Reading Thich Nhat Hanh: a quote from The Art of Power

We already have enough time to be attentive to all the people and things that are most important to us, and we can live each moment to the fullest, knowing it is a wonderful moment, the only moment we really have. 

A simple message of gratitude and appreciation to all my dearest friends and colleagues.

It's been a challenging and eventful day for us all and I just wanted to thank you all so much for your kindness and understanding.

Your support throughout this year has been invaluable.

I feel very lucky and privileged to have such wonderfully supportive and kind friends around - not sure where I'd been now without you all.

Wishing you all peace, love and light.

Love,

Anna 

Sharing a new link: The Small Places blog by Lucy Series

Many thanks to Lucy Series for remembering John on her blog: http://thesmallplaces.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/remembering-john.html
Simple and kind words coming from the heart - I was so touched to read it.
Thank you Lucy.

Sharing a new link: Mental Capacity Law Newsletter Nov 2013

Dear friends,

I am very grateful to Joseph Yow for sharing the link to the latest issue of the Mental Capacity Law Newsletter: http://www.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/images/MC_Law_Newsletter_November_2013.pdf

This newsletter is a very interesting read as it reports on the progress with the first case under the MCA 2005 to come before the Supreme Court.
There is an article about the new SCIE report on deprivation of liberty practice on page 10 and it's really good to see John's contribution being acknowledged.

I am including the text of this article below in case the link does not work:

New SCIE report on deprivation of liberty practice
The recently published SCIE report, 'Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards: putting them into practice' is an essential read for anyone working within the realms of DoLS. It identifies the framework that should be used by hospitals and care homes to promote the effective use of the safeguards and gives examples of good practice. Crucially, in our view, it states at page 29 that "Care plans should explain how a resident's liberty is being promoted". The late great John Leighton was very much in favour of incorporating a liberty-enhancing section into a person's care plan and it is great to see the idea finding the light of day in good practice guidance. Also, throughout the report are benchmarks of what makes a good assessment or a good supervisory body, for example, which are particularly useful.

Many thanks for sharing this Joseph. 

We now have a record of 18 acts of kindness between us (please see the '365 acts of kindness' page). Thank you so much everybody for your wonderful contributions!

I am really grateful to Nancy Voak for this amazing painting of a tree which now lives in my dining room. I look at it every day and it brings me a sense of peace and quiet happiness. Nancy also shared her drawing/ sketch of John with me which caught John's character incredibly well.

I am also pasting Nancy's message below (it also can be found at the bottom of the '365 acts of kindness' page): 
"I painted a picture of a tree, the day after I heard John had died because I was so sad. This tree, I drew in the winter when I was ill and it was a beautiful, strong and tall tree, due to be cut down. I felt encouraged to colour the sky gold and the tree bright colours. The tree I felt symbolised John. The gold in Christianity symbolises worth, wealth, kingliness, splendor, love, constancy, dignity, and wisdom. I have gifted this painting to Anna as I felt it was much better than the prayer flag I wanted to do. x x"

May updates:

Photos of the Prayer Flags have now been uploaded - please see Blessings on the Wind page.

Acts of  Random Kindness - there are now 13 acts that have been recorded on the 365 Acts of Random Kindness page.

Photos from the Memorial Day and a link to the presentation can now be found on the Photo Memories page.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and reflections on any of these pages.