A Written Revolution's 21 Happy Snaps

Hey all,

At A Written Revolution it is all about being happy and passionate about life whether that manifests itself in writing or other aspects of our lives. When we are happy we are productive, pleasant people who are of greater benefit to others and ourselves. Sometimes its easy to forget, especially when the world appears to be getting crazy, how important it is to be a happy, passionate influence on the world. To cultivate this within us I have developed a little photographic project, 21 Happy Snaps.

21 Happy Snaps requires 1 photo for 21 days that focuses on being happy and passionate about life. Why 21 days? Well because 21 days is what it takes to break a habit and therefore alter your mindset towards positivity, happiness and a passionate life. Better still, you are not confined to a particular month, simply take the 21 photos in succession. Each day I will contribute my photos to the Facebook page also titled A Written Revolution and throughout the 21 days I will show you how photographic images can become the stimulus for your writing right here on the blog. Want to take part? Simply check out the topics and start photographing. Make sure you add the #awr21happysnaps to your work as well so your creativity can be shared in a community and perhaps even be used to inspire some of my writing! 

Happy photographing, Jules! 

A Father worth celebrating

For 28years of my life I have had one man by my side, a man who constantly supports me, loves me and has worked tirelessly to provide for me- my father Robert Trask. Each year Father's Day comes around and each year a common thing happens- I find it difficult to put into words what he has done for me and continues to do. This year I'm trying harder...

On January 28 1986 I met my father, through the first tears, haircut, tooth appearances, nappy changes and father-daughter bonding time it didn't take long for Robert to become Dad. Over the years I would get to know a man who wanted to do everything well, worked hard, disciplined strongly, loved endlessly and believed in God ardently. But it wasn't all perfect and neither was Dad. The best part about having a Dad who isn't perfect was that he was and still is real. Through his real-ness I could come to understand constantly over the stages of my life (and now as well) that I could be real too. I was able to be a mixture of goodness and mistakes. In my adulthood it is this constant lesson, taught advertently or inadvertently, that helped me more than anything, but it is the relationship Dad & I have that I cherish the most. 

For me Dad was the person as I child I had to shout at to stop tickling me; he was the wrestler, the player & the handyman, even to this day. None of my childhood memories have a year without Dad fixing something, he's able to build part of our house, rebuild engines, create makeshift pools & hug me when I need it. 

An intelligent, creative, selfless and driven man it's not surprising that I was left with a pretty impressive gene pool (especially when you add Mum to the mix). A fitter and turner, teacher, photographer, charity worker for broken young kids and owner of a business degree he sure taught my brother, sister & I that your career doesn't end with your qualification. But the resume of mass skills is not what I love the most, it's the quality time I get to spend with him. 

Over the years my life and Dad's life has changed but the desire for quality time shared together will never change. So Dad, if your reading this, thanks for all the life lessons, being your imperfect self (like me), setting a standard for any future significant other of mine and for quality time shared so far; I truly cherish it. 

For my readers reading this thank your Dad, thank him for the moments, the support and who he is. If you're a father make sure you remember your child craves time with you more than anything else. For anybody who doesn't know or have a relationship with your father celebrate the a Dad around you- the man who provides an example for you that you are honoured to call him 'family'. Most importantly everybody needs to remember this, sometimes Dad isn't there, he's working or busy on another project but he's working for you and that is still love.

Happy Father's Day to all the special men out there! Till next time...

It's easier being angry

                                     

                   

In a world full of disappointments, an over abundance of bureaucracy and where people justify their horrific actions with 'just cos' responses it's blatantly obvious that being angry is the easiest reaction we can have. Humans love this reaction so much that when someone have a positive mentality to their life or heaven forbid offer forgiveness to another, people shoot them down as being fickle and ridiculous. Our infatuation to reach for the reaction of anger in every aspect of our lives in so prominent that we glorify any other mature, helpful reaction to life as miraculous. So how do we change our angry, negative mentality, help ourselves and positively contribute to the world? It's all in the mindset.

Our mentality is greatly affected by what we allow our minds to accept. Always entertaining the negative means negative outcomes and a negative attitude are guarantees. Conversely positive thoughts produce positive outcomes and attitudes. This isn't new information for us though. Everybody knows positivity is the key to being happy however few recognise how important little steps are to making a big change. 

For anybody who has ever achieved a goal you will understand the little steps it takes to accomplish your desires. Without these little steps goals are not fulfilled and it's exactly the same with changing a negative mindset to a positive one. So what little steps can you make now to change your mindset?

1. Listen to your words. Many of us listen to speak and not to hear. You need to listen to what you say and recognise it has a spiral effect on how you feel. Science proves the mind and body are connected, don't go kidding yourself. Some people might find themselves saying 'I can't do this' when they haven't even tried. Here's my advice for you- quit while your ahead darling. If you aren't willing to try, accept that whatever circumstance you are in it will NEVER change. If 'can't' is in your vocabulary banish it!

2. Become friends with high modality words. These words demonstrate the certainty of something. Key words to keep in your think tank- will, can, do, is. You'll be surprised how saying 'I will complete my task' instead of 'I should get that task done' brings you a sense of ownership and achievement.

3. Be prepared to be silly. This is probably the tip most people will laugh at and say 'yeh right' but it is also the reason why they don't change their mindset. Positive affirmations are important, we need to tell ourselves things at times before we come to know them as truths. Positive actions are also very important. If you don't like your appearance or your just having an off day look in the mirror, tell yourself how handsome or beautiful you are- steer away from sexy, it reduces you to an object not a person with superb personality & stunning physical features (which everyone has a least one of!). If your feeling grumpy or sad make yourself smile or laugh, granted you'll feel like a loser but you will absolutely end up laughing genuinely about your attempts to be positive and then...well it worked! 

4. Ban the news. Let's face it the news for a large proportion of its air time focuses on negative things. While you shouldn't be naive to the world around us it serves us no purpose seeing an article or watching a headline that has graphic images of suffering or death. News can exist without this graphic content- find the newspapers that don't allow mass exodus of graphic images or switch the television to something more positive, you will scarcely find anything positive on the news.

5. Rid yourself of negative people. This can be super hard because there is far more negative people than positive, so here's 2 suggestions. If you cannot remove yourself from the situation to get a breath and be positive (and reflect on how lucky you are to have a positive mindset) absolutely do NOT allow others to entertain their negativity in conversations with you. This will mean your positivity won't be affected as much but also they will start talking less negatively which has only good effects on their body and mind!

6. On hard days where 3 or more bad things seem to happen in quick succession you must look for the silver lining. Remind yourself too that at times it doesn't come straight away but the excitement of finding out what it is could spur you on. Also if need be get someone else's perspective. If your complaining about not having something or things being difficult why not look up the life situations of women who cannot carry water everyday in Africa without endangering their lives, or children who have less than $2 to feed themselves a day. Read their stories, find inspiration in the fact that they cherish what they do have. Be careful here though when you recognise silver linings for others, who still cling to negativity, to help them rid themselves of anger they may make a mockery out if you. In essence they are saying 'I want to own my anger leave me be.' So leave them, if someone wants to go to bed angry every night and mull over things long gone let them- it's only doing them damage & hey you tried.

7. Ask yourself what you want. If success and happiness is a part of it you MUST change your mindset or you will never achieve those things- whatever they may be. True happiness after all comes not from things but through doing things for others and loving our lives and ourselves.

8. Still not convinced? Write a diary for a week on how much energy you have. List the most important things that you frequently write about- they will possibly be the things that bother you that you could do something about. Read your old entry back a day later and reflect on what you wrote. Did the bothers of yesterday matter today? Did you have much energy? Anger robs you of energy, so while it might be the easiest way to react it is also the easiest way to get tired, sick and lonely. Again...what do you want?

So now you have tips to begin your probably wondering 'what happens if I fall off the bandwagon?' Get back up. We humans know what we want- if anything 'want' is the most overused word we speak to each other about- so tell yourself what you want and then begin the steps again and be realistic. 

Big changes especially our attitude, comes with hard times, you will experience great highs and epic lows on your quest to reach any goal you desire but this is where the achievement lies. There is no success in getting a promotion if you didn't have to work for it. There is no success in understanding your own beauty if you wear make up everyday. There is no success in losing weight if you never exercised- you're merely giving yourself an intermission to returning to your original 'uninspiring, emotionally annoying' body shape. Most importantly however, there is no success in being positive only on days where things are great.

Today's society has begun to tell us that we can have what we want now and it won't be hard work but we need to get real with ourselves. We only create our own disappointments by having this opinion. When it comes down to it no one gets anything for nothing. Being positive isn't easy (especially when you have jealous haters) and life will knock you down to see how far you've come- accept it as a challenge, recognise your gains and never go back to thinking about the days that once were. Through this your personality and your outlook on life will become infectious and to me that is an infection the world needs right now.

Till next time...

Melbourne 3 ways

As a traveller you can attack travel in many ways; solo, with friends, lovers, locals, tourists only, on a budget, with expense. You can escape to the country or basque in the hustle of a bustling night space. For me, I say why not do all of them?

I've travelled around before, domestically and internationally, chosen a style and stuck with it but nothing beats doing it all in one trip. So...in this daring palette of literature I endeavour to plate up a hunger for truly adventurous travelling and open minded experiences. Get ready, your about to dive into Melbourne 3 ways.

Melbourne- sightseeing style

Ever had a dining experience that awakened all of your senses, kept your taste buds entertained all night leaving you with memories that lasted beyond the occasion? This is what the Great Ocean Road will provide.

The Great Ocean Road is a stunning stretch of the Victorian coastline about 1 hour and 50 minutes from Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport. Whilst it technically begins at Torquay I highly recommend beginning your seaside journey with a quick stop off at Geelong Waterfront. A coffee at Baveras Brasserie on Cunningham's Pier cannot be missed. The staff are friendly and the view stunning. Here you are bound to set a relaxing tone for your special holiday.

Baveras Brasserie stunningly located at the edge of Cunningham's Pier

Beyond here you'll find Torquay on the fringe of the Great Ocean Road- its the first glimpse of the coastline to come. It also boasts the world's largest surf museum, Surf World, that would interest anybody- the display demonstrates the interesting innovations that saw the development of surfboard technology over time; well worth the $12 entry fee. In Torquay you'll also find a cafe restaurant right on the beach, Bomboras, that boasts a mean chocolate chip cookie, lovely wooden deckchairs and of course a very relaxing view. Make sure you head to the observatory deck on top of the cafe too to snap up some pictures of the bay.

Torquay- where the awes begin

 

After Torquay you'll encounter Angelsea which is a small yet quaint town, you will also encounter several beautiful little specialist cafes and wineries just off the main road- experience them. In fact you will find there are many places throughout the entireity of the Great Ocean Road that you will want to stop off at so I suggest you have an idea of how far you want to drive, your must sees and how much time you want to spend at each place, then you'll know how much 'play' time you have because on the Great Ocean Road you will want to be flexible.

 

Speaking of stop offs if you are worried that you might not be able to capture the images you find on Google fear not- the road has many landings to park your car and soak up the views. Do pull over and soak it up, also make sure you get off the beaten track, some of my best experiences were stopping where no one was (and where no signs labelled the destination) because you saw completely unspoilt views of the magnificent landscape that is The Great Ocean Road.



A secret unspoilt view of the precious landscape.

 

Now onto Bells Beach. Well to many the name says it all, surfing mecca of Australia where surfing is made famous every year by the Quicksilver and Ripcurl Pro Surfing competitions. What is not explained to Australians or Internationals alike is that the locals are one with the ocean here. They know it inside out, they live it, breathe it, love it and most of all aren't afraid of the ocean's sheer power. When I visited I spoke to a father of  a boy about 13years of age and I asked him about the temperature of the water and whether he was worried about the waves (about 1.8metres and dumping heavily at the edge of the beach). He informed me that it was typically 13 degrees in winter and that he never feared the water or its power because they had grown up learning about it, understanding how to time the waves, the dangers of the sea and what to do should anything happen. Surfers of all ages frequent the water all year around here and you can see why, the sets never stop rolling in and the water is stunning. You will encounter males, females, teenagers, 60year olds, young children, nonchalantly removing their working attire to get amongst the waves- in their droves. It is something else. For non or amateur surfers its pleasurable within itself sitting on the dunes and cliffs and witnessing the talent carve up the waves, completing tricks we only dream about. Next stop?



Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia

 

Lorne. Lorne is a lovely town that is probably the most picturesque with the most facilities until you get to St Petersburgh. It has great little shops, the beautiful and easily accessible Erskine Waterfalls and a local pub with postcard views. Enjoy a beer there or take a drive further along the main road to Lorne Pier to soak it all in. Unfortunately however you will pay a lot more for meals in Lorne because it is a high tourist area which is made popular by tourists frequently. Don't skip it, just be prepared for some more hefty prices.

 

Picture perfect Lorne

 

 

Erskine Waterfalls, just 5 minutes outside of Lorne, super peaceful

After Lorne there are several lovely little towns, many of which would make for excellent beverage stops if you can take turns driving and are lighter on the wallet. If going solo and driving back on The Great Ocean Road on your return to Melbourne make sure you have Wye River on your list. Locals enjoy soccer on the beach in the afternoons with branches as goal posts and you can meander across the road later for a refreshment at the local which has elevated views of the ocean.

 

Wye would you pass up these views? -Wye River Pub, Great Ocean Road, Victoria. 

Of course there are plenty of locations you can choose to stay at throughout the 200 plus kilometre journey on The Great Ocean Road, it simply depends on your style. I chose to use Airbnb so that I can experience it the local way. AirBnb is an online website whereby people list rooms or whole houses for rent and they include breakfast, as your host is typically present you get local knowledge and breakfast included in the price. My accomodation was located in Skenes Creek just 6km north of Apollo Bay (Lorne side). It was a perfect location as it was easy to go to Lorne quickly, a super fast trek to Apollo Bay (and the ridiculously cheap and tasty fish and chips in the main street) and the turn off to Otways National Park and Treetop Adventures (and the 2hour fast track back road to Melbourne airport) was 700 metres down the road. Each day I woke up with a lovely view of Apollo Bay, breakfast and travel tips for a ridiculous $70 a night. Needless to say I highly recommend AirBnb. This was the first time I used AirBnb as a solo traveller and I will be doing it again. My host was a male who lived on his own but I wasn't worried at all (thanks to plenty of great reviews that gave me superb insight), he was helpful, entertaining and fun but I guess you can expect that from a piano playing fisherman.


The stunning view of Apollo Bay from my $70/night Airbnb accommodation.

Beyond Skenes Creek and Apollo Bay there is so much I could write about and in detail so instead I'm going to write a list of must-do stop offs on the way.

• Apollo Bay Hotel- dinner approximately $24 for a main meal, food was tasty.
• Apollo Bay Fish and Chips- located in the main street, too cheap and tasty to miss. Skip the fish and chips in Lorne and get twice the amount for half the cost here!
• Cape Otway Lighthouse- the most important lighthouse for Australia. Wonderful views but you will definitely need a good jacket in winter and hats secured tightly as the wind gets up! It was 39 knots the day I walked up.
• Lavers Hill- one of major final fuel stops prior to Port Stephenson, also has some cute cafes. Otway Treetop Escape is accessible from here, approximately 12km away.
• Loch Ard Gorge and The Razor Back- MUST see. It is breathtaking. I sat there in awe, didn't speak, just captured it to memory until I realised I wasn't going to leave without an image of 'that' place. It was stunning. 
• Gibson steps- many people stop here but few get on to the sand and enjoy the experience of being right near the cliffs and the first apostle. You have to do this. The water was surprisingly warm for the chilly 7 degrees I was experiencing on sand. I do recommend flip flops or thongs though.

Cape Otway Lighthouse

Gibson's Steps- a trek well worth the journey

Razor Back

So what if a driving tour and staying with locals isn't for you? Perhaps you just have time for Melbourne- you want to see a lot but save the pennies for those special purchases along the way or some crazy fun nights out? Then you'll want...Melbourne's budget beauties.

Melbourne's budget beauties
If you are off to Melbourne and would like to experience all the joys of the city whilst ensuring you are in a great location and have a nice place to stay there is 1 hotel that I can recommend with pure confidence that you will be in superb hands- Seasons Botanic Gardens. If you choose to stay here you will immediately feel at home when greeted by the receptionists. Located on St Kilda road, Google Maps will have you thinking it is well out of the city but it is in easy walking distance to everything you would want to see and bonus, you wake up in the morning looking at the Shrine of Remembrance and surrounding gardens.

Irrespective of wherever you decide to stay you should definitely use the following websites to make your holiday accommodation less expensive, leaving more money for experiences, shopping and special memorabilia. The websites to use for cheap accommodation are:

• Hotel Club
• Lastminute.com
• Booking.com
• wotif.com

Now for the exploring, there really is so much to be done and you can (if you want to) squeeze a lot in, in a day. Here are my tips:

• Walk around the Botanic Gardens, have a picnic/take a book. Definitely take a camera
• Visit the Shrine of Remembrance
• Go to the AMCI centre in Federation Square- it is truly fantastic! I only went to the free exhibition however you can also pay ($15 or more) to see some superb shows. Don't miss the free exhibition! It was a highlight for me.
• Art museums- all of them! They all have something special- again definitely do the free ones, if you want to see something specific pay for the special showcases.
• Carlton Gardens- they are lovely (they also featured in Offspring!)
• Take the free city circle tram, I'd recommend you do this first you'll get an idea of where you want to go in the next few days of your trip.
• Take a walk in Southbank, it is very lovely- has art statues and a very lovely vibe- by now if you have done everything else you can enjoy a tasty feed in any of the delicious and ambient restaurants that line the bank. Also don't forget to take a snap of the city (the old and the new) from this side of the Yarra.
• Go to Haigh's Chocolates on Collins Street and taste test some of their lovely chocolates for FREE!
• Put some pennies on your myki and take a ride to St Kilda for a stroll along their beach and lovely café precinct

Melbourne from Southbank

Simple pleasures in the city

.

The Shrine of Remembrance, your view from Seasons Botanic Gardens.

 

Want to spend your last few moments in sheer luxury? Then for your last few nights in Melbourne swap the budget for some style.

Melbourne in style
Now before I go on let's be clear Melbourne has a lot of style. The city boasts culture from all over the world so you can indulge in whatever in is that you desire but for me Melbourne in style is about soaking up the loveliness on offer and taking time. So for this itinerary be prepared for comfort, style and a slow pace.

For those who don't know Melbourne is a city who's laneways are the life of the party, so it is here you will find many hidden treasures that make you feel like your discovery is special. Don't get me wrong however there is plenty to discover outside of these laneways as well. Either way here's my top tips for Melbourne in style.

• Begin your day with a breakfast at Top Paddock where you can take the time to enjoy a delicious Eggs Benedict or get a little brave with some of their alternate menu choices.
• Heading into the city for some exploration? Take a step back in time and enjoy the luxury of old English charm with a tour of Melbourne city by a horse drawn carriage.
• For brunch head to Manchester Press and enjoy a seriously smooth coffee, ambient surrounds and great food. This little space is popular so try and beat popular eating times. You'll find this gem on Rankin Lane. It is also not far from Bourke Street Mall where all your shopping needs are sure to be catered for with high end boutiques in quaint laneways.
• After brunch why not head to the Royal Exhibition Building learn about this World Heritage listed site and check out any exhibitions of interest. A truly stunning building that runs regular tours at a surprisingly small cost, you'll also be able to explore the beauty of the Carlton Gardens just outside.
• Post brunch, its time to indulge in a lovely lunch. For me nothing says 'Melbourne' like Lygon Street and the Italian that is on offer. Stroll along the street and make your choice and enjoy a bottle of wine while you let the Italian chefs do what they do best...cook authentic Italian food.
• When your done you can choose to stay in the city or head out to St Kilda and splurge on a 1.5hour treatment by the Spa Dreamtime crew that will leave you in blissful peace and ready for a relaxed night out.
• Back in Melbourne and feeling a little peckish try one of these three places, Lindt Chocolate Café in Southbank, Gelato Messino for a cheap but ridiculously tantalising tastebud sesh or Burch and Purchese Sweet Studio. Enjoy there or take your treats with you to Hosier Lane to witness some amazing Graffiti artwork.
• Come dusk there's one thing you are going to want to make a priority- Eureka Skydeck. Most hotels do provide discounts but for the view it really is still worth the full price. Check it out and definitely walk out on to the ledge to get the adrenaline pumping- you'll also force yourself to soak up the view, because no cameras are allowed. Why dusk? The view is perfect, you see the lushness of the city's parks and lights starting to brighten the sky just as the sun falls to sleep. Perfect.
• Post here you can choose to eat at the restaurant on site, go somewhere else you discovered earlier in the day or head back to your hotel, enjoy a bath/spa soak and get ready for the last final stop off to make the day special...the cocktail bar. 1806 is a cocktail and wine bar with an amazing range of cocktails, liked by many Melbournians and known for its ambience, staff knowledge and great service. A great way to end a superb day I say.

Bourke Street Mall, a shopper's paradise.

Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens, Melbourne

Manchester Press, Rankin Lane, Melbourne, Victoria.
 

So there you have it, Melbourne 3 different ways, with expense and style, sightseeing with local knowledge and on a budget. It really is possible to do it all, and it opens yourself up to meeting a very wide range of people- from homeless to hipsters and even potential moguls; for me that is what travel is about- immersing yourself in culture and taking away all the good everyone has to offer. I hope you enjoyed the post and that you make the locations mentioned a part of your 'to do travel list' for the future. Till next time...

Jules 

 

Swearing...for good. #whiteribbonnight #domesticviolencenomore

We have all met one of these special ladies in our lives before. They adorn a bubbly, outgoing, peaceful persona with a certain ease or grace about them. They help others unconditionally; they are the women everyone in a room labels as strong; and you would be right. But behind the peaceful, friendly, helpful outlook these women, young girls, adults, middle aged women, grandmothers, are women who have suffered and dealt with the effects of domestic violence at the hands of men.

Despite all of their efforts there is one thing these women will all share in common, at one point in time they were deathly afraid, disgusted, physically sick and mentally taunted by men. The beauty, if anything can come from it, is that these women, the surviving victims of domestic violence, are reminders of the utter strength, determination and bravery of women.

Each week, each year we hear of another case of a man assaulting his wife or de facto, a family member getting his way with a young relative or a random person on the street deciding a woman is no more than a piece of meat he can have his way with. This has to stop. NOW. The only way that happens is if society, beginning with men, demand better attitudes and respect for women from their fellow man. This means bringing back the days when men would respectfully and singularly approach a bloke if he was misbehaving in a bar or speaking inappropriately to a woman. This means no more standing by and waiting to see if 'she'll be right.' It also means verbalising your commitment and reinforcing everyday that you swear to develop and uphold a society that values the lives of your women. It's about exclaiming that 9 years of jail for committing rape is a blasphemous joke when you're talking about the entire life of one of God's children being destroyed at the hands of a monster. It is never exalting people, including the famous, if they have been convicted of heinous crimes against women.

This evening, July 25 is White Ribbon Night. Tonight I want to say well done to any woman who has ever suffered and survived at the hands of domestic violence. You are the definition of a fighter. I also want to say, I am sorry to anyone reading this who has lost relatives or loved ones to this insidious crime and I am sorry for those who have experienced unspeakable pain in order to learn their inner strength. Whilst I would love to keep my focus only on this (all the time) sadly we still must emphasise how much culture in Australia, and the world, needs to change. If you detest domestic violence and value the lives of women please go to White Ribbon Australia now and pledge your support for a society free of domestic violence.

 

Time flies when you're having fun

July already. Wow! It is the time of year when people get excited about tax returns filling their bank accounts and future travel plans. For some its an anxious time as they begin making decisions about what school their child should be enrol in and for others it really is just another month. By now you are all so privy to my positive mentality that I'm going to skip the prelude and cut to the chase. Over the last month and especially since my recent holiday to Victoria and South East Queensland I have had the luxury of being inspired by many people, places and unexpected encounters which can only mean great writing. Most of my days have been spent walking about the place smiling in wonderment at how lucky I am. If you've seen me about town I'm the quirky one who exudes joy for no apparent reason, and that is the best part.

You know when you walk past someone who has so much light in their eyes you just want to know their story? You even create the story in your mind- something funny just happened, they just met someone, they just won some money, they just received a compliment- it becomes such a force that you want to be around it, know about it and find out what they've got and where to get it. The best part is, we've all got that goofy happy joy within us that can inspire us, we just need to look for happiness, see the positives and surround ourselves with it. You can not have writer's block when there is an infinite amount of joy and beauty to be noticed.

If you're thinking it's a hard task, here's some I love and smile about frequently:

• The hot sun warming your skin on a chilly winter's day
• A heat through a coffee mug warming your hands, coffee/tea soothing your soul.
• Children laughing
• Happily married couples enjoying each others company
• The hilariousness of fresh young love and their frequent PDAs
•  Grass between your toes
• A polite word from a stranger
• Children speaking like adults (eg: don't misbehave or you won't get lunch)
• Sunrise
• How relaxing it is to witness the sunset.

What things make you feel goofy happy? Embrace them this weekend! Till next time...

  

The beauty in unpacking

When Everest didn't turn out I'm not too proud to admit I stayed with the olds whilst I got myself sorted and tried to figure how I felt about things, because even though I knew it was the right thing I could still imagine the walk in my head each day. Now that it is June it is much easier to talk about. I can unpack. Though I wasn't quite prepared for the real unpack that was to come.

I walked back into my house, the mini chalkboard eyeballed me like a lioness to its prey. 'Suspend health insurance. Pay final bills. Give parents my will. International driver's licence. British & Aus passports.' I hated how it looked at me wanting so much. I wasn't ready to wipe away my final list of 18months of lists. I turned to my cupboard to put away my clothes 'Your body can stand almost anything it's your mind that you have to convince,' 'Knock me down twice and I'll get up 10,' 'Tell me I can't do something and I'll do it.'
Mount Everest was in my bedroom and I had to conquer my own mind yet again. I looked back at my cupboard door 'sometimes you just have to shift your focus from how did I get here; to how do I leave here.' I don't know why I thought this statement would be easier than verbalising to myself 'the Mt Everest climb is postponed.' I had no answers, I sat on my bed, legs nonchalantly dangling, daydreaming about a mystical creature arriving to sit beside me and enlighten me with all the right responses I wanted, craved. Unfortunately though it's not the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe and a great noble creature isn't going to give me the answers when I demand it. I contemplated for a few moments encapsulating the life of an angry bird and tearing all my quotes, goals, nutrition and exercise logs off my walls screaming and crying outrageously. Thankfully for my housemate and neighbours I didn't awaken their spirits with my heightened mood but rather laid silently in my bed, took long breaths and let the tears roll down my cheeks. Ahhhh.
I had to let it go, all of it. The early morning starts, vegetarianism (not too upset about that admittedly), long hikes, 3hour gym sessions- my life consumed by training. What would life look like? What would I hang on my walls now? When is the right time to do Everest again? How will my friends and family feel if they knew I had it on the agenda again? I couldn't bear more doubt from others than I had already felt for almost 2years.
I turned on the aircon, set it to freezing cold and tried to mock the freezing temperatures I was missing. For a moment I began to think that burying yourself in ice and snow at -20 degrees when anyone asked me about a myriad of Everest questions was a grand option, then I realised one fatal flaw- I live in Queensland and I can't access those kind of resources even if I willed it. Sadly that meant dealing with the situation at hand and going back to work and the rest of my life as it was.
I knew people would ask the dreaded 'Are you OK?' question; that I would want to avoid people for a bit, that I'd get sad about the inability to be submersed in ice and snow for avoidance purposes but most of all that I would gradually be able to talk about things. I sat up on my bed looked around at my motivational images, nutritional and fitness logs, a smile formed on my face- an involuntary reaction to my emotional connection to the dedication of my almost 2years of effort.

Life is interesting it teaches you a whole host of things & I am a firm believer that you learn things just as you are meant to. But life in all the forms it takes, even those really terrible days (lets be real here Mt Everest for me was disappointing and I still tear up but if it was a really terrible day I wouldn't have it on my blog- those are just for me and my special ones to know about) has some beauty in it. We have numbered days, we never know when we will be gone and yet every single one of us, myself included, have things we are bitter about. We might be bitter because we are disappointed things didn't work out as they did or because we got hurt, it is very human of us however the sad thing is that bitterness steals us of our beauty...and life, well it really is beautiful. Spot its beauty, the peace you're granted when you don't know you had the capacity to feel it, the relationships you have, the love you have for yourself, how blessed you are to live where you are and look for the lovely. When something gets you down and you find your shoulders near your ears for your own sakes unpack whatever it is that is going on with you and be ok with it to take time- but don't make excuses for not dealing with it. After all we all have baggage by choice, you can be a litesaver or checked baggage traveller, its up to you!

Julia :)