The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel-Themes

September 8, 2014 inspiringmax

Do you have movies that hold meaning for you from the first time you see them? What are the themes or life lessons of theses movie? Why do you enjoy it so much? One of these movies for me is the The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

The first time I saw this movie was at the cinemas when it was first released. I had free movie tickets I needed to use before their expiry and I thought it looked like it would be fun. To me however, it turned out to be much more and I wanted to know why.

Recently, it was on television so I planned my night around it to ensure I didn’t miss seeing it again. This time, whilst still enjoying it, I was able to pick out the themes and life lessons it addressed, which helped me to understand my connection. Which ones do you connect with or did you get something else from the movie?

1. Finding your individual way in a world that is changing around you.

2. Growing older.

3. Cultural diversity.

4. Knowing when a relationship is past its expiry date.

5. Finding lost love.

6. Loneliness.

7. Listening and responding to others.

8. Treating people with respect and dignity.

9. Sexual Identity.

10. Team Work.

11. Non-compromising Standards.

12. Caste system.

13. Living your dream.

14. Discrimination.

15. Trying to hold things together.

16. Acceptance and understanding.

17. Fatalism.

18. Breaking down barriers.

19. Honesty.

20. Independence.

21. Generation Gap.

22. Having a double set of rules.

23. Set in your ways.

24. Like father, like son.

25. Putting things right.

26. Controlling mother.

27. Letting go of the past.

28. Moving on.

The main quote used throughout the movie develops more power as the movie progresses. It is a good code to life by, don’t stop—keep going until you get to the gold at the end of your rainbow.

“Everything will be alright in the end, so if it is not yet alright, it is not yet the end.”

http://youtu.be/dDY89LYxK0w

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

Redwoods Forest

September 6, 2014 inspiringmax

Coming from Australia I had only dreamed of standing in a forest of Californian Coastal Redwoods. These tall magnificent trees have fascinated me for decades. The first one I saw was as a child on television—I couldn’t believe my eyes. A tree so big you could drive through it. As an adult I know it as The Chandelier Drive Through Tree in Leggett, California. It is 2400 years old, 315 feet (96.1 metres) tall and has a diametre of 21 feet (6.4 metres).

On arrival in Rotorua, New Zealand imagine my surprise to discover there was a forest that included Californian Coastal Redwoods. My dream had come true. This forest had a different energy to any other I had ever walked in. My husband agreed. It was inspirational. The forest gave me the feeling I could do anything while I was with them. The largest trees stand 67 metres (219 feet) tall and are 169 centimetres (66.5 inches) wide. They are the tallest trees that I had seen. They are part of The Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest—a 55,000 hectare forest originally planted from 1899 to discover which of 170 species of trees from around the world would grow in the area.

Redwood Forest

Today, The Redwood Whakarewarewa Forest has an international reputation for its walks and trails. Entry is free and it is used by mountain bikes, walkers, hikers and horse riders. A growing concern, the forest regularly opens new trails. Unfortunately our time in the Redwoods forest was short due to the impending park closing time. For me, the experience exceeded my dream and I look forward to spending more time with these magnificent trees during my future travels.

Sculptures at Forest Entrance

What are your favourite trees? How did you feel if you were fortunate enough to stand in a forest of them?

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.

Share Your World – 2014 Week 35

September 4, 2014September 12, 2014 inspiringmax

1. Have your blogging goals changed?

As a new blogger with a two month hiatus, I am still finding my voice. When I first started blogging, I thought having followers was the most important. However, now I realise it is the number of views and where the people viewing my blog come from that are the most exciting. Slowly but surely my numbers are increasing—both the number of views my blog receives as well as the number of countries my viewers come from. Today getting into new country is what excites me the most. The smaller or more remote the better. At present I have been viewed by people in 13 countries.

2. If your were to perform in the circus what would you do?

In the circus I would be the ringmaster. The person who is responsible for ensuring that the show must go on. The person who joins all the acts together . I would also like to have some hidden surprise acts in the show that I am involved with. The more fun the better.

Graphix Credit: Snogirl

3. If you could go back and talk to yourself at age 18 what advice would you give yourself. Or if you are younger than 25 what words of wisdom would you tell yourself at 45?

My advice to my 18 year old self would be:

Take 100% responsibility for your life.
Trust and rely upon your personal values to make any decisions.
Set goals and follow them through to completion. Break them down into smaller steps if necessary.
Have strong boundaries and integrity.
Build personal resilience.
Focus on the positive and move forward. Don’t dwell on the negative—find that spark of hope.
Be your own person. Recognise that you’ll never please everyone.

4. What is your favourite comfort snack food?

I don’t have a specific comfort snack food. It depends on the time of day, the circumstances and what food is currently available. Often it would involve some type of chocolate—particularly dark chocolate. I must need to the endorphins and antioxidants.

http://ceenphotography.com/2014/09/01/share-your-world-2014-week-35/

The World Needs Your Smile

September 3, 2014 inspiringmax

Smiling is a universal language, everyone can speak. A smile says:

Hi
I understand
Have a nice day
It can be a way of sharing a joke or passion without saying a word
It connects you with others

A smile can change your mood, even if it is forced. Next time you see someone not smiling, give them one of yours—it can be infectious. When someone doesn’t want to acknowledge you, the more you acknowledge them by smiling at them, the harder it is for them to continue to ignore you. Your welcoming smile can break down barriers, so spread some sunshine around today.

The Road Less Travelled

September 2, 2014September 4, 2014 inspiringmax

How do you plan an overseas holiday? If you are like most people, you will either go on a booked tour or go to the easy to get to tourist travel destinations. No doubt these will give you a great holiday, however they will limit your ability to get a real feel for the country you are visiting and learn to rely on yourself. Over the past few years my husband and I have been to China twice, New Zealand and are currently planning a trip to Canada (in winter) using the Do-It-Yourself holiday method, which takes you on the road less travelled. The secret to out of the way travel is to know how you are going to get from point A to point B before you book your accommodation. We were caught on this on when traveling from Nanjing to Wuhu in China. Our initial plan was to catch the train between these cities, so we booked accommodation next to the train station. Easy. No drama or so we thought. However, because of the time of year we were travelling, we were unable to get a seat on any train, so a plan B needed to be put into action. Fortunately, we were able to book a private car, however as the cost is based on the distance travelled our costs were double what they needed to be. This is because we could have booked accommodation near Nanjing airport, which is actually in the middle between Nanjing and Wuhu.

Source: Google Images

Other tips we have learnt planning our road less travelled holidays include:

Check public transport when travelling as it may be limited to certain days of the week so you may need to allocate more days in an area that you had previously planned.
Make a plan about how and what you will eat on your holiday. If eating is a concern stay at an international hotel where you will have more choice and in our case some English speakers.
Not everywhere in the world has local pamphlets of places to visit. Do your homework before you leave home and take copies of where you want to go and how you will get there with you.
Learn any local customs especially what not to do in the country you are visiting.
Where possible arrive in a new country during daylight hours, when everything is less scarier than at midnight. However, this is not always an option.

Join us on the road less travelled and see how other people and cultures live. What unusual places have you visited?

My Special Treat

August 31, 2014 inspiringmax

This weeks daily post challenge is a build-your-own. For this writing challenge, let’s experiment. We’ll provide options for two key elements of your post—the setting and the opening line.

I had been here before, a long time ago. My father had brought me as a special treat.

Credit: Cheri Lucas/The Daily Post

“We are going to set up camp beside the creek, sleep under the stars and see if we are lucky enough to spot a platypus.” Dad said.

“When can we see one?” I asked.

“They come to the surface looking for food just before sunset and again just after dawn, but you must be very quiet and still.” Dad replied tentatively, concerned at my ability to do either.

“Okay Dad. I promise I will.”

While I helped Dad setup our camp, he told me about platypuses. The platypus is a very special Australian mammal. Here on the eat coast of Australia is only place in the world they are found.

Credit: Simple Wikipedia

They are small and one of only two mammals that lay eggs. Each platypus weighs between 1-2 kilograms and is approximately 40-60 centimetres in length. Their size depends on their sex—males are the heavier and longer than females. They have short, thick brown fur (like an otter), a flat tail (like a beaver), a duck bill and webbed feet (like a duck).

Another clever thing about the platypus is its webbed feet. When they are on land and need to dig, their webbing turns back on itself, producing claws to enable the platypus to dig. It is reported that when the first English settlers sent reports of the platypus back home to England along with a stuffed body as proof, the scientists thought it was a prank.

Credit: Gambassa

After spending the afternoon gathering firewood, going for a bush walk along the creek and preparing for our night under the stars, we were exhausted and ready. Dad had packed binoculars for each of us to make spotting a platypus easier. Armed with them, we found ourselves a comfortable spot to sit, complete with a tree to lean on and we sat—waiting and hoping to sight our special friend—the platypus.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_writing_challenge/build-your-own/

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.

Share Your World – 2014 Week 34

August 29, 2014September 12, 2014 inspiringmax

1.What is your favourite smell? What memories does it remind you of?

My favourite smell is the ocean. The salt in the air always smells so fresh and crisp. Unfortunately I don’t get to the beach often these days but when I do my mind always goes back to my childhood and the many hours I spent at the beach enjoying fun in the sun. Growing up on the coast in Australia was a real delight.

2. Name a song or two which are included on the soundtrack of your life.

The first song on the sound track of my life is Helen Reddy’s – I am Woman. I was 10 when this song came out and being an Australian woman (like Helen) I have believed I could do anything I set my mind too and have.

http://youtu.be/MUBnxqEVKlk

Lulu’s – To Sir with Love, would be my second choice. This song was played at my school formal, all those years ago and signifies growing up to me. I had gone from crayons to perfume and there was no going back.

3.Do you play video/computer games? Which one(s) or most recent.

No, just the occasional Facebook game although blogging has taken over my relaxation time now.

4. Which of Snow White’s dwarfs describes you best? Plus what would the 8th dwarfs name be?

For me this is not a hard choice. I am a positive person who always looks on the bright side of whatever is happening—so I am Happy. If there were to be an 8th dwarf today I think he should be called Techno dwarf. After all, someone needs to be able to sort out the social media.

5. What are you grateful for this week and what are you looking forward to in the coming week.

This week I returned to blogging and my Jetpack stats are working, so I am seeing people from all around the world visiting my blog, which is very exciting. In the coming week I am looking forward to continuing to be active in the community and see where my journey takes me.

http://ceenphotography.com/2014/08/25/share-your-world-2014-week-34/