FOLLOWING THE LEADERS AHEAD OF RACE DAY ON MARCH 25
GRATITUDE is about far more than just manners or gestures. Gratitude is a portal to a deeper connection with the universe. The positive energy exchanged when gratitude is created and accepted delivers a flow of harmony between two people. It is a dance between living beings, both operating from their heart space. The flow from heart space has no boundaries and can radiate from you to the four corners of the universe. It is beyond measure. It exists in limitless quantities, but many people choose to limit their supply to the universe, thus reducing their own contentment.
Think of a ray of light pulsating from your heart each time you demonstrate gratitude. Close your eyes and imagine what this looks like. Feel the sensation of the light all around you. Close your eyes again, but this time put your hand over your heart and try to stop that same radiant light illuminating you and the people around you. How did you feel when you purposefully shielded this beautiful light from yourself and others? I bet it didn’t feel right to cover up something so radiant and natural. It was effortless to share the light but it took an effort to hide it from view. Our natural and harmonious flow of energy involves extending the light from our hearts, in many forms of expression, including gratitude.
Make a decision to allow the light from your heart to shine all the time without eclipse or shadow. It may not always be reciprocated but as long as you give, you are open to the possibility of receiving. If you want gratitude in your life, give gratitude to other people. You need not concern yourself with conserving it. There is abundance. The secret of reaching contentment is to realise and accept that you have abundance in your life. When you adopt this shift of thinking into your daily life, you can give light – unconditionally – in the form of gratitude. You can become a master at this. It will be a subtle shift for some and a meteoric shift for others. The journey starts today.
From the book ‘Outcome Running – 10 milestones towards a more positive and faster you’. Available from www.eoinryancoaching.com Bray and District Soroptimist Club hosted the regional final of the Soroptimist International Public Speaking competition recently at the Esplanade Hotel.
The winners were Emily Moore and Charlie Byrne, who both spoke on the topic of the environment using the quote ‘We are not owners, we are caretakers of mother earth’. The runner-up was Niamh O’Toole who spoke on the empowerment of women using this quote from Thomas Edison: ‘If we did all the things we are capable of doing we would literally astound ourselves’.
Club President Annie Verwijs welcomed students, parents and teachers from Wicklow, Kildare, Waterford and Wexford.
Speaking on the day, public speaking convenor Pat McHugh gave special thanks to the members of the Bray Soroptimist Club and the National Association of Soroptimists for their support and assistance in organising the regional heat. She said that the event ‘ highlights how Soroptimism reaches out to young women in our community encouraging all to continue to develop communication skills, enhancing self-confidence with a view to working towards social change to enable others at home and abroad.’
The competition over the years has been a lively event supported by young women who confidently speak on topics including democracy, education, human rights and health, which are all based on the ideals of Soroptimism – to educate, empower and enable women and girls globally. The regional winner goes forward to the national final in Ballina, County Mayo, in March. Adjudicators on the day included Anne O’Leary, Miriam Megannety and Soroptimist Breda McCabe. Club President Annie thanked all the speakers, their parents and teachers, and fellow Soroptimists who worked to make the day such a success.