I like to think of mistakes as miss hits. At least in the attempt to do whatever it is I am aiming to do I learnt something. If I wait till I am sure I’ll get it right I’d never start anything. So, join the club and one day you might actually hit the target by mistake and them the challenge is to work out how to do it again .
We have relocated to 14 different homes in 3 different cities during my life. On top of these moves I have also moved back home to my mother’s 3 times with or without my family.
At first moving was daunting. But now it’s a simple process that can be broken down into steps and described as an acrostic poem.
Research the area you are to move to and get excited
Explore your options
Lock in you choices and plan your move
Organise you belongings, what will stay, go or be given away
Collect cardboard boxes and start packing
Ask for help if necessary
Transfer you belongings to your new home
Enjoy sitting in your lounge room with a glass of champagne
My impression of a person, place or thing depends on how they present themselves in the moment. I agree first impressions count, but to me they aren’t the be all and end all. They are often tainted by other issues more pressing at the time. This means I am always ready to change my view should different circumstances prevail.
After consideration, I realise my impression is unconsciously judged and can be explained by the following acrostic poem:
Integrity
Motivation
Positivity
Respectful
Empathy
Sincerity
Self-respect
Individuality
Open-mindedness
Nurturance
When these values can be seen in a person, place or thing, I leave the experience feeling good and wanting more. The more of these values missing, the poorer my experience. Do you know what drives your impressions?
Are you a traveler or a homebody?
I love travelling. I find exploring new places, their history and culture fascinating. Unfortunately, the longest time I have traveled is 6 weeks. However, I look forward to spending my long service leave travelling to far off lands in the next few years.
PS. Most of the world is far off when you live in Australia.
What kind of TV commercial would you like to make? Describe it.
I don’t think I would want to make a TV commercial, although I have been in two and not actually paid for either. The first was planned and I was shopping for baby goods in my friends’ parents baby shop. I was young and it was fun making it.
The second commercial I was in was for the first season of The Voice in Australia. I had seen the battles being taped live and as we were leaving they asked for our opinions. I must have done a great job as suddenly people were telling me I was on TV advertising The Voice. Personally, I was never lucky enough to see me on TV but it had my family, friends, colleagues and patients talking for weeks. Fortunately, one of my friends sent me a photo of it on her TV. Gotta love technology these days. I think that I look okay for midnight. 
Describe yourself in a word that starts with the first letter of your name.
Maternal, mindful, motivated
List some fun things for a rainy day.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
Last week I was grateful for family time celebrating my son’s birthday. Even though he was overseas, my husband, daughter and I went out and enjoyed his favourite food.
This week I hope to finish painting my kitchen cupboards and finally decide where things will belong permanently in my new home.
If we were having coffee I would tell you that I am looking forward to my first shift at my new hospital on Monday. It’s been 8 years since I have worked as a nurse on the floor helping patients and I didn’t realize how much I had missed this special contact.
If we were having coffee I would tell you that I meet with the collaborator of my book last Monday for the first time in 3 months. I was pleased she loved the changes that I had made because it gives me confidence that my thoughts on the book progress are true. Although, it feels like the end is getting closer, I know there is still a lot of work to be done. However, I am still aiming to finish my part by end of this year.
If we were having coffee I would tell you that I had a fun time at the supermarket this morning seeing if I could guess the amount of sugar in the foods I normally eat. I was pretty accurate so I think I will be able limit my sugar intake to 24 grams daily most of the time. If you are confused by this statement you can catch up here https://www.inspiringmax.com/the-power-of-sugar/ Today is day 3 and I am feeling good this morning as I slept so much better last night.
If we were having coffee I would tell you this week I that to insert my drawings into my book this week I discovered that I need to draw them in Microsoft’s Paint program. I have never used it before but as I get better at using it, this program will leave me with a more professional drawings, which will be good. I would also ask if you have used Paint and have any tips for me. Just for fun I’ll show you my first very basic drawing on Paint.
If we were having coffee I would tell you that I won my Toastmasters Club Table Topics competition last week. This is an impromptu speaking contest where you are giving the topics literally seconds before you speak to it. I think my blogging experience helped me and now I move to the Area competition at the end of September.
If we were having coffee I would ask you what is happening in your world? Let me know in the comments.
It was the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last. These were the words that were going through my head as I was plucking up the courage to hand over my book’s complete and printed first draft. I remember telling myself, “it actually looks like a book.” I was so proud. If only I could keep my treasure to myself. However, the purpose of writing a book is to share knowledge, so I knew I had to hand it over to others – colleagues, patients, family and friends. Now was the time. It was never going to get any easier, but my thoughts and emotions were overwhelming.
What if they don’t like it?
What if people find it offensive and don’t like hearing the truth?
Was my writing good enough?
Why should people listen to what I had to say about eating disorder recovery?
Were my points clear?
What if it confused people?
These and many other questions could only be answered by you guessed it – seeking feedback. So in nervous anticipation, I made a plan and handed my baby over.
“Wow this is impressive” was the initial reaction after a quick flick through the 200 page document. My heart settled. I had done it. I had made the first steps in putting my work out there for others to scrutinize. To my surprise it felt good. I knew that the making of a book is not in the writing but in the readers thoughts, opinions and acceptance. And so began my change process. I took all the feedback from my 50 or more readers I had handed a copy of my book. I began to enjoy hearing or reading what they had to say with everyone giving me different and valuable insights into how the world interpreted my writing.
Now, 3 years on from my first time, my book has it 3rd working title, which I think will be its last, but who knows. My next challenge is to finish wrapping it up and ensuring that every point I have made has a purpose before sending it to the editor for the first time, which will start the actual publishing process.
What do you need to do for the first time that although scary has the potential to change your life in some way? Remember, sometimes there is no easy way. You just have to hand it over and allow the process to begin.
My second working title
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/discover-challenges/opening-line/
Rebuilding is a natural occurance in life. It involves improving or making changes to something/someone that already exists or building something/someone again that has been damaged or destroyed. To ensure that the rebuild is the best it can be, both scenarios involve planning. Before creation, the person, building or thing needs stripping down in order to help reinforce the changes. The following list may help if you are considering a rebuild in your life.
Understanding another person’s thoughts, feelings or behaviours is part of getting to know them. It is easy to judge based on our own assumptions of what is appropriate, but life is not that simple. It can be hard sometimes to look at a situation through another’s eyes. However, from my experience, the real growth comes as you can learn about your response to the initial trigger. Without this knowledge, you will find yourself in the same situation again and again.
To help me gain understanding I regularly review situations outside of the moment. The stronger my reaction, the more important I find it is to dig deep and be honest to develop the best outcomes for every one. In the following acrostic poem I share my thoughts and experiences reviewing difficult conversations and situations.
Unveiling the uncertainty
Negativity or neglect
Discovering the depth of the drive
Educating myself to encourage and empower
Realising any resentfulness I respond with reassurance and respect
Secure, sensitive and supportive
Treading lightly, building trust and tolerance
Aware and authentic of my feelings
No longer nervous, nasty or numb
Delighted the situation is different now
Invigorated through involvement
Nurturing and
Getting to know myself as well as you better
I came across these amazing driftwood sculptures while driving through the countryside in North Island New Zealand. The artist appeared to work from his home which was surrounded by these beautiful creations. I remember feeling creative just looking at them.
