Home Sweet Home

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Home to me is Newcastle, Australia. The city I grew up in—spending nearly the first 30 years of my life. This photograph overlooks Newcastle Beach. It was taken from James Fletcher Park. The park opposite the entrance to the psychiatric hospital I began my nursing career in the 1980’s.

I loved this view from childhood. So, as an adult I couldn’t believe my luck when I got to see it everyday. Some days—it was my saving grace. I would walk up in my lunch break especially if work was busy, breathe in the view and energise myself.

Today, when I visit Newcastle, if we come in via this direction, I get a warm, welcoming feeling as I see this view again. It gently rocks me as if saying, in it’s own soft tones—you are home.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_assignment/photography-101-home

Share Your World – 2014 Week 43

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What is your favorite time of day?

I like sunset. Hopefully, I have finished work for the day and it is the transition between working and relaxing. In summer in Australia, many people attempt to predict the heat of the following day by the colour of the sunset—the redder the hotter. I am unsure of the truth behind this tradition.

What’s your favorite charitable cause and why?

My two favourite charities go back to my childhood.

  • Salvation Army—supports disadvantaged families. In May every year, the Salvation Army holds their Red Shield Appeal. As a teenager I was a regular volunteer, knocking on doors and collecting donations, which I loved.
  • Legacy—supports families of returned defence force men and women, in need after their death. The annual Legacy collection is the first Friday in September. My grandfather was in the first and second world wars, so Legacy has always been close to my heart. I have many memories of supporting this cause from school—selling pins in the local shopping centre.

How do you like to spend a rainy day?

My perfect rainy day would be spent in the countryside on an old comfortable lounge, in front of an open fire, reading a good book, sipping wine and looking out the window at the drizzling rain on the surrounding green landscape. The last time we had this experience was on the weekend of my husband’s 50th birthday a few years ago. It was so relaxing we never wanted to leave the lounges and didn’t—waiters bought our meals to us. It was heaven.

When writing by hand do you prefer to use a pencil or pen?

I always write with a pen. I find them smoother and more consistent to write with. If I am writing with a pencil I find that I need to print and this does not help the flow of my thoughts. The fact that I have written with a pen since attaining my pen license in the third grade, 45 years ago helps. I am comfortable with the pen although it must not be too thin—I prefer the chunky style as they fit into my hand better.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Last Sunday I went out to purchase a new outfit for my work Christmas party. I didn’t have a lot of time, so I wanted to go to only one shop that had  a 25% sale and buy something quickly—preferably purple. Success. I left the shop 20 minutes after arriving, with a new black skirt and purple flowing top that works with my body shape.

Going to Newcastle to visit my extended family and celebrate our joint birthdays. It will also be the last time I see most of them before 2015 as we will be in Canada for Christmas.

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Daily Prompt: Survive

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What’s the best story someone else has recently told you (in person, preferably)? Share it with us, and feel free to embellish — that’s how good stories become great, after all.

Bush walking in Australia can be dangerous—even deadly. Situations can change quickly at the hand of mother nature. This is particularly true with canyoning—traveling through canyons using whatever mix of activities is required—abseiling, swimming, walking, jumping, scrambling over rocks etc to get through what is sometimes a very small space. Due to the areas where canyoning is possible, there it often only one way in and out. Without the  knowledge of these exits—you may not survive.

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Photo Credit: Google Images Canyoning in the Blue Mountains

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Photo Credit: Google Images Canyoning in the Blue Mountains

 

Recently, on a warm autumn day, a group of experienced canyoneers where exploring some of the many canyons in the Blue Mountains. As usual, they had spent the whole day seeing no-one, just enjoying each others company and the peace, serenity and beauty of the canyons.

Suddenly as they were moving through the canyons, they came across four lost unequipped young people. They were scared, freezing from the icy cold water and had run out of food and drink.

“Do you know where you are or do you need help?” asked the group leader.

“Thank God you are here. We have no idea and thought we might die here tonight.” replied the other leader.

“If we hadn’t of come along you probably would have, if you don’t know that the only exit is hidden not far from here. There is no other way out,” he said.

“We have learnt a lot today both about the dangers in the mountains and our own life journey. A brush with death brings you into the here and now quickly,” replied another member of the lost party.

“You are all safe now. We will be back at the top within the hour before it gets to dark. Does anyone need anything before we lead the way out?”said the female of the rescue party.

“No, we are good now. We are ready to leave when you are” replied the lost leader.

And within twenty minutes the older team leader found the hidden exit using his maps as well as knowledge of the area and they began their ascent to safety, teaching the young explores about the Blue Mountains—its dangers and its highlights as they went.

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Go Paperwork Go

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If you could slow down an action that usually zooms by, or speed up an event that normally drags on, which would you choose, and why?

Paperwork is the bane of my life. Home, work and play—they all involve what appears to be mountains of paperwork. Just when I think I have contained one of these paperwork events, another one, even bigger arrives to take its place.

In a perfect world, I would find a way to speed up paperwork in my life. It’s not always about being organised—it is the amount of it. Documentation is the focus of the world. Documentation equals paperwork—so there is no getting out of it.

I would love to have a system to speed up this process. Usually—the busier my day, the crazier my desk. This doesn’t help anyone, especially me. I need my paperwork to be contained. Maybe a magic button on the wall stating—DO PAPERWORK NOW—would do the trick. Press the button and it is done for you. However, until someone invents such an amazing concept, I will continue to work on systems to make my paperwork at least easier to manage.

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Photo Credit: Google Images

How do you manage the mountains of paperwork in your life?

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The Climb

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The Prompt – Run (or walk) to the nearest music playing device (radio, iPod, record player, 8-track) and turn it on.  Select a lyric from the first, random song you hear.  Use that lyric in a piece of writing of your choosing (fiction, non-fiction, poem, letter, etc.).  The Twist – work the name of the artist into your writing as well.

In 2009, I was promoted from Clinical Nurse Specialist to  Nurse Unit Manager. I was excited. However, I was unsure how I would go. I knew I was a good CNS but management—that was uncharted waters for me. I decided I would give it my best shot and see what happened. Miley Cyrus’s The Climb became my theme song and motivation.

“I can almost see it,

that dream I’m dreaming, but

there’s a voice inside my head saying you’ll never reach it.”

I needed to kill off my self-doubt. Playing this song on repeat helped. I wasn’t going to give up without a fight, so I decided the answer was to think positively and start at the beginning—building a strong foundation. Every spare moment—I played The Climb—to calm my mind and ensure my success—it worked. I won the battle and I am now a confident Manager. This role gives me more opportunities to share my knowledge and experience with whoever needs it.

“There’s always gonna be another mountain

I’m always gonna want to make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometime’s I’m gonna have to lose

Ain’t about how fast I get there

Ain’t about what’s waitin’ on the other side

It’s The Climb”

Over the last 5 years, there has been lots of new mountains to climb—some easy, some very difficult—but I keep dreaming and climbing. After all who knows what tomorrow brings? I don’t. But—I’m not afraid. If I need a little motivation, I get out my mobile phone and listen to The Climb. I listen as many times as it takes to move my current mountain and ensure my dream becomes a reality.

What song motivates you?

Happy Birthday Toastmasters

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Today you can write about anything, in whatever genre or form, but your post must mention a dark night, your fridge, and tears (of joy or sadness; your call).

This month sees Toastmasters International celebrate its 90th birthday. Founded in 1924 by Ralph C. Smedley, it began as a single club in Santa Ana, California to help young men learn the art of public speaking.  90 years later there are 14,650 clubs in 126 countries and Toastmasters is continuing to grow.

Today, Toastmasters International’s membership is over 300,000 and it uses the tagline “Where Leaders are Made.” Emphasising the connection between public speaking and leadership in modern career paths.

I joined Toastmasters International in 2010 and have enjoyed my journey to becoming a competent speaker. I completed my first speaking manual —Competenat Communicator twice to develop my confidence writing and speaking, before I began the my Advanced Manuals, which I am now half way through.

The skills that I have learnt and honed at Toastmasters have definitely helped in both writing my book and commencing blogging. They help me think on my feet and this year in the impromptu speaking competition—Table Topics—I was runner-up at Area, something I am very proud of and a personal best.

My favourite part of Toastmasters, especially as a sponsor of a new club is seeing people make their first speech to the club called the Ice Breaker—for obvious reasons. This a  particularly stressful time for many new members due to fear, anxiety and lack of confidence. However, mentorship and support from club members gets them through. After presenting their first speech, it is not uncommon for members to cry tears of joy as they realise that they really did do it —the planning, preparation and practice paid off.

If you are looking for a supportive way to achieve personal growth and develop at your own pace I would recommend you consider joining a Toastmaster Club near you. They are a proven way to enrich your life for 90 years.

90th

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Nature Chills Challenge

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An event create by amommasview in response to a Blogging 201 assignment.

What in nature makes you chill out the most and why?

My favourite way to chill out is on a mountain covered in snow. Coming from Australia this is a rarity, which is what makes it special. I can go to the beach— my second favourite place—any day I choose, but not play in the snow. I love the serenity of having no-one else around—just me, my partner and nature’s beauty on top of the world. The stark contrast between the crisp white snow, the bright shining sun and the Alpine trees.

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Wherever possible I like to spend my birthday at the snow.  I was last there on my final day being forty —my husband and I were at Whakapapa, New Zealand. It was a great day.

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In less than a month, we travel to Canada to fulfill our dream of a white Christmas. After six weeks living in the snow—I may no longer see snow as my favourite way to chill in nature.

http://amommasview.wordpress.com/blog-eventschallenges/nature-chills-challenge/

Celebrate

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Today is a day of celebration. Pop the champagne—I have 3 things to celebrate:

  • My 100th post—yeah! and most have been put up since late August. These are exciting times. This week I also achieved my 3,000th view—2,000 of which were in October—more than double my views for September.
  • Today, is my mother’s birthday. The irony is I didn’t plan it this way, it just happened. The funny thing is that I started Inspiring Max in May on Mother’s Day as a present to myself. Back then I knew nothing about blogging—but I went for it anyway. Now, although I still call myself a new blogger I understand a little more than the basics and my voice, views and following are growing. Inspiring Max has direction and is meeting the goals I set.
  • My third celebration is that I will be self publishing my book next year with Balboa Press. This was my preferred option and is the self publishing arm of Hay House. My ultimate dream publisher. My feelings at present are a weird mix of scary and excitement knowing—my book that I have worked on lovingly for 5 years will soon be available for anyone who has an interest or need for it. Although, this may not be the final cover, here is my latest option for the cover of Inspiring Hope. What do you think?

 

New Inspiring Hope picture

 

 

What are you celebrating at the moment? Never say never. The only way to achieve is to dream and make an achievable plan.

Fresh Eyes

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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.

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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.