Shine Sunday.

Today is the last day of my two-week summer holiday. It's been great to have a decent break from the office but, in truth, I haven't had much of a holiday. I took on two big editing projects, which were amazing, and I did a lot of work towards setting up my editing business. But still, it wasn't a holiday.

My problem is that I have trouble relaxing these days. There's always something that needs doing - and it's always me that has to do it {at least, that's how I see it}. It doesn't help that 2016 promises to be one of my busiest years yet, with a day job to hold down, study to do, and a business to launch.

Anyway, all this got me thinking ... what would it be like to have one day a week in which I allow myself to do whatever I want? One day to sleep in, read a book, walk on the beach, work in the garden? It sounds very appealing!

So I'm starting today. I'm going to try and make every Sunday "Shine Sunday" - my day to relax. It won't always be possible. Next Sunday I have to work; and there may be some Sundays where I choose to work on a project with a tight deadline. But I have promised myself Sundays will be free of housework, study, and business work.

So what's my plan for today? Once I've finished this, I'm going to take the dogs {Monty and Lisa's dog Harry} to the beach for a walk, since it is a glorious day. I'm going to paint my toenails. I'll read some more of this book. I'll write in my journal. This evening I'll watch football on television with my husband. And have an early night, since I have to be at work tomorrow.

What's your favourite way to relax?

Anne-Marie x

2016: Joy

It's the new moon today, and I have finally decided on my word for the year: JOY.

I have to say this word took me by surprise. When I think of 2016 and what I hope it will hold, I think of the short but amazing list of goals I want to achieve. For me, 2016 will be about a lot of hard work. It will be about getting things done.

I see JOY as a healthy balance to my goals. What's the point of achieving my goals this year if, in the process, I become a miserable, uptight shrew? {Some days I feel like I'm already half-way there...}

I know JOY will not always be an easy word for me. When it's winter, and it's raining, and I've trudged to work and trudged home to do more work, and I've had a disagreement with my husband, and the house is a mess ... on those days, JOY will probably be the last thing on my mind.

But I believe there is always something to be joyful about in my day. It might be as simple as taking the time to write in my journal, or my dog's enthusiastic greeting when I arrive home from work. {I love it how happy dogs are to see you, every single time!} I also believe that the more I use my "joy muscle" the easier it will be to find JOY in my life.

At New Year I started a practice of recording my everyday joys. Every evening before bed I take a small piece of paper and write on it at least one thing that has given me joy that day. Then I date it, fold it up, and put it in a special jar. At the end of the year I'll be able to open the jar and read about all the JOY I experienced in 2016.

So here's to 2016: a year of hard work, of stopping to smell the roses, of relaxing, of laughing, of enJOYing the good things in life.

Anne-Marie x

PS. Find out more about word of the year - and choose your own word - here.

2015: a retrospective.

Number of books in 2015: 53.

Best books read in 2015: The Marriage Of Opposites, by Alice Hoffman; The History Of Loneliness, by John Boyle.

Number of Pagan festivals celebrated: eight.

Amount of time on Earth: 43 years, 6 months, 0 days.

Number of years married: two and a half.

Number of years in my job: nine.

Number of tattoo hours in 2015: 19.

Number of diplomas started: one {this one}.

Number of assignments completed towards my diploma: four {eight to go}.

Number of copy editing projects completed: eight, all since the middle of October, including one thesis.

Best memories of the year: I have three. In January, John and I spent a day watching cricket at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. In June, on Midwinter's evening, I met for the first time with the women of my Pagan community. And, one morning in late August, I was lying on the settee feeling like death warmed up with the 'flu, when John came in with the post, which included all my course materials for my diploma.

Bring on 2016! I'm ready for you.

Anne-Marie x

Say yes.

In late November, a friend recommended me as a proofreader to a friend of hers who is doing her PhD. Would I be interested in proofreading her thesis, 90,000-plus words by 31 December?

At the time I was elbow-deep in finishing my studies for the year, proofreading a short story for a friend ... oh, as well as that small matter of my day job.

I gulped a bit. And then I said yes. Because it felt right. Because I knew I'd always wonder "what if?" if I turned it down.

Not long after I'd started the project I came across this quote by Richard Branson, and I thought it described my situation perfectly.

When I started I didn't know if I could proofread a PhD thesis. I'm a student - I still have a lot to learn. I've never proofread such a long document. Any PhD candidate is going to be extremely fussy about their work, and who can blame them when they've laboured over it for so long? This particular thesis had already been extensively edited before it reached me, so I have to read it very carefully to find the mistakes.

I'm coming towards the end of the project now, and I'm so glad I followed Richard Branson's advice. I have learned more from this one project than from four months of study.

I've learned that I can proofread a PhD thesis, and I can do a good job.

I've learned about the importance of time management.

I've learned how to keep a style sheet. I learned this in my studies, but it didn't sink in until I had to keep a style sheet for real.

I've learned about the importance of communicating with a client.

I've learned the difference between "long term" and "long-term"!

Most importantly, I've learned that the small, persistent voice that urges me to say yes to this thing that is way out of my comfort zone probably knows what it's talking about.

Anne-Marie x

Playing Big.

I recently picked up this book from the sale table of a local bookshop. I found it an interesting and thought-provoking read.

It’s aimed at any woman with an ambition, a goal, a dream in her life, particularly around careers. If you’re looking for the practical how-to-claw-your-way-to-the-top stuff, this is not the book for you. Instead Playing Big deals with the heart stuff that so many of us women seem to struggle with: negative self-talk, mentoring, fear, praise and criticism, communication, etc etc.

Some of it didn’t resonate - the chapter about visualising a conversation with yourself 20 years in the future as a way of tapping into your inner wisdom left me cold. But for most of the book I found myself laughing, cringing, and nodding my head enthusiastically by turns as I read, because so much of it was familiar to me.

For me, Playing Big is very relevant right now because my goal is to leave my job and become a freelance proofreader and editor. I'm studying for a Diploma in Proofreading and Editing, which is a good first step. But I didn't want to graduate half-way through next year and then wonder, what do I do next?

So after reading this book I decided to take a big step {or a leap, as Ms Mohr calls it} – something that I’d been thinking about for a while. I wrote a post on Facebook, telling everyone that I was doing this diploma, was looking for real-life work experience, and was willing to work for free in exchange for a testimonial if the person was happy with my work. {I plan to set up a website for my work next year, so I will publish any testimonials I receive there.}

It was scary putting myself out there like that, but I'm very glad I did it. The response was not overwhelming but it was steady. I was asked to proofread two academic assignments, one book, and the text of one website. Someone else sent me the contact details of an author who was looking for a proofreader. Another woman, who owns a PR agency, has sent me several documents to proofread - and this is likely {fingers crossed} to lead to paid work next year.

Most importantly, this work experience has shown me just how much I love this work, and how much I want to make a living from it.

Anne-Marie x

A Pagan year, part two

Ngaio flower

Beltane, at the start of this month, marked one year since I decided to spend 12 months living as a Pagan.

It's been an interesting year. I've learned a lot - about myself, my spiritual beliefs, and Paganism in general. I thought I would share with you some of the things I've learned this year.

I've learned that I am a Pagan and probably - despite being a devout and unquestioning Catholic into my twenties - have always been a Pagan on some level. As a child I knew the sacredness of the natural world {nothing to do with being made by God}, which is a central belief of modern Paganism. I was also very much an animist as child, believing things like trees and rocks and river had their own unique spirits. I still believe that, too.

More specifically, I follow a Druid path within Paganism. At the Spring Equinox I joined the Druid Network. You can read more about the Druid Network and what they believe and do here.

I've discovered, to my own surprise, that I am at the sceptical end of Paganism. I follow no gods or goddesses; and I have no interest in casting spells, drawing tarot cards, or calling myself a witch. For me what matters is the sacredness of the natural world {of which humans are a part}, honouring the ancestors, and observing the seasonal festivals. Anything else is an optional extra.

I've discovered the joy of spiritual community. Through Facebook I discovered a small but growing local Pagan group, and we have met for every festival from Midwinter onwards. We are a diverse lot, but our festival celebrations have a joy about them that uplifts me for weeks afterwards.

I've learned that Pagans can be a pain in the arse, and that fundamentalist Pagans exist {just as, I expect, fundamentalists exist in every other religion}. But Pagans can also be warm, welcoming, caring, and fun. They're interesting and questioning, and most of them love a good debate. In the past couple of weeks I have had online discussions and debates with Pagans on the following topics: the ethics of magic, the correct date to celebrate Beltane in the southern hemisphere, whether atheists can also be Pagans, whether Satanists can also be Pagans, how open people are about their Pagan faith, the work of a forest conservation group in England, whether Christmas is a Jewish festival {what?!}, and where my Pagan group will celebrate the Summer Solstice.

Of all the debates I became involved in, the Satanist {who freaked me out when I first encountered her} was the most polite and most willing to explain her beliefs to me. For the record, Satanism will never be my cup of tea but it was interesting to learn about this faith, about which I knew almost nothing.

Anne-Marie x

Dedication.

I come here at this festival of Beltane,

to dedicate myself to this Path.

I dedicate myself to the honour of my ancestors,

both those I know and those I don't.

May their heritage never be lost,

so long as I am alive.

I dedicate myself to the honour of Earth

and all who call her home.

May I learn to leave a light footprint

on our Mother, and may I never take her beauty

and blessings for granted.

I dedicate myself to the honour of the ancestors

of the land, wherever on Earth I may be.

I dedicate myself to the honour of the Divine,

may I always be open to its mystery.

I dedicate myself to the honour of the

Wheel of the Year. May I keep its festivals holy,

wherever on Earth I am.

I dedicate myself to the honour of all

who walk this Path with me,

whether or not they call themselves Pagan.

May I walk my Path with

truth, beauty, passion, kindness, and honour.

Blessed be.


{Wishing you a blessed season, whether you are celebrating Beltane, Samhain, Hallowe'en or All Saints Day.}