2. I moved out of the city a few months
ago and came to live in a small seaside
town. I have always lived in the city and
I was unsure if I could be happy living in
a small town.
I took the plunge anyway and it has
worked out beautifully. Being enchanted
I discover over and over again, is more
about the inside than the outside world
3. Walking “aimlessly” is an absolute
passion of mine. In a big city like
Edinburgh there are endless
opportunities to explore and find
enchanted places.
Not so easy in a small place. 20 or so
years ago I was studying Buddhism and
reading the Artists Way, by Julie
Cameron and I discovered that I didn’t
like my own company.
4. So I started to do what she suggested in
the book, I took myself out on a date
each week to find and lose myself.
Edinburgh is a city rich in culture, beauty
and history.
Finding enchanted places was not so
hard. Finding enchanted places within me
was more challenging; inside I felt more
like a landfill site than a magical castle.
5. One day I stumbled upon the oldest
building in the city. I was (even for me)
particularly unhappy that day. I
wandered into a gallery, and discovered
it claimed to be Edinburgh`s oldest
building, built in the 12th century.
6. Upstairs and alone in the gallery I sat on
a bench to take in the paintings, harp
music began to play, my day was
transformed by that magical setting and
I began to take baby steps; tentative
spiritual connections, a sense of awe,
healing, getting out of my head and into
creating an enchanted world for myself.
It was a long journey to heal the emotion
pain and to find inside me someone I
could love and trust. This journey is
possible for you too.
7. So here I am at 48 preparing to remarry.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to take to
living in a tiny town, with only one main
street.
Years of practise had given me a deep
rooted grounding, a knowing that my
enchanted place is within me now.
Spiritual maturity ends the desire for new
things and deepens our relationships with
what we already have.
8. So I go to the same beach and harbour
each day. I eat lunch in the same cafe,
most days. I am learning to savour
“keeping it simple” finding Enchantment
in the ordinary.
9. It’s funny I find myself writing about
enchantment because my husband to be
(I refuse to use the word fiancé because
I hate it) sometimes calls me princess.
This word makes my toes curl with
delight. It means to me that I have
healed. I have all the fairytale elements
to my story, I lost both my parents to
drink, and I lived in a home without love,
comfort, or joy. Left at such a young
age, I was a lost soul for years, living in
survival mode.
10. I was neglected, abused and unloved.
Without a mother’s love, I became stone
inside, without a fathers direction, I
became hard and cheap.
I had a tiny stone of rage that lived in
the core of me and it took me years to
soften that rage.
11. This princess living this enchanted life is
no Barbie doll. I have a backbone of
steel, developed from facing up to my
character and transforming the rage to
love. I studied for years and learnt how
to be a wise and loving parent to myself
and for others.
True happiness comes from inner
contentment.
12. Finding delight in small things. Adapting
to life. Suspending judgement and
accepting what is.
Not demanding that things be your way.
Simplicity. Seeking Solitude. Sharing.
Love.
13. Happiness is a habit. Stop stressing and
let your creativity flow from you. Baking
a perfect scone is just as beautiful as
writing a bestselling book or painting a
masterpiece.
If you chose to seek outside validation
you are on the road to pain.
YOU validate your worth. Approval and
appreciation seeking are soul sapping
weeds that choke the pleasure from
living.
14. What one step can you take today, one
step towards your enchanted future?
Create a vision for yourself and believe
that, like me, you too can create beauty
and love in your life.
Oh and I am very much in love with my
new home, living in a small place is every
bit as enchanting.
Learn how to be happy :
http://carolfinlayson.com/
