Serene | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sundays – Part 62

24 Apr 2016 38 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Calm, grateful, Quote, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“I’ve seen better days, but I’ve also seen worse.
I don’t have everything I want, but I do have all that I need.
I woke up with some aches and pains, but I woke up.
My life may not be perfect, but I am blessed.”

-Anon

Spidey just gives us a gentle reminder today, to be grateful for all we do have, rather and focussing on what we don’t.

It’s so easy to chase dreams, and feel hard done by when something we wish for isn’t really within our grasp. But if we sit back and look at what we actually have, we realise we are richer than we thought.

If you are reading this, you have internet, and a mobile device or computer. You have electricity. You can read. Most likely, you have a roof over your head, and food in the kitchen.

And most important of all, if you are reading this, you have LIFE, only the biggest of all the riches out there!

Enjoy your day Peeps!

Luck and love!

Spidey’s Serene Sundays – Part 61

17 Apr 2016 27 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Calm, Quotes, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“Family is the most important thing in the world.” – Princess Diana

A fitting one for me today, thanks Spidey!

The last 2 months have been a fun, crazy, exciting, yet tiring time, as my in-laws have been out of the country.

It’s been like being our own little family of 4, with no other commitments to anyone else. Usually, we go to them every day, eat with them at least 5 times a week, and they help me with my children, picking them up from school as I stay later, to do my planning.

But for two months, it has been different. No rushing to other places, being able to get home straight from work, eating what we please, running plans past anyone…

Though it has been tough too. I pay through the teeth for extra after-school care for the kids, I can’t spend as long as I need at school, instead rushing home to make sure they are fed.

My mother-in-law is an angel though. She cooked kid friendly curries, and froze them in portion pots so I could at least make kids food quickly after school!

But tonight they are back!

Much as I love my total independence, I miss them far too much for them to be gone any longer! It’s not just for selfish reasons. Yes, our routine will get back to normal, and I will get lots of help, but also I will get my second mother back, so there is someone there to talk to, ask advice of, and the kids get their grandparents back too!

Family is so important, your own, as well as your in-laws, after all, they are the ones that made your ‘other half’! I know, without our families behind us, we would be nothing.

Happy Sunday Peeps!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 60 – Back To School Editionn

10 Apr 2016 37 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Back to school, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, inspiration, Quotes, Salm, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sundays

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” – Unknown

As we are nearing the dreaded back to school moment, I know student and teacher alike are wishing for another week, before the grindstone starts turning.

This is the term when assessments like the SAT’s and GCSE’s and A-Levels are going to be a big thing. Of course those students are going to stress. There are huge hopes pinned on great results, and it is nerve wracking to even contemplate. I was a wreck at exam time. Testing and me did not go. But I did it.

And if you students think the teachers don’t get affected by your stresses and suffering, think again. For us, you are ‘our kids’ that year that we teach you. You aren’t just part of a job, you become part of our lives. All we wish for is to give you the opportunities to do the best you can, to be the best you are, to reach the heights we believe you are capable of.

It can be heartbreaking to see the strain on children as young as 6, being made to sit tests, the results of which are then used to judge them. We hate doing it kids, honestly.

But, what you must remember is what Spidey’s quote says today. Try your best. If you give up before you even have a go, how will you know what could have been?

And that goes for everything in life.

We need to be willing to try. Nothing falls into our lap (well not for the majority of us!) so we need to take opportunities where they present themselves, or make time to do what we really want. Who knows what you will accomplish?

Have a wonderful Sunday Peeps!

It’s my last day of relative peace before the summer term begins!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday -Part 59

03 Apr 2016 28 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Calm, Quote, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sundays

“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”– Carl Bard

Admit it.

There are always times in your life when you wished that you coulda done that again, or thought “if only…”

Thing is, it ain’t gonna happen again, there is no real life movie, where things will keep happening, over and over, until we get it right.

It’s best to try and draw a line under yesterday and start over.

Using the knowledge you have today, make a fresh start the next day, and endeavour to make it a better one.

Have a wonderful Sunday Peeps!

(I’m trying to make a fresh start on the kids bedroom… chucking things out like a loony, in the hope that we will soon have space to then move them into their own rooms, and that they can start with no clutter! Wish me luck… you should see my own room! I really need to learn how to live minimally…. but the problem is ‘everything’ is a memory, or useful!)

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 58 – Easter Special

27 Mar 2016 27 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Calm, Easter, Quote, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

Easter. The only time it’s okay to put all of your eggs in one basket!”
― Author Unknown

It is a day to enjoy your chocolate eggs… (Well that is what the kids think anyway!) But also a time, for those who believe, a time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

So why do we have eggs?

Eggs are said to be a symbol of new life and so they perfectly represent Jesus beginning his new life after resurrection.

I shall not profess to be an expert on the whole Easter topic, but suffice to say, having been born and brought up in the UK, going to a Church Of England school, I learned plenty about the religious significance!

Anyway, have a wonderful Easter all of those of you that celebrate, and if you don’t, enjoy the long weekend you got because of it!

And don’t forget to change your clocks if you are in the UK… we lose an hour, this time, remember!