Tag: Memories

Anything Is Possible

inspiringmax

Every city and town contains people of different classes: rich, poor, and somewhere in between. What’s it like where you live? If it’s difficult for you to discern and describe the different types of classes in your locale, describe what it was like where you grew up — was it swimming pools and movie stars, industrial and working class, somewhere in between or something completely different?

I live in Sydney, Australia and it is a great part of the world to live in. It is a multicultural society where anything is possible. I find myself constantly learning new things about different cultures, foods and religions making my world an interesting place. Whenever I want to go out for a meal the choice is huge and if I want to try my hand at cooking international food sourcing the ingredients can be as easy as a trip to the local shopping centre.

Some days the things that happen in Sydney never cease to amaze me. Last weekend within walking distance to each other, we had the World Netball Championships as well as the wedding of our deputy mayor,  given the title of Australia’s most expensive wedding including luxury cars, helicopters, Harley Davidson motorbikes and jet flyover. I knew my area was interesting but this now proves anything is possible.

 

https://youtu.be/qS8g0Uee30M

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/west-end-girls/

Recharge

inspiringmax

Imagine that tomorrow, all of your duties and obligations evaporate for the day. You get the day all to yourself, to do anything you please. What types of fun activities would make your day?

I believe taking time out to recharge and celebrate ME Time is important for mental health. This week I have been lucky enough to have a week of ME Time without any duties or obligations doing whatever I feel like for the day. It is liberating and relaxing. I am spending the week in Port Macquarie New South Wales, an area I first visited as a 10-year-old child. So how do I plan to spend my days when I don’t have my usual  busy schedule to contend with. No problem. Below is a list of my options most of which I have already done:

  • Build a sand castle
  • Celebrate days off with a glass of champagne
  • Catch up on my blogging
  • Colour in
  • Do a crossword puzzle
  • Draw
  • Enjoy the winter sunshine
  • Explore new areas
  • Gather ideas for Inspiring Max
  • Listen to different bird calls
  • Play a board game
  • Play solitaire with cards
  • Read a romantic comedy
  • Reconnect with what it was like living in regional New South Wales
  • Relive childhood memories
  • Sleep in
  • Smell the ocean
  • Smell the flowers beginning to burst as Spring is around the corner
  • Swim
  • Visit regional art galleries
  • Walk on beach
  • Watch a girly movie
  • Work on my book

It has been  a great week staying in one place, catching up with myself and expand my experience of my amazing homeland, Australia.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/nothin-but-a-good-time/

Soul Mate

inspiringmax

Got a soul-mate and/or a best friend? What is it about that person that you love best? Describe them in great detail — leave no important quality out.

Finding your soul mate isn’t a journey you can plan. For me it happened when the time was right and I had to adjust my plans accordingly. Why we connected however, I have never considered—everything just fell into place. Personally I think it relates to having similar qualities and values that compliment each other including:

  • Honesty
  • Problem Solving Abilities
  • Loyal
  • Decisive
  • Hard Working
  • Independent
  • Trustworthy
  • Trusting
  • Humble
  • Forgiving
  • Eager
  • Encouraging
  • Empowering
  • Secure
  • Special
  • Considerate
  • Caring
  • Talkative
  • Listening Skills
  • Humourous
  • Articulate
  • Fun Loving
  • Passionate
  • Adventurous

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/born-to-be-with-you/

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Door

inspiringmax

Ready to walk on through? This week, share an image of a door.

QUEBEC’S HOLY DOOR

More information on our visit to Quebec’s Holy Door can be found at https://www.inspiringmax.com/quebecs-holy-door/

HALIFAX’S CITADEL 

Front and Back Entrance

 

 

Fake Doors from TV series being filmed in Citadel during our visit.

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/door/

Obsolete Communication

inspiringmax

Of all the technologies that have gone extinct in your lifetime, which one do you miss the most?

For me, technologies have been a great addition to my life however I think they have been at a cost. It’s the art of communication that I miss. The planned time to communication what is going on in my life with family and friends in personal or by personal letter.

I love sitting down regularly talking one to one with others, getting to know them or keeping in touch on a personal level. The problem is everyone is so busy these days that this doesn’t happen regularly anymore.

I used to love the anticipation of waiting for an expected letter in the mail, the joy of reading about their lives and thinking about what to put in my letter in return mail. The motivating factor for me was remembering the quicker I wrote back, the quicker my next letter would come. Email doesn’t have the same excitement for me as although I still receive them, these emails get lost in my sea of daily emails and I fail to reply quickly.

Christmas cards are another nearing obsolete way to communicate I enjoy.  Last Christmas we were away so  my excitement of receiving regular mail that weren’t bills and hearing about family and friends lives didn’t happen. Neither did our Christmas letter telling them and reminding ourselves what happened in our world during the last 12 months. I find this a great memory jogger and as all the family is involved in its creation, we know it is an accurate record for our future.

While technologies continue to advance us in so many ways let’s make regular plans to make dates with the special people in our world—even a 5 minute “how was your day catch up” can make a difference and may open the doors to longer more personal conversations.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/going-obsolete/

Listen

inspiringmax

Tell us about a conversation you couldn’t help but overhear and wish you hadn’t.

Working in mental health nursing from the age of 18, I learnt quickly how to focus on a room full of conversations. My active listening skills allow me to pick up on things I need to know, allowing me to intercept and redirect conversations if necessary. Despite the many and varied conversation I have listened to in  over 30 years I have never overheard something I wish I hadn’t.  I have however heard many conversations that my active listening skills have changed the outcome for.

My listening skills use more information than just the words the other person is speaking. I add

Look at other person

Include body language

Stop talking

Trust

Empathy

Notice the environment

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/hear-no-evil/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Off Season

inspiringmax

I love Australia’s beaches in winter. The smell of the salt air, the crash of the waves and the feel of sand under my feet. It all adds up to total relaxation for me. These beaches—Nelson and Blenheim on the South Coast of New South Wales are joined by Jervis Bay National Park. As a result I had a memorable, mindful bush and beach walk—my favourite ways to connect with nature all in one afternoon

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/off-season/

 

Eat, Drink And Be Merry

inspiringmax

…for tomorrow we die. The world is ending tomorrow! Tell us about your last dinner — the food, your dining companions, the setting, the conversation.

If the world was ending tomorrow I would choose to go camping  in the Australian bush with all my family. Not glamping—glamourous camping with all the modern conveniences. Camping à la natural. No electricity, no showers and dig your own toilets. I love getting out with nature, listening to the sounds of the bush and hopefully seeing  a koala or possum in the trees. We have never had a problem with snakes as with over 20 people we make too much noise.

Tom Possum

The food would be a bush BBQ that we begin preparing in the afternoon by collecting a massive amount of wood to keep us going all night—waiting for the world to end. Included on the menu is:

  • bacon
  • capsicum
  • corn
  • damper
  • green salad
  • mushrooms
  • potatoes
  • rissoles
  • rocket salad
  • sausages
  • steak

After dinner as we continued to chat and drink champagne and beer by the fire I would introduce S’mores to the family. I would get everyone to cook their marshmallows over the fire while I prepared their chocolate and biscuits. We don’t have graham crackers in Australia so I would use the best substitute I could find. Once the marshmallow is cooked I would join them all together and watch everyone’s enjoyment.300 - hot choc and smores

 

The spontaneity of sitting around a campfire is the best. Nothing is or can be planned yet the memories last forever.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/eat-drink-and-be-merry/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Vivid

inspiringmax

Australia’s rainbow lorikeets are vivid, beautiful  creatures who love a free feed. This girl found a small group of them and decided to attempt to feed them. No problem. They were happy to play with her for in exchange for apple. We stood and watched their interactions for a while as these wild birds became one with her. The joy on her face was priceless.

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/vivid/

It Takes Two

inspiringmax

“And they lived happily ever after.” Think about this line for a few minutes. Are you living happily ever after? If not, what will it take for you to get there?

Unlike in the fairy tales where happily ever after just happens — in the real world, it needs to be worked on. There is no magic formula. Relationships take two people sharing, working and dreaming together to create a happily ever after. If one person is planning in one direction and the other in a totally different direction, unless there is a compromise or connection drawing both plans together — their happily ever after is at risk.

My husband and I are living in the happily ever after the best way we can. Nearing retirement we are getting excited about how closer to our dreamed happily ever after we can get when we no longer have to work.The following acrostic poem describes what we blend into our happily ever after plan as we adjust it.

Harmony

Attitude

Positivity

Purpose

Insight

Life

Yearning

Express emotions

Vitality

Enjoyment

Respect

Adaptability

Freedom

Tolerenace

Empathy

Responsibility

My earlier post on secrets of a happy marriage can be found at https://www.inspiringmax.com/loving-advice/

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/happily-ever-after/