May - Coming out of the shadows….

Welcome to May. We’re nearly halfway through the year already! This is the month where everything seems to suddenly turn so green! Also - the decision of whether to ‘take a coat’ or not is, ironically, a hot topic.

I was born in May, 48 years ago during a heatwave. Whenever I disclose my year of birth, it’s met with a comment such as “Oh yes! The Hot Summer of 1976!” I feel my birth has been somewhat overshadowed by the weather conditions at the time! How British!

However, nothing can overshadow the happiness I feel when the old friends in my garden return for another year to celebrate the occasion with me.

One of my favourite quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson is that: Most of the shadows in this life are cast by one standing in one’s own sunshine.

This makes me think that so many times we have the uncanny ability of creating our own unhappiness. We’re so quick to take credit for the good happenings in our life, but are reluctant to share the responsibility when things go in the opposite direction.

We’re all responsible for our own attitudes…and behaviors. We are the only ones who can adjust that attitude and determine how we react to situations, circumstances and events.

I must admit, most of the time, my bad mood is a direct result of how I react to someone or something. Now, I know it’s not realistic to go around with a silly grin on our faces all the time, but it’s really, really hard to look in the mirror and admit our own role in perpetuating the situation, isn’t it? Or is it just me?

Sometimes it’s our pride that gets in the way of removing stumbling blocks. Sometimes it’s worry. Sometimes it’s insecurity. Sometimes it’s fear. Most of the time it’s something we don’t want to admit within ourselves. After all, it’s soooo much easier to think something or someone else is the cause of our angst.

Whatever it is, it’s up to us to find our own way out of the shadow and into the light. Because it’s in the shadows where we can’t really see our surroundings clearly. It’s in the shadows where we can’t be seen for what we really are.

We need to be responsible and accountable for our decisions to either remain hidden in the shadows, or take steps to move into the sunshine.

And yes, my mood is a bit shadowy today.

I should probably take my own advice!