Monthly Archives: November 2013

Make a difference to your health

28 Thursday Nov 2013

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These past few weeks have been horrible to say the least.
I think that it is partly end of year exhaustion, also increased responsibilities – especially financially and then dealing with exams (my kids writing exams, which in think is actually more stressful than if I was writing them myself) plus what seems like a million things on my to do list.

Not only did I almost allow myself to sink into a pity party for one, but my immune system decided to take a rest from action and I developed a horrible skin condition.
Lesson number one: if you ignore stress, and it doesn’t affect you emotionally, it will definitely affect you physically, which will then affect you emotionally in the end anyway.

This may sound like a bit of a crazy idea but the one thing that always works for me to make me feel a little better about my life and all its challenges is to watch sad videos on YouTube.
Some of those videos really put things in perspective.  First of all, it amazes me how strong some people are.  It seems impossible that you could make it through difficult situations but you never know how strong you are until you actually go through something.  More importantly,  when I watch those videos, I count every single one of my blessings that I have in my life.
Because when my life seems so overwhelmingly difficult, it is absolutely nothing compared to what some people are going through.
It makes you realise that you have so much more than a lot of people have.  And even if my kids drive me mad because they are not taking their studies seriously enough, I come to realise that I am blessed to have healthy children who have the ability and strength of character to argue with me.

And then that leads me to the time to take a break.  To leave some of the ‘million’ items on the list for next week, to ask for help, to sit down and enjoy a cup of tea, rather than swallowing it on the run.  And even better, that tea should be enjoyed with a delicious, home baked chocolate ‘smores’ cupcake (recipe to follow) because we all know that chocolate makes everything just that little bit better!

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Finding moments for creativity

21 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by in Attitude, Creativity, Life Lessons, Mindfulness

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A long time ago, in the olden days, as my kids would say, when I was still trying to decide on what career path to follow, I went for a career counseling session.
Don’t ask me how they figure out what career is the right one for you, but they told me that I should either be a photographer or a dentist!
So I became an Occupational Therapist!
And my lecturers from way back when would have been really proud of me if they knew that I decided on Occupational therapy because it was a good combination of science and art.  Also because it wasn’t physiotherapy and some of you may know that story.
If you don’t, I’ll keep it for another day.

It is interesting that although I never imagined myself as a photographer, I tend to see things almost as through I’m looking through a lens.
I see “perfect” shots while I am driving and I wish I could freeze those moments.  I notice the subtle shifts in colours of the jacaranda trees that line the road in November.  I see beautiful moments like the woman going up the escalator who had a bunch of pink balloons or a group of school girls dancing on the pavement while waiting for their bus.
It is the wonderful moments like these that make me want to be a photographer but even more, it is those moments that give me a break from worrying about things that I have to get done, bills that I have to pay, reports that I have to write and the many other things that constantly occupy my mind and often make me feel stressed.

It is so important to have moments of creativity in your lives.  They give you the “mini-breaks” that your brain so desperately needs.
It takes you away from the ‘science’ and the analysis that is constantly expected of us in order to function in this fast paced world.
Each person needs to find that creativity and space for themselves.
My elder son likes to do homework with music for company and to keep him focused.  Yet my younger son needs total silence but lots of colours in his books.  He needs to doodle constantly.  The more he doodles, the more likely he is to recall what he needs to learn.

Find your moments of creativity.  Whether it is in your job or your studying, in your daily routine or the chores that you have to do at home.
Notice beautiful and interesting things around you.  Take time to watch the sky changing, notice colour.

I promise you that those moments will change the way that you feel about your life and your stress will become a little more manageable.
Let me know what works for you…

Smile! It really can make a difference

14 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by in Attitude, Moods, Positivity

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I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time this week speaking to call centre agents.
Actually let’s be honest, I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time this week shouting at, pleading with and arguing with call centre agents.
Firstly, I have nothing against call centre agents, and if you are one, you have my utmost respect because I think that it is honestly one of the hardest jobs in the world – especially if you have to deal with impatient people like me.
The thing is that when I make that call, I am usually stressed because I need to sort out something that isn’t working – otherwise I wouldn’t be needing to call in, would I? And that makes me a little bit intolerant and irritable to start with, but if you are rude to me, then that is not going to help to resolve the issue much is it?

What is amazing is that there is such a difference between the way I have been treated by the people that I have spoken to this week.  Some people are so polite and helpful and others are just downright rude and show little interest in trying to help me.

It is said that how people treat you is a direct result of how they feel about themselves.
So that leads me to believe that a call centre agent who is rude to me, has got issues that have got absolutely nothing to do with me.  And the important thing is that when I put the phone down, I don’t take the negative service that I received personally. And I definitely shouldn’t say that the entire company is terrible or that they generally give poor service because of one person’s attitude.

How often do we take it so personally when people treat us badly or insult us?
Unless you know that you had done something to irritate that person – deliberately or non-deliberately – it is NOT about you!
Your happiness or friendliness might even irritate that person because they feel so low about themselves that your good mood threatens them, or makes them jealous.
Rather than worry about how others treat you – spend your energy looking inwards.
Look at how you treat others.  Focus on how you feel about yourself and how you would like others to feel when they are around you.

So, here’s my “revenge” plan and I’ve put it to good use today:
Treat everyone that you meet with respect;  treat strangers like long lost friends; smile at everyone;  ask somebody how they are and stop to really listen to the answer.
Yes, there may be negative, miserable people that we are going to encounter in our lives, but there are also people whose lives you may touch and even change – just by being you!

Be Brave!

07 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by in Being brave, Fear, Freedom

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Let me tell you something, I know about anxiety.
And not from books.
I deal with my own anxiety at times but my youngest son has anxiety that can be debilitating at times.
Yesterday, I sat with him and held his hand while he faced one of his biggest fears – going to the dentist.
And it was not just a gentle visit, he needed major work done.
It was horrible!  And that was just for me!
But afterwards, he was almost on a high.  Adrenalin probably had a lot to do with that high but it was also pure elation that he had conquered his fear and survived too.
He was so proud of himself and he had some great ‘war stories’ and a scary looking tooth to show his friends at school.

I was so inspired by my son and his bravery.
And it made me think about how much fear holds us back from reaching our full potential, when all you need to do is take a really, really deep breath and just face your fear.
You will be astounded at how much you can really do if you are brave enough to try.
You are preventing yourself from doing so many amazing things and taking big steps forward because you fear what might go wrong, rather than trusting in what go right.
Trust me, it is never as scary as it seems in your head!

I know that you are brave enough and I think that in your heart, you know that too.
You just have to believe in you.
I do!