Tag Archives: Inspiration

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Apr 28 2018

PERSPECTIVE – OUR OWN STORY

Something that has become apparent to me and has helped my perception with my own story of late is that EVERYONE has THEIR own story. Regardless to how big or small, who are any of us to judge the significance of that story. No matter how old we are, what hurts, challenges and transforms us does not have any barrier to it.

It may be the loss of a love one or the waiting for the imminent to happen; your first broken heart or any heartache; losing a job or at times excruciatingly waiting for that next opportunity; a sufferer of abuse either it be from someone or to yourself. The mix of emotion no matter the action or feeling can be suffocating and there can sometimes be no words, no hug or embrace, no circumstance to help that sensation.

Besides from learning patience, another of my life’s lessons I feel has been understanding perspective (mind you the list of lessons is a mile long). I think it is very easy for someone who is struggling, has endured a ‘hard life’ or even just a challenging moment to be in the mindset of a victim.  It is easy to find blame or excuses or be inclined to use the term “why me”.

An article from Forbes brilliantly helps us to distinguish between a classic victim mindset versus a victor mindset by using a coin as a metaphor. One side of the coin is old and dull and represents the classic victim mindset. The other side is clean and bright representing the victor mindset.

If you’re in the victim mindset, you will be focusing on the toss of the coin to determine your outcomes and plans. The possibility is that it could land on the bright side and only we have the power to not put our perspective and life goals in the hands of flipping a coin in hope it lands on the right side.

Another article that articulates well the steps to take to gain perspective and get out of that feeling that life is spiralling away from us –  the ‘victim mindset’ is from A Conscious Rethink. How we choose to deal with hardship and calamities can be broken down to five steps:

  • Owning our mistakes – sometimes we are the bane of unwanted outcomes, however, that is ok because we are human. Own it and acknowledge that sometimes outcomes are beyond our control
  • Freeing yourself from the need of an emotional high of sympathy – Do not rely on a constant source of sympathy from those around you. Own your life and emotions and believe there is worth in all you do.
  • Free yourself of self-pity – Self-pity does not serve a purpose to anyone. When given to others it’s a case of “thank goodness its not me” or on the flip side “why me” and “poor me”. Turn this pattern around to offer compassion, admiration and tolerance to yourself and others.
  • The realisation you are not being judged – this is one of the hardest things to overcome. We need to accept and acknowledge what we are doing or have done. No matter how big the stuff up noticed or not, we can get out of the victimhood mentality and just be in the now and let things flow.
  • Review your life – look at all areas no matter how big or small, how significant or insignificant it is and start making notes. Mark down what turns you on and off, what career you want, the kind of people you like to hang around, what makes you smile and cry, what infuriates you and excites you, what you like to eat and drink and environments that you feel safe in or not. Assess the positives and negatives in your life, either it be in a physical or emotional form and start to align yourself with what is RIGHT for you. Don’t think about it or ponder too long, make the change and start now.

I was speaking with my twin the other day and we were talking about the ‘victims’ we’ve had in our lives and how influential they have been on ourselves and those around them. We understand it can be easy (or perhaps easier) to fall into that mindset and not take responsibility of what, why, when and how. We both realised areas in our lives or moments when we were both in the victimhood yet have acknowledged that mindset and have over time gained perspective.

We have assessed our lives and ourselves and continue to do so. We both want to be the best version of ourselves and hold on to that perspective that we all have a story. How we chose to read it and play it out is up to us. By doing this, we are providing a much healthier, happier, consistent, loving, spiritual and harmonious life for our children.

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“This world has chased saints and angels away. What you and I will not allow it to do is convince us we have no power over its ills. We are not victims of some amorphous, grinning Chance: we are gods of our own making.” ~ A Conscious ReThink

Oct 26 2016

Penny for your thoughts…

If you’re anything like me, silence can be deafening.

I remember as a child going to meditation camps and struggling so hard with the daily routine of zoning out, finding our Zen and just being – quiet. I have always battled with the concept of stillness and quietness. In reflection, I found/find silence to be empty in some way. A feeling of isolation perhaps and freedom for my mind to wander more than usual which definitely at times can be detrimental.

You have a moment to be still, to stop and reflect, recharge or just be. The music is not playing, the television is off, you’re home alone or the kids are sleeping, at school, entertaining themselves and all is quiet – but it’s not.

You can hear the windchime’s melody; the traffic in the distance; the train pulling into the station which is kilometres away; the neighbours garage door opening/closing as they leave or come home for the day; the clock aguishly ticking or the monotone sound of that tap dripping.

Depending on the time of day if all is “quiet” you could hear those around you leaving for work and the sound of the car engine running as it warms up;  the shower running as loved ones or roomies prepare for their day; the school bell ringing its tune hustling the children to class; buses pulling in and out of their stops collecting passengers to or from work; the sound of an email being received on the computer or phone; the motorbike idling as the postman delivers the mail.

The twittering of a minor bird or the screeching of a cockatoo; helicopters hovering over nearby motorways monitoring the traffic flow; the laughter and screams of delighted kids coming home after school; the cat meowing to come in for her nightly feed; the neighbouring dogs chatting through a bark; the clinking of dishes in ready for the evening meal; the waves and chime tones sonorously through the phone’s speaker to help you sleep.

We are surrounded by noise and there is no escaping that fact. It’s how we choose to deal with that noise if at all. There are many who wouldn’t put any thought into the sounds that surround them. Then there are those who are like me and have struggled with the quiet.  We need to learn to embrace the silence.

When thinking about it, we are never truly alone as we will always be accompanied by sound. As I continue on my transformation path (it’s lifelong), and while I continue to learn, change and reflect, I am learning to appreciate the little things. This is something I want to teach my son, that being still and listening to what is around you could in fact have the answers you need. With the stress of exams, study, learning life’s lessons, having silence can be a great thing for him – for all of us!

“Silence isn’t empty. It’s full of answers”.

Love, light & snuggles 🙂

Oct 18 2016

I had a good day

My last post was quite raw, insightful and dark. The element of support that has accumulated from the post has been on many levels and I’m increasingly appreciative of the love given (thank you!). Some of the feedback received has indicated that although the post moved them, some even to tears, it was heavy, powerful and a sad read.

With that in mind, I felt it was in order to keep things this time upbeat and share with you not all things are doom and gloom and that people who suffer whatever it may be, do have moments of sunshine, smile and can feel happy.

I had a good day…

One of my current challenges is to lose weight and get my fitness back on track. My weigh in day is on the weekend although I don’t make it weekly. Why? I try to tell myself it’s due to other commitments, which has an element of truth, however, the other side of it is because of fear. Fear = gained weight = failure but that’s another story. On this day I had set my alarm with the intent of going. If I have gained or had a loss I will be fine no matter the outcome (this was a mantra the night before). I had also made a point that I was going to my son, a major motivating factor. I did get up – pat on the back. Once at the weigh in that is also like a support and information group, I was among like-minded people who are committed to changing their lives and finding happiness within themselves – this gives me comfort. On this particular day, I was rather chatty (not unlike me generally) but I had let go of some walls and opened up a little to other members where we shared further insights into our lives and challenges. I felt comfortable, I felt supported. I treated myself to a proper coffee and with my small loss (no failure – bonus) I headed home to share with my son who anticipates my result.

I had a good day….

Once back home and knowing I needed to get to the shops I decided to walk.  I had the time and wanted to keep the momentum going from the morning. I love this walk through the university and local parklands. I took different routes up and back as both offered their own beauty and significance. The journey up was through the streets onto parklands, finding my own little oasis, ignoring any outside influences such as traffic, pedestrians and machinery. I had my headphones in listening to music which transports me to other places and is my mood changer. I was in the zone, I had a beat in my step and I felt surprisingly good.

I had a good day…

I pottered knowing I had time on my side. I bumped into my best friend and received a snuggle which was an extra bonus. I met with another dear friend where we chattered away over coffee talking about nothing in particular but covering everything.

I had a good day…

Walking home I took the university route. I simply love this way home. There are umpteenth varieties of bird life; the grass always seems so green; the calibre of people range from students through to dignitaries, locals, families, international guests and at times depending on the crowd and the weather, you can be mistaken of being in a foreign land – yet it is in my backyard. I stopped to take photos, to cherish what was around me, in front and behind me.

I had a good day…

Once home I met my twin brother and gave him a massage (an old trade of mine) to help his aching bones. We then chattered and laughed and felt freedom to just be who we are and more importantly with each other.  We talked, again it was about everything and nothing. It was nice, comforting would be the word, an essence of home both in presence and in spirit with my brother and my feelings. I was allowed to feel, to express with no judgement and reflect on the day.

I had a good day…

The famous saying “it’s the simple things that count and make us happy” couldn’t be any truer for me this day. It was the loss, although small I had accomplished something. It was shedding some walls and opening myself up to a support group with like-minded people. It was making the decision to walk to the shops and not drive and take in my surroundings and feeling appreciative with my environment and what I have in my backyard. It was catching up with dear darling friends and grabbing those extra snuggles that mean so much (I can never get enough). It was having precious time with my brother and feeling the freedom to be me no matter if it was to shed a tear, be silly, share a laugh and without judgement. It was finishing the day collecting my son from work and getting that final snuggle of the day from the one who most holds my heart.

I had a good day!

I hope you’re finding strength in the small things. Each step you take moving forward is a success.

Love, light and snuggles 🙂

Oct 7 2016

Master at Poker Face

I think I’ve graduated with a mastery in poker face. Wearing this face is something that is not uncommon in my life of late, in fact it has become a daily occurrence.

Poker face – definition = an impassive expression that hides ones true feelings (and scenarios in my case)

Scenario 1 – Time frame – six months ago = gall bladder removal surgery; home a day and received a call on my son’s birthday with all his mates over for a sleepover that my father had passed away unexpectedly; they say it comes in threes – I was made redundant from the ‘dream job’. The world as we knew it was crumbling and feelings of continuous aggressive slaps perpetrated across my face with the occasional stabs to the gut – hypothetically speaking.

Obviously quite shattering news and time was needed for recovery which never came, however, to the outside world a reflection of a strong resilient generally positive woman/mother was shown = poker face!

Scenario 2 – Time frame – last five months = I have applied for over 100 jobs. I have attended over two dozen interviews and have been shortlisted to multiple roles, a few have provided constructive feedback, some haven’t even bothered to call on outcome. Approximately 75% respond saying I’m too experienced with a handful indicating I would be bored (one would think that is my decision), the other 25% I have “just missed” out on. I feel I have applied to each job with the right attitude. For the interviews, I have arrived on time and conducted myself with enthusiasm, prepared, researched, shown assertiveness and have always given my all. Waiting on feedback has tested my patience and nerves, I try not to be too hopeful but with an essence of positivity.

To the outside world I reflect a confident (well that’s my aim), resourceful specialists in my field with the aim of proving I’d be an asset to any company and they’d be crazy not to have me and to my circle, I’m managing just fine. The constant knock back, rejection as I see it, is incredibly damaging, deflating, exhausting, and in parts humiliating = poker face!

 Scenario 3 – Time frame – two weeks ago. I’m in the shower when I realise I have spent my son’s deposit for his school’s rugby and soccer Canadian tour next year that my mother very kindly provided. I used it to pay bills and buy groceries. The problem was once I had paid back the money using the last of my savings, it left us with a couple of hundred dollars – that’s it – nothing left once spent – zip, nada, zilch. I start to panic (aftermath read scenario 4).

The reality is, I get help from the government which I’m grateful for, however, it only helps me to pay the rent. There is nothing left over. I don’t have any other income to help pay for groceries, bills, my son’s keep, our health, prescriptions and medication, sporting activities, outings – living. This kind of scenario has happened before, when we’ve been down to our last pennies but this time, it felt different. Funny how the universe works. I eventually fall asleep that night, but god, it would have only been for a couple of hours. I wake to an email from the government advising they have reimbursed me money they owed as my actual salary was less than the estimation (due to the redundancy and not working a full year). I was also paid at the same time my tax return. I had to work hard the for tax return and pledge my case as they wanted to take whatever I had to go towards my Hecs payment (my first payment for the degree I graduated with three years ago), luckily they understood and granted it.

We are currently breathing and can afford to live for now. My son hasn’t missed out on anything as yet, I have but he hasn’t and this is how I hope to continue. The reality is, the money will run out, the panic will probably set in again but for now we are ok.

To the outside world, they would have no clue of how close we can to literally having nothing – no money for anything except we would have a roof over our heads = poker face!

Scenario 4 – Time frame – two weeks ago = my son witnesses me experiencing a panic attack. I’m short of breath and have been sick all over myself while in the shower. He hears me and asks ‘are you ok Mum” in which I reply sobbing and trying to breathe “yes”. He is no fool. Throughout that particular evening once out of the shower and cleaned up, he keeps checking on me to see how I am, hugging me, making me a cuppa, loving me. The following day he continues to over compensate his love and care (I’m not complaining), with text messages from school checking on me. He gets home from school, wanting to hug me (which I never knock back) and expressing his concern if not via words, through his caring and worried eyes.

Reality is my son should not see his mother vulnerable like I was and he should not be experiencing such concerns at his age and be feeling responsible for me. I do believe it is good for children to see emotions such as sadness, heartache and so on – this is life and it helps guide them and build them to cope themselves and understand others who suffer at times too. I am, however, responsible for my boy and feel terribly guilty that he has been subjected to my weakness if that is what it was (and it wasn’t the first time) nor should he see me in my lower points of life. To the outside world, we are a beautifully loving family, we’re close – unusually close and all this is true. They also see us as happy, full of life – they see us as managing = poker face!

Scenario 5 – Time frame – one week ago = This week I had been having thoughts, the darkest thoughts you can have and it scared the shit out of me. I have my own feelings on suicide and now is not the time or place to express them, however, the past week or two I have had an understanding of why some people would make that choice. I would never do it – I don’t believe I would. I have my son and he needs me. On one frightful day last week in between my panic attacks and reaching the bottom, I did for one second think that my darling boy would be better off without me – someone with more money and stability could provide better for him….right….as I said, it was only for a second. I cry now as I write this at the thought of how dark I was. Silly yes for thinking it but at the same time I can rationalise it. Until you are on your own, responsible for another soul and yourself, you’re the main income earner, the main carer, the main person to do it all and when you basically have nothing then well, your thoughts wonder. Thankfully, I was able to pull myself out this time. I changed my thoughts around. I have opened up to my family and a few friends (how lucky am I to be able to do this) who I think were shocked, worried and possibly it scared the crap out of them too – if only for a second. Next week, or the one after that, I don’t know if the feelings and thoughts will come back. I was scared, really scared.

To the outside world, I portray I think a generally bubbly, outgoing, friendly, ambitious (which I am), person who is doing fine = poker face!

….

I am writing this with the knowledge my son could possibly read it. I am not wanting to cause him any further concern, nor for my family and friends who may also read this. I am writing it as this is my reality. It is the reality of many families I am guessing and it’s not a pleasant one to have. What has been great and where I feel tremendously grateful and lucky is that my family are incredibly supportive in many forms including emotionally. My family are my rock, my power source. I have a few friends who have known the depth of my circumstance and of what we may call ‘the black dog’. One darling soul calls me every day to check in, another two call once a week and a couple more beautiful souls offer me little bits of ‘breathe’ time (which comes in various ways) and with this I have got by. I have gained strength from them and mainly my son. I was for this week, able to gather my strength, courage maybe to think in a different path. I have refocused my thoughts on my own brand ‘Solotalk’ to see how I can generate engagement and help others that may be suffering and experiencing something similar, or if not similar, they get what I’m saying and through this, they know they are not alone.

I continue to apply for jobs, looks for jobs, seek different opportunities (if anyone knows of anything or thinks I would be perfect for something – please let me know 🙂 ).

I continue to portray a woman who is strong, resilient, patient, optimistic, loving, bubbly (although not as much as I would like), cheeky, naughty at times, fun-loving, mother of the year (pfft – jury is out on that), daughter, sister, granddaughter, neice, cousin and friend to the best of my capabilities.

I continue to reach out to the universe to look after my son, myself and those that I love and trust that we will continue to manage and be ok. I will continue to wear my poker face!

Love, peace and snuggles to you all and thank you to my family and my darling special friends (you know who you are)…

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“If someone you know seems to be struggling, reach out and connect with them. Showing that you care could make a huge difference in their life.”

 If you are suffering and need someone to talk to, for those living in Australia please see below:
Life Line  or call 13 11 14
Beyond Blue – or call 1300 22 4636
Black Dog Institute
Salvo Youth Line – or call (02) 8736 3293

Jun 26 2015

Parenting is a Privilege

My son deserves a champion in his life, one who will never give up on him. A person who understands the importance of the connection between a parent and a child and one who insists he becomes the best person he can possibly be.

I would like to think I am that person.

What I find just as important is that my son is my champion, my connection and my motivation to become the best person and parent I can possibly be.

I did not think it was possible to love my child any more than the moment he was born, yet I did.  My heart continues to make space for this growing love.

What a privilege it is being a parent – I’m so honoured!

Love and Light 🙂