Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Epiphany - Blog 12 Days of Christmas

So this is the post where I am supposed to look back over the past 12 days and discuss what I may have learned or: a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.

I can't say I have found the meaning of life, or had any insight into reality.  I can say that I have once again enjoyed sitting down at the end of the day and reflecting on what was and then trying to put it into something remotely interesting to others.

What I can say is that in the space of 12 days I have regained my running mojo and even pushed out a 16.5km run today without feeling like it was a chore.  It was hard but it was enjoyable.  On the home stretch I even enjoyed the bush on either side of the road for the birds that were singing, the lagoon that I ran past, and the view from the top of the hill overlooking the beach.  I made peace with being in the right place - this beautiful place I live and love.

I felt that again after a splash in the surf with my family as I was sitting in the hot midday sun looking out over the ocean watching two dolphins swim past and a sailing boat in the distance.  And up front, an 8 year old girl and her dad sharing so many laughs and moments in the surf - their bond warms my heart!!

In the afternoon, walking along the river, out on the boardwalk - secretly trying not to be too annoyed by the tourists - but instead lap up seeing my locals and saying hello.  Having a short conversation with my daughters friends mother.  Over hearing some visitors from Sydney saying how it was nice that everyone here says "hello" unlike in Sydney.  My home, my community, my friends, my people!

There will always be hard times, tough times - but happiness can't be all the time as then we wouldn't appreciate it as much!

Being awesome is something to strive for in all aspects of your life and something I will be striving for in 2015.

Expecting miracles, celebrating achievements, being creative, enjoying moments of laziness, being alert and waking up, being healthy and celebrating being here and now, and making the most of open doors - this is what 2015 will be for me!!

Until #blogjune......

Monday, January 5, 2015

Day 12 - Blog 12 Days of Christmas

We are nearing the end of blog 12 days of Christmas and as usual it has been a good thing for me to sit and reflect at the end of the day.

I usually say that I will continue to do this more regularly throughout the year but then only blog during #blogJune.  So unless there are more blogging challenges out there, you probably won't hear from me (except for my final post tomorrow) until June!

I couldn't really find an appropriate mantra for today so there isn't one.

I'm still on holiday and for me, it really doesn't feel like the new year has started until I return to work - which will be next week.

This week I will be working on putting myself in a positive mind frame for my return to work.  I will be drumming up some enthusiasm and excitement for my return.  Thinking about possible projects or how I will work towards finishing the projects I know I have to complete.  I will be thinking about what things I can do with my staff to keep their enthusiasm for the job up and/or what new things can be learnt/taught.  Most of all I will be thinking about my community - I miss them when I'm on holidays and they are what really makes the job for me.  So I will be thinking about them and what they might like to see happening in the library.

I already have one exciting thing booked for this month - one of my favourite authors will be doing a book launch in our library!!  I'm so excited as I've been waiting 12 months for this book to come out and I really do like this author.

Our library is also hosting a workshop for the annual Camp Creative next week.  I hope to stick my head in on this workshop and see if I can pick up a few pointers.

See I'm already generating some enthusiasm for my return!!

PS Bootcamp resumed today so I didn't have to come up with my own.  It was one of our biggest classes with 33 ladies (I think).  It was so good to be back in the company of such a large and supportive group of females!!  And, of course, to be put through the paces by our bootcamp leader, Shelley!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Day 10 & 11 - Blog 12 Days of Christmas

I think I've done pretty good so far to only miss one day.  And that was because a bottle of bubbly made writing a coherent blog post near impossible and I was a bit concerned about what might be written in that state.  Anyway, I'm back on board today with a double post - 2 for the price of 1!

Two mantras for today's post: Life is an adventure story.  And Be awesome!

Today I was reading an article in the January issue of Runner's World Australia/New Zealand edition - The writer runner by Michael Heald.  The article is sort of an interview/story of the writer meeting author/runner Jamie Quatro who wrote I want to show you more.

Jamie makes an observation about a similarity between writers/authors and runners.  She says, "When people say the short story is practice for the novel, or that you're not a 'great' writer unless you've written a novel, I always think: That's like saying the half-marathon is practice for the marathon, or that the half is easier to run than the full, or that you're not a 'great' runner unless you've done a marathon.  Each distance - each literary form - is its own thing, with its own challenges and heartbreaks." 

That is something that I must keep in my head.  I struggle to believe that I'm a real 'runner' unless I've done a marathon - hence I'm doing a marathon this year.  But really, it is exactly as Jamie says, each distance is its own thing!  Just as each runner is their own competitor - not the other runners.  As a runner you compete with yourself and you should not compare with other runners, just yourself.

The same can be said in your career or really anything in life.  Stop comparing yourself to others and only compete with yourself.  Concentrate on making yourself a better person, but bettering yourself - not comparing yourself to others - be awesome!!

The other thing Jamie says is: "The space between the run and going back inside.  The space between the heart pounding, sweaty thoughts flowing middle of the run and the chaos waiting inside the house, the kids.  But the middle space between these - the pause after the run, before the run inside - I drink this like water."

I can relate.  Perhaps not in the same way but it is the moment when you have pushed yourself and finished your run - the journey may not have been pleasant but the end is totally worth it.  You feel stuffed but exhilarated - possibly not all the time because not every run is a good run. But you always feel better for doing it.

I really haven't discussed the mantra's much in this post but they are there for you, the reader, to think about.

Also, think about what Jamie say's and how it relates to you - even if you aren't a runner.  I'm sure there are other hobbies/sports/things you participate in that you may get that middle feeling - between when you finish and when you move on to the next part.  Think about how much you value that!

Friday, January 2, 2015

Day 9 - Blog 12 Days of Christmas - Happiness!

Today's mantra: Choose happiness!

I have been thinking a lot about happiness today.  More along the lines of "I am not responsible for someone's happiness."  You can not control whether another person is happy or not, but you can control your happiness and sometimes happiness is contagious!!

Much like thinking everything is greener on the overside of the fence, I have been shifting negative thoughts to positives.  Looking for the things that make me happy and doing them more often.  Surrounding myself with those that make me happy - because happiness is contagious!!

While writing this I'm thinking of the Gumball cartoon characters singing "When life gives you lemons" clip - I love Gumball!!

So remember to choose happiness!

And really heat does not help blog writing creativeness!!  So hot!!  But on the bright side ---- hmm there really isn't a bright side except I hate being cold worse!!  Choose happiness!!

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Day 8 - Blog 12 Days of Christmas - Opening Doors!

Today's mantra: Old ways won't open new doors.

Ok let's step back a bit and tell you what I did today.  I started the day with the Sawtell New Year's Day Fun Run 5.25km.  I ran this for the first time in 2014 and found it a very hot and challenging run.  It was the same this year. 

However, I managed to run a faster time by 51 seconds than last year.  And, I also managed to beat a fellow local runner that I come across a lot in the local fun runs I do.  Unfortunately or fortunately I seem to be a bit of a competitive person when it comes to running.  I spotted the runner early on - thinking that they weren't going to run this year because I had not seen their name on the registration list - and kept them in my sight.  At first I thought I would not be able to beat them because of a not so good run at the Dorrigo Show Fun Run in which the heat and hills got the better of me and I walked most of it.  But this time, I won the mental battle!!  And this has been huge for me as I have been battling a bit with my running since the Ipswich Park2Park and my issue with hills.  It seems this run has put my head in a good place for 2015 - with regards to running anyway!

After the run I met up with a fellow Running Mums Australia (Facebook running group that I am a member of) who I had come across during the run.  Seems the world gets smaller every time I meet someone through running.  In Ipswich back in April 2014, I met a lovely lady at my first parkrun - it was her first too.  We became friends on Facebook, as you do, and found we had a mutual friend.

Today after meeting the fellow RMA we found we also have a mutual friend and that she works in the local high school.  I talked about fate in a previous post and strongly believe that once again I have met these people for a reason.

A visit to the beach was in order to cool down and then an afternoon of not doing much at all.  It was really hot - seems to be a theme in the blog posts today!!

So back to the mantra - this is another thing to add to my list to work on this year.  I am going to change my approach to work - not sure how yet but I do believe it needs changing.  My attitude and thoughts towards work are something I will be working on but also how I approach things at work.  This will, I hope, lead to new opportunities!!

Here's a link to a video of the start of the Sawtell New Year's Day Fun Run that my hubby took.  Look out for me waving at the camera at 15 second mark.