When loved ones come home, run to meet them.
After you’ve been scolded, run right back and be friends.
When someone is having a bad day, sit by and nuzzle a little.
When your happy, dance around, and wag your whole body.
Delight in the healthy pleasures of a good walk.
Avoid snarling when a gentle growl will do.
Author unknown
Seen on a sign on Newfoundland waterfront.
Love Me Please
I am not a big list maker. Usually I have a handful of things I need to do everyday, which I can prioritise and organise in my head. However, when I have many things on my to-do-list and limited time—I create a list. The more things I need to do, the quicker I start my list.
When writing my list, I always add more things than I originally thought. Partly, I think that this is because I get on a role and partly it is because I want a few small things on my list I can tick off quickly.
I find this empowering. If I have 3-5 things I can complete in the first two days—I am more likely to focus on achieving my goal. Rather than only thinking about it with no follow through plans.
Adding some things I have already completed before writing my list, helps too as it shows my progress. Where possible I break big jobs down into smaller tasks. This allows them to be marked off quickly and helps my moving forward momentum.
If you are always forgetting things or need help prioritising, make lists of the tasks required—daily, weekly or monthly—whatever works for you.
Colors can stir emotions within us, tell stories, and transform our images. Today, use one color to add life or drama to your shot.
Christmas every year in our family is colour-themed. It is a very democratic process—all family members vote, from the youngest to the oldest. My sister who organises and holds Christmas every does an amazing job. Her decorations and year-long planning—set the scene for the celebration. It is amazing how dramatic one colour can be when up to thirty people in the room are wearing it and it is reflected everywhere—from the decorations, to the food, table presents and the gift wrap.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_assignment/photography-101-pop-of-color/
Present-day you meets 10-years-ago you for coffee. Share with your younger self the most challenging thing, the most rewarding thing, and the most fun thing they have to look forward to.
“Well hello,” I said to my younger self. Thanks for taking the time to meet me. You think you are busy now. When you move to Sydney next year, your life is going a lot busier—with purpose. As a mother, your time will rarely be your own, as the kids sport goes to the next level. It is fun and makes you proud—but it controls your life.
The next 10 years are both difficult and rewarding. The difficulties are both personal and professional and are not things you have any choice about. Your role of getting yourself and others through these times, makes you a stronger, more confident person. It also makes you a better teacher and mentor than you ever thought possible.
When things get tough, remember the tough get going. Stop and think about the goal to the challenge you are currently facing. Break it down into simple steps and follow the advice in this quote. It is powerful.
You join Toastmasters for your own personal growth. Initially, although you can speak in public you waffle on, which minimises the impact of your message. Learning to hone your skills improves your life in many ways. There will be times when you consider giving up, as you are too busy—don’t. Remember to make time for things that develop your confidence. As the difficult stage of your life comes to an end, you will suddenly notice how easier things are for you as your confidence shows.
Somewhere in the next 10 years you decide to write a book based on your knowledge of what, why and how eating disorder recovery is possible. Written for those living with the disorder, their family and friends as well as professionals. You start this journey in 2009 and plan to publish it next year. Feedback to your original daft is that it is a thorough book and what the market place needs. Writing has turned into a love as you discover your voice that others can connect with—on this blog and through the pages of your book.
After you turn 50 and the children have become happy, healthy and independent—you begin to travel as a couple. Your holidays both at home and internationally are no longer be dictated by sporting commitments. This is a great experience and adds to the patchwork quilt of your life. Believe in yourself and enjoy your journey.
What’s the best present you’ve ever received that was handmade by the giver, not store-bought? Tell us what made it so special.
I love hand made gifts. They take time as well as thought and make me feel special. Over the years, I have received many and cannot judge any one as better than another. I love them all. Each had specific meaning to me and I struggle to be able to throw them out—even the paper crane a patient made for me with the words tough love and smiley faces remains at my desk—energising me when work is difficult.
These two vases are an example of my hand gifts. The pottery one was designed and thrown especially for me during a friends pottery class. The second was hand painted by my sister-in-law for my 40th birthday.
My father has made me many presents—recreating ideas he sees and crafting them in wood or metal. I was the only child I knew growing up who had a wooden skateboard with her name etched into it. I still own it but I no longer ride it.
Thanks to anyone and everyone who have ever given me a hand made gift—including food. It makes me feel special and is appreciated.
Today is a day of celebration. Pop the champagne—I have 3 things to celebrate:
What are you celebrating at the moment? Never say never. The only way to achieve is to dream and make an achievable plan.
Yesterday on my daily commute to work, I had a life changing experience. This experience was also shared with a retired couple sitting next to me. I was minding my own business blogging away, when as the train arrived at Central—Sydney’s largest train station—my eyes were suddenly and for no reason diverted to the open doors. A large group of school children and teachers got on in an excited, orderly fashion. The older Australian woman who looked old for her years, gently guided one young lady who had the most intense smile and a pretty face to sit on the side seats with her. I wondered to myself, why she was singled out to sit with the teacher, when the others were allowed to sit in the upper carriages. The girl didn’t look like trouble and the teacher obviously trusted her as she left her bag with her while she tended to some of the other children.
Five minutes into the short journey we shared—all was revealed. The teacher was taking a photo of the young girl and a smaller, energetic male student who briefly sat with her. She began chatting to the retired couple and I. The students who all looked eastern European or Asian were from an Intensive Language School in Sydney’s south west and were on an excursion to walk over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, around Circular Quay and up the stairs to the Sydney Opera House all for the first time. Every student was a new arrival to Australia—the young girl sitting with the teacher, had in fact only been in Australia from Iran for 14 days. The teacher had kept her close to show her a good view of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House from the train.
The older couple and myself smiled at each other. We too were excited to be a part of this girls special moment. The teacher said she had been doing this excursion for 30 years and never tired of it. She loved working at the school helping these young children settle into and adjust to living in their new home—Australia.
Train line is on the bridge.
The train moved closer to Milson’s Point station were the children would be getting off. The teacher prepared the girl by standing her in middle of the side train carriage where she could see out each of the side windows. She was excited. The teacher was directed to the left and she got her first ever glimpse of Sydney Harbour. It was a precious moment.
“Oh wow” she said quietly, as her smile become even bigger—something I didn’t think was possible. We told her to look out the other where she saw the Sydney Opera House in all her glory, the ferries and the busy beauty that is Sydney Harbour—that we all know and love. Her response was again even louder.
“Oh wow”
After the children and teachers got off the train, the couple and I began chatting about how special that moment was and how it gives a different perspective to immigration—kids coming to Australia and seeing things through their new fresh eyes.
It was a great way to start the working day.
We’re less than a week away from Halloween! If you had to design a costume that channeled your true, innermost self, what would that costume look like? Would you dare to wear it?
Although Halloween celebrations are not big in Australia, I do enjoy dressing up in fancy dress costume. Wearing masks however—are not my thing. I find them restrictive and controlling. Neither which fit my personality. I chose my costume to be something that works for the occasion—with my open face plus or minus makeup.
On a day to day basis, I believe I channel my true self—in person as well as in my writing. Being genuine to who I am is important to me and constancy is the key. I am an honest, considerate person who loves teaching, nurturing and supporting others to grow. I also believe that it is important for me to do this for myself—to lead by example. I am aware of my limitations, but am happy to push myself beyond my comfort zone. If necessary, my personality allows deal with difficult situations to achieve the best outcomes.
Depending on how make-up is applied, it can be a mask, hiding someones real personality. Not all heavily applied make-up is a mask but, for some people it is. At times, this can be a very effective tool. However, used all the time masks can stunt your personal growth, as they stop you and others from connecting to the real you. Naturally applied make-up can be our friend. It isn’t a mask and doesn’t stop our personality coming through—hides our worse and highlights our best features—making us shine.
The busier my day is—the more I need to focus on my breathing. It energises and anchors me. I take time to—stop and just breath.
I stand still
Take a deep breath in
Create a circle with my arms
And breath out deeply and slowly
Moving my body helps me to organise my headspace and thinking. If I don’t do it, things get crazy and my desk or work area reflects the chaos in my world. However by stopping, taking control and replacing my breath—I can change my world by centering it.
My busy day isn’t taken away by this activity—I am just put in the present moment and able to make a plan. Yes, by a plan—I do mean a list—naming all the priorities to be addressed today. If I need any extra strength, after my deep breath—I will stand in a power pose for two minutes to increase my testosterone levels—it is simple yet very effective skill.
The Butterfly has unknown origins but has strong learning for each of us to consider about what we need to fly—sometimes things are not as they seem.
A man finds a butterfly cocoon, which develops a small hole. Over several hours, he notices the butterfly struggling to force its body through the small hole.
After a period, the man noticed that the butterfly appeared stop progressing. In an attempt to be helpful, the man decides to cut the cocoon open. The butterfly emerged easily however its body was swollen and it had small-shrivelled wings.
The man continued to watch the butterfly expecting at any moment the wings to enlarge and expand enough to support the body.
Neither happened!
In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around the ground. It was never able to fly.
What the man in his kindness and haste did not realise was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle by the butterfly to break free was nature’s way of forcing the fluid out of the butterfly’s body and into its wings so that it is ready for flight when the butterfly emerged.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. They allow us to overcome obstacles that would otherwise cripple us. Without them, we are unable to fly. We can get impatient when we think nothing is changing and begin to lose hope. This is the time to look back at how far we have come and remember a firm foundation takes time to build. Everyone’s journeys is a unique experience, and there are no maps.
Like the butterfly’s journey out of the cocoon, the struggles, we overcome in life, develop the strengths we need. Life has an odd way of putting the challenges we require in our path. It is important to notice what we learn from each experience—the good, the bad and the ugly. This is true for all areas of everyone’s life.
This butterfly effect has come into play since I began my blogging journey. I started my blog back in May and followed the advice of a blog builder to set it up. This worked really well except—I didn’t understand what I was doing. I actually didn’t even understand that I had set up a self-hosted blog or the struggles it would create for me. In the long term, a self-hosted blog was my goal, but not necessarily in the beginning, before I had an audience.
Now is the time my blog is squeezed through the hole and I figure out what I need to do to get it working. Originally, I couldn’t get any stats as my Jetpack wasn’t working, which was frustrating. I was definitely growing as a writer but had no audience, so life got busy and I stopped blogging for six weeks.
In August, I returned to my blog and was able to restart my Jetpack account only to realise—surprise, surprise—I had followers from Writing 101. Inspiring Max was developing its own online voice and I was beginning to fly. I have learnt a lot through my struggles to develop my blog and they have made me a stronger, more confident beginner blogger.
Welcome to my world.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_writing_challenge/the-butterfly-effect/