She Made Me Do It

September 22, 2014 inspiringmax

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!

Hay House Writers Workshop

September 14, 2014 inspiringmax

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.

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.

Thanks Hay House for the weekend and my show bag.

End Of An Era

September 12, 2014 inspiringmax

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?

Write Twice, Publish Once

September 11, 2014September 12, 2014 inspiringmax

My father taught me an important rule of building is to measure twice, cut once. If you only measure once before you cut and your measurement is wrong there is no going back. As you can edit after publishing, this is not the same with blogging, however, I find that write twice, publish once helps with my writers block and assists the flow of my blog.

By writing on the topic from scratch each time, my creativity often flows in a different direction. There are always some key points that to my surprise, I frequently by chance write identical sentences to cover these topics. This information I take as the core to my topic and build the other ideas from each writing session to complete my blog.

To date, I have found the second attempt to be more creative and fills in the detail. This practice works best when there is a couple of days between writing segments. Don’t read what you have written prior to writing your second draft. Re reading your previous attempt may stop new ideas from flowing as your mind is biased by your words.

Next time you find yourself stuck, give my write twice, publish once technique a try and let me know about your experience.

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Fathers Day

September 7, 2014September 7, 2014 inspiringmax

Today in Australia is Fathers Day. The day we honour, celebrate and recognise the role our fathers play in our life. I have put together an acrostic poem acknowledging some of the roles our fathers play in our lives. Can you think of anymore?

F

Friend, Family, Financial Support, Fun, Fitness

A

Anchor, Action Roles, Adaptability, Assertion, Acceptance, Authority, Affection, Appreciation

T

Teacher, Trainer, Taxi, Tease, Terrific, Time Manager

H

Helper, Honesty, Health

E

Encouragement, Example, Emotional Stability, Effective Problem Solving, Emulate Behaviour,

R

Responsibility, Role Model, Relationships, Repair, Respect

S

Supportive, Safety, Sympathetic Ear, Sports, Strength, Self Direction, Self Compassion,

Thanks for everything

Change Your Body Position, Change Your Life.

September 5, 2014March 14, 2015 inspiringmax

If I told you about some amazing new research from Harvard that anyone could use, would you? Researchers Amy Cuddy and Dana Carney found changing your body position for as little as two minutes alters the testosterone and cortisol levels in your brain. Known as Power Poses, these changes can be planned or automatic.

Testosterone is the hormone associated with dominance and confidence. Cortisol is the hormone that measures your reactiveness to stress. People with high cortisol and low testosterone levels have little or no confidence and are very reactive to stress. On the other hand, people with low cortisol levels and high testosterone levels, are confident and able to manage stress well. They respond to stress, rather than react to it. Power Poses change the way you interact with yourself and as a result, how you interact with others.

This research is very valuable science. If you choose to use it, it can change you outcomes and your life. Give it a try. Next time you need some support or extra power to get through a difficult situation, try changing your body position. Make yourself big for two minutes. Use the changes in your brain to help you face your situation.

Just as powerful for this research is being aware of your everyday body positions. If you are regularly making yourself small, even by default, remember you are changing your brains chemistry. Get into the habit of sitting up and looking up. Be mindful of your body positions and give yourself an advantage.

The Modern Day Campfire

August 30, 2014September 4, 2014 inspiringmax

Throughout history the campfire has been central to the families well-being, providing warmth, food and light. Watching the flames dance is also mesmerizing.

Last year we decided to return to this family tradition and purchased a Chiminea. Initially, we were unsure how often we would use it but from day one, we were hooked. The first time it was lit my husband and daughter (the impatient ones), decided they had waited long enough for me to come home, so on my return I found them out the back looking very cozy, drink in hand watching the fire. I quickly joined them however there was one problem—someone needed to get dinner.

Over the past year, we have worked hard to find a way to cook diner in our Chiminea. The answer turned out to be simple. Place a few fire bricks at the back of the Chiminea and rest a good quality heat resistant grill pan (one that fits into the front hole) on them.

Personal wood-fire pizza oven

Finally, the big day came. We were testing our theory by making our own wood-fired pizza in our ‘oven.’ Using a shop bought pizza base and my daughters favourite toppings—we were ready to test our experiment. “Would it work?” “Yes or no, this was the question.” The first one worked perfectly and tasted amazing. We were excited as the possibilities seemed endless.

Tasted as good as it looks

Now we can cook outside, like the cavemen before us and we never have to leave the fire. Do you cook in your Chiminea? If so, what do you cook? I would love to hear your ideas.

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

August 28, 2014September 4, 2014 inspiringmax

A very big thank you to Marilyn from Write Beside the Sea for nominating me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I am excited and honoured to receive this award from a fellow blogger and grateful people are finding my thoughts inspiring—my goal. Write By The Sea is a blog that covers a range of topics—including books she has read and is worth dropping by.

Here are the guidelines for the award:

Thank and link the amazing person who nominated you.

List the rules and display the award.

Share seven facts about yourself.

Nominate 15 other amazing blogs and comment on their posts to let them know they have been nominated.

Optional: Proudly display the award logo on your blog and follow the blogger who nominated you.

Share seven facts about yourself.

1. I started this blog on Mother’s Day as a present to myself. I had been planning it for a while and suddenly decided to take the risk. I am so pleased I did.

2. I am currently editing my book on eating disorder recovery, which I hope will be ready to publish next year.

3. August is my favourite month because of my birthday. It also means Spring is nearly here and I love the flowers blooming and the baby animals.

4. I can knit in the dark.

5. I love road trips to the country looking for inspiration—it’s everywhere.

6. Inspired by this award I started my Facebook page for Inspiring Max.

7.I love to travel independent of organised tours. Seeing real people in their natural environment, it’s scarier at times but more rewarding.

My 15 Nominations are:

B’s Words

Ladysbeans

Cielo

Wendy’s Window to the World

My Simple Blog

Unconventional Adventures

Love Happy Notes

Greatsnaps,Goodtimes & Me

Mellow and the Wildling

Tryingsohardtobegood’s Blog

So This is Thirty nine

Our Special Nameless Friend

June 10, 2014September 22, 2014 inspiringmax

Our local Thai restaurant is traditionally decorated. It has portraits of the Kings of Siam adorning the walls and golden Thai god statues at the front door. It was there that we first saw her—the traditionally dressed, petite, ageless and physically-childlike Thai waitress. She was waiting unobtrusively in the background for our order. Slowly, she approached our table with her charming smile. She bowed to us, humbly. On raising her head, in heavily broken English, she spoke to my husband.

“Why are you wearing purple reading glasses? she asked. He response was comical and she laughed. Then suddenly out of the blue she made her own joke and from that moment on, whenever she sees me, (not my husband), she smiles broadly, nods and rushes towards me, like a long lost friend.

Several months later, despite the growing connection, names have never been exchanged. They seem irrelevant. We have become superficial friends and she regularly asks me, “how are you and when are you coming to the restaurant again?” Always informing m to come on a Monday evening as it is the only time she works these days. Last time we were at the restaurant she was excitedly telling me that she is also doing food demonstrations. Then one Saturday morning,out of the corner of my eye, I saw her demonstrating at Costco. I wondered if she would recognise me among the crowd. She certainly did.

While busily preparing her demonstration for me, she again asked about when we were last at the restaurant remembering that we had told her that we lived in the area. Her cheerful attitude brightened up my morning and reminded me of the value of the simple things in life.

On our last visit to the restaurant, she was waiting to pick someone up, when she saw us. Despite the fact that she wasn’t working she hurried over, thanked us for coming and took our order. To her we are friends and she loves to serve us.

Happy Mother’s Day

May 11, 2014May 10, 2015 inspiringmax

Today is Mothers Day, the day we celebrate and thank all our mothers. I am lucky enough not only to have regular contact with my mother but also my step mother and my mother-in-law, who all play a significant role in my life and have helped shape the type of mother I choose to be.

There is a statement that says “if the mother is okay, the family is okay”, I believe this to be true, what do you think? Mothers are the stabilise the family. The person who put everyone’s needs above their own to ensure the family functions as well as it can, despite whatever else is going on. While, at times this can be admiral, it is important that mothers teach their children to meet their own needs and grow into independent thinkers, who can take care of themselves. As a mother what are you teaching your children?