September 2015 - INSPIRING MAX

Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

September 28, 2015 inspiringmax

Change can happen in many ways. As I considered my options for this challenge, nothing was connecting with me. Then I remembered some historical museums my husband and I had found on our recent trip to country New South Wales. What better place to see change, look for inspiration and remember its impact on our lives. One item that grabbed my attention was a 1930’s Drip Safe.

In Australia these were one of the first versions of the modern day refrigerator. The Drip Safe was lined with charcoal and stored on the front or back verandah of the house. The food inside the safe was kept cool by evaporation as water from the rainwater tank above was dripped over the charcoal. I was fascinated as I had never seen one before and I instantly thought about how this item would have changed people’s lives for the better especially over the long hot Australian summers.

Personally I am very grateful for the change refrigerators have made to our lifestyle. I rarely find it difficult to fill two refrigerators, even if one mostly contains drinks.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/change-2015/

Keep Believing

September 27, 2015 inspiringmax

What is the one thing at which you are the most afraid of failing?

In general I look at life through positive thoughts so I don’t think about failing. I believe in myself and my ability to cope with what life throws my way. If something doesn’t work out the way I planned I look for the lesson for it, make a new plan and move forward. I believe focusing on failure and what I can’t do doesn’t help and fogs up my view of my reality.

"Don`t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do" ~ John Wooden #quotes http://t.co/eUMZYCLh0b pic.twitter.com/FtLXPceQDH

— Michael Q Todd (@mqtodd) September 12, 2015

This week many things that I couldn’t control came into my life and I was reminded of the above inspirational tweet. It would have been easy for me to focus on the negative aspects however, as challenging as this was, I continued to focus on the positive and believe everything would work out. I focused on what I could do.

To succeed at not letting what I couldn’t do interfere with what I needed to I acknowledged my fears, feelings and frustrations. These were the basis of the negative things that could happen and because I am a big picture person I made a small plan—just in case. That done with support from those around me I focused on the positive. I kept believing that everything would work out.

Now as I start a new week I am grateful that things are moving forward in the right direction and non of my fears transpired. In hindsight, I am happy my mindfulness and positive thinking worked out and should a similar situation happen again, I will again follow John Wooden’s advice.

If you find yourself focusing on what you can’t do, take a moment believe in what you can do and see where it leads you.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/must-not-fail/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Grid

September 19, 2015September 19, 2015 inspiringmax

Prior to today’s photo challenge, I had never really thought about the use of grids in photos. It surprises me that when I truly looked at them many of my photos had hidden grids. When I mindfully studied each photo I realised that it was often the grids that made the photo pop. Grids come in all shapes and sizes and moving forward I have decided to look for them more often when choosing subjects for my photos. To keep with the theme I have created my gallery in a grid pattern. Did you notice or is it only me that thought that it was a good idea?

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/grid/

Coffee Catch-up

September 18, 2015 inspiringmax

If we were having coffee this afternoon I hope it is at this amazing coffee shop my work colleagues introduced me to yesterday while we were attending training. Alma Bar and Kitchen on Stanley St Darlinghurst coffee was so good that I returned on my home for a second cup. To my surprise and delight as my second cup was as good as the first. Next time I have a day out in Sydney I will take a little walk and visit my new favourite coffee shop again. Next time I might add a yummy cake to my cappuccino.

If we were having coffee I would tell you how I love Sydney in Spring. I love feeling of the sun on my skin for the first time after the layers of winter. The city comes to life by the colours of the flowers starting to bloom and the lifeguards beginning their patrols of our beaches again.

If we were having coffee I would tell you how much I enjoyed the free tickets my husband won to the movies last weekend. I will be doing a movie review in the upcoming weeks on the film we saw Blinky Bill: the movie. It made me laugh and I carried on smiling all day.

If we were having coffee I would tell you that I walked out of a restaurant recently because I was furious with the chef. Apparently it is too hard to sprinkle mushrooms on only one-quarter of the pizza my husband and I wanted to share, so he refused to do it. I wouldn’t have minded if the mushrooms were part of a prepared sauce but I thought the other was ridiculous and left because I couldn’t support such a precious chef.

If we were having coffee I would tell you how much I have enjoyed returning to daily blogging through my participation in the latest Writing 101 course. I am meeting many new friends, gaining inspiration and visiting many new blogs.

If we were having coffee I would tell how excited I was this afternoon to achieve a year-long goal to de-clutter and remove several in and out trays that took over the bench space in our office for years. Everyone had used them as a dumping ground for odd bits of paper for years. Now I don’t recognise my desk and its awesome, it may have taken all day but it is worth it and I surethe empty space will create better feng-sui.

If we were having coffee I would ask you how your week has been. Let me know in the comments what you have been up to and if you would like us to have regular coffee catch-ups in the future.

Dear Motivation

September 17, 2015 inspiringmax

Dear Motivation,

Sometimes I wonder why you appear to leave me when I need you most. It’s very frustrating. I have many plans I know I can achieve when we work together.

I really like you. You are powerful. Your very being brings positivity to my life. When you are with me and I use you as a foundation to achieve my goals and dreams, they come together. After all, Motivation, your name means

a strong reason to accomplish something
desire or willingness to do something
enthusiasm
incentive
reason or reasons for acting in a particular way

and without you I am a much lesser person.

Moving forward I promise to focus more on our relationship and pay you the attention you deserve. Together we can change my life however without you I struggle to do anything.

Thank you Motivation for your support

Yours in success

Sunshine Blogger Award

September 16, 2015 inspiringmax

Last week I was honoured to be nominated by Safar at Blisters, Bunions and Blarney http://safarfiertze.com/blog/ for the Sunshine Blogger Award. This award recognizes blogs that share positivity in the blogging community. I would like to encourage you to stop by her blog which covers many topics as you will surely find something that you can connect with and thank her for her consideration. I love looking on the bright side and look forward to sharing this award with other deserving blogs.

The Rules:

Thank the person/people who nominated you
Answer the eleven questions from your nominator(s)
Nominate eleven other bloggers and give them eleven questions to answer

Answers to my questions:

1.Voltaire once said that a person should be judged by their questions rather than their answers – what question would you pose?

My question would be simple. It would be an honest “How are you going?

2. Mahatma Gandhi advised us to learn as if were were to live forever. What did you learn today?

This weekend through participating in Writing 101 I learnt how to add social media to a blog post. Initially this confused me however with perseverance I was able to do it and I am proud of myself.

3. Marilyn Manson suggests to be yourself and make a difference. What difference did you make today?

Working in mental health and focusing on positivity I believe I make a difference everyday.

4. Audrey Hepburn believes laughter cures a multitude of ills. What last made you laugh?

I agree with Audrey Hepburn and laugh everyday—the last time being an hour ago whilst watching comedy on the television over lunch. Humour can be found everywhere and is catchy.

5. Satchel Paige asks, “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?”I am in my early fifties and most people if asked to guess would say I was in my late forties. A smile can take a few years off you and I smile a lot.

6. ‘Why?’ is the endless question of a child. What’s your why?

Unlike a child when I review why something happened I get an answer and make a plan to do it differently next time.

7. Oscar Wilde observed that we each are own devil and that we make this world our hell. What would you need to do to make this world your heaven?

I am constantly working on making my world better. There is no one thing for me that makes the difference it is a mixture of all my daily choices.

8. The UN declared 30 human rights. Was anything left out?

Not that I can think of.

9. John Stuart Mill argued that non-conformity and eccentricity is an essential service to society. Do you agree?

I think that having a unique personality, trusting your ability to follow dreams and not listening to the nay sayers is important as that is how society grows. Most successful people have broken the rules and gone against society to achieve their dream.

10. Woody Allen attributes 80% of success to just turning up. What might you have succeeded at if you had just turned up?

Giving things a go has taught me a lot over my life. I believe you have to be in it to win it so will give most things a go.

11. Think of a quote and ask yourself the question you would have liked me to ask

“In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take” Unknown

This quote helps to motivate me. It reminds me to take risks reap the rewards so that as the years go by I don’t have any regrets. So far it is working.

My nominees are:

https://koolitzable.wordpress.com/

http://bestplacesofinterest.com/

https://flyinggoannas.wordpress.com/

https://fromthestickstothebricksandbackagain.wordpress.com/

https://amommasview.wordpress.com/

https://beanzbeblogging.wordpress.com/about/

http://mumbletymuse.com/

https://purpleslobinrecovery.wordpress.com/

http://acookingpotandtwistedtales.com/

Questions for my nominees:

Where is your favourite place you have lived?
If you could change one thing what would it be?
What is your favourite childhood memory?
What is your dream job?
What was your best subject at school?
Do you prefer to live in the country or the city?
If you were stranded on a desert island which celebrity would you take with you?
Everyone has a song that makes them want to dance, what is yours?
Favourite colour?
Do you prefer camping, caravaning or staying in motels?
How many different careers have you had?

Let Go

September 15, 2015 inspiringmax

“Getting over painful experiences is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward” C.S.Lewis

Photo Credit: Google Images

When I was young I loved playing on the monkey bars. I stood on the side rungs, arms outstretched, one on the first top rung, the other on the second as I considered my next move. My heart pounded as I felt the anxiety. Was I was brave enough to let go.

Every time without failure I stood frozen feeling the pain. I knew what I had to do, take a deep breath, a leap of faith and away I went.

Getting over the painful experiences life throws our way is the same. We have to stand on the edge, take a deep breath, reach out and let go. The first time is the hardest, however the more we do it, the stronger we get and the easier moving forward is.

Do you have to let go of any pain at present to move forward? If so, I hope this powerful quote from C.S.Lewis can motivate you in you time of need.

Write

September 14, 2015 inspiringmax

Writing was not a skill that came naturally to me. However, the more I wrote the easier it became. And the more I loved it. When I began my book in 2009, my style was very formal. “It doesn’t sound like you and that’s what works” was the feedback I was given. I considered this statement briefly and knew it was correct. I had to find my voice. Editing my book helped me do this and I have carried this voice onto my blog.

For me, writing begins in my head. I think about the topic I want to write about and make a plan as I go about my daily business, which sparks an angle for me to come from. Then I take my plan and write my thoughts out by hand. To make this easier I always carry paper in my handbag in case inspiration strikes.

These days I mostly write at my desk. However, I can and have written anywhere and everywhere—3/4 of my book was written on the train during my daily commute. The big problem of writing everyday is lack of ideas. I am looking for inspiration and to make sure I am giving you my reader what you want I would like your ideas. Please take a moment to complete the attached poll–I thank you for your opinion.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Monochromatic

September 13, 2015September 13, 2015 inspiringmax

The following two monochromatic photos of a wild goanna we found at Minyon Falls are interesting. Taken from slightly different angles they truly show how his camouflage works. It was fascinating to see him in the wild from a distance of course.