inspiringmax, Author at INSPIRING MAX

First Blogiversary

May 10, 2015May 11, 2015 inspiringmax

On Mothers Day 2014 I bit the bullet and started a blog. I had no idea where this journey would lead me but I stepped out anyway and the following have been my rewards.

I have met many new friends
I am no longer scared of the internet
Writing daily has helped my word order and editing skills
I have a greater knowledge of countries around the world
I have learnt to reach out to others by leaving a comment on their blog
Understanding WordPress has helped me download my draft copy of my book as an e-book in Pressbooks
I am learning to write poetry
I am learning about search engine optimization
I have been viewed by people in 114 countries some I didn’t know existed
I am learning to fix things on my blog
I am becoming more comfortable using my experiences as a basis for my writing in a public forum
I have learnt to never assume anything and to make my writing clear
Over the 12 months I have had 12, 567 views and have 415 followers
I have learnt that visiting other blogs is as important as writing a post
I have enjoyed several Blogging University courses and learnt a lot from them
The A -Z April Blogging Challenge really tested me but I was excited to join it and complete all posts
I now notice fun blog ideas and can gather the information ahead of time
My audience continues to grow as I learn about traffic flow
Blogging events help us to interact
I have developed and understand my online voice and how it connects with others
I have learned about many new cultures, people, places and things
Finding peace in the blogging community
I have developed confidence with my writing through feedback from others
Learnt to use photos to enhance my posts
I enjoy writing and designing quotes using Picmonkey
I have learnt perseverance—it takes time to find your community blogging
Never give up, keep chipping away at it
Some things you can’t control and who how many people visit your blog is one of them

Thank you for joining me on my journey and I hope we continue to interact over the years to come in the blogosphere. My first ever post on Mother’s Day is here

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/journey/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Forces of Nature

May 10, 2015 inspiringmax

Many opportunities can be found to study the forces of nature in the Blue Mountains, Australia. More information on this beautiful area can be found here.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/forces-of-nature/

Joy Not Jealousy

May 9, 2015 inspiringmax

We all get jealous from time to time — what wakes the green-eyed monster for you?

Jealousy is not an emotion I bother with. I find it draining and it doesn’t help me to follow my dreams or bring me any joy. If I find some thing on my journey I am interested in, I look into whether it really is something that I want long-term and if the answer is yes, I figure out what I have to do to get it. This is where the fun starts. Is it a goal I really want or does it just look good on someone else? This process has taught me a lot about myself. I now realise if I am not prepared to put the effort in—the goal is not important to me.

Poetry is a new skill I am learning as I develop my blogging skills and the following limerick sums it up for me.

What is the point in being jealous

It doesn’t make us nice gals or fellas

Instead I like to set a goal

Achieve my desire and empower my soul

The secret to learning what is precious

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/green-eyed-lady/

Forgive and Forget

May 8, 2015 inspiringmax

Share a story where it was very difficult for you to forgive the perpetrator for wronging you, but you did it — you forgave them.

Unfortunately we cannot stop trauma, tragedy and conflict happening in our lives. We can however choose how we respond to it, which changes its impact. By staying stuck—angry, hurt and wanting revenge, we keep focusing on the negative emotions. This allows them to continue to hurt us in other ways, over and over again.

Forgiveness is acknowledging that it happened, but letting go of the negative emotions. Doing whatever is necessary to move on. How—will be different for everyone, but there is no other way forward.

For me, forgiveness isn’t about the other person or what they have done—it’s about my mental health. By not forgiving them I allow them to take from me again and again. Not an option for me. I deal with my emotions, learn any lessons that need to be learnt and move on. I may not choose to forget, but I do choose to not let it consume my life and forgiveness is the key.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/forgive-and-forget/

Community

May 6, 2015 inspiringmax

What does your ideal community look like? How is it organized, and how is community life structured? What values does the community share?

I am a part of many communities. Each one is similar but different. Although their purposes vary, their interchangeable themes and values can be described in the following acrostic poem.

Communication, caring and creativity

Openess, opinions and observations

Managing problems together

Mindful of other people’s boundaries

Understanding and respect

Nurture and nature

Individualism and independence encouraged

Team approach

Yesterday, today and tomorrow—the building blocks of our relationships

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/idyllic/

Big Picture

May 4, 2015 inspiringmax

Think of a topic or issue about which you’ve switched your opinion. Why the change?

I don’t tend to take stances about issues these days. I like to look at the big picture and take in all the information from both sides. I am flexible and always looking for new knowledge that may change the outlook. Most of the time any of these thoughts stay in my head and only come out if they are asked for. In my experience, some people when they ask for my opinion are surprised if I don’t happen to agree with them on the topic. This points to the fact that in fact they weren’t interested in my opinion but in gathering more evidence that they were right.

I don’t judge—people, places or things. I find it is best policy get to the bottom of where people’s thoughts come from and why they may have so much emotion attached to a topic. By asking a few more questions I can often make these connections which may have nothing to do with the original issue but open the door to understanding the person.

We are all individuals entitled to an opinion. The fact that we can express them freely is what makes it interesting.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/flip-flop/

Moving Forward

May 3, 2015 inspiringmax

When was the last time you did something completely new and out of your element? How was it? Will you do it again?

I am regularly moving forward by stepping or often leaping out of my comfort zone to grow. Nothing exciting ever happens in our comfort zone. This time last year I was working my way up to begin blogging. And just to make it a harder I had decided to set my blog up on WordPress.org not WordPress.com. It took me weeks to get any views and after 2 months I had 34 views. I didn’t give up. I kept learning about the process, connecting with others and becoming more comfortable as a blogger. It feels natural now. I have had 12,250 views and am averaging about 50-70 views a day.

My latest journey out of my comfort zone is with Twitter. I don’t think I have any idea about its power but I am becoming more comfortable with it daily. Twitter for me is a double comfort zone as it has by name attached to it. Twitter is the next level of social media for me to connect with before I publish my book later this year. It feels a little more comfortable each day so I know I am moving forward in the direction of my dreams.

At the time I began writing my book my life was out of my comfort zone in many ways. I found Miley Cyrus’s The Climb extremely motivating and would play it loudly and regularly. This song describes the journey of moving forward and dealing with the difficulties faced during your climb to follow your dreams. It empowered me to do what I needed to do and see what happens. I am so glad I did. My life has changed for the better in so many ways and I am grateful I took the chances I did. Now when I need a shot of motivation I replay The Climb and re anchor the thought that I can do what ever I dream and that I don’t have to know how it will turn out first. I have learnt to trust the process.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/beyond-the-pale/

Share Your World 2015 – Week 17

May 2, 2015May 2, 2015 inspiringmax

What is your most favorite smell/scent?

I don’t focus on smells I am more of a visual person. Although at the end of a long day at work, I love to walk into the house and smell that someone has cooked dinner—I don’t care what it is I love them for it. My favourite perfumes are Beautiful by Estee Lauder and Opium.

Do you prefer long hair or short hair for yourself?

I have never had long hair. My hair has always reached a certain point and grown out rather than down. It gets more puffy. Today, it is shoulder length as this seems to be the right length for me. If I want to put it up I can and it drapes well around my face to soften it.

Do you plan out things usually or do you do them more spontaneous (for example if you are visiting a big city you don’t know?)

I like a mixture of both. If I need to do something specific I plan it but I often just go exploring and see what gems I can discover as I go. My experience teaches me, the more I plan even a little the less time is wasted, but the less of the actual city I see as I am too focused on getting from A – B.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?

I love spending time with nature in any way. Different seasons different ways. Walking on the beach, skiing, bush walking, ice skating, swimming, sailing and cycling these are all fun activities I have enjoyed over recent times.

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/04/27/share-your-world-2015-week-17/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Intricate

May 2, 2015 inspiringmax

The Chen Clan Academy is the most intricate building I have seen. As the name suggests it was originally an academic Temple built with money donated the 72 Chen clan families for the accommodation during the their preparation for Imperial Examinations. The Temple was completed in 1894 during the Qing dynasty and is amazingly decorated with wood carvings, stone carvings, pottery, brick carvings, plaster and iron carvings.

Located in Guangzhou, China the Temple became the Guangdong Folk Art Museum in 1959. I think I found the outside of the building even more fascinating than the Chinese Folk Art inside.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/intricate/

Z – Zoo # A – Z Challenge

April 30, 2015April 30, 2015 inspiringmax

Zoo are a great part of traveling to me. Visiting other countries or areas and seeing new animals for the first time. I am never disappointed as they come in all shapes and sizes. My latest favourite animal to meet in a zoo were housed in the Arctic Tundra section of Toronto Zoo. It was winter so they were at home in the cold weather and needed no special cooling unlike the polar bears in Australia.