Over the years I read and reread ‘The Magic of the Mind in Action’ getting as much as I could from the extracts included in the book.
It wasn’t until computers arrived in homes and the birth of Amazon that I actually managed to buy myself a copy of ‘Bring out the Magic in Your Mind’. I even loved the design on the cover! It was a delight to read. Al Koran wrote as if he was talking to me personally.
I’ve since read the book many times. I lent it to my younger son and he felt that it was helpful too. I gave him a copy of his own in the end as I didn’t want mine to disappear.
I discovered that other people online were inspired by the book too.
Then one day someone sent me a link to YouTube videos about positive thinking which pushed the ‘Magic’ even further!
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
My Mind holds Magic
About 40 years ago I picked up a book in the supermarket which caught my eye because of the title; ‘The Magic of the Mind in Action’ it was by a mentalist (mind reader, magician) who called himself Al Koran. His real name was Edward Doe.
The book contained letters that had been written to him by readers of an earlier book that he wrote ‘Bring out the Magic in Your Mind’. With quotes from the first book he used the letters to show that people really had managed to change their lives through positive thought. Reading the words of Al Koran and the stories of the changes people made in their lives really inspired me.
I lacked self confidence and had been inspired by two other books in a small way a few years before. ‘Anybody Can Do Anything’ by Betty Macdonald and the title of the other book remains a mystery after all these years. All I remember about it was reading that many people do not know how to say ‘No’. I didn’t read much of that book but I was armed with the idea that I didn’t have to comply with the bidding of others.
I had started to make changes.
The book contained letters that had been written to him by readers of an earlier book that he wrote ‘Bring out the Magic in Your Mind’. With quotes from the first book he used the letters to show that people really had managed to change their lives through positive thought. Reading the words of Al Koran and the stories of the changes people made in their lives really inspired me.
I lacked self confidence and had been inspired by two other books in a small way a few years before. ‘Anybody Can Do Anything’ by Betty Macdonald and the title of the other book remains a mystery after all these years. All I remember about it was reading that many people do not know how to say ‘No’. I didn’t read much of that book but I was armed with the idea that I didn’t have to comply with the bidding of others.
I had started to make changes.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
A whole year
Before we knew where we were the first year had passed. We thought about how excited we were the first time we saw the house. I’m still pinching myself almost two years on.
Even though the garden was smaller it didn’t prevent me from struggling to keep it up. That first summer I grew my own tomatoes.
I also discovered that being in a different place meant different insects. I saw very few spiders and soon discovered why; House Centipedes. They are quite useful to have around, in small numbers. They eat the nasty insects like bed bugs, but I could never knowingly share my bed with one. If they panic they seem to run in crazy circles – I suppose it’s hard to control those legs when the going gets tough. They also seem very fond of hanging out in wicker rubbish bins and coconut welcome mats. I cope with them by throwing them outside – they are happier there most of the year round.
Even though the garden was smaller it didn’t prevent me from struggling to keep it up. That first summer I grew my own tomatoes.
I also discovered that being in a different place meant different insects. I saw very few spiders and soon discovered why; House Centipedes. They are quite useful to have around, in small numbers. They eat the nasty insects like bed bugs, but I could never knowingly share my bed with one. If they panic they seem to run in crazy circles – I suppose it’s hard to control those legs when the going gets tough. They also seem very fond of hanging out in wicker rubbish bins and coconut welcome mats. I cope with them by throwing them outside – they are happier there most of the year round.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The first Christmas
I was afraid that it would feel like “The first Christmas Away from Home”.
It was good to have to change some of the old traditions. Decorating was completely different. No room for a large Christmas tree and we now had a real fire place for hanging up the stockings. Sleeping arrangements were more difficult, but with a thought and consideration all went well.
I even managed to cope with cooking a Christmas meal in a smaller oven – for more people!
That first Christmas taught me that change can be a very good challenge indeed.
It was good to have to change some of the old traditions. Decorating was completely different. No room for a large Christmas tree and we now had a real fire place for hanging up the stockings. Sleeping arrangements were more difficult, but with a thought and consideration all went well.
I even managed to cope with cooking a Christmas meal in a smaller oven – for more people!
That first Christmas taught me that change can be a very good challenge indeed.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Light and sound
Something that I really enjoyed during our first few months in the house, especially as the seasons changed from late spring to summer, was the way in which the light changed in the main room. There were two windows in the east wall and one facing south. So for most of the day there was sun light shining directly into the room.
I also loved the sound of the wind under the bedroom door if the windows were open. When I was a child, the house I grew up in had the same noise; like a chorus of women’s voices. Some people would find it quite frightening. I loved the noise. When I was ill I would always sleep in my parents bed during the day and listen feeling safe and secure
I also loved the sound of the wind under the bedroom door if the windows were open. When I was a child, the house I grew up in had the same noise; like a chorus of women’s voices. Some people would find it quite frightening. I loved the noise. When I was ill I would always sleep in my parents bed during the day and listen feeling safe and secure
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Friday 13th
It could only happen on Friday 13th.
I got up in the night to go to the toilet. Fortunately it’s next door to our bedroom. I went back to bed and dozed for a while then suddenly woke up. The water tank was still filling up. The button on the toilet was stuck so water was just running through the system and down the toilet. There is nothing like working out how to take a toilet apart at three in the morning. Fortunately we could turn the water off easily.
It took several visits from plumbers and replaced parts before it was fixed. We flushed the toilet using buckets of water for a month. I still check that the button goes back properly today.
I got up in the night to go to the toilet. Fortunately it’s next door to our bedroom. I went back to bed and dozed for a while then suddenly woke up. The water tank was still filling up. The button on the toilet was stuck so water was just running through the system and down the toilet. There is nothing like working out how to take a toilet apart at three in the morning. Fortunately we could turn the water off easily.
It took several visits from plumbers and replaced parts before it was fixed. We flushed the toilet using buckets of water for a month. I still check that the button goes back properly today.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Finding our way around
The end of the first week was marked by the closure of the sale of our old house. It was a very strange sensation to lock the front door and hand over the keys which had been with us for the last 25 years. I didn’t feel sad at all.
As I said; “the last 25 years”, which meant that there was a lot of getting used to routines and finding things to go before we really felt settled in. Everything seemed to take longer than usual. One of the pleasures was shopping for new curtains, lamps and odds and ends. It took a few weeks to get everything just as I liked it.
Even going out in the car had its problems. There were lots of new village names to get used to (and some of them very similar). We even decided that a certain roundabout near to where we live was a second Bermuda triangle. Still it was fun exploring the beautiful countryside around us, either in the car or on foot.
As I said; “the last 25 years”, which meant that there was a lot of getting used to routines and finding things to go before we really felt settled in. Everything seemed to take longer than usual. One of the pleasures was shopping for new curtains, lamps and odds and ends. It took a few weeks to get everything just as I liked it.
Even going out in the car had its problems. There were lots of new village names to get used to (and some of them very similar). We even decided that a certain roundabout near to where we live was a second Bermuda triangle. Still it was fun exploring the beautiful countryside around us, either in the car or on foot.
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