Month: September 2014

She Made Me Do It

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Growing up in 1970’s, I was driven most places or I walked. Public transport was not something I was comfortable with. Then one day it happened. My mother forced to catch the bus.

The problem was— I am the eldest of four children and when I started high school, I changed my sport from netball to hockey. This changed the Saturday morning sport run and I was no longer able to be accommodated. My hockey game times didn’t match with the other children’s schedules. The solution—I was told I needed to get my own way to hockey. I was NOT happy. But no amount of arguing was going to change the reality. It was going to happen.

That first Saturday has remained in my memory since. My mother put me on the bus at my stop and gave me instructions where to get off. Still grumbling, fifteen minutes into the bus trip, I got the surprise of my life, when the rest of my hockey team got on the bus. Apparently, catching the bus was the grown up thing to do and I was grown up. As a result of this experience, I began to realise, when one door closes, new doors open.

Staying in our comfort zones doesn’t help us grow as a person. Starting this blog is one way of stepping out of my current comfort zone and looking at life through new eyes.These days my mother doesn’t make me do anything. Everything is my choice, however, the example mum gave me several years before helps me to “make me do it “ when necessary.

Thanks for the life lesson!

Wattle

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Australia’s love affair with Wattle began many years ago. It is so special to Australians, it has its own national day — Wattle Day 1st September—the first day of Spring.

One species, Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) is the national floral emblem of Australia. It and many other species of Wattle, share the colours of Australia—green and gold. For most of the year, Wattle bushes and trees remain green. Then, suddenly, towards the end of winter, they bust into flower adding a mass of colour to the landscape. Having a Wattle bush in my front garden, feels very Australian and special.

Our wattle arch

Our Wattle arch

Like Australians, Wattle is diverse (there are 1000 species grown throughout Australia), supports the environment and is resilient. Wattle is one of several species of plants that regenerates first after fire. By doing so, it reminds us that life goes on and out of tragedy or difficult times, comes new life. This ability supports the bush, bringing plants and animals back after devastation, renewing hope.

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Wattle tree down the road

John Williamson – Australian country and western singer/songwriter, dedicated one of his classic songs to one species of Wattle—Cootamundra Wattle (Acacia baileyana.) This song typically Australian. Although an older video, it shows footage of the Australian countryside where Wattle flourishes and changes the landscape.

All my life I have loved walking in the bush in Spring. Seeing the various species of Wattle as they blossom. Wattle is my favourite Australian flower and like John Williamson, I have many childhood memories associated with it.

What is your national floral emblem and can you associate with it? Like Australia’s Wattle is there a reason it has become your national floral emblem.

Dream Viewer

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Inspiring Max is a positive blog. A space to share inspiration though my thoughts, experiences and travels. I do not have an ideal viewer—male, female, transgender, young,old or middle-aged from all countries of our world—are welcome.

My hope is visiting my blog brings hope, inspiration or new information into your day. Writing about my past experiences allows me to enjoy them again and gives me a new insight into their meaning in the patchwork quilt of my life.

I have found the blogging world exciting, fascinating and full of inspiration. Since last August, I have had visitors to my site from 85 countries—some so small, I need to  consult my map. I love it when Jetpack tells me I have viewers, however a viewer from  a new country reminds me how big our world is and how blogging reduces the distance between us.

Inspiring Max allows me  to learn about other countries, cultures and their lifestyles through direct involvement with you—my viewer. Welcome to my world. I look forward to joining yours as we go on this journey together.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_assignment/101-dream-reader/

Share Your World – 2014 Week 37

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1. List three pet peeves.

  • Any repetitive noises such as all varieties of mouth noises, clicking the end of the pen and tapping feet or fingers.
  • Being deliberately ignored be someone you know or have known. Being pleasant and courteous is a form of respecting yourself and your own boundaries. It make you the bigger person and life so much easier for everyone around you.
  • Television or music on in the house when no one is focusing on it. I love the quiet as it helps me to relax.

2. What makes you unique?

There are a few things that make me unique:

  • I was born at one minute to midnight—something my mother predicted before my birth.
  • I am double-jointed in my fingers, something I thought was very special as a child but I now realise so are many other people.
  • I began working in mental health at the age of 18, straight form high school which is unusual. Even as a young woman I have used my sense of humour to connect with people quickly,even in difficult situations.
  • I am a good judge of character and have a natural psychic ability, which allows me to trust my own instincts.
  • I believe in the universal law of attraction where you thoughts create your world. This is why I rephrase negative thoughts quickly and look for the positive in all situations.

3. What would be your ideal birthday present and why?

Since I turned 50 my ideal birthday present is a holiday. Be it an overseas trip or a mini-break, I love to get away from my regular world, exploring and connecting with nature. This present re-energises me and prepares me for the year ahead.  When I was younger and if going away was not possible, I refused to work on my birthday and would celebrate with champagne alone if necessary. Fortunately, in my 34 years of working, I have only been required to work on two birthdays. On both of these occasions, I made sure everyone I worked with knew it was my special day, so we had some special times—it’s the Leo in me I think.

4. Which way does the toilet paper roll go? Over or under.

To be honest until this question came up on another blog last week, I had never given it much thought. At the time I decided that my preferred is over and now I find myself mindfully checking the toilet roll to check it is the right way.

What are you grateful for last week and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Last week I was grateful to be able to attend Hay House Writers Workshops in Sydney. It was held over  two days and inspired me to focus on completing my book and getting it published. Next week I am looking forward to settling in to working on the eating disorders unit again for the first time in five years—this time as the manager.

http://ceenphotography.com/2014/09/15/share-your-world-2014-week/ 

Have fun

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Do you take time out each day to have fun or play? Playing doesn’t need to be a planned event, it can be done in several ways, alone as well as by connecting with others. Consider some of the following ways to add daily fun to your life:

  • Sharing a joke with family, friends and colleagues
  • Playing games—card games, board games, computer games, or gaming consoles
  • Playing social sports
  • Allowing yourself to be adsorbed by dancing or singing to your favourite loud music
  • Do something different and out of the ordinary like playing in puddles or skipping in the rain
  • Watch your favourite comedy shows and enjoy the humour and belly laughs
  • Play with children or pets
  • Go to the local park and swing on the swings or enjoy a slide on the slippery dip
  • Enjoy a holiday or mini break to a theme park—you don’t need to have children with you to go on the rides
  • Go to the movies and be absorbed in the surround sound
  • Take up a new sport or join a club

By  not taking yourself so seriously for at least five or ten minutes hopefully longer, you can recharge your mind, reduce your stress and improve your mental health. Playing brings people together and helps to strengthen family, friendships and teams.

Consider ways that you can add more fun to your life. Think outside the box, connect with your true self and grow through play and having fun.

Back To The Future

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Today I go back to the future. As Brene Brown says “you’ve got to dance with the one who brung ya.”  This statement means its important to remember how you got to where you are today. What helped develop you as a person or specialist. The answer may not necessarily be something you want to go back to, but without it, your life path may have been very different to what it is today. For me, this is working in eating disorder recovery, so when I was asked to return to my old unit as the current unit manager, I was happy to do so.

It has been years since I worked on the unit and during this time many things have changed. I am looking forward to the challenge of working directly in the field of eating disorders again and stepping out of my comfort zone to manage a different area with different challenges.

As I am in the final stages of preparing my book on eating disorder recovery for publication, so going back to my roots on a daily basis will help me to consolidate anything else that needs to be included in it.

Do you remember who brung you? I think it helps to keep us grounded, what do you think?

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_assignment/writing-101-free-write-one/

Curve Balls

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When was the last time you were completely stumped by a question, a request, or a situation you found yourself in? How did you handle it?

I am no longer tricked by curve balls. As a Toastmaster for the last 4 years, I practice dealing with curve balls every week in our impromptu speaking section called Table Topics.

The idea behind this part of the program is to learn to deal with curve balls—efficiently and effectively. The Table Topics master (Toastmaster in-charge of the section), draws up a list of questions and fellow Toastmasters are required to speak on the topic for 1 minute with no notice. The questions are usually related to the theme for the meeting and are unusual.

Once a year, Toastmaster International runs a Table Topics competition and all Toastmasters against compete with each other. Last month, I won our club’s Table Topics competition and next weekend I will compete in the Area competition for our club. Here’s hoping that I can handle this curve ball when it is thrown my way.

If you struggle with what to say, consider looking into developing your skills further in a Toastmasters club in your area. http://www.toastmasters.org/

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Hay House Writers Workshop

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Upon entering the room you could feel it, the energy of 500 aspiring to be or already published authors, was palpable. Over the weekend I attended the Hay House Australia’s Writers Workshop. This year was the first time this workshop was held over two days in Australia and every minute was filled with inspiration.The shared passion for writing joined everyone together and made it easy to connect with people.

Meeting and hearing the stories of everyday names from Hay House, some via video link— Louise Hay, Doreen Virtue, Reid Tracey and Leon Nacson who facilitated the weekend, was an experience and very empowering. There were people present from all states and territories in Australia, as well as the United States, France, Italy, South Africa, Brazil, New Zealand, Canada and Sweden.

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Reid Tracey and Leon Nacson

The workshop’s practical approach to the good, the bad and the ugly of the publishing industry was refreshing and allowed us to realise it is up to us to ensure our goals are achieved. The following messages are my take away from the workshop:

1. Platform, platform, platform.

2. What message do you need to get out.

3. The book you write should change your life.

4. Write everyday—don’t wait until you are in the mood, snatch every 5 minutes you can to write.

5. Get a team around you to support your creativity.

6. Know your audience and give them what they want more of.

7. Connect with your tribe.

8. Just publishing your book doesn’t develop an audience—you are your own publicity officer.

9. If it is going to be, it is up to me—you are responsible for your own destiny. Don’t wait for somebody else to do it for you.

10. Remember your words could be the pivot that changes someones life.

11. Believe in yourself and your book.

12. The hardest part of publication is getting someone to read your book. I actually agree with this as I had the same problem when giving out my trial books for feedback.

13. Discover what is burning in your heart to write and change direction if necessary.

14. Write not to be misunderstood. This was part of my early learning when writing my book. When I counsel people I can tell if they are confused and  need more explaination however, with a book you don’t have this luxury so you must get it right the first time.

15. Write for your heart not your wallet.

16. Develop your own unique voice.

17. Everyone’s journey is different and there is no direct route to success.

18. You never know where your life will take your work—be prepared to change plans.

19. Own your work and go with it.

20. Be excited by the writing and publishing process—watch it change you as you grow on your journey.

21. You are your own brand. Use your own name to market yourself. Then if what you write changes over time,  your audience will go with you.

22. Join a mastermind group to help keep your focus on success.

23. Create mini deadlines for yourself.

24. The reason people are going to buy your book is because of you.

25. Self publishing your book still make you an expert in your field. They don’t need to be traditionally published.

26. Understand the need to commit to to your book.

27. Simplify your knowledge and talk about your book whenever possible.

28. Understand the gift of education and teaching.

29.Work with my vulnerability in the online arena compared to the security of my hospital job.

30. Have a strong purpose.

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Thanks Hay House for the weekend and my show bag.

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Share Your World – 2014 Week 36

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1. Do you prefer reading coffee table books (picture), biographies, fiction, non-fiction or educational?

I love books. Anytime I go shopping I can’t resist looking in the bookshops to see what is new. Although I do admit looking for bargains in second-hand bookshops and stalls is my favourite book pastime. I usually buy at least one book. My husband has given up. My favourite books to read and buy are non-fiction self-help books. I am particularly drawn to success manuals and self improvement books.  As I am nearing the completion of my book on what is important in eating disorder recovery, I am reading a lot of books on self publishing, which I find very helpful.

2. What is your biggest fear or phobia? (no photos)

My biggest fear is nyctophobia or fear of the darkness. In my own home this is not a problem however walking outside alone is a big problem for me. Walking with someone else even a child doesn’t seem to bother me, weird I know.

3. What is your favourite cheese?

My favourite cheese at the moment is blue cheese. My husband has been buying it to put on my pizzas and I have remembered how much I love the strong flavour. Blue cheese also goes well inside a dried apricot for a snack or appetizer. I think it is the delicate balance between sweet and sour that I like. Give it a try, you might like it.

blue apricot

 

4. What is your favourite month of the year?

August is my favourite month of the year because:

  • It’s my birthday
  • In Australia, it is the end of winter
  • Spring is around the corner
  • Usually I get to feel the sunshine on my skin again for the first time in months
  • If I am going to the NSW ski fields, it is the best time to guarantee snow
  • Flowers start budding
  • Baby animals are born

http://ceenphotography.com/2014/09/08/share-your-world-2014-week-36/

End Of An Era

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Have you ever kept putting off the inevitable hoping something would miraculously change and you wouldn’t have to move out of your comfort zone. It ended today for me. I have known for most of the year that my purple hair had to go. For the last twenty years, I have been colouring my own hair every 6-8 weeks with L’Oreal’s Casting Creme Gloss – Plum. It suited me and I loved being different.

My regular ritual took place in the backyard to ensure I didn’t make a mess by dropping the hair dye. Each time I would recruit a family member to come and check that I hadn’t missed any spots. It didn’t matter who was helping me the conversation usually went;

“A little bit here, turn around, again, a little bit more here, turn, and here. No not there”

“Where then?” I asked.

“Give me your hand,” replied my helper. Placing my hand with hair dye to the ready, they would then direct my hand to where the extra coverage was needed.

“Thanks, now I will be beautiful again” I relied sarcastically.

When completed, my hair did look great again adding colour to my face and instantly lifting it. The problem has been, now it only looks good for two weeks, if I am lucky. After which stage, a major grey strip would develop down the centre of my head, leaving me looking washed out and old.

From today I have joined the long line of women who have someone lovingly attend to their hair with permanent colour. I sat in the chair, watched and waited in awe as the colourist took her time dividing my hair into sections, placing the colour on each strand and regularly checked my grey hair was developing to match my other hair. This was the most attention my hair had received in a long time.

After my new natural brown hair colour was revealed for the first time, I was happy. The experts had chosen well and the colour suited me.  I would get over the fact that apparently purple isn’t a strong enough colour to cover the grey so I needed to move on. Part of me couldn’t help wondering what other excitement would come into my life now my purple era had ended and I was brunette again. I do believe things happen for a reason and now having seen the results I wish I had followed through on this thinking when I first realised—its time.

What has come to the end  of era in you life? What is stopping you from moving forward with the change you need to make?