I have had to learn many lessons over the years but those from my recovery, to me, were some of the most important. Top of these have been the intangible things. Things that I had never considered deeply before but my circumstances gave me lots of time to be introspective and ask ‘how can my life be happier’.
These are my top 5:
1. Always say ‘I love you’ to those important to you every time you see them.
You don’t know what might happen during your day. I would never wish it on anyone, but speaking from experience, there is a possibility you may never get another opportunity.
The great benefit is that telling someone you love them not only makes them feel good but makes you feel good too. I call it my ‘warm content feeling’.
2. ‘Me’ is not a bad thing.
I don’t know about you but I grew up being told that being selfish was a bad thing. I no longer agree. I don’t mean be selfish to the detriment of others or all the time but do take time out for yourself now and then. Always putting others first is going to grind you down. Put some time aside to do what you want to do and to marvel at the evolution that makes you, you. I now have ‘pamper Pam’ days where I do exactly what I feel like doing at that given time even if it’s just sitting reading an engrossing book without getting out of bed for the whole day.
3. Touch someone.
Ok I don’t mean assault! But shaking hands, touching someone’s else’s arm, having a hug connects us to each other. Today’s world is so much about being in front of a computer screen/tablet/phone in our own little cocoon it would be easy to forget what humanity ‘feels’ like. Put them away and enjoy the human contact. I now believe that each of us has our own energy which, when we touch, connects with the other persons energy and promotes a joint feeling of harmony and pleasure.
4. Enjoy the Sunshine.
When was the last time you stood still in sunshine and revelled in it? Smile, breathe and lift your arms to embrace it. I am always surprised how this simple act lifts my entire mood for the day.
5. Make someone else smile.
We get our fair share of grey, windy, rainy days in this country and I notice how an air of gloom seems to pervade everyone. On these types of days I now deliberately go out with the intention of making anyone I meet smile. I’ve turned it into a game to see how many smiles I can collect during the day. It makes me smile just doing it and I feel good. I hope in some small way I might have brightened their day in return.
Pam’s new book ‘From Behind the Mask’ tells the inspiring true story of Pam’s experience before, during and since the Paddington train crash. Get your copy now from Pam’s website: www.pamwarren.co.uk, Amazon.co.uk or all good bookstores.
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