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Leda Sammarco - Because the world needs your book
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Everything Has a Gift in It

June 8, 2020 by Leda Leave a Comment

What does ‘Everything has a gift in it’ mean for me?

I read the above words wise words several years ago, in a blog post written by Katrina Love Senn. At the time, I was struggling with a health issue, and my initial reaction was, ‘Yeah right!’ However, as time went on, I came to appreciate the truth of these words, as the gifts revealed themselves. Since then I have done my best to look for the gift in all difficult situations, big or small.

Three years ago, I paused my business to care for my mother who has Alzheimer’s. It has been a challenging and sad time, but also a rewarding one, which has led to profound and ongoing spiritual growth.

If we go out somewhere for the day, my mother is unable to remember what we have done afterwards, but as a family friend said to me, “Well, I’m sure she enjoys it at the time.” These words encouraged me to focus on being present in each moment, rather than fretting because we can’t reminisce together afterwards.

My mother now experiences anxiety as part of her condition; something I have struggled with my whole life, which means I can empathise and help her to feel safe. Caring for her has also brought up a lot of my old fears, and I’m working on releasing these fears and learning to be less of a control freak! My next book will be about overcoming fear too; something that so many of us struggle with.

Being a full-time carer is pretty exhausting at times, and it has made me raise my game with my own self-care (such as addressing my digestive issues, making sure I get enough sleep and ensuring I do regular meditation), so that I can take care of her.

My mother’s personality has altered somewhat since developing Alzheimer’s, and it feels like certain aspects of her that I once knew are now gone, and I miss them. At the same time, I’ve discovered new aspects of myself, such as an inner strength I never knew I had, but which has been there all along. It feels like my authentic self is being revealed to me.

A while ago someone said to me, “You are dealing with a lot; be kind to yourself.” I have never forgotten that, and try to be extra kind to myself even when I get frustrated, impatient, grouchy or even shouty with everything that is going on, recognising that these are parts of me that are in pain, feeling fearful or just plain tired. It has made me realise that being kind to ourselves leads to self-acceptance and ultimately unconditional love. Whilst this is still a work in progress for me, the fact is that that we can’t truly love anyone else from a place of authenticity if we don’t love ourselves first. And frankly, we are all deserving of self-love, just as we are NOW.

Having Alzheimer’s means that gradually my mother’s communication skills have diminished and it has been a long time since we have had a proper conversation. She used to be very talkative and I miss that, but am learning to appreciate those times where we may simply smile at each other or just sit in silence, doing my best to focus on a loving connection that goes beyond words.

Pausing my business has also been a blessing, as I had become rather burnt out with it all and was not heading in the right direction. Having time to reflect on it has allowed me to rethink where I want to take it in the future and to ensure that I focus only on those things that I love to do and outsource the rest. As a result new services that feel very authentic to me are incubating, and I realised, ‘I am my tribe,’ so if I pay attention to what I love, then my tribe will love it too.

The last three years have been a roller coaster ride and a steep learning curve, and I’ve learnt to intuitively connect in to the Universe even more for guidance and support, trusting that a loving force so much greater than me has got all of this. It’s helped me to trust myself so much more too, (something I’ve struggled with for years), and this has enriched my life on many levels.

If you or someone you know is caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s, then I highly recommend the following book written by my friend Nick Williams:

Everything has a gift. Mum, Me, White Lies and Tea: Ten lessons from my journey into the heart of dementia.

Mum, Me, White Lies and Tea: Ten lessons from my journey into the heart of dementia.

In it he shares his experiences in a way that is honest, sensitive and moving, and it also includes a very helpful section of tips and suggestions that he co-wrote with a professional care worker.

You can find out more and purchase it from his website

As always, books are a constant for me, and so many wonderful books have opened their pages and held me during this time providing a welcome respite, guidance, a doorway into other worlds and new experiences and even a lifeline into the abyss.

Here are just some of those I’ve enjoyed:

Becoming by Michelle Obama is an exquisitely written and deeply compelling memoir relating her journey from Michelle Robinson growing up in Chicago, to Michelle Obama, her experiences as First Lady and beyond to the causes she believes in.

FInding Audrey

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella is a funny, insightful and realistic portrayal of a teenager struggling with anxiety, and how a boy called Linus helps her come out of the darkness and back into the light.

Heidi

Heidi by Joanna Spyri is a classic and re-reading it now after many years was a delight. However, this time around, I was struck by the spiritual wisdom in it that I hadn’t noticed as a child, as well as the healing power of nature; the mountains are a character in themselves.

Roller Girl

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson is the first graphic novel I have ever read, and it was a real treat. Dynamic artwork and a cracking story about a school girl who leaves her comfort zone to try out a new hobby. As a result she makes new friends, gains confidence in herself and realises it’s ok to show others who you really are.

I highly recommend the above, and if you are looking to discover any other inspirational books, then please feel free to listen to my archive of author podcast interviews below.

Finally, I have recently put my head above the parapet and started tweeting again which is a joy. You are very welcome to connect with or follow me @LedaSammarco where I share what other books I’m reading, raw chocolate I’m eating (!), bookshops I love, quotes and other musings.

I hope you can find comfort in the words ‘Everything has a gift in it’ whatever you are going through. In the meantime, I wish you “Happy Reading” that inspires, uplifts, enlightens and brings you joy.

“We are made whole by books, as by great spaces and the stars.”
Mary Carolyn Davies, poet

The Case of Expressing Your True Nature

April 24, 2017 by Leda Leave a Comment

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“We are Nature.

Nature and people are simply part of one another.

The natural world is at the heart of our well-being.

If we are willing to listen and pay attention to Nature, we will begin to recognise our innate sense of connection and belonging.

When we become accepting, warmer and kinder towards ourselves and our experiences of life, we are naturally kinder to others. We can then extend this kindness outwards to all living things.”

Lisa McLoughlin, artist and creator of Tree Wisdom cards, tells the Book Detective that nature can teach us kindness.  Most of us feel we aren’t good enough, and may look at other people around us, who we feel are more successful or better in some way – or as Lisa calls it, ‘compare and despair’!  But, as she explains, nature is always true to itself.  An oak tree does not want to be a beech tree, it never doubts its purpose (going from acorn to oak), and it will make the most of where it is planted.  Lisa also shares some inspiring personal stories, in particular of how she was pulled away from her love of art as a teenager to pursue a career within a scientific field, and many moons later found her way back to it, reconnecting from a much deeper, richer and more joyful place.

A lover of nature since childhood, she explains why trees have always been our greatest allies and that nature is essential for our wellbeing.  Even looking at a painting or photograph of nature can have a beneficial effect on us.

Tree Wisdom Cards by Lisa McLoughlin

Lisa creates all of her card packs as ‘medicine for herself’ trusting that they will also be beneficial and appealing to others.  She calls her cards, kindness companions, and her Tree Wisdom cards are an oracle deck.  There are no rules for using them, and they are not about predicting the future.  Instead, they can provide us with gentle guidance, and help us to connect with our own intuition and inner wisdom.  If you have a particular question, you can hold it in your mind and shuffle the cards before picking one at random, or you may want to pick a card a day and consider what it has to tell you in that moment.  They are designed to empower and inspire you to thrive and flourish.

If you like the sound of that, you can find out more about Lisa and her cards at her store, Whimsy of Nature or connect with her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lisamcloughlinart/

Trees are our strongest allies says @lisamcloughlina Click To Tweet

The Case of the Heart Felt Connection

March 31, 2017 by Leda Leave a Comment

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“Slowing down is choosing to make ordinary moments in your life extraordinary, to become conscious of what you are doing, and to know you are responsible for creating the quality of these moments.  When feelings of discomfort arise, it can be a reminder that you have gotten distracted and your Heart is reminding you to refocus.  Have you ever been asked what you had for breakfast and you simply couldn’t remember?  That is probably because you were doing ten things at once and most likely thinking about twenty-two other things at the same time.  Rushing around is a habit that keeps you from being able to connect to your Heart throughout the day.”

Book Cover for Listen Up! Your Heart is SpeakingRobin Lee, author of Listen Up! Your Heart is Speaking, tells the Book Detective that our Heart is always speaking to us, and that it wants to be heard.  She says that we can all reconnect with our Heart if we commit to doing it.

A great way to start the day is by anchoring into your Heart, taking deep breaths and finding stillness, rather than being awoken with a jolt by the strident tones of an alarm clock.

Unlike the mind, which can be fearful, the Heart doesn’t hold any fear.  If you struggle with fear, breathe deeply and breathe your fear into your Heart to help melt the fear away.  At the same time, Robin says it is important to acknowledge your fears and honour what you are afraid of rather than pretending they do not exist.  She is also a great fan of journaling as this reveals what is really underneath the fear you are feeling in any given moment – do be sure to write using your non-dominant hand, as it speaks from a more emotional place, rather than a logical one.

If you are a procrastinator and always struggling to make the ‘right’ decision, (I hear you on that!), then Robin says there are no wrong choices.  She explains that the Heart knows what is best for us and our personal evolution, and it wants to support us and guide us to a profoundly joyful life.  And let go of the word ‘should’; it closes the Heart chakra!

Robin includes a number of exercises in her book to help strengthen your Heart connection, such as ‘Hands On’, which involves breathing whilst placing your left hand on your stomach and your right hand on your chest.  This creates a healthy circuit that allows for a greater level of energy to flow.

Robin says that many of us think that we don’t matter (often due to experiences in childhood), but we all do.  We can empower ourselves by slowing down, breathing, keeping things simple, and focusing on what we love (even if we feel things aren’t going our way); this helps to make ordinary moments extraordinary.

If you like the sound of that, then you can connect with Robin at www.intuitionheals.com or on Twitter @intuitionheals

Your Heart speaks to you all the time says @intuitionheals - Are you listening? Click To Tweet

The Case of Being Free-From Hard Work

March 22, 2017 by Leda 1 Comment

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“In my view, freedom is not only possible for entrepreneurs, it is essential to being an effective business creator.  How can you make appropriate decisions if you are stressed out?  How can you expect to have spontaneous ideas about business opportunities if you are constantly frantic?  How can you contemplate delegating your responsibilities if you are too busy to consider it?  How can you be an effective business person if you are on the verge of burnout?”

Book cover for Freedom Entrepreneur,Peter Carey, author of Freedom Entrepreneur, tells the Book Detective why he believes that hard work can actually lead to the failure of your business.  As someone who personally experienced burnout, he now has a successful business ‘in which’ he does no actual work, allowing him to do what he enjoys and travel the world.

He believes that it is possible for all business owners to create a successful business without ever doing any hard work – yay to that!

Peter discusses some of the practical aspects required to achieve this, such as taking time out to allow those creative ideas to come in, seeing your business as separate from yourself, finding the right business model and involving other people in your entrepreneurial journey.  At the same time, he explains that this is also a journey of personal development which can involve learning to trust and act on your intuition, being congruent, releasing any negative beliefs, and being comfortable with making money.  All of the above and more are an essential part of making a successful journey from being a worker/employee to becoming an effective leader and delegator, or as he calls it a ‘leadigator’!

Refreshingly Peter does not believe in growth at all costs, and says it is preferable to ‘create a business that excellently serves the needs of its founders, staff members, customers and suppliers.’

He does however believe in thinking big and having a vision for the future of your business and believes that as entrepreneurs we, ‘create, for ourselves and others, opportunities that would otherwise be forever hidden.  We forge new environments by saying how things will be.  We produce new products and services where otherwise they would never have existed.  We change the world.’

If this has inspired you to bring more freedom into your life and business, then you can connect with Peter at https://www.freedomentrepreneurbook.com/

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The Case of the Lone Walker

October 5, 2016 by Leda Leave a Comment

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“The road to the villa was clearly signposted, and I headed down a deliciously shaded road with not a car in sight.  The further I walked, the more concerned I grew: the road sloped downhill, and slowly increased its grade until it was a fairly steep descent.  I knew I would have to walk back up this hill on my return, and I wasn’t looking forward to it.  I had walked so far along the South Downs Way now that I was always wary when the trail took me downhill.  While it provided a brief rest, it also meant that eventually the trail would head uphill again.”

Holly Worton, author of Alone on the South Downs Way, tells the Book Detective why walking defines her: it helps her to quiet her mind, stay on track, and connect to her true self. It is a very important part of her life and essential for her self-care; she now puts ‘walking’ in her calendar.  Despite having walked since she was a teenager, the South Downs Way was her first long-distance walk, and many of the things she learnt during those eight days can also be applied to other areas of life.

Alone on the South Downs Way by Holly Worton

As a business mindset coach she shares how important it is to know your motivation (why you want to walk), because if you don’t it is much easier to quit when the going gets tough.  There are many ways to walk a trail: as a day, weekend or a long-distance walker – it is all about finding your own rhythm.  Holly used to speed-walk but walking the SDW, which is 100 miles long, and carrying a heavy pack, she had to slow down, and she now goes at a slower pace on day walks too.  She says that this allows her to stop and look at things, be present and enjoy the journey.

Holly explains that walking for her is a spiritual activity; an outdoor mobile meditation.  She has a spiritual outlook on life in general and enjoys getting a weekly Akashic records reading by email with messages from her record keepers.  The Akashic records are like a ‘virtual encyclopaedia with a “book” on each person in the world, including information on your past and present lives.’  Before writing this book she wondered if people would really want to read it and received a message outlining the importance of doing so because it would help others.  Similarly just before she began the walk she received a message of encouragement and was told that she would be reconnecting with her ancestors.  If you are intrigued by this, you can find out more at http://www.medicinedreamhealing.com/weekly-messages-2/ –  Holly explains that walking in general does give her a sense of being connected to her ancestors, and certain places can deepen these connections considerably.

All national trails are well-signposted.  Despite this Holly did manage to get lost at one point and on retracing her steps realised where she had gone wrong.  She underlines the importance of paying attention to signs that are all around us by slowing down, being aware and connecting to your intuition.  Despite walking 100 miles by herself she explained that she felt completely safe and always does whenever she walks in the UK.   She describes the South Downs as a magical place, and says that it has a special energy, and delightful villages, such as the fairy-tale village of Alfriston (I agree!).

Walking the South Downs Way made her realise that she is a long-distance walker, and it helped her let go of a belief that she was not athletic (having been the smart kid rather than the sporty one at school!).  Holly would like to encourage everyone to experience the joys of country walks, and to consider going solo – you never know it could be the beginning of a whole new adventure!

If you would like to find out more about walking or even walk your first long distance trail with Holly as your guide, then go to She Walks in Nature http://shewalksinnature.com 

If you are a woman entrepreneur and would like to have a clear vision for your business, be in flow, feel confident and make intuitive, aligned decisions, then you can get in touch with Holly at http://www.hollyworton.com/   

 

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About Leda Sammarco

Leda Sammarco - The Book Detective

About Leda Sammarco

Hi there, I'm Leda Sammarco, the … Read more

Podcast Categories

  • Awakening
  • Connection
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Inspiration
  • Introduction
  • Journeying
  • Leadership
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Pages

  • About Leda Sammarco
    • The Case of the Evolving Bookshop
    • Becoming a Book Detective
    • Afterword
  • Contact
Finding the Gold by Leda Sammarco
"This book is like an oatmeal biscuit. Full of delicious morsels and so good for you!"
Sarah Wilson, freelance writer and film-maker

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