51. Enter a photography competition

Nailed it! made it onto the website and everything. I am a very proud pumpkin today :D

XXX

Happy Tuesday

Super quick post about an interesting article: Be Happier Today

XX

P.S An old friend of mine who now lives in Chile is looking for an Au pair for her little girl for 6 months. I put my name forward, because, well, why the hell not!

51. Enter a photography competition

Done. Thank-you, National Geographic Traveller one of my favourite magazines. I went with quite a simple shot I took in Chicago, because it instantly sprang to mind, and I'm happy to go my my first instincts here.

Enter yourself, its super quick and easy! The deadline is December 9th - and there are 6 categories to choose from city, nature, people, iconic, modern and action. They also have a travel writing competition which I think would also be fun.

My shot: Navy Pier Sunset, Chicago

Check out a few of these submissions already on the website for inspiration...

XXX

A List for Living

Check out this List for Living an inspiring tale, by a brave women with limited time left on this earth.

I'm delighted to see 'get a dog' is on the list, just like mine!

She says "My bucket list has given me some kind of a structure. There are no excuses anymore. You have to get on and do things rather than thinking you must do it someday. It's almost like giving pleasure a priority, in doing so you create powerful memories."

So, what would you do in Helens' place? If you knew you only had 5 years left?

XXX

New goal

Welcome to the list number 55. Teach Yoga abroad

I love this idea and figure I  have my whole life to become a teacher good enough to do such a thing. So its going on the list! and I am very excited by the prospect!

But where I would most like to teach it, at least in my mind, today, is Iceland. One of the most wonderful, magical places I know. Check it out:

Looks great right?! ;) XXX

Moody Monday

I'm sure I can't be the only one who suffers badly with the Monday blues, but today is a particular doozy. As things seem to be sliding a tad downhill with my life in general - this weekend for example I had a few cocktails too many and talked maniacally to my crossfit coaches we ran into whilst out drinking because 'I desperately wanted them to like me' no doubt an ego ricochet from a recent romantic rejection AND running into an old boyfriend whilst looking like crap. I'm feeling uncool, unliked and a general mess.

So as list are obviously my thing, and soothe me. Lets have 10 things I am grateful for and 5 mini goals for my week, in an attempt to cheer myself up:

Grateful:
1. My work allows me to go to 3 lunchtime yoga sessions each week
2. I have the means to take on my yoga teacher training - not everyone has the time/money, I should be grateful that I could basically pick this up on a whim
3. In 5 weeks I'm travelling to the Amazon Rainforest (for crying out loud!)
4. I have a small and select group of lovely friends - who accept me even tho I'm weird. From this day forth I shall never again 'try' and make people like me. I shall simply be nice, and hope for the best, a few less cocktails would probably help as well.
5. I live in a nice flat, in a nice city, in a country that has health care, and plumbing, etc
6. I am fit and healthy - so easily taken for granted, but I sure miss it when I've thrown my back out!
7. I can go home after work and choose exactly what I do with my time, and answer to no one. If want to curl up in bed with a book, and a bowl of chips, I can (and I will!)
8. I have enough disposable income for the occasional takeaway and cinema trip - not to be sniffed at
9. I have a packed schedule of activities for my week - even tho work is a drag I have lots of extracurricular activities to fill my time/look forward to
10. Its October, I love October and the impending festive season.

Goals:
1. To write down a list to 'to dos' for each day at work and DO THEM I am a terrible doss at work, but life would be much less stressful if I actually did some work.
2. Do Laundry - because I always feel better for getting it done
3. Clean the flat. Again, cos I feel better for it.
4. Go to all the commitments I have scheduled for the week: Crossfit 4 times, 2 runs, craft class, writing workshop, 3 hours of yoga theory, 3 yoga classes, and an afternoon tea. Because while I may not be in the mood - its not like I will use the time productively if I don't go, and will undoubtedly regret it.
5. Apologise to the crossfit coaches for being so drunk and over familiar and then LET IT GO I've been cringing about it all weekend. I can't change it, its not like I was nasty, just silly, so I just need to get over it.

****UPDATE*****
and, just like that, its Friday afternoon. I'm at my desk with classic fm on and a coffee. I've done my laundry and am tidying the flat tonight. I've done all my yoga classes and read my yoga textbook. I'm looking forward to a weekend of afternoons teas and a spot of running. Life feels just fine and cosy. A little happy ending for the weekend :)

XXX

Sense...

Tim Minchin gave a guest speech at his alma mater, The University of Western Austrailia.

Speech

His advice to graduates on how "to be" is very interesting, to sum it up very very simply, he says:

1. You don't have to have a dream.
2. Don't seek happiness.
3. Remember, it's all luck.
4. Exercise.
5. Be hard on your opinions.
6. Be a teacher.
7. Define yourself by what you love.
8. Respect people with less power than you.
9. Don't rush.

XXX