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Dear Reader Writing is in my DNAI was talking with my daughter Phoebe this morning. She lives far away, in Ireland, so I look forward to our Tuesday morning talks which are a wonderful way of drawing her closer. We often talk about our writing works in progress. I love hearing about her writing process and together we encourage each other. Today we chatted about an author ancestor, Charles Digby Hammond (my great-grandfather). I have inherited a lot of his traits – his love for massage as a therapy; his sense of adventure; and his love of writing. He ran a clinic in Sydney for several years before he died at age 91. Unfortunately, I was only given a glimpse of one of his pamphlets. My mother was protective of it and was sure I’d lose it if she let me have it. So it passed to one of my siblings, and over time it’s lost anyway. However, we were able to find a poem he’d written in 1939 and copyrighted through the National Archives of Australia. I assume his healing work with people inspired him to write about how our feet can make us healthier and happier. I certainly find it so! His poem brings him and his philosophy to life for me!
Do you find delight in doing good?This morning, Phoebe mentioned a discussion she’d had with some friends about the concept of “delighting in doing good works”. I was intrigued with the word “delight” used in this context. I often have mixed feelings when I’m asked for help. I like to help, of course I do. Yet I sometimes feel inadequate, that I won’t do a good enough job, and maybe that I don’t have the skills. At those times, I’m afraid I’m less than gracious. I was like that this weekend. My friend Su is an amazing woman. She has developed a system of helping young people learn to write. This year (again) she ran a writing competition for them. This weekend she was visiting and asked for my help. Of course I wanted to help. But the refusal was easier on my lips than the acceptance. I recently hurt my hip and I can’t guarantee my pain levels and energy will allow me to carry out any task, so I’ve been limiting my activities. I had a justifiable reason to decline to help. I don’t know about you, but I can always find a ‘justifiable reason’! But our friendship is deep and goes back to our university days. I know she wouldn’t ask for my help if she didn’t need it, and also if she didn’t have faith in my ability to help. So I decided to try to give her the help she requested. But – did I delight in giving that help? My discussion with Phoebe made me reflect on my attitude. And I’m thrilled to say that when I was done, I was delighted with my input. But – more importantly, did I show my delight when I agreed to help Su? And did I feel that delight, while I was helping her? Is there a conflict here with my own advice regarding self care? I don’t know. I don’t think so. I’m sure that I can tell the difference between my need to say no out of a need to take care of myself and my instinct to say no out of fear. Lessons learned during stressful times. What I do know is that in future I’ll examine my own motivation if my instinct is to refuse. And, when I agree I can help, I’ll assess my attitude from the outset and summon up that feeling of delight that I often feel when I spontaneously offer help. I’m sure that allowing myself to feel that delight from the beginning will fill my own energy cup. Delight! A delightful feeling! The Relatable Voice MagazineAnd for my final comment, I’m thrilled to share an article featured in this month’s edition of The Relatable Voice Magazine. (Viewable here: Article ). In this article I wrote about a topic that’s been close to my heart for some time. I’ve written before about being a Grandparent. Lately, discussions with others has brought the challenges of this status to the fore – and being a Great-Grandparent also has its challenges – and rewards. And this is the subject of that article. I don’t think I met my Great-Grandfather Albert Charles who died when I was about eight years old. I would have loved to have had a relationship with him. My article mentions my Great-Grandmothers, not fathers. Not to say the men in my family tree aren’t important or memorable. I guess I focus mainly on my female ancestors because I am also female. I’m fortunate to know most of my own Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren and hopefully they will remember the love their Great-Grandma Stephanie has for them! Till next time, may you find delight in all you do. Love My thoughts for Living Life in 2024 and beyond: “Write it on my heart that every day is Ralph Waldo Emerson “Remember that sometimes not getting “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave [person] is not [the one] who does not feel afraid, but [the one] who conquers that fear.” Nelson Mandela Read past Newsletters and, if you enjoy them, please share with your friends and encourage them to subscribe http://www.StephanieHammondAuthor.com Join my Reader’s Group on Facebook. FOLLOW ME Like, post and comment at any of |
DNA, Doing good, and Great-Grandies
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