Hilary's Newsletter, how patterns are everywhere in our lives.

1. Welcome to my newsletter for April 2012.
In this issue:
• Patterns in life
• Something new and exciting for 2012
Patterns in life.
I love patterns. They are everywhere, from
Mathematics to Music, to the patterns in a
flower.
Here is a range of examples that show how
we experience patterns from child's play to
career choice. (This is an excerpt from a blog
by The National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics that I thought interesting.)
The toddler separates red blocks from blue blocks. The separation is a
pattern: the reds go here, the blues go there.
The kindergartner learns to count: the numbers are a pattern.
A first grader makes a pattern with stamps or stickers: tree, turtle,
tree, turtle.
The fourth grader notices that multiples of five end in five or zero—
another pattern.

2. Sixth graders make tessellations: patterns that cover a plane.
High school students learn that mathematics from algebra to calculus is
all about function, which is the pattern of how one number changes into
another.
The college chemistry major studies how symmetry in a molecule—a
pattern in space—affects its infrared spectrum.
The stock trader looks for trends—patterns—in the stock market.
Designers of all kinds create beautiful and functional patterns, ranging
from the pattern in fabric to the way rooms are arranged in a house to
the order of images in a TV commercial.
And the physician does her best to
decide who is well and who is ill, and
recognize the patterns of health.
I see patterns everywhere, do you? I
love to create patterns using my
photographic images. But the patterns
that are of most interest to me are
behavior patterns. We all have them.
Some of them are useful and some of
them are not. Sometimes we continue to use behavior patterns that stop us
from having the fulfilling and happy life that we want. We continue to go
around and around the same circle without even being aware that is what we
are doing; and then wonder why we are not getting the results that we want.
This is when we have to stop ourselves and think about the issue. A good
question to ask your self is: “What am I doing that is not working?” Another
good question to ask your self is: “What is it that I am afraid of?”
The good news is that we can change our behavior
patterns and try another tack. However, before

3. we can change, we need to identify the behavior. Having done that, all you
have to do is invent a different way of doing or being. And, if plan A does not
give the desired result, create plan B and give that a go. When you think of
it like that, it becomes easy. Try it and see what happens. You might be
surprised at the result.
Something new and exciting for 2012.
During the last couple of
months, I have been
working with my friend
Fran West, to create the
“Flourishing Relationships
Retreat” for couples. The
Retreat is aimed at all
couples who wish to grow and enhance their relationship; reconnect with
each other and resolve issues that may be causing some disharmony within
their relationship. The Retreat will begin on the day of arrival with a short
introduction session and then continue for two full days. The venue is at
Fran’s four star Bed & Breakfast facility at “The Gums Bed and Breakfast”
Coromandel Valley, here in South Australia. We have been able to engage the
help of Chef Jonathan of The Artisan Café in Blackwood, who will prepare
our lunches and afternoon teas. So our couples will be able to enjoy top class
food. We will be catering for one couple at a time, creating a completely
private and intimate environment. Bookings can be made at a time that is
mutually convenient for both parties, ether during the week or at a week
end.
I believe that we have created something quite unique, and a first for South
Australia. We are now ready to take bookings and both Fran and I are
excited and passionate about offering this service. If you know of anyone
who would be interested and like more information, please forward this

4. newsletter. They can contact us at: flourishingrelationships@gmail.com and
we will send them our Information Pack.
Thank you for reading my newsletter,
I hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time,
Best Wishes, Hilary.
Just for fun, here is a jigsaw for you: Kaleidoroses