Leanne Margaret

This post is dedicated to the women who have helped me to step towards my potential. These women believed in me when I was unable to do it for myself. I try to pay it forward to my students and friends.   As I prepare my return to teaching in 2021, I'm pausing to reflect on how I came to step into the role in the first place. I always knew I would be a writer, but my role as teacher was a surprise to me. So how did it happen? Compared to many dancers I was a late bloomer, attending my first dance class at the age of twenty-five. A year or so later my teacher asked me to teach a class of beginner dancers. I was gobsmacked. Why on earth would she pick me to teach? I'd never taught anyone anything.  Although I didn't believe in myself, I did believe in my teacher. It wasn't the first time she had invited me to step out of my comfort zone. Twice each year she would run fabulously staged dance concerts. As well as dancing, I had been invited to read tarot at these concerts.

Spirituality has always been a great comfort to me. There are many things we are subject to, over which we have no control. Like the weather, world affairs and other people. It can be frustrating when the world doesn't always reflect our own personal values. But life must go on. We need to find a way to live in a world that isn't always safe and perfect. Otherwise we would all find ourselves trapped in our homes, too afraid to open the door. Protection rituals have always given me comfort when - in spite of anxiety - I have had to go out into the world. Well-meaning people are quick to point out what can go wrong 'out there.' But few are willing to buy me a treadmill so I can run inside! I was out running when the winter sun broke through a week of grey and rain. But I barely noticed the warmth on my arms, already bare from the heat of running. I was busy fretting over the words of a couple of people who have warned me this week about our safety in the world. I

The most constant reminder of PTSD for me, is intrusive thoughts. People who have them usually understand why someone would want to blow their head off - 'Fight Club' style. Discover more techniques here . But this is a blog dedicated to positivity and personal growth, so I want to share an effective trick I have been using to manage some persistent inner chatter: 'Be Here Now - Just me.' I find simple word statements to be a powerful form of personal energy management. These ones bring me back to wherever I am, so I can concentrate on what I'm doing. They also help me stop worrying about others. Now I have the words plastered to my kitchen cupboard to remind me. I know that many people suffer from PTSD and that stress and other illnesses might cause intrusive thoughts. Maybe these majick words can help anyone prone to distraction and disassociation. They really helped me get some good work done this week. Let me know in the comments if they help yo

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