Inspiration Archives - INSPIRING MAX

Planning For Fun

May 14, 2022May 14, 2022 inspiringmax

This week is Inspiring Max’s 8th birthday. When I started blogging on Mother’s Day 2014 I didn’t have a plan. I learnt as I went and took each new experience as it came. Like my life really. During the first few years I found inspiration easily. The older I am however the more distracted I get. As I am nearing 60 I am looking to the future. Retirement is coming so work needs to give way to fun. What changes do I want to make and how will I achieve them. Now is the time to start planning. This will ensure I achieve what I what and not have hours lost to distraction. To help my motivation I found the perfect quote.

To give this quote even more power I have added it to a sunrise photo I took from my drive way only weeks ago. For me this will mean starting with a weekly plan that is then dividing it into a daily one. This week I am going to start with a blogging plan. This will ensure that Inspiring Max has direction and over the next two years I can aim for 1000 posts. I am currently sitting on 665 which was only increased by 90 since my 6th anniversary blogpost, due to a lack of planning. Having a plan for the A-Z challenge this year made blogging fun and doable again. Blogging is fun. And I want more fun in my life. To do so I will stop overthinking things and start making them happen.

Blogging From A-Z: V is Vivid Sydney

April 27, 2020April 27, 2020 inspiringmax

Vivid Sydney commenced in May 2009. It is a festival of light, music and ideas. Each year it has grown and now is the largest festival in Australia. The festival runs for 23 days from late May to middle of June and begins at 1800 every night when the lights are turned on.

The first building to be lit is the sails of the Sydney Opera House. In 2017 when we last attended Vivid, we planned our trip to see the Opera House light up. It was a real ‘ah’ moment.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge also takes centre stage every year with its changing displays of colour.

These projections top and bottom are on Cadman’s cottage, one of Australia’s oldest buildings. It was built in 1816 at The Rocks.

The Museum of Contemporary Art displays each year are one of my favourites. It is one the original buildings to join the festival and can easily be seen across the harbour.

Each year as the festival has increased in popularity, more areas around Sydney are lit up. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic Vivid 2020 has been cancelled but it promises to make Vivid 2021 an even bigger and brighter festival.

Christmas Calendar 2017 #5

December 17, 2017 inspiringmax

The more we practise something the better we get at it. But as the quote suggests the more specific we are with whatever we are doing, the more easily we can replicate it. I have certainly found this with my writing and editing. Once a difficult task for me, through blogging I have found I can naturally improve my flow and style.

Christmas Calendar 2017 #4

December 16, 2017 inspiringmax

I love this quote. It reminds me to keep looking and moving forward.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Unusual

July 25, 2017 inspiringmax

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to explore the new University of Newcastle building at its community open day. The building was architecturally designed using square boxes to highlight several Newcastle icons. From the outside it may look unusual but it’s also practical and spectacular.

The unusual building was filled with unusual performers ensuring everyone felt welcomed.

From level 8 I saw many unusual views — an aerial view of Hunter Street, Newcastle’s main street,

over Civic Park,

Newcastle Harbour,

and out to Nobby’s Beach and lighthouse.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/unusual-ld/

Coffee Catch-Up #21

May 28, 2017May 28, 2017 inspiringmax

If we were having coffee I would tell you that instead of coffee today we were having champagne to celebrate Inspiring Max turning 3 recently. Wow! I can’t believe how quickly that time has flown. When I started I knew nothing about blogging or where this journey would take me but I am so glad I took the plunge and dived head first into the deep blogging pool. I have learnt so much and love the sense of community out there in the blogosphere.

I love it when I connect with new blogs. My geography has also improved as I discover someone from a small country or island I didn’t know existed has visited Inspiring Max. Thanks for being part of my world and I hope our journey continues to deepen.

If we were having coffee I would tell you about our recent visit to Copeland Tops State Conservation Area, just outside Barrington Tops National Park. We walked the Hidden Treasure Loop Track, a 2 hour bush walk through a dry rain forest. The area is an old gold field and is scattered with old mine shafts throughout, so it is essential to stick to the path or risk serious harm or death. The highlight of our walk was Hidden Treasure mine entrance. Despite it being sealed up, with the help of flash photography we could see the old quartz seams that had once held gold. It was quite spectacular in its natural forest surroundings, but I wouldn’t have wanted to walk that distance to work every day.

If we were having coffee I would tell you how much I am enjoying working in my garden at our new house. I have always wanted to develop a vegetable and herb garden, but I’ve never had the time to devote to it. Now with only working part-time and not having children to run around my time is my own so I’m hoping to prove I have green thumbs. This week I began by making a herb garden, which so far is going well. I also bought a modern version of the Yates gardening guide to help me prepare for Spring planting. As Winter starts in Australia next week I’ll be planting soon enough. I am interested in any advice you may have of things to do or not do when growing my produce.

If we were having coffee I would tell you about King Street Boutique Motel, the accommodation my husband and I stayed at on our recent trip to Gloucester. It was created from one of the old homes of the area and contained a communal lounge, dining and kitchen area with 4 rooms on each side of the communal real. It was great value and our fellow travelers were friendly. Our room also had a little verandah that overlooked the driveway and from which you could see the mountains in the background.

If we were having coffee I would ask you what is happening in your world? Let me know in the comments.

Impression

May 25, 2017 inspiringmax

My impression of a person, place or thing depends on how they present themselves in the moment. I agree first impressions count, but to me they aren’t the be all and end all. They are often tainted by other issues more pressing at the time. This means I am always ready to change my view should different circumstances prevail.

After consideration, I realise my impression is unconsciously judged and can be explained by the following acrostic poem:

Integrity

Motivation

Positivity

Respectful

Empathy

Sincerity

Self-respect

Individuality

Open-mindedness

Nurturance

When these values can be seen in a person, place or thing, I leave the experience feeling good and wanting more. The more of these values missing, the poorer my experience. Do you know what drives your impressions?

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/impression/

Free Floating

May 22, 2017May 22, 2017 inspiringmax

Last December, after 25 years I was reminded how relaxing it is to go to the beach after work. To lye on my back free floating, totally unmoored to the world —just bobbing around in the waves. Trusting I was safe but keeping an eye out for any bigger waves that could do me harm. Then to keep myself safe, I would simply dive under the wave and avoid its direct impact. Free floating is now my preferred mindful activity for the warmer months.

As I gazed over the horizon watching the random sets of waves, my muscles relaxed and looked for a new way to work. Suddenly, I realised my free floating had turned into the best core exercise I had ever done and with no effort on my part.

Give it a try and say goodbye crunches. Take you feet off the ground and free float. Go with the rhythm of the waves and focus on the horizon. It’s my favourite way to centre myself.