long as she could remember.

For Sue her favourite part of the job is chatting to customers, and regulars, or welcoming new people. It’s great to make everyone welcome, and that includes our staff too. It’s so important that they are happy.
 

When asked about Honeywell’s ethos Sue continued that it was always about selling meat from their own farm as well as neighbouring farms they know and trust. This ethos has translated into other lines they have sourced. Cheeses, bakery products are local, and chamioned. ‘We love promoting local artisan business and building lasting relationships with their suppliers. ‘

All this of chimes absolutely with Williams Homebaked, which our editor’s family use regularly, even though the granny of them, our editor,  really shouldn’t because she’s on a diet, or so she says.

 Williams Handbaked:   https://www.williamshandbaked.co.uk/   @williamsbaked

Honeywell’s Farm Shop, Eaves Lane, Woodplumpton, Preston. PR4 0BH.
Open 7 days a week. Tel: 01772 690271
Website: honeywellfarmshop.com
Facebook / Instagram: @honeywellfarmshop

In Thirsk Market on a Saturday I found Jo Mcauley’s stall Muddy Puddles with a variety of dog accessories  but best of all were  the Ancol cool coats. What a great idea, I could have done with one myself as the sun beat down.

I persuaded Jo to give Frost Magazine readers a demonstration….

First a bucket of water, dip in the coat which is made from polyester and cotton material, and retains moisture for hours, what’s more, it’s  quickly re-activated. Useful too is that these coats are anti-bacterial and machine washable.

Make sure it is good and wet, then lift, and squeeze out some of the water, and apply (as it were).  in other words find your dog and slip on the coat, doing it up as you would most other dog coats.

One grateful dog continued on its walk thankful for Jo’es administrations. Jo is enthusiastic and excited about her new venture.  A dog owner herself she has her finger on the pulse for your ‘best friend’s’ needs. So take a look at at her stall, everything one could need in the way of accessories. Thankfully,  Jo is also happy to fulfil mail orders.

Go to Jo’s facebook page to learn more, and chat to Jo. Or make your way to Thirsk Market on a Saturday, which is a great placeay.  https://www.facebook.com/MuddyPuddlesThirsk

Rat Run by Caro Ramsay is Joffe’s Book of the Week and it’s a belter of a crime thriller for you to get stuck into right this minute.Out now at 99P What a page turning, nail biting novel. You have been warned – so no hiding behind the sofa…  In August 1992, a mother and her two young sons were brutally hacked to death in the woods behind their home. The neighbour, Andrew Gyle, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Now, twenty-three years later, a sinkhole emerges in the garden of the murdered family. In the wreckage, a grisly discovery is made. Andrew Gyle always maintained his innocence. What if he really didn’t do it?

Constable goes to Market by Nichols Rhea  £1.99p/$2.99c

I have to admit, this is one of my favourites ( I like familiar characters so a delight to read this): It is Market day in Ashfordly which comes but once a week — and that’s more than enough for Constable Nick. Every Friday, traders and punters flock to the cobbled marketplace, eager to snag a bargain. Too bad the place is a magnet for pickpockets, carousers and troublemakers of every description.

Can Nick keep the peace and save a proud tradition?

The Missing Girls by Brian Battison 99p/99c Three girls go missing, two are found dead only one escapes.  Ashworth must stop the killer before anyone else suffers. This is a a complex mystery that will have you turning the pages until the stunning conclusion.

Hdden Rainbows. by Faith Martin writinga s Maxine Barry £1.99 $2.99

Persis Canfield-Hope follows in her grandmother’s footsteps crossing the Australian continent by train. and this is what drew me, as I love Western Australia with a passion, that included the whole of Australia. But back to Hidden Rainbows: It’s on board that she happens upon, and not by chance, the charming Dane Culver. He believes Persis has his family’s prize possession, the Iris Stone.   Yet Dane can’t keep his eyes off Persis, she’s unlike anyone he’s ever met. How far will Dane go to retrieve what’s rightfully his?

And while on the subject of books we should applaud the brilliant Joy Ellis _  and Marshlight – for reaching  #1 in the Bookseller’s Bookstat eBook top 10 chart!

The Bookseller writes: ‘Joy Ellis’ Marshlight (Joffe) illuminated the Bookstat number one spot for the week ending 10th July, with the fourth Detective Matt Ballard title debuting at the top.’

Joffe says: Thank you so much to everyone at the Bookseller for the great write-up. We’re so proud of our brilliant Joy – congratulations from us all!

If you’ve yet to get your hands on Marshlight, grab your copy today for only 99p / 99c.

You can discover more books published by Joffe here