Planning for another wonderful year!

Here we are four days into the new year. Seems pretty promising to me so far.
Then again, success over the past four days has been measured in getting some physical activity in, eating salad for lunch and trying to curb my holiday season chocolate hangover cravings.
While I don't necessarily believe in putting off change until a specific date turns over, every minute really is a chance to start living an authentic life in my mind, the first week of January is usually a quiet reflective time to mull over what has occurred in the previous twelve months. A time to assess where your journey is taking you, and whether you want your course to continue in that direction or whether you have different dreams.
Last year I had certain circumstances that changed my dreams for the future, and then again at the end of the year those dreams changed again when I found myself having to reassess where I was headed the choices I had made based on that old situation.

When the clock hit midnight on New Years Eve I realised that the vision I had made for myself for 2012 was no longer relevant. Cue a little bit of sadness and some mild panic. I am a girl who likes to have a list, at least a vague map of my terrain so that I can enjoy my journey.
I love getting lost when I go on holidays, adventure feeds a deep part of my soul; however I do like to have an idea of what I am doing with these precious days of my life.
Therefore I have decided on some goals, dreams and changes for 2012, and I thought I would share them with all of you.

Amy's Goals for 2012:

Career:

1. Complete my Graduate Diploma in Writing, Editing and Publishing.
• As mentioned in this post I am going back to university this year. The plan has changed slightly and I am now taking a year long course that will get me closer to my dream of working in the world of the written word.
2. Submit at least two articles to magazines, websites or newspapers.

(Source)

Fitness:

1. Run at least six races.
• I was planning on doing two half marathons but as I am going back to university full time for the year and also working part time I have decided to concentrate on the shorter distances this year. But aim to run them super fast! (Well, faster than I do right now...)
• Here they are so far:
• March - 5km International Women's Day Fun Run
• March - 10km Twilight Run (run just on dark, not because of vampires)
• May - 8km Mother's Day Classic
• July - 10km Gold Coast
• August - Brisbane Running Festival 10km
• September - 10km Bridge to Brisbane
2. Add more strength training and cross training to my schedule.
• Aim for two strength training sessions per week
• Try to add swimming and a gym class every week to vary my routine and decrease boredom. 

(Source)

Fun Stuff:

1. Make the perfect pie crust
2. Learn to sew and make myself something to wear
3. Grow my own tomatoes
4. Read one 'fun' book per month, that is, something that isn't on my syllabus for university
5. Spend a whole weekend at the beach
6. Knit a scarf

So there you have my goals for 2012, some planning is required to make them successful (for example, asking Mum to teach me how to use a sewing machine!) but these are achievements that I hope I can check off my list through the year, and look back on in another twelve months time. I am sure there will be many other adventures over the next 362 days and I look forward to what the universe sends me, and sharing those unexpected rainbows with you all as well.

Mostly what I wish for this year is just as much happiness as I had in 2011 and as much precious time with my family and friends as possible.

What are your plans or wishes for 2012?

Auld Lang Syne

Happy New Year everyone!
I am sad to see 2011 end, I want to hold onto every minute before the time left on this calendar can only be counted in seconds. There have been so many revelations, so much growth, so much happiness these past 365 days, I can only hope that 2012 hits 2011's admirable benchmark.
The fireworks this year are a staccato soundtrack to outline the major events, and the minor but no less important everyday moments, that will forever cement 2011 into my mind.
This year I have been lucky enough to travel to California for a total of two months, and have been to Melbourne with Mum and Jess.

This year I have learnt so much about myself. There have been large revelations about my character evident both in how I feel about myself, and how I conduct myself in the world. I have discovered that I am worthy of love, and how when you are open to the universe love will come strolling in, take you by surprise, take you for a ride. Love has so much to teach, whether it lasts forever, or whether we are only blessed with its light for a short moment in time. I am still discovering the lessons left in its wake.
I have learnt that I am capable of whatever I put my mind to. When I want something, when I feel that it is vital to my soul to reach a goal that I set myself, then I have the strength of character, the metal in my soul, to get those feet on the pavement and run towards the finish line.

Perhaps the greatest lesson that I have learnt in the classroom of 2011 is to really enjoy and treasure everyday moments. I have seen the blessings of living every hour that I am here. The gifts that we can receive if we open our hearts and our minds to what is happening in the world, right where we are, right here in this time.
The past can teach us, the future gives us something to reach for, but in reality all we have is this second, this breath, that we can be sure of.
I have no clue as to what 2012 has in store. There are many things that I am hoping for, goals that I am planning to check off (more about that tomorrow) but as for the day to day course of my ship, I leave that to the winds that are yet to blow. I am comforted by the memories that I made in 2011 by just trusting the tides and the storms. I am heartened by the knowledge that come what may I am built for life, that if I continue to pay forward positivity then I should reap what I sow, and that there is a silver lining everyday, we just need to know how to look at the hours that are gifted to us.
I hope that you all have a wonderful New Years Eve and that the only memories of 2011 that you carry into the new year are positive. Think of midnight as a chance to leave behind the baggage of the past 12 months and take only that which makes your heart light.
See you on the other side of midnight my friends.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!

Here on my side of the dateline Christmas Day is drawing to a starry end.
There were roast potatoes eaten, carols sung, too many scorched almonds to count were ingested and paper and bows litter the floor beneath my Christmas tree.
Every year though, the most important gifts of this day are not those that I unwrap on the morning of the 25th of December. The greatest presents are those that I entrust to the corners of my heart and the dusty files of my memory, saving them up for every moment in the years to come when I feel a little low, or when I need reminding of what the real reason is for the madness of everyday life.
On a lonely day I reach into the chambers of my heart and draw out a slightly bent house shaped package. As I peel off the brown paper, I see my house and inside my family are waving. I know that when I get home there will be a hug to warm me again, and a strong shoulder to lay my head upon to take away the weariness of the day.
There are days when I need to take a gift out of my memory, just a little something to make me smile, and I dust off a furry, wiggling parcel and unwrap the memory of Molly sitting on my uncle's lap bathing his face with kisses while we all laughed at her intensity.
I am a lucky woman, not only at this time of year, but through all my days. I stockpile the gifts of the time that I am fortunate enough to share with those I love, and I am never without the gift of someone's presence.

To all my friends and family who are ending their Christmas Day as I am, and all my friends and family (including my blogging family) who are just starting their December 25th; I am making a wish for you all.
May this day, and the year that follows be full of gifts everyday; may there be warm arms and wagging tails to greet you, may you find something to love everyday, take time to find peace in your life and hope in your heart, keep a smile close and handy and share it with everyone you meet and may the joy of the season follow you the whole year long.
Merry Christmas everyone, stay safe, and lots of love from my heart and home to yours,
Amy.

A Very Special Birthday

The 16th of December marks a very special occasion for our family every year - my Dad's birthday!
This past Friday Dad celebrated another fantastic year on this earth with a trip to Melbourne with Mum to attend another family friend's birthday party.

Dad and Mum - just a couple of years ago...

I wanted to take an opportunity to wish my Dad a happy (somewhat belated) birthday right here on the blog.
Dad, you have given so much to Jess and myself, we are truly lucky to have you as our father, our friend, and our live-in mechanic/handyman/washing maid.

See, maturity, it runs in the family...

Even though I am no longer a little girl, I still count myself as Daddy's little girl. You have taught me so much in my life so far, and I know there are many lessons for me to learn still. You are the reason I can make shortbread off by heart, the best bear-hug giver I have ever met, the biggest kid at Christmas time, a great partner in crime when it comes to teasing Mum (lovingly as always) and the genetics responsible for making me unable to say no to 'just one more chocolate'.

Here's to many more years of Sunday afternoons scones, watching car racing on TV, landscaping projects, Christmas light competitions, pancake breakfasts and laughing at Mr. Bean.
I love you Dada. Happy birthday.

The Lighting of a Fire

'Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.'

William Butler Yeats

On Monday of this week we celebrated yet another wonderful occasion, my little sister graduated from her university degree!

Doesn't she look super smart in her cap and gown? Born to wear it I say.

After four years of hard work, late nights, and more cups of tea than I can count, Jess achieved her Bachelor of Urban Development in Urban and Regional Planning. For the rest of us that means that she is a town planner, working to make our cities better in the future and consulting with communities to understand what it is they need most from their towns.

I am insanely proud of her.

Congratulations Jess. After all of your hard work you truly deserve to be recognised for all that you have achieved so far. You inspire me every single day.

Jess's group of graduates, and two of their proud teachers.

In our family, education is one of the most important gifts you can give yourself and the world. I am not talking about just university degrees or academic accolades; we value life education, the thirst for learning about the world that comes from really living every second of our lives, the skills that we learn from those who walk the road before us; in fostering the natural curiosity that lies within us all.

There is no end to what we can learn, no limit or bounds to the human mind. Education, learning, wisdom, all of these are the keys to so many doors. There is no lock strong enough to keep out an open mind.

Jess and Rachel, who reads this blog. Hi Rachel!

Growing up Jess and I were surrounded by books. Our parents talked to us about the news, about ideas that were larger than just our lives, about dreams and hopes and the history of our own family. 

Mum and Dad lit a fire, nurtured the two young curious minds that had been entrusted to them.

There were no rules about what girls 'should' learn. Jess can wield a drop saw to help Dad renovate the house just as well as she can frost a cupcake. I can hammer a nail as surely as I can sew a button on a shirt.

We learnt from a young age that hunger is good. 

Hunger that leads to devouring books late into the night, filling pages with stories and poetry.

Hunger that fills your soul with a yearning to observe, to create, to question, to listen, to seek minds greater than your own, to never close the door on an opportunity to learn more about the world and it's people and their ideas.

Two more curious minds. Or just curious people really.

Our parents showed us that you never know who has something to teach you. Your greatest teachers in life may not have an education degree, or work in a classroom, or have even finished school. They will not have succeeded in every venture they have tried. They might be years older than you, from a generation so removed from yours that it would be easy to dismiss them as old fashioned or out of touch. Your teachers might be younger than you; wisdom from the mouths of babes.

Trent and Jess.

The most important thing is that we keep an open mind.

Learn every single day. Discoveries will not always be grand or life-changing or even immediately recognisable.

Just remember to stay curious. Nurture the minds around you, young, old and in between.

Read, watch, listen, write, be in the world every day.

All those around you have walked different roads. They all have something to teach us.

If only we take time to learn.

Take time to light the fire and keep it burning.

'I am still learning.'

Michelangelo

My Christmas List

Whenever I manage to sit down and start a day with one of these:

One caffe americano, thank you very much!

I know that whatever comes will be worth it.
Today Jess, Trent and I headed out to brave the crowds and finish off our Christmas shopping. Along the way we came across this pretty face:

Jess with Trent's little sister Maddie

It was great to stop for a moment and talk to Maddie while she was on her lunch break.
After our short rest we headed back out into the crowds; Jess was determined to get through as much as we could so that we could spend the rest of the holiday weekends baking!
Soon I was the only person left on Jess's Christmas list, poor little sister I am the hardest person to buy for.
For me, the things I value most from people are not available in the stores even at this time of year when it seems you can buy anything if you have saved your pennies for long enough.
I know it sounds trite, but the greatest gift to me is time.
Don't send me jewels, or clothes, or expensive cosmetics that I don't know how to use.
What I really want are your Saturday mornings at the markets where we can sip coffee and talk about slow things as we wake to our weekend, I long for our Sunday walks on the beach watching the waves roll in as dawn breaks, I crave Friday night sing-a-longs to our old favourites as we make dinner in bare feet, and those cups of tea on rainy afternoons where we talk about the shiny secret places in our souls.
The moments our hearts and souls touch are the most valuable presents to me. I collect them in a place deep inside, they are my anchor in stormy times, the mirror that reflects how beautiful this life can be, they are my investment in my past, and a hope for the future.
These are the Christmas gifts I wish for.
What is on your Christmas list this year? What do you wish for that can't be wrapped with pretty red bows?

Silver Bells, Silver Bells, It's Christmas Time in the City

One of my fondest memories of Christmas time is going to visit the city to see the tree, and the lights and all the store windows that had been decorated for the season.

Every year Mum and Dad would pack Jessica and I into the car and we would drive into the city, usually after dinner. Our special treat was always a Hungry Jacks (Burger King for my US friends) soft serve ice cream cone.  After all the gorgeous hand churned, locally produced, organic and artisan ice cream I have eaten, one bite of one of these can still take me back to those nights with my family. In fact, whenever I am in the city at Christmas time there is some kind of special magic. somehow I shrink back down to a little girl in a red and white dress, white sandals strapped to my feet and ribbon in my hair.

Trent and Jess

The cobblestones of the pedestrian mall still feel the same beneath the soles of my shoes as I wander up to Myer to see what the window dressers have chosen to display this year, what story they have decided will be animated with puppets, which music will be quietly piping its way into the crowds gathered around the glass. As our ice creams melted a little we would grip Mum and Dad's hands tightly and make our way over to King George Square to see the Christmas tree. Seemingly miles high from an 8 year old's view point it gleamed with huge baubles, and white strings of light, and always perched on top was a beautiful Christmas star.

Papa Bear and Mama Bear

This year, I wanted to recapture the magic. I set a date with my family to have dinner and wander in the city like we did all those years ago. Of course, this year we were five rather than four because Trent is part of our big crazy circus too!

Not little girls anymore

Although the windows were not as good as they once were, the tree was still beautiful and the night was just as magical as I remember. After a wonderful dinner at Vapiano we marvelled at the tree, checked out some of the stores (and did some Christmas shopping for the little Chickpea) and had some quality people watching time. 

Gluten free gnocchi pomodoro with parmigiano - delicious!

 Although we didn't get to have our soft serve ice cream cones, Mum and I shared our favourite (lemon sorbet) while we browsed a book store. 

Now I am sitting at home beside my own beautiful tree, an indulgence I allow myself every night leading up to Christmas when everyone else has gone to bed.

There is something in the glow of the lights that sends time away, shifts me into that special place where I can reflect on all that I have learnt over the past year, all that has changed and grown inside since those lights last shone into the night.

I think that is a tale for another night though. Tonight I am going to sleep with the same peace as my 8 year old self, the same excitement for the magic of Christmas, and the grown up knowledge that the real magic is the wonder of family, the miracle of friends, and the myriad blessings in my life every day of the year.