I don't know that this strictly qualifies as "happy" but it certainly is inspirational. Alice's Bucket List is a blog that has made headlines around the world. It started on Monday as the bucket list of ambitions for Alice, a 15 year old from England who has just been told that the cancer she has been fighting for 4 years is now terminal. To her surprise, her blog has gone viral, her first post had 1773 comments and people have donated over £10,000 by sponsoring her sister in a fun run.
Top of her bucket list is getting people to sign up as bone marrow donors. I did this a few years ago and lots of people were surprised. I'm more surprised that everyone doesn't do it. What is to lose? A little bone marrow that will re-grow. What is to gain? The ability to save someone's life.
Her blog is so inspirational. There is no trace of self-pity just a wish to experience as much as she can in the limited time she has left. I cried reading it, but I highly recommend it.
And everyone, if you can, sign on to become a bone marrow donor. To do it, next time you donate blood (hee, hee, double shot I'm getting you to donate blood too) let them know in advance that you want to do it. All you have to do is fill in some paperwork and they will take a couple of extra blood samples. Then you are on the register and if by a slim chance you match someone needing a donation, you will be contacted. Go on, how often do you get to save a life?
Friday, June 10, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
For the love of dance
The first of my top decisions was learning to dance. I love it for a load of reasons, but I thought it would be interesting to ask my dance friends why they dance. Here are some of the answers courtesy of Facebook:
All my reasons have been covered in what my friends said. I don't think I could have put it any better than Freya's "moving meditation" or Lee's "Transendance" (I think I want that on a t-shirt). There are moments when the music, your movement and your partner's movement all merge into one and it is like you have moved to a different plane. I love all sorts of music and the feeling of being able to move my body to it is brilliant. It doesn't even have to be a formal dance style, or with a partner. I get a huge amount of joy from my random twirlings around the house - although nothing beats a great connected dance with a special partner.
Life is busy, sometimes stressful, but when I dance I can shut down that ticking, talking part of my brain. While I might feel physically tired after a good dance session, I will often feel hugely mentally refreshed.
For a variety of reasons I never really did much physical activity as a kid or teenager. So dance has had an enormous physical impact on me. It has helped with my back issues, got me stronger and now the feeling of moving my body makes me feel great.
But the best thing about dance, is the people. The wonderful, gorgeous, supportive people who enrich my life in so many ways.
Leonard - fitness, friends, fun. Dance for Life. :)
Tova - I started for rotator cuff rehabilitation! I have full range of motion now thank you, instead of my predicted 30% maximum. I stayed for the friendly people, the challenge and the chance to do some exercise indoors in winter!
Wendy - i got the music in me, i got the music in me, i got the music in meeee. Oh and it helps with my rusty hips. :-) i love dancing with my hubby too..so many reasons!
Lauren - Fun, friends, fitness and fabulous fashion! Lots of good 'f' words!
Kylie - It got me out of my shell and talking to new people when I first moved to Canberra and didn't know anyone; after that it became an escape from the world, everything goes away when the music starts!!
Mark - It gives me a reason to go out, meet people, talk to people and have fun with people. It forces me to relax from cogitating, and I get some moderate exercise as well!
Lee - It's my Zen time... I just live in the moment, feel the rhythm, the only things to think about is your connection (hopefully) and the music... Transendance!
Shannon - First you learn ze dance, then you get ze women
Freya - The endorphins from a good dance and/or a fun dance take away the pain from the medical issues aggravated by my doing it :P As Lee said, it's also a moving meditation, a moment where you forget about double-thinking everything and just enjoy said moment. And there's so many lovely people I would never have met were it not for dancing, so many many friends...
All my reasons have been covered in what my friends said. I don't think I could have put it any better than Freya's "moving meditation" or Lee's "Transendance" (I think I want that on a t-shirt). There are moments when the music, your movement and your partner's movement all merge into one and it is like you have moved to a different plane. I love all sorts of music and the feeling of being able to move my body to it is brilliant. It doesn't even have to be a formal dance style, or with a partner. I get a huge amount of joy from my random twirlings around the house - although nothing beats a great connected dance with a special partner.
Life is busy, sometimes stressful, but when I dance I can shut down that ticking, talking part of my brain. While I might feel physically tired after a good dance session, I will often feel hugely mentally refreshed.
For a variety of reasons I never really did much physical activity as a kid or teenager. So dance has had an enormous physical impact on me. It has helped with my back issues, got me stronger and now the feeling of moving my body makes me feel great.
But the best thing about dance, is the people. The wonderful, gorgeous, supportive people who enrich my life in so many ways.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
My Top 5 Decisions
Inspired by Katetakes5 I’ve compiled a list of my best 5 decisions. Writing them has been quite an interesting introspection exercise. I've thought deeply about what things have changed my life and of those, which were because of decisions I've made, versus circumstance. After composing them I realised that they all have one very important thing in common, each one involved taking a chance, a step into the unknown. There were other options, safer, more conventional routes but each of these decisions has enriched my life.
The thing I’ve realised over recent years is that you can’t live your life in fear of failure. Some things work great, some things are a big massive flop but to try nothing for fear of things going wrong is to only half live a life. I have faith in myself that I can survive failure, that if it happens I will grow and become stronger from it. So when I make a decision, start something new, give something a try, I jump in boots and all.
So here in no particular order is my list of top decisions, what are yours?
1. Learn to Dance
Isn’t it funny how sometimes you really want something, but manage to give yourself all sorts of reasons why you can’t do it? I cannot remember a time in my life when I didn’t want to learn to dance, but I always found a reason not to do it. In high school it was that I was too unco and not cool enough to try out for Rock Eisteddfod. Later it was that it was expensive, or you needed a partner, or that I was too unco (a reoccurring theme, I really am very unco).
In reality, I was just too scared! As I now know, it doesn’t have to be expensive, you definitely don’t need a partner and if I can learn, no one is too unco to learn to dance.
It took till I was 24, but taking the plunge and learning to dance has absolutely changed my life for the better in so many ways. I’m fitter than I’ve ever been with better posture and actual stomach muscles. I have a hobby that makes me smile and laugh and fills me with joy. And it has led me to the most amazingly wonderful people, my brilliant friends and of course S.
2. Working for my Dad
I know lots of people think this was probably an easy decision, it wasn’t, it was really hard. Working for my Dad has made it harder to develop an independent professional identity. I’ve had to prove myself over and over that I’m in my position based on merit not family ties. I care, worry and feel more responsible for the business than I ever would in similar positions working for others and my Dad is a hard task master.
But you know, every one of those hard things, is actually what makes it so rewarding. I care, I work hard, I want to achieve my best. And I get to work with my Dad who I love. He might be a hard task master but he is great fun and I love our working relationship. He is an amazing and inspiring mentor and I’ve developed a range of skills that I would never have in any other position.
3. Going to South America in 2009
In early 2009 my (now) great friend A asked if I would go with her to South America. There were lots of reasons I could have said no. She was a friend but I didn’t know her that well, it used up all my savings and leave in the middle of a massive year from a professional point of view. I had never backpacked or been away from home for longer than 2 weeks. But I said yes and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.
Not only did I achieve my life ambition of visiting Machu Picchu, I saw the most magnificent things and it reignited my love of travel. The other great thing about that decision was that we chose to do independent travel. I’m sure our families would have been much happier to have us on an organised tour but the things we did and got to see would just not have been possible if it wasn’t for that decision.
4. Staying at home and saving for a house deposit rather than renting
When I was in my early 20’s all my friends started moving out into their cool little apartments and group houses. By my mid 20’s even my little sister had moved out with her boyfriend. My parents are fabulous and didn’t impinge on my life at all, but still there were times when I felt like my life was never going to move on. I felt like a little girl locked in her childhood bedroom. I felt so stuck that I even instructed my mother to kick me out of home if I was still there when I was 30.
But all that saving and an inheritance meant that when I did move out, I moved into my own place. Every day I come home I feel proud that I achieved and that much as it is a struggle at times to pay the mortgage, I’m doing it.
5. Deciding I’m responsible for my own happiness
I think like many girls, Disney had me fooled. For a long time there I was waiting for my knight in shining armour to come and make my life perfect. Without ever consciously thinking it, I assumed that other people would point me in the right directions and I kind of floated along like that till I was in my 20’s.
It might sound ridiculous, it certainly does to me now, but it took me an awfully long time to work out that if I wanted something, I had to make it happen, I couldn’t just hope that it would work all by itself. I’m almost blushing as I type this to think of how many years I daydreamed away waiting for something to happen, without doing anything to make it happen.
I’m not sure when I started to consciously realise that I was in charge of my destiny, it was a sort of gradual awakening. I’m not sure that I’m even really there yet, but I feel it is almost as if I’ve stepped out from a fog, into a clear blue day, where there are paths before me and I choose which ones I take.
This blog is one of those paths. It is a conscious step on into the Pollyanna Syndrome. Focusing on happy things has made me happier.
I’m still working on it and I think I will my whole life, but I think this decision, this realisation, has made everything I’ve achieved in recent years possible.
The thing I’ve realised over recent years is that you can’t live your life in fear of failure. Some things work great, some things are a big massive flop but to try nothing for fear of things going wrong is to only half live a life. I have faith in myself that I can survive failure, that if it happens I will grow and become stronger from it. So when I make a decision, start something new, give something a try, I jump in boots and all.
So here in no particular order is my list of top decisions, what are yours?
1. Learn to Dance
Isn’t it funny how sometimes you really want something, but manage to give yourself all sorts of reasons why you can’t do it? I cannot remember a time in my life when I didn’t want to learn to dance, but I always found a reason not to do it. In high school it was that I was too unco and not cool enough to try out for Rock Eisteddfod. Later it was that it was expensive, or you needed a partner, or that I was too unco (a reoccurring theme, I really am very unco).
In reality, I was just too scared! As I now know, it doesn’t have to be expensive, you definitely don’t need a partner and if I can learn, no one is too unco to learn to dance.
It took till I was 24, but taking the plunge and learning to dance has absolutely changed my life for the better in so many ways. I’m fitter than I’ve ever been with better posture and actual stomach muscles. I have a hobby that makes me smile and laugh and fills me with joy. And it has led me to the most amazingly wonderful people, my brilliant friends and of course S.
2. Working for my Dad
I know lots of people think this was probably an easy decision, it wasn’t, it was really hard. Working for my Dad has made it harder to develop an independent professional identity. I’ve had to prove myself over and over that I’m in my position based on merit not family ties. I care, worry and feel more responsible for the business than I ever would in similar positions working for others and my Dad is a hard task master.
But you know, every one of those hard things, is actually what makes it so rewarding. I care, I work hard, I want to achieve my best. And I get to work with my Dad who I love. He might be a hard task master but he is great fun and I love our working relationship. He is an amazing and inspiring mentor and I’ve developed a range of skills that I would never have in any other position.
3. Going to South America in 2009
In early 2009 my (now) great friend A asked if I would go with her to South America. There were lots of reasons I could have said no. She was a friend but I didn’t know her that well, it used up all my savings and leave in the middle of a massive year from a professional point of view. I had never backpacked or been away from home for longer than 2 weeks. But I said yes and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.
Not only did I achieve my life ambition of visiting Machu Picchu, I saw the most magnificent things and it reignited my love of travel. The other great thing about that decision was that we chose to do independent travel. I’m sure our families would have been much happier to have us on an organised tour but the things we did and got to see would just not have been possible if it wasn’t for that decision.
4. Staying at home and saving for a house deposit rather than renting
When I was in my early 20’s all my friends started moving out into their cool little apartments and group houses. By my mid 20’s even my little sister had moved out with her boyfriend. My parents are fabulous and didn’t impinge on my life at all, but still there were times when I felt like my life was never going to move on. I felt like a little girl locked in her childhood bedroom. I felt so stuck that I even instructed my mother to kick me out of home if I was still there when I was 30.
But all that saving and an inheritance meant that when I did move out, I moved into my own place. Every day I come home I feel proud that I achieved and that much as it is a struggle at times to pay the mortgage, I’m doing it.
5. Deciding I’m responsible for my own happiness
I think like many girls, Disney had me fooled. For a long time there I was waiting for my knight in shining armour to come and make my life perfect. Without ever consciously thinking it, I assumed that other people would point me in the right directions and I kind of floated along like that till I was in my 20’s.
It might sound ridiculous, it certainly does to me now, but it took me an awfully long time to work out that if I wanted something, I had to make it happen, I couldn’t just hope that it would work all by itself. I’m almost blushing as I type this to think of how many years I daydreamed away waiting for something to happen, without doing anything to make it happen.
I’m not sure when I started to consciously realise that I was in charge of my destiny, it was a sort of gradual awakening. I’m not sure that I’m even really there yet, but I feel it is almost as if I’ve stepped out from a fog, into a clear blue day, where there are paths before me and I choose which ones I take.
This blog is one of those paths. It is a conscious step on into the Pollyanna Syndrome. Focusing on happy things has made me happier.
I’m still working on it and I think I will my whole life, but I think this decision, this realisation, has made everything I’ve achieved in recent years possible.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Pushing Daisies
The term "feel good viewing" in my experience usually signifies the kind of super sweet, syrupy tripe that basically makes me want to throw up. Yes, I am an extremely girly girl, and I love a happy ending, but all that sentimental, emotionally manipulative clap trap just leaves me cold.
However, I have recently found a television series that makes me feel so good, I quite literally squeal with delight when watching it. My reaction is so full on that it is actually a little embarrassing but it is absolutely guaranteed to make me smile and feel good so I guess why not express my enjoyment?
The series is called Pushing Daisies and it is about a guy who can bring people back to life - but only for a minute at a time. That probably doesn't sound heart warming, but trust me when I say it is totally gorgeous. From the clever storylines and great dialog, to the fantastic production, brilliant costumes (I covet Chuck's entire wardrobe) and excellent acting, the only thing I can fault is that only two seasons were made.
I'm a little late on the Pushing Daisies bandwagon, it aired between 2007 and 2009 but I'm wholeheartedly embracing it now. If you are looking for something to brighten your day, I suggest you get hold of this gem of a show.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Ninjabread Men
Everybody was kung fu fighting ... with gingerbread!
How awesome are these? Using them would really result in kickass biscuits! I shall be giving a set to a friend this weekend. As a keen baker with a husband who teaches wushu and a 2 year old who will no doubt imitate him, they seemed appropriate.
Happy weekend everybody!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Food Porn
Do you like food porn? You know, those gloriously perfect photos of amazing food. I love it. I'm well known for whipping out a camera or phone to take photos of people's plates. In fact my subscription to Gourmet Traveller is basically to allow me to drool over detectible dishes that I have little intention of ever making.
As regular followers of this blog will know, in the last year I have developed a deep and abiding love for a Canberra bakery called the Flute. I thank the lord that it is located inconveniently and has limited opening hours or I may be on first name terms with the wait staff, however I did spot its truck outside a cafe just near my work yesterday - oh dear!
So please, enjoy some delightful food porn of fabulous baked products. (Note most of the shots are taken still in the box. This is because once they come out of the box, they never last long enough to take a photo of!)
As regular followers of this blog will know, in the last year I have developed a deep and abiding love for a Canberra bakery called the Flute. I thank the lord that it is located inconveniently and has limited opening hours or I may be on first name terms with the wait staff, however I did spot its truck outside a cafe just near my work yesterday - oh dear!
So please, enjoy some delightful food porn of fabulous baked products. (Note most of the shots are taken still in the box. This is because once they come out of the box, they never last long enough to take a photo of!)
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| Macaroons. I'm still not 100% on the macaroon bandwagon, but they were pretty tasty. Chocolate cherry and vanilla and raspberry flavours. |
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| Chocolate mud cake - sooooo rich, yet somehow without that heavy stoginess that I don't like in mud cake. |
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| Pear galette - the perfect flaky pastry |
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| Jaffa dome - a base of crunchy chocolate feuilletine, followed by flowerless orange cake, then layers of orange and chocolate mousse. So intense - I got a migraine from it the first time I had it and overindulged! |
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| Mixed berry tart with frangipane |
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| An arty shot of the caramel and pear cake - don't be fooled by the name, it also contains serious amounts of chocolate! |
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Happy birthday little blog!
Well time has flown, but today marks a year since I started writing this blog.
My inspiration came from a happy day. You know one of those days where you are in a great mood, everything is right with the world for no particular reason? I had a fantastic one, so great that I was pretty much dancing along instead of walking. I jumped in my car to head home, turned on the radio - and they were discussing depressive thought cycles. Oh I thought, not right for today's mood, so I switched on some music. But then it occurred to me, if you can have a depressive thought cycle, can you have a happy thought cycle. Can I made this fantastic mood last by focusing on the positive?
It was worth a shot, after all who doesn't like to be happy? But I knew I needed something active. I needed a challenge to really make me find the happiness in every day and thus Blithe Moments was born.
And I've done it. Every day for a year (aside from the odd blogger issue or the two weeks when I switched over to my travel blog, but those were certainly happy entries) I've found something happy to write about.
It has been tough going at times. I didn't know it when I started the blog but I was not picking an easy year. In the past year I've had a really bad bout of glandular fever - so bad I would just start crying from the pain. I've had significant work and life stresses, to the point where I've lost both sleep and hair. There have been periods where money has been tight. And worst of all my Mum's best friend, my "Aunty" Sue died after a relatively short (although it felt like eons at the time) but very painful battle with ovarian cancer. On some of those days finding something happy to write about has involved some serious creative thinking and the ability to take note of even the smallest good things.
But on the other hand, it has been a pretty fantastic year too. I've been more aware and grateful for the good things in life than ever before. I've paid attention to the happy stuff, focusing on it, seeking it out for this blog. And I've fallen head over heels in love.
At the end of this year of happy moments I know that even when times are tough, there are rays of light that illuminate my life. I am an extremely lucky person and and my life is blessed.
So the blog isn't going anywhere, but in the past year I've also become an avid reader of other blogs and there are a few things I want to do. I want to take more photos, spend longer on posts. As a result, I might not post every day, but Blithe Moments will continue. Let me know if there is anything you would like to see, or what you already like or don't.
One thing I can say is that I think the experiment has worked. Even with the stresses of life around me, I feel happier, more positive, better able to deal with challenges and generally content.
My inspiration came from a happy day. You know one of those days where you are in a great mood, everything is right with the world for no particular reason? I had a fantastic one, so great that I was pretty much dancing along instead of walking. I jumped in my car to head home, turned on the radio - and they were discussing depressive thought cycles. Oh I thought, not right for today's mood, so I switched on some music. But then it occurred to me, if you can have a depressive thought cycle, can you have a happy thought cycle. Can I made this fantastic mood last by focusing on the positive?
It was worth a shot, after all who doesn't like to be happy? But I knew I needed something active. I needed a challenge to really make me find the happiness in every day and thus Blithe Moments was born.
And I've done it. Every day for a year (aside from the odd blogger issue or the two weeks when I switched over to my travel blog, but those were certainly happy entries) I've found something happy to write about.
It has been tough going at times. I didn't know it when I started the blog but I was not picking an easy year. In the past year I've had a really bad bout of glandular fever - so bad I would just start crying from the pain. I've had significant work and life stresses, to the point where I've lost both sleep and hair. There have been periods where money has been tight. And worst of all my Mum's best friend, my "Aunty" Sue died after a relatively short (although it felt like eons at the time) but very painful battle with ovarian cancer. On some of those days finding something happy to write about has involved some serious creative thinking and the ability to take note of even the smallest good things.
But on the other hand, it has been a pretty fantastic year too. I've been more aware and grateful for the good things in life than ever before. I've paid attention to the happy stuff, focusing on it, seeking it out for this blog. And I've fallen head over heels in love.
At the end of this year of happy moments I know that even when times are tough, there are rays of light that illuminate my life. I am an extremely lucky person and and my life is blessed.
So the blog isn't going anywhere, but in the past year I've also become an avid reader of other blogs and there are a few things I want to do. I want to take more photos, spend longer on posts. As a result, I might not post every day, but Blithe Moments will continue. Let me know if there is anything you would like to see, or what you already like or don't.
One thing I can say is that I think the experiment has worked. Even with the stresses of life around me, I feel happier, more positive, better able to deal with challenges and generally content.
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