Day 163

New Years Eve. 

Where everyone feels they can let their hair down and becomes someone else for the night. A night where new years resolutions are promised and a to do list for the following year begins to form. Most people will reflect on the NEGATIVES of the year - what went wrong? What didn't I do? What did I do wrong? What could I do better? 

Last year, my best friend and I and a few other friends, sat around the table and said 10 things we were grateful for that had occurred that year. It was the most powerful, positive and happy experience. This year I urge you all to do the same. What are 10 things that you are proud of, loved doing, made you feel energised? And focus on them tonight as you all sit and drink and natter and reflect upon the year. 

My suggestion for your resolutions? Make one thing for sure: Have a box on top of your fridge, that you scribble down notes and place them in throughout the year. Notes about funny things that were said, amazing achievements you have done, gratefuls, or just silly things. Then pull out this box and read it on new years eve next year. You will be pleasantly surprised how quickly it gets filled up and how many things you forget over the course of the year! 

Another thing about resolutions is: Only YOU can make them come true. So make ones that are achievable and are something you are willing to do! i.e. don't say I want to run a marathon if you never even go for a walk and have bad knees. You might instead say, accomplish a 10km walk. And then tie a feeling to it - when I accomplish this…I will feel…

My question to you tonight is what is different about a new years resolution, compared with any other life changes? Remember that any day can be a day to start something - or a 'Monday' so to speak. Don't let the date of the 31st December fool you into believing otherwise. 

Other than that, go and surround yourselves with people you love. Reflect on the year gone - but don't focus on ONLY the bad things, and challenge yourself to try something different! 

…Until Tomorrow xox

Day 162

I met someone awhile ago that said to me "I used to do that…and was really quite good at it…but I moved on". At the time I thought to myself…Why? Why would you move on or change to something else if what you were good at came so easily? Simple. Sometimes what we are good at or what comes naturally to us, is not what we are passionate about. 

Sounds SO simple? Yet so often we get caught up in what we "SHOULD" do, because we are a natural at it, or we make it look so easy. But for those of you who are doing something because you FEEL that society tells you that you should do it, you know that there will always feel like there is something missing. Something lacking from our lives and fulfilment in 'work'. That's because we haven't found the one thing that fires us up. Lights us up from the inside whenever we talk about it. 

Unfortuantely in our society, we feel pressure - generally exerted on us from ourselves - to work to earn money…to buy the things that are relevant to our age bracket…cars, houses, boats, land, baby items…etc. What if I were to tell you that there is more to life? That you can have it all? Most of you would scoff and pfft me - I know I would of before I had my car accident. But it's true. Yes we need employment that gives us income to live - pay the bills, buy the things we want etc. 

You may be lucky enough to find enjoyment, fulfilment and happiness in your job…or like most you might find the "daily grind" of going to work. If this is the case. Go to work. Get paid. Pay the bills. EXPLORE the world! Do something that makes you FEEL…write a list, get out the butchers paper…and don't stop until you have found that! Even if you try many things and are still looking when you're old…you are LIVING! 

…Until Tomorrow xox

Day 161

Today I was at the hospital with my boyfriend, which despite the initial wait they were all very prompt and helpful. We were at a different hospital to the one that I went to, but it still brought back memories to right after my accident. Although they handled everything very much differently to my experience. 

The efficiency was very good. It wasn’t until my boyfriend was being discharged that we realized there were no after care instructions given…did he have to follow up with a doctor? Did it need to remain dry? Etc? When we left, we asked and were given the information. The information that was assumed that we would know.

The other thing about it all was that as my partner was getting more and more frustrated at waiting (we had to wait for the results of the xray) and we noticed that we were starting to get in the negative frame of mind. And commenting on peoples inabilities..etc. It is so much easier to comment when someone is doing something wrong rather than to be patient and point out their positives. But we did, we had a change of outlook and focussed on the positives instead.

One thing we realized was that our culture…I’m undecided as to whether that is Australian, or culture around the world…is that we are generally negative. We are quite willing to bring people down, find their faults, talk about people behind their backs, and whinge or complain – not constructively, than we are to say something nice or positive. The thing that I find quite sad, is that when a compliment is received, it is either quickly dismissed or brushed over. We all dwell on the negative things people say as well. 

This reminded me of one of the reasons I started my blog - to compliment a strange everyday. One small act of kindness a day, by everyone will add up and can start the snowball of change. Who did you compliment today? Be aware of your words as they are powerful. 

…Until Tomorrow xox

Day 160

I just finished watching a movie called "Wish I was here". A simple movie, which I felt had a strong message. Which was so lovely. (I even watched it start to finish with no interruptions, which is different for me!)

It was about a man with a wife and children who reaches a point in life where things become difficult. He wants to remain on a path to achieve his dream but life is making that nearly impossible. What was so lovely about the movie though, is he didn't change his mind or his dream, he adapted it. Life became difficult for awhile, so he focussed on his family for awhile, then things started to fall into place. 

He may not of "achieved" the exact dream that he wanted, but he achieved something better - fulfilment in other areas of his life and something close to what he wanted. I found it so powerful. At a time in my life where I am figuring out which road I want to travel - re-evaluating so to speak. 

Life is meant to be challenging, and yes you can achieve anything you want if you want it badly enough. Really what that means is that you can achieve anything if you work hard enough and are dedicated despite any hurdles that come your way. If the hurdles stop you, then maybe your dream wasn't as strong as you thought - and you are destined for something different. 

We are all destined to be great. Greatness is defined for those who are happy with who they are and what they are doing in their life. This does not mean you have to be a superstar, a top musician, a leading scientist or a captain in the fire brigade. Everything one person does is having an impact on the world. What we need to ask ourselves is if the impact we are leaving is a positive one, and one that sits well with our morals and beliefs??

Dreams can change. But anything is achievable. What do you want out of life? Are you happy and content with where you are? 

…Until Tomorrow xox

Day 159

'Twas the night before Christmas…and all  through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse'… If my house was anything to go by, not many houses are quiet on Christmas Eve! I love Christmas Eve, almost as much as Christmas Day! 

We have a tradition of watching the Melbourne Christmas carols, singing along with a glass of champagne and being fashion critiques - commenting on the performers dresses! What I love about it though, is the whole night is dedicated to just family - no mobile phone calls, no work, no interruptions..unless a few too many champagnes were to be had! 

It's such a happy, feel-good time! Where all of my family (and the additions to my family - friends) let down their guard, say their thanks and appreciation for the previous year. It's so lovely to be able to get together with your family and friends and show them how much they mean to you. 

Christmas time brings out your inner child!! I know I love the countdown, the excitement, the inability to sleep on Christmas Eve, the dressing up and best of all the giving of presents!! 

Only one more sleep!! 

…Until Tomorrow xox

Day 158

I went along to my psychologist today and had a session which I mainly discussed my life at the moment. I was talking about how I felt like I had fallen back into old habits with work, work and more work…and no play. We discussed the importance of play - and how to get that. Some people get enjoyment from work others work for enough money to do what they enjoy outside of work. 

This I found really interesting because I have always felt that you 'should' have a career and LOVE your job. I am still trying to nut this concept out, but essentially you can work enough so you have the money to enjoy what you want to do. i.e. work as a checkout chick so that on weekends you can compete in triathlons around the world, knowing that your work in the supermarket will sustain you enough to do the training and travel that you need. 

The other thing that we discussed that I'll continue to explore more, is that you CAN do everything you want - just not all at once. One suggestion was to make a 5 year plan, block out every 6 months and add something new to it. First you need to brainstorm and work out all of the things you want to do, then put them in a hat and draw them out and allocate them. This will stop that overwhelming feeling of never having time to do what you want. 

What do you want to do? Learn a language? Sing in a band? Go rock climbing? …??? Allocate them and then you can have the peace of mind that you will do it - you will get to them. I am going to start a scrap book. Everything that I want to do will get two pages. Then whatever I am not doing I can gather information and put it in there for later. I'm excited about this, because rather than feeling overwhelmed and like I am not doing anything I can continue to have fun and keep trying new things! 

Hmm…time to get the butchers paper out…!!! :)

…Until Tomorrow xox

Day 157

Sometimes it's not about what we DON'T do, but rather what we DO do. When you are going through a tough time, we seem to make it even harder on ourselves by trying to do more, then feeling worse about ourselves by not being able to accomplish it. 

I was talking with my psychologist the other day, who informed me despite the feeling that I 'should' be back to normal - I am still healing on many different levels and need to be careful of the expectations that I put on myself. For all those reading that are go-getters you understand how hard this is! So she told me to write down everything I expect myself to do in a day - right down to the little things like getting out of bed, making the bed etc. Then look at it objectively…is anyone capable of completely all of that in a day? 

Especially at this time of the year we get so caught up in all of the things that we NEED to do, that we forget that there is still the same amount of hours in the day and we can only fit in so much. Something will always give…and as I've mentioned before this generally is self care or actually doing the things you want to - because they feel self-indulgent…they 'should' come last after all of the practical to do's. Rubbish. If we don't look after ourselves, we aren't much good to anyone! 

So what DO you accomplish in a day? Rather than feel guilty about what you didn't do, look at what you did. Feel proud of yourself for the little things - playing with the dog, sitting still long enough to have a cuppa, calling your family or even just getting out of bed if it's a bad day. And remind yourself regularly that you are only one person. 

Ensure self-care and family time is number one all the time - particularly when things get frantic.

…Until Tomorrow xox