New Beginnings and Home Comings

Well Hello There You

It's wonderful to be here again, and after such a long time. Is it crazy to be jumping back into blogging this year, after a three or more years away? Possibly. Probably. Who cares? I'm throwing caution to the wind. And yet that makes it seem un-calculated, spontaneous. It is not. I have thought long and hard about whether to come back, and why I stopped in the first place. Here's what I have learned. 

Speed of Life

I know I have been banging on about this a lot lately.  And I'm sorry for repeating myself.  I really am.  But.  (You knew that was coming, right?)  But.  I just cannot get over the speed at which life is travelling of late.

This year!  Where has it gone?  Almost June already, the middle of the year.  Life is hurtling along and I really feel like I cannot keep up.

Christmas, Consumerism & Chadstone Shopping Centre

Too Much?

I reckon we do a pretty minimalist Christmas.  But it's all perspective and context I guess.

Like when I think about how many toys my kids have, on one hand I don't think they have an excessive amount.

Seeking Balance

I have been feeling so out of balance lately.  Swirly.  Not in a good boysenberry ripple choc top at the movies kind of way.  More in a can't find clear space in my mind or in my life kind or way.  

My Happiness

In the aftermath of Nick Kyrgios winning his fourth round match at Wimbledon all eyes were on the teenager.  He carries the sporting hopes of the nation now, and I love the fact that he's as much the medias darling for appearing "normal" as actually winning.  But while all the hype and hyberbole was being heaped on him something else was happening. A champion had lost, in an upset, to a newcomer.  

Mindful In May - The (Nearly) Halfway Mark

The gorgeous Mindful in May Challenge is at Day 11 and I thought it was time to take stock a little.  To have a look at what I've achieved, what I've struggled with and what I've learned so far on the path.

Creativity is Messy

Well in my house anyway.  Maybe I'm doing it wrong.

I took this photo the other day of the destruction wreaked in the kids play area after a particularly robust crafting session:

Giving In

Last week a friend and favourite blogger of mine wrote about the chaos of her kids bedtime routine.

I really liked this post by The Mother Load Australia, because I related.  Hells yes.

Perfection

Many, many years ago a very good friend of mine asked me if I thought I was a perfectionist.

I think she was doing some therapy sessions of her own at the time and the topic had come up.  I know she was reading The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck.  I remember because she gave me a copy.

Mindgames

Today I went running.

It's been awhile.  We've had a few things going on at home.  Which made it really easy for me not to prioritise something that is really important and good for me and instead stay home and drink wine.

Grace

I remember going to this corporate event once.

Some girl talked herself in - she wasn't supposed to be there enjoying the open bar and catered food.  But there she stood, having sweet talked the host into letting her in.

I'm not a perfect parent

Earlier in the week a gorgeous friend of mine (you know who you are) posted this article on Facebook.

I read it and "liked" it.  But you know what I "liked" more?  The comment her friend added underneath that read "Hmmm, do they have an article titled "Love your Parents. Leave them Alone"? I would like to read that one!!"

Swallow The Toad

There is a popular phrase used as a remedy for procrastination, "Swallow the Frog".

Riding the Wave

Sometimes I feel like I'm operating at a higher frequency.  

By which I mean not that I am somehow above anybody else, but rather that my needles are jumping.  

My Luxurious Complaints

So my daughter is earning pocket money now.  She's five, starting school next year so I thought it was time.  Time for her to learn about money, it's worth and the effort it takes to earn it.  Also the pleasure in working hard and saving for something you want and buying it with your own money.

Not My Best Week

Not my best week this week.  Nope.  Not my best.

Lots of yelling.  Lots of anger and frustration.  It's really hard to write that down. 

Because it's kind of shaming.  Very humbling.  To admit how horrible I am.

Pleasure Vs Happiness - Is Discomfort The Key?

So a while ago at meditation we discussed happiness on a few different levels.  Like, what is happiness?  How does it differ from pleasure and enjoyment?  What makes us happy?  Should we pursue happiness and if so, how do we do that?

Four Days, Six Revelations, One Heart

The stunning meditation room at Maitripa Contemplation Centre

  

As you know I've been on retreat.

It was a couple of weeks ago now and with a new kinder term and a couple of colds under my belt I'm well and truly back in the "real world".  

To Three Or Not To Three

I have two kids.  Two incredible, bright, funny, healthy, gorgeous kids.

And I love being their Mum.  Being their Mum is the most rewarding and challenging thing I have ever done.  And sometimes I think I'm doing a pretty good job.  Then there are other days when I think I'm doing a totally crap job and I'm raising two little brats.

Own Two Feet

It Isn't About The Shoes

I have a fundamental fear of raising overindulged little brats.  So being witness to tantrums that escalate from the totally mundane really gets me going.  It doesn't take much for my internal dialogue to start running a loop about how spoilt and entitled my children are becoming.