Day 272

Might have missed the boat this arvo, but started the day right and grateful that it was a productive one. Yes good mental attitude is like an inoculation against those stress viruses we may face on a daily basis.

How do we get this in a busy world........take time to step back, self-reflection (honest), know your Achilles heel, identify your strengths and see others, show appreciation to your colleagues (belief in someone is important here), if doubt self-reflect with a trusted friend/colleague.

Day 271

No scenic tour today on the river today, very focused crew on the water who pushed them self’s and put effort in to every part of the session. Technique; on the water horses, land training and on the water. No one wanting to be the first to say .............are we there yet.

Was grateful for the energy and commitment the crew put in, that’s what it is about going the bit further when you think you cannot. Training and skill is 91% of the work ............Good Mental Attitude gets you to that 101% ……………..I saw that today.

Day 270

Woke up feeling tired and thinking NOoooooo, so don’t want to get out of bed. Not that it was late but 6.20am felt like 4am this morning, thinking it’s that time of year.

Though after first 10 mins (outrigging) ....mmm maybe 24mins I actually starting feeling alive (human), what a great day I had. Nice good session in OC6 extending distances and sharing steering. Paddle weariness on return for me.

Though quick refresh shower (cold water so nice) then out to markets, fresh local veges and where I found some amazing Gerberas I could buy for myself and more importantly my neighbours. Who I am always grateful for, their cheerful smiles, good conversations and help they willing offer me.

Day 269

Gotta love a Friday for this, open space office definitely not conducive for the work we do. Was grateful for today very productive for me. Had space, silence and still had my collegues to catch up with

Day 268

Hate calling the police; I feel my requests/complaints are really minor in the great scheme of things. So when I had the need to call them this week which started by me apologising for taking their time. I really appreciated the response and conversation I had with the sergeant at the Coms desk. She was patient and informative and until the time I called her I had no idea how upset I really was.

For the last few days a car has been parked in front of our driveway, literally from front tyre forward in front of our driveway. To get in and out has been quite difficult with all of us having to drive over gutter and footpath to get in or park on street. No trailer or boats getting in or out. While that is minor really.........it was the verbal abuse an threats not only myself but others trying to get into driveway received from motorists who felt waiting 2.5 seconds was too much "Hello....... indicator on" I believe they were worried about missing the green traffic light 10 meters down the road (even when it was red).

So grateful for our girls and boys in blue who followed up and (not sure what happened) only know came home to an obstruction free driveway. No abuse this arvo J

Day 267

Woke up tired, but got up earlier than I have been......productive start, enthusiasm there, excited the crowd, got taken aback by some news, yep sharon straight face not sure if worked (knew it, but hearing it ...bit like a knife in you and it being twisted), back on track amazing people want to come on board for camp, lots to do and making headways. Heading home........well let’s say I am fine and happy but 1 + 1 = 5 things go wrong, frustration levels on the up, really like to give someone a mouthful ...anyone (just wanted to purge) Instead headed outside sat on my chair and watered the garden for 40mins (midges/dark still bloody peaceful)

Sooo much better and relaxed, why was I upset again ????

Day 266

Busy day, weekend disappeared and the fridge is empty, so needed to take an hours toil so I could do some shopping (food). Hate it went my week does not feel organise, tempted to eat the easy meals bread or bread or bread or fast food. (not KFC/Macca's .....I mean like sandwich shops/ cafes/bakeries).

So back to the story, Toil so not to get home by 7pm (Tuesday am already tired) did the shopping had grumpy face on more than likely..........oomph why stop in middle of aisle.......Hello you just walked in front of me, excusssse me (in my head) pushing in #%$$^

Well lined up in check out poking faces at the kid poking faces in the next aisle at me ....and I start to hear the conversation of the lady with very white hair and a walking frame. She made me smile…. no glow. She chatted with the cashier and her comments where insightful and inspiring she had the cashier, 3 shoppers in her aisle and 2 in mine laughing with her. My day slipped away and life felt so much better….so wanted to give her a hug.

As she left at her "fast pace" she said : )    The child beside asked "why they laughing mummy" "Oh that lady was funny" " The old one" and we all laughed. What a precious human being she was...........no way would you know her storey was a sad one (to us)

Day 265

What a great day ……grateful for the opportunity to spend it with colleagues from another service looking into group dynamics.

Appreciated the opportunity to reflect and share my own experience in group development but also hear others and have lively discussions around these. 7 hours went way so quick. The whole process- what works and doesn’t work well, the whys and most importantly the…. What Now and How… Love the creative think process and bouncing of ideas.

Re-ignites my energy… so rewarding having these open, honest conversations.

Day 264

9.45am wow now that’s a sleep in nothing could of woken me this morning. Oh that’s right nothing did slept through the alarm, didn’t hear Miss Carmel leave in the morning, even slept through the start of the guy sawing wood next door lol. Now while I woke up then getting out of bed took another 45mins.

Must of needed to......it would not have anything to do with going to a 30th birthday party of a gorgeous friend and celebrating this with a bunch of beautiful women. While grateful for the sleep in I am more grateful for these wonderful women who have come into my life, they teach me so much and very giving.

Day 263

 

Spring Clean- went to bed exhausted last night and woke up the same. Though extremely grateful that I made the effort to do a good spring clean to settle into my weekend. For those that know me not my favourite pastime or best attribute would rather mow the lawn.

Ahh the place though just feels so much fresher now... music blaring, incense burning. Feeling good

Day 262

Beautiful moon tonight…. grateful after a hard to be able to sit down and have the moon rays filter through the window into the lounge. Maximus "the cat" felt the same no idea who sat there starring at the moon longer just admiring and feeling its glow. Wish I could find the camera as he is quite mesmerised by it. Definitely blinds open tonight so I can enjoy this beautiful site longer.

Day 261

Love cooking, especially some home bake stuff for the kids groups I run, just for morning tea. Could buy the prefab cakes or cookies but when you add up 13x3 (10ppl) + 4 x 4 (30ppl). It adds up and buying flour etc. goes so much further for such a small cost. This year I realised the money I saved baking has allowed me to bring a new activity into camp.

Ok, it does take more hours out of my own time but the ahhs and yums make up for it even the oh yuk banana comments. What am I grateful for then....................Well I find baking relaxing and no way could I eat it all myself (plus not keen on sweets). Also this last group with 'true' gluten free allergies has challenged my cooking skills and I like that.

Day 260

Today was a day when you came to the last hurdle. You are not sure if you have the energy to get to the top of the mountain ...for the down hilltrek. But I am lucky enough to have people around me who have no probs in stopping to lend a hand. How nice is it when people just offer, I don't say no anymore too appreciative and grateful.

You hear those words 'hold on I'll help" and they mean it.

Day 259

This is where I think people get me wrong, yes I might like my routines or isolation days (at home), but............when it comes to work I so love change. Routine or set programs can slightly dampen my spirits but given the opportunity to mix things up and think outside the box on how we can met some of the challenges our youth face .........

THAT Actually excites me, grateful today for having backing to do so. My mind is so working overtime processing all the possibilities. So looking forward to input from others and the kids and try some new ways of doing things. Oh YES :)

Day 258

Best thing about going for a walk is noticing the trees and surroundings. No I am not one that has the earphones in from whatever mini sound system people have strapped to their arm. I more like noticing the sounds and colours around me.

Some days it’s those things that get me through the day. Grateful for our wonderful environment would like to encourage more to appreciate it.

Day 257

not the best but and oldphoto

What can I say a amzing night spent with 2 amazing women in my life and friend. Few beverages great conversations, I just love them so much. To wake up and have breaky together make plans and chat...lol so much leaving at 9 to much to stay for. I actually get quite tearful when I think about how lucky I am to have such precious gems in my life. They not only love me but teach me so much. xxo

Day 256

Sometimes it all just fits last night I was grateful for the company of a friend and her children that stayed the night. Really not sure how to put it to words but enjoyed the adult time and children time. Not sure how my pancakes or cupcake making went down but all the same I (lol) got alot out of it trying to involve the kids into it.
Thanks

Day 255

Have used this saying before but not today..............

Kids say the most amazing things and I find when I transport kids home or to group (even the silent ones) they chatter like crazy. Concentrating on the road and providing their safety is the utmost importance, but how do you tell a kid to be quiet when they are just being so open and saying the most amzing honest things about their life and the way they see the world in general.

I have over times invented guidelines when transporting around this as I would so hate to miss what they want to share. While I would like to quote more the insights the kids give me ...I am unable to so can only share how grateful I am to be able to be there as the person they trust to be so honest and comfortable to share.

Day 254

For 2 weeks I have not walked (was doing this daily) or been for the what became weekly walk with a friend and her Ollie,

What I did realise today is how much I enjoy my walks...especially my weekly ones. I am grateful for my friend sharing the walking the dog experience with me. Not sure if it's the getting of fresh air or the dog cuteness factor that gets my day feeling lighter..............
OOps could be overall good company

Day 253

Dam if I was not shattered when I got home huge week, oops I meant 3 days :(        2 days to go better than 5, not as good as 1 ....only joking looking forward to them.

On a serious note pretty heavy day and I cannot remember the show but I laughed and laughed. You know one of those real hearty ones I am sure the neighbours heard ............I was LOUDISH oops

 And feel great for it....................laughing is soo good

Day 252

Hard day last thing I thought I felt like, had committed and was so glad................ DB out on the water. Bit of a challenging session i hope.

Needed and felt great after, sometimes the things we just think take up more time than we have to give ...are the ones we need the most : )

Day 251

Mighten look much but just grateful I took time in the garden to prun and pot my chilli bushes so they can come in to summer. I know mighten look much more than twigs now .

But wait and see : )

Day 250

Wonderful day to go to the walk to the markets for coffee and veges, was grateful for the company and conversation that occurred on the 1 km walk which turned into a 7km walk in the midday sun. Why drive to the markets or fruit and vege shop when you can walk :)

Day 249

Great paddle, good company over coffee, but you have never seen me move so quick when I thought I found a store that sold the chilli I like on the Sunshine Coast...........6.5mins showered in the car and driving.

Arrived as closing for the day and prepping for their spice workshop, grateful Vicki the owner let me come in, to browse and chat as she set up. Definitely did not walk away unhappy or empty hand.

Know it sounds silly, but I do so enjoy my chilli 

Day 248

One thing breast cancer has made me grateful for is that I have made many amazing friends which I met through our common bond, voluntarily I contributed using my own experience and therapeutic skills to helping other young women diagnosed, I started paddling again which I had not done since Ranger Guides...different boat a Dragon Boat but that lead on to meeting more amazing women and 1st time in my life joining  a sports team and getting to represent State and country - nationally and internationally.

WOW that’s so not just 1 thing to be grateful for..................on the flipside though is I see a lot more losses, more friends diagnosed or re-diagnosed, many more tears shared as we talk, confront our own mortality and altered body image.

Was really grateful I got to spend a few hours with a friend late this arvo just out of hospital, 2nd time around. It was uplifting her spirits high, she looked great...gave me a bit of a wakeup call. But I did really enjoy our sense of human not sure if those that had not lost some breast would be too comfortable with....went for 10mins, 2hrs + later tears of laughter and hugs and of course looking at what was tits xo

Day 247

Was just grateful I made it to work today, exhausted from wednesday, neighbours away (a family member took advantage of this and thought playing loud music and talking (sounded like through a microphone) was the thing to do.  (don't believe my neighbours new about this from our convo before they left). Then.......and I know you want to know this from 3.10am on my face was in the toilet bowel, never been so sick and I am not one to throw up.

So exhausted, drained, empty and 3 kg lighter went to work, must admit was nice to be needed as it does get you in to gear and focused. Felt actually really useful, grateful to my colleagues checking in health wise and making me feel valuable...............ps this has been written next morning as crashed when I got home lol

Day 246

I have no idea if there is an official Grandparent day in Qld that alone Australia. (Though there should be ) More and more I see the grandparents accepting such a larger roll in their grandchildrens lives.

Grateful today for the grandparents

Day 245

Well one would think having a grateful blog for a year would be enough lol ..........So when invited to do the "Spring Nature Challenge - 30mins a day for 30 days " Of course I said yes and today I was so grateful I did as it made me stop and have a lunch break seating down (not at a computer) but at the beach. It gave me time to re group and energise for the rest of the day
"Spring Nature Challenge is to spend at least 30 minute EVERY day in nature for the month of September...  Consciously reconnect with nature...take a photo of your time in nature

Day 244

Turned the alarm of last night, left the blinds slightly ajar to allow some morning light in. Grateful that I did as it seemed to make my sleep more peaceful, no half waking worried bout the alarm. Needed the time to think and between turning off the two mobile and alarm.....I believe it gave me the space I needed.

Day 243

The journey there might have been filled with obstacles (I am so not a Brisbane driver these days always getting lost), but well worth it. Amazing Day father’s day, shared with Dad (of course) Mum, my gorgeous sister and beautiful niece. We had the most scrumptious lunch which I am grateful for the effort and love my sister put into this. Spanakopita, beautiful fresh salad with mums home grown Tommies, fresh bread and.....................that small bowel of red capsicum she kept on the side as she new I could not eat them xx

Drove home very happy and very loved