tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43991055513824510672024-03-13T19:28:04.177+08:00cake crumbs & beach sandIt really is the simple things in life...Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.comBlogger201125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-77470413844597212152012-08-04T23:54:00.003+08:002012-08-04T23:55:26.517+08:00I've moved!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3jjW9reGsgs/UB1FnVhIVBI/AAAAAAAABag/CPHlYyAeYyU/s1600/527102_10151319376344638_214593575_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3jjW9reGsgs/UB1FnVhIVBI/AAAAAAAABag/CPHlYyAeYyU/s640/527102_10151319376344638_214593575_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Hello lovely visitor! Thank you so much for
stopping by. Cake crumbs & beach sand has now moved and lives at its swanky new residence at <a href="http://cakecrumbsbeachsand.com/">http://cakecrumbsbeachsand.com/</a>
Please pop over and say hello. If you drop in via Google Friend Connect you’ll
need to pop over to my new site and subscribe. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Please do, I love it when you
drop in!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-36243077279792823222012-07-14T13:38:00.002+08:002012-07-14T13:38:58.714+08:00Moving house!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">cake crumbs &
beach sand is currently relocating to its new home. We will back to spread
positivity and inspiration in a few days and we will let you know our new address once we're settled in.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">In the meantime have a lovely
weekend, don't forget to smile!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-27371330114170322392012-07-12T23:08:00.000+08:002012-07-12T23:15:03.287+08:00Morning<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sp0pHuYkC58/T_7npQRbqnI/AAAAAAAABaE/V9KC9PPBmng/s1600/4114344789_cec45bf697_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sp0pHuYkC58/T_7npQRbqnI/AAAAAAAABaE/V9KC9PPBmng/s640/4114344789_cec45bf697_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26605933@N06/" target="_blank">Anna Inghardt</a></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I am not much of a morning person. Nor am I a fan
of winter. Combine the bleak morning chill with darkness before dawn breaks and
I am at my least creative, least constructive and least friendly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I returned from living in the tropics in
1996 and I have quite uncomfortably grappled with the winter months every
single year since. I try to deny the fact that winter is approaching once the heat of
summer says goodbye, and when the chill does hit I pretend to ignore it. If I
don’t acknowledge it, it doesn’t exist. Except the constant pain in my neck
from a childhood head-on-collision injury and the ache in my bones are fierce, stark reminders that winter in fact is upon us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I don’t much like winter. Dry skin craving
moisture, garden craving sunshine, bikini craving beach visit; everything
around me tells me the cold is here. I rug up to keep warm and get too hot. I
dress down to cool down and get too cold. I have a scarf permanently attached
to my neck to humour the old neck injury. I cover my ankles to keep the chill
away and then smile at the mockery of the pink ugg boots adorning my feet. How did
I become so dorky? Winter is how. My pink fluffy dressing gown keeps me company
at dawn, so what of it? My bikini is laughing at me from the spot I left it
hanging over my shower screen some months ago. I gaze at it some mornings, like
a lovesick lover pining for what once was. I know my bikini will come to life
again soon. Any day now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I don’t like to count the days away, God knows
time flies by way too fast. But secretly, oh so quietly, I do count the days
until spring. After I down my second cup of coffee for the morning I peer
outside and smile when I see the sun smiling back. Still grateful for the small
things such as a winter that barely reaches below zero degrees, a winter that in
some countries can be classed as a mild summer. But when it hits 40 degrees and
I am perched on the sand in my long lost bikini I won’t be thinking of this
brisk winter morning. I will humbly count my blessings that I live in a country with such a beautiful summer and that I was born a summer child. And very quietly, oh so begrudgingly, I will be dreading the fact that in the back of my mind I know, as sure as the sun is shining, that winter will be back again someday soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-3731696661292907332012-07-11T22:09:00.001+08:002012-07-11T22:24:06.136+08:00Midweek bliss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ymA8j9ysYcU/T_2GZ29GuKI/AAAAAAAABZ4/rVCU7jV9jXA/s1600/21_toukokuu_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ymA8j9ysYcU/T_2GZ29GuKI/AAAAAAAABZ4/rVCU7jV9jXA/s640/21_toukokuu_02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Image by <a href="http://kristakeltanenblog.com/" target="_blank">Krista Keltanen</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Long drawn out morning coffee </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Jeans and t-shirts </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Ugg boots, not stilettos </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Dinner cooked at lunch time </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Daytime TV (I know,
probably won’t happen, but it could) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Writing all day </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Afternoon naps </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Midweek
laughs with my bestie (I can’t wait to sit on her deck in the sunshine and
whittle away the hours chatting) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Breakfast sitting down, not eaten on the run </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Dog walks, shop runs </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Afternoon tea in the sun </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Phone chats </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> I might even get
through my email for once! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Reading, oh I can’t wait to lay on the lounge with a
good book, during the day, midweek (this is so novel I can’t even imagine what
this will feel like) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">No rushing </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">No peak hour traffic </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">No watching the time
every five minutes for the first two hours of my day </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">♥</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Phone on silent. House
silent. Head silent. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366; line-height: 24px;">♥</span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Three weeks and
counting. My life as I have known it for 23 years will change and my heart and
soul cannot wait. I can't stop smiling, thinking of the freedom that will
prevail. I have loved my career and feel incredibly blessed for the
opportunities I have been presented with (truly blessed), but I am ready.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">At one point, when I first started to realise I no longer loved working full time, I had
planned to retire when I hit 50. FIFTY YEARS OLD! That is nine years away, how
would I have lasted another nine years of full time, five days a week work? Impossible.
I have been ready for this for a long time. I am so glad I listened to my
authentic self.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Three weeks
and counting.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: x-small;">
</span>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-43684734896678912752012-07-09T21:05:00.001+08:002012-07-09T21:11:23.089+08:00Uncomplicated<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6nEE2GmOkN4/T_jnK9FpdEI/AAAAAAAABZs/PQnWJ_faUMk/s1600/6250845858_9f77bf4c01_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6nEE2GmOkN4/T_jnK9FpdEI/AAAAAAAABZs/PQnWJ_faUMk/s640/6250845858_9f77bf4c01_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: xx-small;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gokturkayan/" target="_blank">Gokturk Ayan</a></span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;">Sometimes
the questions are complicated and the answers are simple. ~Dr Seuss</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; line-height: 150%;">How
much do we overthink things? I am a tragic over-thinker by nature. I, well
actually my head, likes to dissect things and toss them around a bit and
consider all possible scenarios and outcomes. In some situations this is great,
I don’t get stuck on one idea and can inspire myself to see things in different
ways. In other situations, not so much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; line-height: 150%;">Sometimes
when questions arise it is best to answer them off the cuff. Difficult
decisions are often based on so many ‘what-ifs’ that we can tend to overload
the decision down with unrealistic possibilities. I have started to respond to
questions and my own choice options with whatever first comes to mind. I
realise that not digging too deep but rather answering with what first comes up
is in fact my authentic self responding. When we start to dig and delve for the
‘right’ response the what-ifs come to fruition guided by our false self, our safe side reminding us we need to be responsible. Of course we do, our
false self will always remind us of that. But if we listen to our intuition, to our instincts, we tend to dig less for conscious reasoning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; line-height: 150%;">Understandably
decisions often have responsibilities attached, there are things we must
consider, however a lot of smaller decisions can rely purely on what we feel is
best. The authentic self will always tell you what you truly want to do, what
your heart wants. When we allow our false self to step in, we fill ourselves
with self-doubt and fear and we tend to make decisions based on what we feel we are expected
to do. I don’t want to live my life based on what is expected of me, I would
rather live my life how I want to live it. That won’t always please others or
live up to the image they have carved out of and for me, but that’s okay. I can
live with that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;">I
am all for keeping things simple, it is the mantra that I aspire to live by and
I often need to remind myself that things do not need to be so complicated. I just need to stop complicating them. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-89322888750029860902012-07-06T19:00:00.000+08:002012-07-06T19:08:02.391+08:00Be kind to your boss.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-evHABGi3Nt4/T_QRkDYHFoI/AAAAAAAABZg/tYaA4_FnLV8/s1600/photo-61.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-evHABGi3Nt4/T_QRkDYHFoI/AAAAAAAABZg/tYaA4_FnLV8/s640/photo-61.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">** Disclaimer – this is not directly or indirectly about any
individual I have worked with, it is about me and my account on behaviour
related to being a supervisor/manager. If you have worked with me in the past,
this is not intended as a message to you. As for
my current staff, if you are reading this please know you are absolute angels. Also, you are already kind enough. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Throughout my 23 years of working I have
experienced aspects of staff management from both ends of the spectrum – I have
been managed and I have been a manager. While I don’t like to write about my
‘job’ on my blog (this is about me, not my job) I would like to share my insight on how it looks from a manager’s perspective. You know, in case you have never
been one and are wondering. Also if you have a boss they may appreciate your
newfound knowledge and acts of kindness that may follow as a result of your
newfound knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I have supervised staff from when I was 23 and worked in the casino. Something you may not know about me, I was a croupier, and then an inspector (she who supervises croupiers) and I have worked
on a cruise ship as a pit manager (she who supervises the inspectors). I loved
working in casinos, not only did it open my mind to a whole other world I got
to work with some amazing people. It was probably my favourite job to date
after writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">The difference in supervising in a casino
environment to an office environment is you supervise hundreds of staff, not
the same staff daily. I think I enjoyed this type of management most as you get
to work with such a broad array of personalities and I learnt so much about
people. I am a very, VERY good judge of character, I credit this to my casino
days. Also as a result of having to deal with various personalities (staff and punters) I am also incredibly thick skinned, I am rarely offended. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">One thing I didn’t understand as one who is
supervised that I do now is, the person supervising has a lot more on their
plate than the one being supervised realises. With increased responsibility comes, well, increased responsibility. While a manager needs to undertake
their own role be it manage a business and take care of
accounts/clients/debtors/creditors/staff/all of the above etc etc etc, or purely manage staff, there are a multitude
of responsibilities the supervised aren’t privy to, and won’t ever be. On any
given day a manager may have requests from clients, deadlines to meet, month
end, payroll, contracts and manuals to research and draft, and then throw in
grievances, more requests from clients and staff needs to be met. While a
manager gets remunerated accordingly for the extra work, with that comes extra
responsibilities. And often a lot of them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">While we spend half of our week at work we can
often think it is all about us, about ‘me’. Well I can assure you, it isn’t. Yes
chances are, as an employee, you make up a very large proportion of the picture,
but there is still a much <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bigger</i>
picture that involves all of the above and then some. On top of that, you may
sometimes think your boss doesn’t care, of course they do. They are just like
you, blood and bones and EVERYTHING, but they also have deadlines and demands
and surprise, surprise, a life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I have had the extreme pleasure of working with
some of the most inspiring and kindest people I have ever met. My ongoing
personal relationships with some of the staff I have supervised and managed
over the past two decades is testament to how much they have impacted on my
life during our working days together. I have grown very fond of people I have
previously (and currently) supervised, I respect the work ethic of many much younger than me
that I have had the pleasure of working with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Be kind to your boss. When you down tools and go
home to your family at the end of your day, chances are your boss is still
thinking about you well into the night. While they may not be physically able
to fix your problems instantly, they are trying. They are. And even though they
have constraints (and believe me there are always constraints) they are trying
to solve that issue for you, in their own way, in their own time. It may not be
instant or perfect to you, but they are trying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-18991484154525610662012-07-04T07:38:00.000+08:002012-07-04T07:38:33.718+08:00Photography inspiration - Krista Keltanen<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">You may be aware that I am an avid but very
amateur (ie I just wing it and have had no formal training - yet) photographer. I am in the early stages of learning about the craft that
is photography, and am inspired every day by beautiful images. One photographer
who has caught my attention is the very talented Finnish photographer
<a href="http://www.kristakeltanen.com/" target="_blank">Krista Keltanen</a>. Oh my stars, just look at her dreamy photos!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hggoDNoWfKw/T_D6mgHnDHI/AAAAAAAABX8/Ncg0UFRPSv8/s1600/voikukka_kristakeltanen_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hggoDNoWfKw/T_D6mgHnDHI/AAAAAAAABX8/Ncg0UFRPSv8/s640/voikukka_kristakeltanen_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--J7tKI_d4-g/T_D6wPuAykI/AAAAAAAABYo/mUr4W3Q61Z8/s1600/hattarla_kristakeltanen_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--J7tKI_d4-g/T_D6wPuAykI/AAAAAAAABYo/mUr4W3Q61Z8/s640/hattarla_kristakeltanen_02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rkl-tsU3cXY/T_D6o0g8fqI/AAAAAAAABYI/vxH9fIEuHqM/s1600/birthday_kristakeltanen_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rkl-tsU3cXY/T_D6o0g8fqI/AAAAAAAABYI/vxH9fIEuHqM/s640/birthday_kristakeltanen_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zEBg4vCA8TE/T_D6kFZKavI/AAAAAAAABX0/W1-o-F75FNs/s1600/krista+keltanen+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zEBg4vCA8TE/T_D6kFZKavI/AAAAAAAABX0/W1-o-F75FNs/s640/krista+keltanen+9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_Xhud7rLXc/T_D6y2vhSSI/AAAAAAAABY4/a_S0fvXVpTQ/s1600/macarons_kristakeltanen_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_Xhud7rLXc/T_D6y2vhSSI/AAAAAAAABY4/a_S0fvXVpTQ/s640/macarons_kristakeltanen_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">{Images courtesy of <a href="http://www.kristakeltanen.com/" target="_blank">Krista Keltanen</a>}</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">You can find more of Krista's beautiful images on her <a href="http://www.kristakeltanen.com/" target="_blank">website</a> and <a href="http://kristakeltanenblog.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>, and you can follow her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kristakeltanen?ref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. For your daily glimpse of whimsy I suggest you head on over there, stat! </span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-83907609746328186982012-07-02T16:11:00.000+08:002012-07-02T19:34:48.399+08:00Potato, leek & cheddar croquettes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jSMBhl6TWbs/T_FMbBRC51I/AAAAAAAABZE/wOhxbJaUrZ4/s1600/IMG_3871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jSMBhl6TWbs/T_FMbBRC51I/AAAAAAAABZE/wOhxbJaUrZ4/s640/IMG_3871.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I am crazy over mashed potato, or anything potato for that matter. I think it's the Finn in me, we love our starch. It's funny how even the smell of potatoes on the boil takes me back to my childhood. I recall watching my Mum as she peeled boiled potatoes using a knife with the potato stuck on a fork. I have no idea why I specifically remember that, it's just a vivid childhood memory. Potatoes were a regular with our meals as kids and they're still one of my favourites. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I stumbled across a croquette recipe in Masterchef Magazine and decided to create my own little recipe. Tried and tested. You’re
welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I am hooked on panko bread crumbs at the
moment, you can obviously substitute with plain bread crumbs if you don’t have
panko. I find panko so much crispier than ordinary bread crumbs. You can make your own fresh crumbs by removing the crusts off day-old bread and processing in a food processor. Also, if you are not a fan of coriander, flat leaf parsley would go well
as a substitute. I pretty much add coriander to everything!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Ingredients (makes approx 15 croquettes):<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">4 medium sized potatoes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">2 tbs butter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">2 tbs milk (if you want to be super naughty you can use cream)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">2 egg yolks, beaten</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">½</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> leek, cut lengthways and sliced finely</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">1 cup vintage cheddar, grated <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">¼ cup fresh coriander, chopped<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">½ <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span>cup plain flour</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">1 cup panko bread crumbs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Sea salt & pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Vegetable oil for frying<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Add ½ tsp salt to a pot of water and boil
potatoes in their skins until soft (15-20 mins). Once soft, peel then mash,
adding butter, milk and beaten egg yolks to create a creamy texture. I learnt a little trick from my Mum to get super creamy mashed potato, and that is to use a hand mixer to whip into a smooth blend. I use a stick blender, works perfectly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Add leek, cheese and coriander to potato mixture, season
with lashings of freshly ground sea salt and pepper and combine well. Stir in flour, then refigerate mixture for 30 minutes. Once
cool, gently roll 2 tbs of filling into an oval shape and coat with breadcrumbs.
Repeat with remainder of the mixture. Tip: do this with wet hands as stops the mixture from sticking to your hands.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Fill a small saucepan 5cm deep with oil and heat
over medium heat. Without overcrowding the pan, fry the croquettes for 3
minutes each or until golden brown, turning halfway. Remove with a slotted spoon
and drain on paper towel. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Serve. Unless like me you eat them all yourself first!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Joining in <a href="http://www.theveggiemama.com/" target="_blank">Veggie Mama's</a> Meatless Monday linky today. Do yourself a favour and head over to check out some awesome dishes! </span><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.theveggiemama.com/p/meatless-mondays.html" target="_blank" title="Veggie Mama"><img border="0" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a63/britney_jean_spears/Veggie-Mama-meatless-monday-button.jpg" /></a></center>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-4775397504269022442012-07-01T15:57:00.001+08:002012-07-01T15:57:14.563+08:00Grab life by the lapels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WAkdYWabfOc/T-_oUO0urII/AAAAAAAABXo/i1R5Vq2ARcM/s1600/photo-68.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WAkdYWabfOc/T-_oUO0urII/AAAAAAAABXo/i1R5Vq2ARcM/s400/photo-68.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Well here we are, in the second part of 2012. How
fast do the days go by?! Only eight months ago I was planning to pursue
my dream of working part time so I could focus on writing, and I now have
merely 4-6 weeks of work left. I am so very excited. <i>So</i> excited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I look back at the first half of 2012 with
extreme pride, sadness, joy, relief and happiness, so much has happened that I
am baffled at the velocity at which time flies by. I feel like I blinked and
here we are. That inspires me, the fact that time eludes us and passes by so quickly. It inspires me to make the most of every day. It
inspires me to grab life by the lapels and push fear aside to do what it is
that brings most joy into my life. I have also undergone some serious life
changes and although change is good it hasn’t always been easy. Taking each day as it
presents itself with as much positivity as I can muster is how I get by,
tomorrow is a new day and I don’t want to waste today worrying about that which
I cannot change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">The day I decided to pursue my dream I wrote <a href="http://cakecrumbsbeachsand.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/starting-today.html" target="_blank">this post</a>. “A year from now you will wish you had started today.” Even six months on
from the start of the year I am seriously chuffed I acted when I did. I would
be disappointed in myself if I reached December 2012 and I was still sitting in
the same spot, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thinking</i> about my
dream. Life is long, and I want to ensure mine is full of passion and dreams
that come to fruition, I don’t want to wake up every day and plod through life
feeling uninspired and find myself settling. I want excitement and fire in my belly, and
the only one responsible for that is me. It all starts at me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Fittingly I started my first writing course this week. I am completing my first assessment today on the first day of the other half of this year, and the rest of my life.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>If you are putting your dreams into action, what
was it that inspired you to leap?</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-86759740847690854282012-06-27T14:29:00.000+08:002012-06-27T17:39:13.903+08:00Contentment<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Some mornings I make my way down to the river
near my home and I just sit for five minutes and ponder. Clearing my head of
the rush and the craziness of the morning before I set off for work, I love to
take in the stillness of the water and just be in that very moment. It is my
five minutes where I am not preparing my child for school, or myself for work, nor am I answering phone calls or checking mail or fighting the traffic or listening to music. It is
my five minutes to just <i>be</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">This morning during my five minutes I noticed an
elderly man walking his dog. He approached me on the footpath, stopped to call
his dog, turned and smiled warmly at me, then went on his way. A few things
went through my head as I was watching him – who is he and where did he come
from? Where is he going? Is he happy, what stories could he share with me if we
sat down for an hour? What are his regrets, his joys, his loves? I often watch
elderly folks and I find myself curiously wondering what they could share about
their lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Life brings with it is so many challenges, once
we move past one challenge another fills its place. In between the challenges we
have joys and accomplishments, we have moments that will create our favourite
and most treasured memories. Our days are made up of millions of moments, some
of the smallest ones will be the ones we will remember and cherish for the rest
of our days. With all its complexities life brings with it so many miracles
that we will one day look back on with joy in our hearts and a smile on our face.
Today this gentleman had the most genuinely happy smile, he seemed content.
After everything we go through will the moment walking the dog by the river on
a cold winter morning where you smile at a stranger and mean it be the moment
you look forward to all your life? A moment of contentment, a moment of
solitude and peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />Is he content? I have no idea, but I like to think so. I look at elderly
people and often imagine they are content. I don’t imagine I would like to look
back in 30 years from now and still be worrying about what someone thought of
me way back when, or remember the anxiety I felt over a job or money or
something someone said that offended me at the time. So this makes me wonder,
why worry about those things now? Why would I waste time feeling anxious about
something I cannot change or control? Why would I stay in a situation I am
unhappy in? Every choice I make is mine, where I am right now is where I want
to be, where I have found myself through choices I myself have made. The frustrating
drivers who can’t merge on the freeway every morning won’t be significant in
any way in 30 years from now, neither will the friend who treated me badly or
the person who cut me off and took my car bay in the shopping centre carpark, so
why now? Why do we allow such seemingly insignificant incidents and people
affect us in moments when we could instead be enjoying the very things that actually mean something to us, the very things that warm our soul and make our hearts happy? This has been my thought process for some time now, and I
love the result. I don’t sweat the small stuff, I am more focused on the good
stuff and my days are much more enjoyable for it.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">In 30 years from now when I am walking the dog by the river on a cold winter morning and I turn to smile at a young lass who is sitting and enjoying her five minutes, I hope she sees how content I am.</span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-70451982378910127642012-06-24T12:36:00.004+08:002012-06-24T12:43:49.044+08:00Calm over ego<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fx4VwGgShQA/T-XFoSaBCqI/AAAAAAAABW4/RsILNq4bGnM/s1600/5150169209_136b628891_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fx4VwGgShQA/T-XFoSaBCqI/AAAAAAAABW4/RsILNq4bGnM/s640/5150169209_136b628891_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 150%;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26605933@N06/" target="_blank">Anna Inghardt</a></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I had an interesting conversation with my stylist Tanya yesterday. I enjoy our discussions. We often discuss books, what our
families are up to, culture (she is a proud Greek who oozes culture), celebrities we think are hot (Ruby Rose comes up a lot, by me) and yesterday,
self-development and behaviour. We were discussing how we handle
confrontation and conflict, and I shared with her my newly adapted approach to
handling aggressive people.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">When someone approaches me with anger and clearly
they are looking for a reaction, I have adopted this glazed over look. I just
stare at them, making serious eye contact but neither smiling nor frowning.
Just blank and expressionless. I imagine to the aggressor it’s not really
obvious if I am even present or not. Lights are on but blondie has well and
truly left the building. I wait until the rant is over, then I sit for about 10
seconds, to which I then respond, “What would you like me to do?” The reaction
I have received to this approach so far has been surprise, stutters of “um, er,
well…” and sheer confusion. You see in my opinion, as the owner of an
aggressive side in the past, someone bursting into your space with rage and a
mouthful of anger is simply looking for a punching bag, someone to cop their irate
babble. And I am sorry to say that I am not that person. Actually, I am not
even that sorry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">On my own little journey of self-development over
the years I have learnt something very valuable. No-one can make me feel a
certain way. How I react to someone’s words, opinions or actions is totally
within <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> control. No person can <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">make</i> me feel anything. So when someone
approaches me with aggression looking for someone to blame their anger on, I
make it clear with nothing more than a blank expression on my face that they
got it wrong. I am not the reason, be it direct or otherwise, for them feeling angry. They choose to be angry. And if it is over the way I acted, still their
choice to be angry. I can apologise for my behaviour if I did wrong, but I will
never, ever accept I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">made</i> someone feel
a certain way. You know I can’t make you feel angry, right? Right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">In my 20s I was very fiery natured. I had a hot
temper and I could fly off the handle within seconds over the smallest of
incident. Over the past few years however I have found myself mellowing, a lot.
Recently a very laidback friend told me I am very ‘laidback’. I know I am, but
it still surprises me coming from someone who is mellow themselves, as I always
remember how feisty I used to be. My mellowness even surprises me sometimes. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Tanya asked me if I have always
handled confrontation so calmly, and I told her I haven’t. I know from my
own experiences that handling it in a calm manner feels best. When you allow
yourself to be overcome by emotion as a result of someone else’s aggressiveness
you gain nothing. Ego wants us to respond, ego wants us to argue, ego wants us
to ‘win’. But you know what, I am more than happy to let the aggressor
‘win’ if it means not responding or engaging. I’ll take inner calm over victory for the ego any day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-70934401134367182922012-06-22T20:48:00.002+08:002012-06-22T22:07:24.878+08:00Winter beauty<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I think winter sends people a little batty. By
people, I mean me. I have long loathed winter. The chill in the air, the way it
makes skin dry, noses runny, bones achy and folks sickly. I much prefer the
sexiness that is summer – bronzed shoulders glistening in the sun, shorts, sandals
and legs out. This tights-every-day, scarf-covering-neck, long-sleeves, heater-on
bizzo is just plain annoying. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">But last year I made a pact with myself
that I would no longer whinge about the cold. There is absolutely nothing I can
do about it, it will roll on every year, same time, same place, so what is
really the point of complaining? I can’t do much about it. Unless of course I
move to the tropics, but that’s another story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I spent three years living in the tropics and
have long escaped our cold climate to head to where the beach is. I was born a
summer baby, I have loved the heat from as long as I can remember. As a kid I
would spend the entire summer running around in my bikini, I loved everything
that epitomises summer. Still do. So when winter kicks in and I find myself
shivering from the cold and my bones ache no matter how rugged up I am, my neck burdened by permanent pain (from a childhood neck injury) and the only relief I have
is codeine and a mountain of blankets over socks, scarf, jammies, hoodie and
whatever else I can find that looks warm, my head kicks into glum overdrive. I
can’t help it. I try not to let the climate control my mood but by God I get
grumpy. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">This morning was a particularly crappy morning, you know the one where
you’re running late for school for the fifth day in a row (what IS it with this
week), you realise all too late that there is no bread for lunches (who put the bread back into the freezer with crusts only - oh wait, that'd be me), your skirt needs
ironing but then you discover it is marked with caked on washing powder so you have to spot
clean it, your car has no fuel and it’s SO FREAKING COLD your fingers could very
well snap off as you lock the front door. And then you drive around the corner
to see this:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4CekU6tafJs/T-R7_MvcnGI/AAAAAAAABWs/Z4FhXz8Gzco/s1600/photo-65.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4CekU6tafJs/T-R7_MvcnGI/AAAAAAAABWs/Z4FhXz8Gzco/s640/photo-65.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W0Gwiu_CwLk/T-RiryXea7I/AAAAAAAABWQ/l1yAjWrGFWE/s1600/photo-63.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W0Gwiu_CwLk/T-RiryXea7I/AAAAAAAABWQ/l1yAjWrGFWE/s640/photo-63.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;">The stillest, calmest, most beautiful sight for tired eyes. Maybe I could appreciate winter beauty after all.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Have a fabulous weekend people. You will find me snuggled up on the lounge, heater on, head hidden among layers of scarf. If you're lucky you might find me lurking around the river, but I guarantee you won't find me whinging. Well at least not out loud.</span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-53174177777045091882012-06-20T17:55:00.000+08:002012-06-20T18:09:41.550+08:00What the world doesn't see<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YRCN10x-TM/T-Fs0vxAdzI/AAAAAAAABWE/bnbelmwhqvo/s1600/6121574305_66c5c44ea0_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YRCN10x-TM/T-Fs0vxAdzI/AAAAAAAABWE/bnbelmwhqvo/s640/6121574305_66c5c44ea0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/annakwilliams/" target="_blank">Annak Williams</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">As sure as the sun rises each morning I make a
conscious decision about how my day will roll out. Wake up, open eyes, choose.
It is my choice despite circumstances, events or the way people will treat me as
the day moves along. My choice.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Some days it is all too hard. Tired, plain
exhausted, deflated. Using every ounce of energy to make it positive takes up
way too much energy. Every so often I have a day where for once, just once, I
would love to hide away from the world and my pain and grief and uncertainty under the refuge of my doona, resurfacing only to gasp for air before
submerging again. I don’t. I get up, shower my blues away and cry in the mirror
as I apply the smile on my face that the world deserves to see when I walk out
my front door. The world doesn’t see my pain, my grief, my uncertainty, I leave
that behind in the deep confines of my soul tucked away for another day. The
world only sees my smile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Everyone has their own struggles, I know this all
too well. During one of my darkest moments my brother rang me and asked how I
was doing, just out of the blue. I don’t often share my sadness, I rather keep
it welled up inside revealing itself only to me on those mornings when I least
expect it. I mostly hate sharing my self-pity with him, my strong, fearless
brother who found himself in a wheelchair, changing life as he knew it for
38 years. How pathetic of me to whine to him about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> pain, what would I know about pain? Rationally, I know it is all
relative, but I genuinely feel guilty sharing anything but my gratitude for my
able-bodied life with him. I do however tell him. He reassures me all will be
okay. I believe him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Some days are just tough, man. Trying to summon
the will to see the good in life and to ignore the bad. The bad is always present,
but when it festers and manifests in the good parts of the mind it’s hard to
see past it. It’s always how we view it, what we choose to focus on. It’s as
simple and as painfully complex as that. But if someone was to say that to me as
I am clawing around for a glimpse of positivity in my head on those mornings, I
wouldn’t see it. On those mornings I want relief, not perspective. I want
escape not reality. I want goddamn peace. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Tomorrow is a new day. The sun brings with it a
new choice, a new battle. How I choose to live it is still up to me. I will try
to ignore the deep-seeded exhaustion from the ever-lingering grief that rears its ugly head and the questions it brings with it. I will try with all my might to exude gratitude for my able-bodied and simple, beautiful life. And as I walk out my front door the world will see
nothing but the smile that hides away my pain. Just like it does every other day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-52810910565345546342012-06-19T07:39:00.000+08:002012-06-19T07:39:30.267+08:00Sidewalk escape<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-2338576850631858682012-06-17T22:09:00.001+08:002012-06-20T18:33:31.104+08:00Dreams of a wannabe work-at-home-mum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/heidiphotography/" target="_blank">Heidi Furre</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I just realised the immensity of my very recent life changing decision. I’ve worked full time all my adult life so I don’t even know what it’s like to be at home midweek. Even on the odd occasion I have had the opportunity to traipse through the supermarket during the day midweek, I have smiled at how novel it all feels. The other day, after realising just how exciting this move from fulltime to very part-time is going to be, I started to comprehend the extent of my newfound freedom. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">No longer working full time means I will have no more stress about trying to find school holiday care. NO MORE PALMING MY CHILD OFF EVERY DAY ON SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. That means for 14 weeks per year I won’t have to arrange childcare. It amounts to approximately 70 days that I won’t have to wake my child up early to race him out the door, on his ‘holidays’, to go some place else. He can sleep in and spend days in his pjs. I just realised the immensity of the decision I have made.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">My days won’t be ruled so much by ‘time’. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Sure I will have to get my child to school <i>on time</i> but aside from that, I am going to start living by the seat of my pants, my pyjama pants. I dream of drinking my morning coffee for however the hell long I want. I intend on staying in my pjs until noon, although I won’t be looking at the clock so who really knows what time I’ll change out of them. I'll eat boiled eggs for breakfast. I’ll eat lunch when I am hungry, and not necessarily at ‘lunchtime’. I’ll simply set an alarm for school pick up time, everything in between will be done as and when I please.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Less morning routine (thank you oh sweet Universe). School pick-ups. Catching up midweek with friends. More time to write. NANA NAPS! My dog might actually get walked. Dinner cooked before 6pm. Dinner cooked full stop. I can read books midweek (well I never!). Midweek tradesmen appointments. No Mondayitis (THIS, I will celebrate each and every Monday forevermore). Getting home before dark in winter. No more peak hour traffic. Trackies and ugg boots days. Makeup free days. Midweek housecleaning (I know I know, how exciting can cleaning be? – it won’t take up one of my two days off on weekends anymore is how).</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I can’t explain just how excited I am. I have dreamt about being at home during the week for years. The last couple of years it has consumed my every day, I have been envious of SAHMs and have been consciously sending the universe a little message that I too, would love to spend more time at home. It just dawned on me the other day that I will soon be a WAHM. Not that I am a big fan of labels, but you know, WAHM is one I am happy to wear.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Now, where are my pjs.</span></div>
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</div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-11726723940542446292012-06-13T22:07:00.002+08:002012-06-20T18:34:50.836+08:00In the land of my dreams<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywVMUBroWIA/T9iVMxn3CmI/AAAAAAAABRY/BYitATPLNAY/s1600/5044064185_2560f869e4_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywVMUBroWIA/T9iVMxn3CmI/AAAAAAAABRY/BYitATPLNAY/s640/5044064185_2560f869e4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; line-height: 19px;">Image by </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #343434; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26605933@N06/" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';" target="_blank">Anna Inghardt</a></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff3366;">"Even
if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit
there." ~Will Rogers</span></span></blockquote>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I am so inspired. That fire in the belly I wrote
about <a href="http://cakecrumbsbeachsand.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/change.html" target="_blank">here</a> is roaring with gusto and life. The spark has been ignited like never before and is
burning bright. I can see the path ahead of me, clear as day. I don’t know where it leads to but I do know it will be full of excitement and inspiration. I don’t
know how I know, I just do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">No more than a week ago I got the great news that
I could reduce my full time day job down to part time, very part time as in two
days a week. The spare days I would usually be working will be spent pursuing my love of writing. I have to admit I am not rolling in money, nor am I probably even
going to be able to cover my living expenses on time at the start, but somehow
I am not afraid. I am nervous with excitement, but not afraid. I was more
afraid of not taking the leap and slowly dying inside living as is expected rather than how I truly want to. A wise friend told me
that when we follow our authentic self and do what our heart truly desires, the
money will follow. I liked that statement, I trust it. Strangely I am not
afraid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">In less than a week I have booked myself into a
writing course that commences in less than two weeks. I sat staring at the screen about
to register myself and for a split second my false self threw in the thought
of “but, it’s so soon, will you have time?” I immediately clicked on the 'register' button. My false self has no place here in the land of my dreams. No place. I
also have a photography course booked with a very dear friend of mine. We will
spend the day out and about with photographers, learning and being inspired. I like where this
is heading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">So if you wake up one day and your false self
taunts you saying you cannot follow your dreams, tell it to rack off. Of course you
can. I am. And I have no back up plan, no secret savings account to fall back
on, no rich daddy to throw money my way when things get tight. But I do have
the fire in my belly. And I can assure you, that fire makes me feel more alive
than security ever did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-24324710525342908062012-06-11T21:31:00.000+08:002012-06-12T18:10:28.938+08:00Upside down mushroom tart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3FO7ojGJTg/T9Rx1hxIB5I/AAAAAAAABQw/r-bIObqCDPU/s1600/IMG_3541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I am so very fortunate, I get to manage the
social media for a small business that I adore. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Lettuce-Shop/285223281501?ref=ts" target="_blank">The Lettuce Shop</a> are purveyors
of fresh fruit and veg, delivering quality local and Australian produce to appreciative foodies of Perth. As
part of my very fortunate role I get to take photos of food. Photos. Food.
Match made in foodie heaven.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">On the weekend I decided to try an upside down mushroom
tart as featured <a href="http://www.powerofmushrooms.com.au/mushroom-recipe/upside-down-mushroom-tart-nc-246-153-12/" target="_blank">here</a>, with the intention of sharing it in this week’s
newsletter for The Lettuce Shop’s customers. It was so good I just HAD to share
it here. You’re welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oya17RcJm2U/T9SLtI1tEfI/AAAAAAAABQ8/-8wFmlsV34c/s1600/IMG_3563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oya17RcJm2U/T9SLtI1tEfI/AAAAAAAABQ8/-8wFmlsV34c/s640/IMG_3563.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Ingredients:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">1 tbs olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">1 leek, thinly sliced<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">2 cloves garlic, crushed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">8 large button mushrooms, stalks cut<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">6 sprigs thyme<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">100g soft goats cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">2 sheets puff pastry, thawed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Wild rocket to serve<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Preheat oven at 200C. Heat oil in a medium sized
ovenproof frying pan over medium heat. Fry leek and garlic for 3 minutes until
soft. Add thyme and mushrooms stalk side down, cook for a further 5 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Cut both pastry sheets into a circle shape big
enough to cover the contents of the frying pan. Stick both sheets together,
spread half of the goats cheese over one side of the pastry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Remove frying pan from heat, place pastry sheets,
cheese side down, over the top of the mushroom/leek mix in the pan, tuck edges
under to resemble a pie. Transfer the pan into the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes until the
pastry is golden in colour and puffy. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Place a board or pizza peel over the top of the
pan and invert, turning the tart upside down on the board. Crumble the
remaining goats cheese over the top and garnish with rocket. Season with pepper
and serve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Gorgeous served with salad.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"> </span></div>
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<br />Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-46169983806297280322012-06-09T10:36:00.000+08:002012-06-11T22:34:27.846+08:00Who Am I?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dkk5RoFMybY/T9Kzq-ZZ-AI/AAAAAAAABQU/xvoUkSNF4RU/s1600/7336524160_a9a7f40898_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dkk5RoFMybY/T9Kzq-ZZ-AI/AAAAAAAABQU/xvoUkSNF4RU/s640/7336524160_a9a7f40898_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 150%;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46799990@N04/" target="_blank">Theo Gosselin</a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Today <a href="http://www.edenriley.com/2012/06/who-hell-are-you.html" target="_blank">Eden</a> posed the question “Who are you?” as
part of her Fresh Horses Brigade. I like horses. My dad promised me a horse as
a kid. I didn’t get one. And I have absolutely no hang ups about that. That’s
probably one quality I like about myself, I forgive easily. I’m too busy living
to hold grudges. Why carry all that unnecessary baggage around in my head over
something I cannot change? I probably would have lost interest in the horse
anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I ask myself this “who am I” question every day.
Last week sitting curled up on the couch watching TV and eating greasy takeaway
I wondered who the hell I was. I don’t curl up on the couch, I don't watch TV, I don’t eat greasy takeaway.
But apparently I do. And then I remembered what my best friend told me
recently, about me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I don’t do things by halves. I am either all in
or running off without so much as a ‘catch ya’. This, I understand, makes me
appear complex to others who don't know me so well. I find it hard to keep an active social circle going as I am
knee deep into my few close friendships that I find it hard to devote my heart
and soul fully to others. So I don’t. I just don’t do things by halves. So
while I am talking to you, I am talking to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i>.
I won’t say yes to spending time with someone unless I really want to. I won’t
attend a function to be seen, or to make my Facebook check-ins look awesome. I
have to really want to go, or I don’t. I’m just not a half-assed kinda gal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">This gun-ho or go-home attitude is often my enemy. I loathe
alcohol and what it does to people so don’t touch it for months. Next thing I
am wondering if one small vodka at breakfast time is okay. I avoid eating meat
for six months, now I can’t get enough of it. I can’t stand the thought of
being away from home outside of work hours so hibernate for six months, next
thing my feet are itchy and all I want to do is go out, go out, go out. I hate TV, then I watch TV. I feel like a walking contradiction at times, I want to do
things in a balanced manner, I do. But I just don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I work my ass off and hate it. I don’t want to
work anymore. I want to retire and spend my afternoons in Miller Fashion Club
white ¾ cut-offs and trim rose bushes in the afternoon sun with a full face of
make up and primped hair. I want to feel mature, I don’t want to grow up. I’m
an escape artist, I run at the first sign of trouble. I hate drama, I avoid it.
If you bring drama into my life I will also avoid you. I am drawn to creative
creatures and people who get things done. I myself am a doer, ties in nicely
with the whole ‘not half-assed’ thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">It has taken me many years to see myself as I am.
Sometimes I am still unsure. Recently a stranger told me she thought I was very
grounded after reading my blog. I smiled to myself, I really wanted to believe her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I remember in my mid 30s I felt really quite
disconnected from others my age, I felt as though I was slightly behind the
eight ball in terms of maturity, wanting to be more responsible and sensible.
Now at 41 I want to be less responsible and maybe even slightly reckless. I
guess that’s where the vodka for breakfast idea jumps in.</span></div>
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<center><a href="http://www.edenriley.com/"><img alt="Edenland's Fresh Horses Brigade" src="http://lizosaurus.com/EdensFreshHorses.jpg" /></a></center>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-17933671145344348762012-06-08T20:30:00.000+08:002012-06-20T18:35:30.566+08:00So I leapt<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OXStuCZQMYM/T9Hshjg_P1I/AAAAAAAABQI/6InTnpErUcM/s1600/3569463819_60fba663cd_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OXStuCZQMYM/T9Hshjg_P1I/AAAAAAAABQI/6InTnpErUcM/s640/3569463819_60fba663cd_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26605933@N06/" target="_blank">Anna Inghardt</a></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Today was monumental. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I have been talking for a while about putting my dream into motion. I made the conscious decision to act on my dream 7 months ago, as I wrote <a href="http://cakecrumbsbeachsand.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/leap.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I couldn’t share too much earlier on about how I would achieve my dream as the bulk of how it would eventuate was relying on my full time job. I don’t blog about my job, I keep my personal and work life very separate, and my blog is about me on a personal level. I rarely talk about my day once I leave the office let alone write about it. However to share my joyous news I am going to partially break my own no-talking-about-work pact.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">To give you an insight, I co-own a small business. I also work there full time. I have worked full time since I left high school, some ten years ago. Ok, over two decades ago (I’m 41, yeah whatever). 23 years to be exact, 23 years of full time employment. I am exhausted. I’m done. I am sociable by nature so I love going in to spend the day with my colleagues and staff, but I have reached a point where I simply want to be home more. I want to not have to spend five mornings a week rushing around preparing for my day in the office. I don't want to ride that treadmill anymore, jumping on as the alarm goes off and jumping off at bedtime every weeknight. I didn’t take maternity leave or have a year at home after my son was born, I went back to work weeks after his birth. I have missed assemblies and school excursions. I haven’t had the opportunity to pick my child up from school every day. I haven’t had the opportunity to be able to cook dinner before 6pm on weekdays. I haven’t had the opportunity to come home after the school run and enjoy my morning coffee or make my bed at a leisurely pace rather than flinging the doona over as I am trying to find something to wear. I’ve missed all that. My choice, but it hasn’t been easy.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Enter my blog. I started my blog on a whim July last year and it has been the catalyst for me realising my love of writing. I came to the realisation last year that the one thing I want to do every day is write. I want to focus on myself, my home and my child. I want to focus on spending my day pleasing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> soul. I am not a ‘carer’ by nature (you know, those kinds of people who just love to mother others and love to go out of their way to make sure others are happy?) and yet I have wound up in roles whereby the majority of my responsibility was caring for others and ensuring others' needs were met. Now it’s my turn.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />Today I received the best news I could have imagined. My request to change my full time management role to a part-time business role, two days a week, was granted. I cannot tell you how happy my heart is. I can’t even start to imagine what this means for me and my dream. I will have three days (maybe two, I might give myself an extra day off) to concentrate on my writing. I can take photos and get stuck into my love of food photography. I might even do that graphic design course I have been dreaming of. And I can attend school assembly if I want and pick my child up from school. I can shower at noon if I like. I probably will.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I felt terribly scared of this move when I first started to think about it. What if I don’t get enough work, what if I can’t pay my mortgage? I will, somehow I will. All I know is that if I continued on doing what my heart was no longer passionate about I would slowly die inside. And my creative soul wasn’t letting me get away with that.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">So I leapt.</span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-43663514509268977072012-06-07T20:14:00.000+08:002012-06-20T18:35:43.798+08:00Leap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uPVtddAe_jM/T9CZCcoq8fI/AAAAAAAABP8/DYyWAYZzhaQ/s1600/7187703050_083bcca880_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uPVtddAe_jM/T9CZCcoq8fI/AAAAAAAABP8/DYyWAYZzhaQ/s640/7187703050_083bcca880_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/silviasaniphotos/" target="_blank">Silvia Sani</a></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I am a dreamer, always have been. I used to
whittle away hours daydreaming as a kid. Eden (my favourite blogger of all time
y’all!) from over at <a href="http://www.edenriley.com/2012/06/this-here-life.html" target="_blank">Edenland</a> recently wrote "I don't like the physical world .. I much prefer the world inside us." </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I love how her words make
sense. I wouldn’t have been able to articulate that very feeling, but Eden did.
Perfectly. I hibernate inside my own head a lot of the time, the real world is
too negative a place for me at times. And too real.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Most recently I have put my dreaming to good use.
I woke up one day about 7 months ago (16 November 2011 to be exact - I penned the date down) and
realised the dreams I have need traction. The dreams I have will remain only as
dreams unless I do something about it. The dreams I have are in fact attainable
and the only thing stopping me, is me. So I grabbed a pen and paper, and simply wrote down my dreams. Just like that. I wrote them as they fell out of
my head, in dot point form, without pause. No frills. No pretty doodling to
make it look fancy, just blue ink on white paper. My dreams in words. I wrote two things I want
to do, a list of what I need to do to get there, and some driving words. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I looked back at my dreams scrawled on paper today and realised I have
done exactly what I set out to do. Fast forward seven months and every choice I
have made has been with my dreams in mind. I have made a seriously, SERIOUSLY
scary career altering decision that will change everything that gives me
financial security and financial freedom. It will change my life as I have
known it for the past 23 years, the time that I have worked full time. It will
freak the shit out of me the day I leap without wings, thinking about it makes
the pit of my stomach bubble with excitement, nervous excitement. But they’re
my dreams and I want them to materialise into reality. So as terrifying as the
thought is, I need to leap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I often talk of chasing dreams. It has been the
essence of my thought process for years now, wanting to wake up in the morning
and feel excitement at what my ‘working’ day has in store. Real, gut churning excitement. Wanting to do
what my heart truly desires – write.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">And then I get an email advising a magazine
article I submitted recently will be published next month. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Suddenly leaping
doesn’t seem so scary anymore.</span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-51816556419171029022012-06-05T22:18:00.000+08:002012-06-24T12:48:35.224+08:00Calm my beating heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UddH4qQpkyA/T8jYdExPQlI/AAAAAAAABPQ/RTgfx0mVFPU/s1600/Peace.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UddH4qQpkyA/T8jYdExPQlI/AAAAAAAABPQ/RTgfx0mVFPU/s640/Peace.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by me</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Inner calm is a state I have been trying to
achieve for some years. I was thinking last week, in the midst of a crazy, busy
few months, how much calmer I actually am these days. Situations that would
have bothered me in the past really don't cause me stress these days, no matter
how chaotic my day may be. I haven’t always been this calm though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">For most of my adult life I have been a stress
head. Having an overactive imagination and being a deep thinker is a recipe for
disaster when it comes to maintaining a calm state of mind. I could work up a
mere thought into an imaginary dilemma of disastrous proportions, only to realise days
later it was all in my head. It’s both amazing and ridiculous how the mind can
detour and take us places beyond reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Developing a calm state of mind has been years in
the process for me. Therapy, meditation, deep breathing and most importantly, learning to avoid drama and building on inner strength. It is amazing what crap
we can avoid when we remove ego and pride from our thought process by approaching difficult and emotion driven situations with a level of detachment. By
detachment I don’t mean not caring for others or others’ situations, but not
getting emotionally involved and not taking on others’ emotions is key when it comes to maintaining inner calm. By not allowing outside
influences affect our emotions and reactions we are less inclined to worry about circumstances we don’t need to be concerned about. Obviously this is not as simple when it comes to our loved ones as it is natural to be affected by situations involving our family, however I've found by approaching problems of those I am not so close to with a level of 'sympathetic detachment', my days are much less drama-filled. And calmer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I have discovered that with inner calm comes
inner balance. By removing emotion from situations and approaching them with
reason and sensible awareness, we have the ability to approach such situations with a clear head and a sense of peace and tranquility. I have no interest in knowing why others make choices
or what drives them to act in a negative manner. I have found that by detaching
from negative scenarios I don’t take on the negativity. Feels good. Feels
liberating. I can walk away smiling with calm in my heart and soul. Sure beats
the days of painting a picture in my head that would create unnecessary drama
in my day. And in our somewhat troubled and sometimes chaotic world my soul loves the
peace that I create for it.</span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-86726765311769192592012-06-03T11:22:00.001+08:002012-06-11T22:35:26.197+08:00Summer dreaming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y8fzp3Gqv_s/T8rVUJpr2MI/AAAAAAAABPw/8bfdFeSUXZE/s1600/Untitledkustom2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y8fzp3Gqv_s/T8rVUJpr2MI/AAAAAAAABPw/8bfdFeSUXZE/s640/Untitledkustom2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by <a href="http://www.alimitton.com/" target="_blank">Ali Mitton</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I know I am missing summer when I start dreaming
about the ocean.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Last night I dreamt that I perched myself on
someone’s beautifully manicured lawn in a beautiful leafy suburb. I unfolded a
chair and just sat myself down. Within moments an Owen Wilson look-alike rocked
up. He was skateboarding on the street in front of me, his blonde tousled locks
bouncing around happily in the sun. Then a blonde European tourist turned up,
(how do we know the background of people in our dreams?) and another, and
before I knew it there was a friendly street party taking place in the middle
of the day on some stranger’s front lawn under the shade of big, leafy trees. I
was recording the summer capers on my iPhone, taking photos of smiling faces
and the sun glistening on the bronzed shoulders of the European tourists. They
were skateboarding and dancing to summer tunes, smiling faces filling up the
lawn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Before I woke up the party wound up in the ocean.
Owen Wilson’s doppelgänger and the blonde tourists were riding the waves.
Suddenly my nephew was present – might have something to do with the fact I
spend a lot of time at the beach with him – and we were laughing and smiling at
the antics of a few friendly dogs paddling around us. Dogs? Yeah I know, no
idea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">My dream ended among summer smiles and splashing surf, it
was the epitome of summer bliss as it is in my real world. I woke up realising
it was in fact still winter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I miss summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-4746960698023494072012-05-27T15:09:00.000+08:002012-06-24T12:49:16.806+08:00In the clouds<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F9o7IGGlcqM/T8HRgtGteTI/AAAAAAAABO4/WETuw20AkNY/s1600/IMG_3237-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F9o7IGGlcqM/T8HRgtGteTI/AAAAAAAABO4/WETuw20AkNY/s640/IMG_3237-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by me</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">As a perceptive person I can tend to take on
moods of others too easily. It bothers me, I hate it. I try my hardest to side
step bad moods radiating from people around me however in the past I have found
it hard to ignore them. I am not sure why others’ moods affect me so much, I
have often wondered why I let them. I think it may have something to do with
wanting everyone around me to be happy. And perhaps I am sensitive by nature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">It’s a fact that we create our own environment.
Think negative and you’ll feel negative. It's disconcerting how much of an impact a person’s
demeanour can have on those around them. Put one negative character in a group of
people and watch their negativity spread to another. This is how gossip and
negative banter ensues, one person starts and others jump in. It’s a vicious
cycle and one I try very hard to steer away from. It’s not always easy though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I try very hard to teach my son to see the bright
side of all situations. Sometimes
letting him acknowledge something isn’t fun or happy is essential though, life
won’t always sprout daisies and sunshine. The reality is there are situations
that make us sad, or situations we cannot avoid or alter. Accepting that is
part of life, and I think will only reduce the expectation that every minute
has to be amazing. However when it comes to being positive I am a huge advocate
of glass half full. If I can see light in a tough situation I will focus on
that rather than the darkness. I try to instill this approach in my son. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Negativity is destructive. It sucks good energy
and takes up space where creativity and joy should live. Negativity breeds
negativity, it manifests in all other areas of our lives if we feed it and
allow it to reside in our day. I believe it is a trait of a limited mind. While
one is wasting time focusing on being negative they are missing out on all that
is wondrous around them. Wouldn’t it be much more enjoyable to seek out the
positive and focus on that? I think so. Quite simply a smile feels more joyous
than a frown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">So how do we avoid negativity and not let it
impact on us? I have worked hard on this for a few years now and I feel I am
getting quite constructive at managing negativity around me. Essentially what I
remember is this: I cannot control how those around me act, however how I react
is totally in my control. Not reacting, rather responding, to negative people
is the key for me. In the first instance I will always avoid. I am not one for
sweeping issues aside and much prefer to resolve problems, but I am all for
avoiding negativity. It’s destructive in my opinion and serves me absolutely no
purpose. My creative soul loathes it. I run a mile. But if I cannot avoid it
and it surrounds me, I don’t react. I smile, I offer constructive solutions (if
the negativity is a result of an issue) and I simply avoid taking on the
emotions attached and focus on the facts. It sounds easy in theory and has
taken a lot of practice on my part, but I can gladly say I have become quite
the master at avoiding negativity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Back to head up in the clouds for me. The world
looks amazing from up here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-9831976074459079352012-05-25T21:58:00.002+08:002012-05-25T22:09:41.582+08:00How to be alone<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/k7X7sZzSXYs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">By <a href="http://www.tanyadavis.ca/fr_home.cfm">Tanya Davis</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">If you are at first
lonely, be patient. If you've not been alone much, or if when you were, you
weren't okay with it, then just wait. You'll find it's fine to be alone once
you're embracing it.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">We could start with
the acceptable places, the bathroom, the coffee shop, the library. Where you
can stall and read the paper, where you can get your caffeine fix and sit and
stay there. Where you can browse the stacks and smell the books. You're not
supposed to talk much anyway so it's safe there. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">There's also the
gym. If you're shy you can hang out with yourself in mirrors, you could put
headphones in. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">And there's public
transportation, because we all gotta go places. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">And there's prayer
and meditation. No one will think less if you're hanging with your breath, seeking peace and salvation.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Start simple. Things
you may have previously avoided based on your avoid being alone principals. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">The lunch counter.
Where you will be surrounded by chow-downers. Employees that only have an hour
and their spouses work across town and so they - like you - will be alone. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Resist the urge to
hang out with your cell phone. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">When you are
comfortable with eat, lunch and run, take yourself out for dinner. A restaurant
with linen and silverware. You're no less intriguing a person when you're
eating solo dessert to cleaning the whipped cream from the dish with your
finger. In fact, some people at full tables will wish they were where you were. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Go to the movies, where it is dark and soothing. Alone in your seat amidst a fleeting
community. And then, take yourself out dancing to a club where no one
knows you. Stand on the outside of the floor until the lights convince you more
and more and the music shows you. Dance like no one's watching...because,
they're probably not. And, if they are, assume it is with best of human
intentions. The way bodies move genuinely to beats is, after all, gorgeous and
affecting. Dance until you're sweating, and beads of perspiration remind you of
life's best things, down your back like a brook of blessings. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Go to the woods
alone, and the trees and squirrels will watch for you. Go to an unfamiliar
city, roam the streets, there’re always statues to talk to and benches made for
sitting give strangers a shared existence if only for a minute and these
moments can be so uplifting and the conversations you get in by sitting alone
on benches might've never happened had you not been there by yourself.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Society is afraid of
alonedom, like lonely hearts are wasting away in basements, like people must
have problems if, after a while, nobody is dating them. But lonely is a freedom
that breaths easy and weightless and lonely is healing if you make it.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">You could stand,
swathed by groups and mobs or hold hands with your partner, look both further
and farther in the endless quest for company. But no one's in your head, and by
the time you translate your thoughts some essence of them may be lost or
perhaps it is just kept. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">Perhaps in the
interest of loving oneself, perhaps all those sappy slogans from preschool over
to high school's groaning were tokens for holding the lonely at bay. Cos if
you're happy in your head then solitude is blessed and alone is okay. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">It's okay if no one
believes like you. All experience is unique, no one has the same synapses,
can't think like you, for this be relieved, keeps things interesting, life’s
magic things in reach. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">And it doesn't mean
you aren't connected, that community’s not present, just take the perspective
you get from being one person in one head and feel the effects of it. Take
silence and respect it. If you have an art that needs a practice, stop
neglecting it. If your family doesn't get you, or a religious sect is not meant
for you, don't obsess about it. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">You could be in an
instant surrounded if you need it.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">If your heart is
bleeding make the best of it.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit;">There is
heat in freezing, be a testament.</span></span></div>
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</div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4399105551382451067.post-42008964517678823932012-05-22T10:07:00.000+08:002012-06-11T22:35:55.627+08:00Upward<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GyY97hzXEv0/T7rx4t0FdAI/AAAAAAAABOs/wVAMBTFZtYc/s1600/6037165798_f25af506ce_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GyY97hzXEv0/T7rx4t0FdAI/AAAAAAAABOs/wVAMBTFZtYc/s640/6037165798_f25af506ce_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46799990@N04/" target="_blank">Theo Gosselin</a></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Friendships can be a tricky thing. Most grievances I
hear from others are about misunderstandings with friends, brought about mostly
by disappointment in another when expectations are not met. I don’t like
expectations. Expectations only ever lead to disappointment. I approach
my friendships differently, I never, ever expect anything. And in return I
always find I am pleasantly surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">I have had the same four best friends for all of
my adult life. They are very different characters, with very different
backgrounds and upbringings. Each of them brings joy into my life in their own
very unique way. One friend I can share my deepest fears and secrets with. We
can whittle away hours and hours just talking and laughing and sharing. She is
the one who gets me, who <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really </i>gets
me. And she celebrates who I am without judgement, in fact she encourages even
my silliest sides. I can call her in despair and an hour later she has reminded
me of the good in any situation or consoled me through the bad. Another friend
I’ve known since birth. She knows absolutely everything about my childhood and
why I am the person I am today. We have history, she is the one familiar thing
throughout my entire life along with my family. My third bestie is a crazy girl
who I met and loved instantly as a naive and untravelled 23 year old. She would be one of my soul mates, I have learned
so many life lessons from her. She was by my side during one of my darkest
times of my 20s and she single-handedly kept my head above water. We don’t talk for months and yet when we
get on the phone it’s like I saw her yesterday. We have been to some crazy places and done some crazy things. A true, lifelong mate. My
fourth best friend is an inspiration, she aspires to be herself and I love that
about her. We connect in a way best friends do, we just do. All four of these
girls bring something into my life like no other, they are all unique and I
often think how amazingly fortunate I am that they choose to be around me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">From my mid 20s I started to rely less on
relationships. I started to enjoy my own company and found I didn’t need to be
with another to be happy. Over the years I have found I enjoy my own company
more and more. I love to sit at a café on my own, I like going to the cinema
solo, and I can walk into a bar on my own and spend an hour by myself. No
problem, I enjoy it. I often notice people rely heavily on others and find
comfort in numbers, that’s not a bad thing, but it’s the total opposite to me.
Whereby I love to spend hours with girlfriends and always walk away wiser and
happier for it, I don’t need to be with others to enjoy my time. Christopher
McCandless aka Supertramp hit the nail on the head for me with this quote: “You
are wrong if you think that the joy of life comes principally from the joy of
human relationships. God’s place is all around us, it is in everything and in
anything we can experience. People just need to change the way they look at
things.” This resonates heavily with me. I think the expectation of others to
make us happy is only going to wind up in disappointment. Friendships will
sweeten the ride sure, but they shouldn’t be the basis of happiness in our
day-to-day lives. Well so I think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">When I hit 40 I started to realise I disliked
drama. I made a conscious effort to remove anything toxic from my life. There
are some people and situations we cannot avoid, granted. However if I have the
power to not involve myself in someone else’s drama then that’s what I will do.
I avoid drama. I avoid grumblings and negativity and moods. God I hate moods. I
have little time for the niceness one minute and the grumps the next, I avoid
that too. And one thing I really learned when I hit 40 was that it is totally
in my power to choose who I want to be around. Those folks that constantly
complain about their life but do little to change it? Avoid. Those folks that
gossip incessantly about their loved ones? Avoid. Those folks that belittle
others to satisfy their own insecurities? Avoid. And it really is that simple.
Your life, your power, your choice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">As I grow up (I am still growing) I realise time
truly is precious. I don’t want to devote my time to toxic friendships or toxic
people, I just don’t. And that’s okay, that’s my choice. I want to navigate my
life in the direction of all that is warm and sincere. I strive to be that way
myself, and I believe you do get what you dish out. So while I am not perfect,
in fact far from it, I am learning, I am trying. And it is nice to know I have
such beautiful, sincere friends holding my hand along the way.</span></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17598892582207477663noreply@blogger.com14