The Half Full Glass

Perspective

2011-01-16T12:51:00.002+08:00

I scowl at the dust bunnies that appear from under the couch, then I see the flood victims of Queensland cleaning out inches of mud from their houses ... perspective

I feel the pain in my fingers from my arthritis, then I read a story about a person with no hands ... perspective

I feel the pain in my back and then running down my legs, then I see a story on TV about a woman with no legs who uses a skateboard to get around ... perspective

I get fed up having to clean and tidy my house, then I see a story about a whole family living in a tent 12 months after an earthquake ... perspective

I think it is time for a new bed, then I see someone live on the streets ... perspective

Then I give thanks that I have all I have ... perspective - it is all out how you look at it!!!

The Smell Of Sunshine

2010-09-22T05:42:00.003+08:00

I love the smell of sunshine. This morning when I awoke while it was still dark (5.20 am) I woke surrounded by the smell of sunshine. My recently washed sheets and bed cover still smell like sunshine - that lovely smell of spring which bathed them while they dried on the line. Then I put my dressing gown on, and that too still smells of sunshine. I really love that smell, so much so I never ever dry my sheets or linen in the clothes dryer. What smells do you love?

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-25T06:30:00.001+08:00

Sunday Citar - Loss

2010-08-22T11:15:00.002+08:00

Tabitha @ Fresh Mommy hosts the Sunday Citar meme - pop on over and have a look.
I am sure she would love you to join in too.

For those of us who have recently suffered loss.

When he shall die

Take him and cut him out in little stars

And he will make the face of heav'n so fine

That all the world will be in love with night

William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

If every tear we shed for you became a star above;

you'd stroll in the Angel's garden, lit by everlasting love

- Author Unknown

Fly, fly little wing
Fly beyond imagining
The softest cloud, the whitest dove
Upon the wind of heaven's love

Past the planets and the stars
Leave this lonely world of ours
Escape the sorrow and the pain
And fly again

Fly, fly precious one
Your endless journey has begun
Take your gentle happiness

Far too beautiful for this

Cross over to the other shore
There is peace for evermore
But hold this memory bittersweet
Until we meet

Fly, fly do not fear
Don’t waste your breath, don’t shed a tear
Your heart is pure, your soul is free
Be on your way, don’t wait for me

Above the universe you’ll climb
On beyond the hands of time
The moon will rise, the sun will set
But I won’t forget

Fly, fly little wing
Fly where only angels sing
Fly away, the time is right
Go now, find the light

Beautiful lyrics from a song by Celine Dion written after the death of her niece from Cystic Fibrosis

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-18T05:30:00.001+08:00

Sunday Citar - Pain

2010-08-15T12:45:00.001+08:00

Tabitha @ Fresh Mommy hosts the Sunday Citar meme - pop on over and have a look,

I am sure she would love you to join in too.

Last Sunday I hurt my back making the bed, this Sunday I am still in a lot of pain, so I was off in search of quotes to share.

Pain is deeper than all thought; laughter is higher than all pain ... Elbert Hubbard

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional ... author unknown

We cannot learn without pain ... Aristotle

So how can I relate to these 3 quotes, well:

Today I will try and laugh more, after all on Friday when I looked after my littlest grand-daughter, we had so much laughter that I almost forgot my pain.

This week I will not wallow in my pain, I will acknowledge that it is there but I will refuse to suffer.

I will learn my lesson and not made the bed anymore ... well maybe, I will be more careful when I make the bed, I know I have had a bad back for years and have got lax in looking after it.

So my friends, I wish you a lifetime free of pain, and if for some reason it occasionally still pops into your life, remember to laugh. xxx

Sunday Citar - Hope

2010-08-08T10:13:00.006+08:00

Tabitha @ Fresh Mommy hosts the Sunday Citar meme.

Pop over and have a look, I am sure she would love you to join in as well.

Let me share 3 quotes about hope.

Never let go of hope. One day you will see that it all has finally come together. What you have always wished for has finally come to be. You will look back and laugh at what has passed and you will ask yourself ... 'How did I get through all of that?' ... author unknown

When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always be worse. And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad they

have to get better. ... author unknown

Hope never abandons you; you abandon it ... George Weingberg

My life philosophy is to see the glass as half full, to be optimistic. To acknowledge that no matter how hard things are in any given moment that there are always others in a worse position than yourself. Oh yes I do occasionally throw my own pity parties ... but I try to limit them for they do me no good at all.

Some people might call me naive but to lose hope, to lose joy, does that not mean you lose the will to live. We all need to grab life, to hang on, to move forward, one day at a time.

For without hope, there is nothing but despair.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-04T06:30:00.001+08:00

Sunday Citar - The Persistence of Yellow

2010-08-01T11:43:00.006+08:00

Tabitha @ Fresh Mommy hosts the Sunday Citar meme.
Pop over and have a look, I am sure she would love you to join in as well.

This week for my birthday, one of my work colleagues gave me a beautiful book - The Persistence of Yellow ... "a book of recipes for life" by Monique Duval.
Today I will share some of the writings with you ... and some of my yellow photos ... enjoy.

Oh and the book is of course subject to copyright.

On Tuesday she woke up and realised she had forgotten the definition of the word "Impossible". She decided it must not have been important #230 (Tuesday was my birthday this year ... and so I no longer have the work Impossible in my vocabulary!!)

Once upon a time, a girl prayed for true love. Her prayer was answered. She learned to love herself. #30

There is a quiet wind voice inside of me. It's the same voice inside of you. Delicate and persevering, it lead us towards each other. Across desert sand, traffic noise, solitary sky. I found your little house by the sea. And I never wanted to leave... #189

and from the back cover ...

And suddenly, the clouds parted and she realised what she had been following.
She saw it there in the distance like a house with wings and a candle burning in
every window: Her heart. So, of course, she had to enter.
Once you follow your heart, and then find it, you must open the door.

THANKS to my friend (and colleague) L for knowing that this was the book I need in my life right about now xxx

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-28T05:30:00.001+08:00

Sunday Citar - Belief

2010-07-25T17:47:00.002+08:00

Tabitha @ Fresh Mommy hosts the Sunday Citar meme. Why don't you join in?

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent - Eleanor Roosevelt

It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not - Anonymous

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light
from within - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

So this week will you allow your light to shine?

Will you achieve all you are capable of achieving?

Will you let people see the light within - the love, the joy, the happiness, the strength?

Throw off the shackles that bind, the ones that we ourselves impose and just SHINE!!!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-21T06:30:00.001+08:00

Sunday Citar - No Regrets

2010-07-18T17:00:00.005+08:00

Tabitha @ Fresh Mommy hosts the Sunday Citar meme. Why don't you join in?

It seems there are many translations of the lyrics of this song, made famous by the brilliant Edith Piaf, but these are the ones I like best.

No! No regrets

No! I will have no regrets

All the things

That went wrong

For at last I have learned to be strong

No! No regrets

No! I will have no regrets

For the grief doesn't last

It is gone

I've forgotten the past

And the memories I had

I no longer desire

Both the good and the bad

I have flung in the fire

And I feel in my heart

That the seed has been sown

It is something quite new

It's like nothing I've known

No! No regrets

No! I will have no regrets

All the things that went wrong

For at last I have learned to be strong

No! No regrets

No! I will have no regrets

For the seed that is new

It's the love that is growing for you.

So I think we should all live our lives to the full, trying not to hurt anyone, trying not to make mistakes, but acknowledging that we are indeed human and so the likelihood of us being perfect is small. So acknowledge and learn, but do not regret, as more often than not, the hurt or mistake was not intentioned - it was just that we were human.

Have a great week.

Looking Out My Window

2010-07-17T15:08:00.005+08:00

As I sit and work, play and blog at my desk I often look out the window. There sits a climbing rose, large and gnarled, sometimes looking a little worse for wear (nearly lost is a year back). This beautiful rose shades the room from the harsh summer sun and protects it from a lot of winter rain.

But it is more than that, there is something eternal about this rose, like it has always been there and always will be.

It is a source of happiness for me, a source of food for the various birds that come and feed - either on the roses themselves or on the small grubs that can be found on the branches. Today I also realised it is a source of nesting material for some of the birds as well. There I spied a New Holland Honeyeater, collecting small dried twigs in its beak and it went back and forward for ages. I also noticed this same little bird rubbing its beak in between some of the branches and wondered what it was doing. Well it was collecting spiderwebs to help bind its nest together. Now as the afternoon sun is setting, there is a soft light filtering through the leaves.

I hope that there is something outside your window that you love as well.

Soon we need to replace the fence upon which this old rose leans, I hope it survives the trauma for I would be lost without it outside my window.

Sunday Citar - Rainbows

2010-07-11T09:11:00.006+08:00

It is a wet Winter's day here in Perth, which made me think of rainbows, those beautiful things that remind you that sunshine does exist even on the wettest and grayest day.

image

The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears ... John Vance Cheney

The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work ... anonymous

The true harvest of my life is intangible - a little star dust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched ... Henry David Thoreau

and finally the one that I live my life by

Life is like a rainbow. You need both the sun and the rain to make it's colours appear.

And of course my favourite rainbow song - enjoy.

May your week have lots of rainbow coloured moments - for even in the darkest times, there is the possibility of a rainbow - you just have to look. xxx

Sunday Citar

2010-07-04T12:34:00.005+08:00

Tabitha @ Fresh Mommy hosts the Sunday Citar meme - Lucy @ Diminishing Lucy regularly joins as well - so this week I thought I would follow the wonderful Lucy's lead and join in as well.

Dost thou love life?

Then do not squander time,

for that is the stuff life is made of.

Benjamin Franklin

Wise words Benjamin. So often we spend time on unimportant things, or imagined hurts or even real ones. This week I am going to attempt to focus only on the positive things in my life, I will work wiser and love and play harder - for this is the time in my life for me to do this.

Things That Make Me Smile

2010-06-27T21:05:00.004+08:00

Yesterday while I was driving down to pick up my eldest daughter to take her to visit her Nanna who is very close to leaving this earth, my heart was heavy. Along the journey I happened to spy something that always makes me smile and leaves me with a happy heart.

That things was about 30 odd pelicans soaring on the thermals. I love pelicans. Large ungainly birds on land, they are so light and beautiful when airborne. They float on the air, soaring higher and higher in larger and larger circles. So graceful, so majestic, so beautiful. I love pelicans, on land, but especially in the air. I knew that the day would be okay.

That night when driving home I got to experience another thing that makes me feel good - a full moon rising yellow and round. By the time I was nearly home I got to see the start of the partial lunar eclipse. The moon is always soothing to my soul, a full moon even more so.

Simple things, but things that make me smile. I hope you have simple things in your life that sometimes just appear to remind you that it is not always the big things you need to have in your life.

Heaven Sent Indeed

2010-06-15T22:11:00.003+08:00

Last night I was privileged to watch Australian Story on ABC 1. I don't always remember to watch the 30 min show, but when I do remember I have never been disappointed. Last night was no exception. If you missed it last night, I urge you to watch the repeat on Saturday at 12.30 pm, or go to the link to download. Hope this link works for you.

Peter is the "harp specialist" - the nickname his daughters used - he plays the harp for terminally ill patients in the hospice and to babies in the Special Care Nursery. He is Australia's only thanatologist.

Peter wanted more from his life than being a successful business owner, he wanted to give back and wasn't sure how, until one day he saw an ad for a course in America. His beautiful wife and daughters helped Peter make it happen.

This is a family of beautiful and generous souls, they inspire me with their love and support for each other.

Watching Peter talk of the journey he is on, made my breath catch in my throat. Here is a man that is so sensitive, so caring, so giving - how wonderful that he is there for many as they pass from this life. I will be honest and tell you I shed a tear while watching him talk.

Whenever a baby is born in the hospital he works in they now play a few notes of Brahms Lullaby - in the future they may also do a similar thing when a person dies. It is a reminder for all the staff and other who know that birth and death are all part of our journey.

Random Acts of Kindness Challenge - Deep Fried Fruit

2010-06-05T12:10:00.004+08:00

Like many of us Leanne from Deep Fried Fruit sees RAK as an event that should happen without prompting and without talking (or blogging) about it, as it just is something you do. Love you Leanne - how I wish that was true for all mankind. So pop on over and read this post, you'll be glad you did.

I love that Leanne regularly tops up expired parking meters - while I have only done that on occasion I have whenever possible given my parking ticket (you know the one you leave on your dashboard to show you have paid to park there) to someone else if it has lots of time left on it. I love seeing the surprise on other driver's faces when I offer it to them.

I hope that you feel as inspired by Leanne's post as I do.

Random Acts of Kindness Challenge - PPMJ

2010-05-19T19:39:00.005+08:00

The wonderful PPMJ from Pink Patent Mary Janes is the first blogger to take up my challenge and post about a Random Act of Kindness on her blog. Like most of us, PPMJ doesn't normally post about them - she just does them. How I wish I had a friend that lived closed by just like her.

Have you taken up the challenge and not let me know - I would love to share your Act here. If each one of us did one Random Act per week imagine the change we could make in other people's lives.

Join in before the end of May for your chance to win just check out the original challenge post.

If I Were ...

2010-05-13T19:29:00.003+08:00

If I was a month, I would be July

If I was a day of the week, I would be Saturday

If I were a time of day, I would be sunset

If I were a planet, I would be Earth

If I were an animal, I would be a lioness

If I were a direction, I would be West

If I were a piece of furniture, I would be a bed

If I were a liquid, I would be milk

If I were a gemstone, I would be an opal

If I were a tree, I would be a frangipani

If I were a tool, I would be a clamp

If I were a flower, I would be a rose

If I were a kind of weather, I would be a breeze

If I was a musical instrument, I would be a piano

If I were a colour, I would be aqua

If I were an emotion, I would be love

If I were a fruit, I would a pear

If I were a sound, I would be the tinkling of temple bells

If I were an element, I would be fire

If I were a car, I would be a V8 turbo

If I were a food, I would be chocolate

If I were a place, I would be the ocean

If I were a material, I would be silk

If I were a taste, I would be hot chocolate

If I were a scent, I would be cinnamon

If I were an object, I would be a book

If I were a body part, I would the eyes

If I were a facial expression, I would be a smile

If I were a pair of shoes, I would be slippers

I have seen this on a number of blogs, the latest being Nicole's at the Life of Use

Why don't you join in too?

Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway - Will You Enter?

2010-05-07T20:30:00.006+08:00

A few weeks ago I issued this challenge. Thank you to the lovely people who said they would take up the challenge of bestowing a random act of kindness. (For some reason a few of my comments ended up not appearing and I have no idea why as I got the emailed version).

So I am asking, have you made it happen, have you shared your smile with a stranger? Have you shared a random act of kindness with someone?

No? Well here is some incentive to all of my cyberfriends - if you do, and if you share your story with me and let me post it here then you go into the draw to win a Jurlique Love Balm. A delightfully moisturising lip balm with a hint of tangerine, just to keep your smile beautiful.

Will you take up the Challenge? You have the whole month of May to enter and share. The winner will be chosen randomly by the Random thingy. Email me your post to thehalffullglass@amnet.net.au

Julique have not sponsored this giveaway, I have just found their Love Balm and love it so much on my lips that I decided I would buy another one and share.

Some Sunshine and More

2010-04-18T11:54:00.006+08:00

I have been a little remiss in blogging about some awards I have received for this blog. I suppose it comes down to feeling like I am 'blowing one's own trumpet' - which is not something I am normally comfortable in doing. However, the 2 lovely bloggers who passed these awards on should be thanked publicly and I apologise for my tardiness.

Melissa @ Suger Coat It has awarded me the Sunshine Award.

Sarah @ Just Me has awarded me the One Lovely Blog Award.

I thank you both for your generous comments about this blog. I enjoy popping in and reading both of you so much, so if anyone who reads this hasn't made the trip - I encourage you to do so, you won't be disappointed.

For the Sunshine Award I need to list some things that make my happy:

Spending time with:

My family

My 'sisters'

and

In Nature:

Blue skies with wispy white clouds

Butterflies flitting around my garden

Pelicans soaring on the thermals

Bird song in the morning especially magpies carolling

Looking out my study window at the beautiful climbing rose given to me by a friend

I need to pass these awards on, it was hard to narrow down the list, but choosing one blogger for each award, I am sending these to:

One Lovely Blog Award to Rianna at The Last Doll Standing - truly a beautiful blog tended to by a beautiful soul, always filled with lovely things.

The Sunshine Award to Tanya @ Meaningless Meandering from a Madmother - this mad mother has the most generous heart - reaching out just when she knows you need her. Thanks for always being there.

I always struggle with handing out these award type things, as all of my readers mean the world to me and all of you deserve to be awarded in some way or another.

It's All In The Way You Look At It

2010-04-15T15:28:00.004+08:00

As you know this is my blog where I try and spread my philosophy of seeing the glass as half full. I have said before it is not always easy to do. Today I have struggled, but I have got there - well almost.

Last night my son was assaulted and robbed. He was walking from the train station after finishing work and catching the train home - around midnight. He was minding his own business when he saw a person approaching from the other direction. This person asked him for a cigarette, there was a small conversation and then as he walked away was king hit from behind. He was knocked unconscious and then kicked in the head by the low-life, who then stole his bag that contained his wallet, his iPod, his house keys etc.

So where is the half full glass in this, well it is not immediately obvious, but here goes:

1. there was a witness who frightened the person away, called the police and ambulance and stayed with my son and reassured him as he started to regain consciousness.

2. my son was not badly hurt, yes he has concussion and is very sore, but he did not end up on life support, with a brain injury, or worse dead. There are no broken bones. Too often lately I have read about young men being king hit and dying, either immediately or their family having to turn off their life support.

I could focus on the horrible thing that has happened, and it has been hard not too, but I choose to give thanks and see the glass as half full. I still have my son, who I am sure will be scarred not only physically but emotionally for some time to come. But he is still here with us. He remembers none of the attack apart from someone asking him for a cigarette as they walked up to him in the dark.

Sure I feel like railing against the injustice, he was minding his own business, he didn't ask for the attack, but holding on to the initial anger and hurt I felt will not make my son feel safer in the world, nor will it turn back the hands of time. Putting that aside and being there for my son, supporting him in a positive manner, that will help him.

I would like to thank the good Samaritan, but my son doesn't know his name, or even which house he came from as he can't remember exactly where he was only the street. But should he ever remember I will try and personally thank this man for this kind heart. I will contact the police and see if they can pass on a message of thanks for me. How easy it could have been for him to just turn a blind eye. So while there is injustice, there is also kindness.

It is really all in the way you look at it.

Re-issuing The Challenge

2010-04-11T10:18:00.004+08:00

Way back when I started this blog nearly 12 months ago I set a challenge, I got no responses. That is not to say that nobody took up my challenge, just that no-one commented. So today I am re-issuing that challenge. Will you take me up on it, will you let me know how it went for you? It is still something I try and do every day.

What Would You Do?

2010-04-11T10:02:00.004+08:00

I love this You Tube clip - not just because of the fact that The Sound of Music is one of my all time favourite movies but because being a people watcher I love to see the unsuspecting public and their expressions.

Look for them rather than watching the dancers - there is some pure joy, people caught up in the experience. Some even dancing on their own.

There are also a few others that just walk on by with little to no acknowledgement of what is happening. Maybe even annoyance.

If we don't take the time to grab little moments of joy, random moments bought to you by someone else - think of what you may be missing. Look around you every day and always try and find the joy.

Easter Cakes

2010-04-06T14:22:00.003+08:00

I have mentioned before that a great place to go for a laugh is cake wrecks, well you just have to go and check out their Easter cake selection - there are pages of them and you need to go through them all - I have laughed so much my back is hurting. There are some nice ones, just after you start but Page 2 just got me past the point of giggling into raucous belly laughing.

That's one way for me to work off all the Easter chocolate.

Let me know what you think. Here is one to wet your appetite.

Light It Up Blue

2010-04-02T12:05:00.002+08:00

Today is Autism Awareness Day, some of my blogger friends and some of my family, deal with Autism as part of their life journeys.

To show my support and love for them and for the every day ups and downs that Autism brings to their lives, no matter where on the Autism Spectrum they or their loved ones fall, here are some beautiful blue things including my favourite things - butterflies, interspersed with my life philosophy - seeing the glass as half full.

No matter what presents life gives you, find the blessings as there are
some even if they are hidden deep.

Rejoice in the butterfly, for they turn from ugly caterpillar to beautiful creature in their life journey, can we not all find something in that message?

On the bad days let your mind drift like the dandelion seeds across a blue sky, to times when things will be better, for it is nice to believe that there is an end to where you are now, you just need to let go to find it.

Find your inner beauty and wear it with pride, for true beauty comes
from within, more often than not through hardship and the choices you make to survive.

Enjoy the rain, for like tears it washes your cares away.

It is easy to focus on the negatives, try to look beyond, for there is beauty all around you.

Need help in Australia - the links below are a starting point

Autism ACT
Autism Tasmania
Autism Queensland
Autism WA

Autism and Aspergers Support Group Inc

Autism Victoria

Autism SA

Sharing Some Sugar

2010-03-07T18:18:00.003+08:00

I'm Sharing Some Sugar ' cause we can all do with a little extra love with Sunny Side Up as she and her family deals with the damage from the Melbourne hail storms, her video as the storm was happening is amazing.

It is still raining in Melbourne and looks like it is going to be wet for a few more days, so hope this little bit of sugar cheers you up just a little bit.

Hugs from Perth xxx

Another One To Make You Smile

2010-02-13T10:25:00.002+08:00

I don't know if you have already seen this. Being Me shared it on her blog Sunny Side Up and now I can't get it out of my mind. I don't think I will ever be able to listen to this song again without flashbacks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RgL2MKfWTo

Just To Make You Laugh

2010-02-07T18:31:00.002+08:00

Check out this blog - you may already have found it, but today was my first visit and I am still smiling.

How Do You Choose To Live Your Life?

2010-02-07T10:54:00.005+08:00

Image : fotosearch.com

There are always days when the glass is empty just as there are always days when the glass is full to overflowing, but I believe it it how you see the glass in the bigger picture that counts the most - half empty or half full - pessimist or optimist - victim or survivor - you have the choice in everything you do.

Of course, I am not saying that you will never have a down day if you choose the 'half full glass' outlook on life - we can not be happy with our lot all the time. Sometimes you may have a job you hate, but have to stay with it as you have a family to support. Or maybe something bad has happened of late that has knocked you for six. The bills may be piling up and threatening to topple over and crush you. Or maybe you are, like me, quite often in pain through arthritis.

But I believe that even with these things happening, you have a choice.

My choice - 'half full glass' - for even on the worst day, I give thanks that I am alive - for is that not the one good thing you have each and every day? None of us know how long we will walk this earth, so give thanks that you have been given another day. A day that may be full of surprises and possibilities, take the time in each day to find something that lifts your heart, find joy in the rain, find warmth in the sun, find solace in writing in a diary, find friendship in cyberspace, enjoy the smell of your hot coffee, stop and smell a rose, smile at someone else just to share the joy, and love yourself - for you are a unique human being - there is no one like you anywhere else and isn't that an amazing thing.

Embrace each day and live it as if it is your last, for one day it will be - that is the one certainty all of us can count on.

So what do you choose?

Hugs from Perth on this bright sunny Sunday xxx

Happy 101 Award

2010-01-24T08:18:00.004+08:00

Alliecat from In A Beautiful Pea Green Boat has passed this award on to me for this blog and another award for my other blog. Thanks so much Alliecat for thinking of me.

Happy 101 requires me to write 10 things that make me happy, so here goes, in no particular order:

Spending time with my grand-daughters and my family

Snuggling with my hubby

Flowers especially Roses and Frangipanis - their sweet scent wafting in the breeze

My 'sisters' - you will need to read the links in my other blog to learn about my sisters

Spoiling myself at the beautician - facials, pedicures, manicures - love being pampered

Having straight hair (it is normally curly) after visiting my hairdresser - it is a whole new me

Driving my car - pure bliss

Reading a good book or two or three - often have more than 1 on the go at once

Blogging - including writing my own 2 and reading all the others I come across in cyberspace.

Now I will pass this award onto just a few blogs that make me happy and inspire me.

Melissa @ the things I'd tell you

Donna @ 5by40

Madmother @ meaninless meandering from a Madmother

Pink Patent Mary Janes

Loving Life - This Quote Is One To Live By

2010-01-22T23:06:00.005+08:00

There comes a time when you have to stand up and shout:

this is me damn it! I look the way I look, I think the way I think, feel the way I feel, love the way I am a whole complex package. Take me .. or leave me. Accept me - or walk away! Do not try to make me feel like less of a person just because I don't fit your idea of who I should be and don't try to change me to fit your mold. If I need to change, I alone with make that decision.

When you are strong enough to love yourself 100%, good and bad - you will be amazed at the opportunities life presents you.

And to that end a link to Vanessa Amorosi's great 'This I Who I Am' - enjoy

Sharing Some Sugar

2010-01-16T08:25:00.007+08:00

There is a star out there in cyberspace and her name is Melissa, she is one gutsy lady, truly beautiful on the inside and out, she is a wonderful mother and wife and even though I have never met her face to face, she means a lot to me - I know weird huh?

Now Melissa suffers from bi-polar, she won't mind me saying that as she is quite open and honest on her blog, she also is diabetic and in 2010 she is taking back control of her life.

As part of her mission she has been blogging daily in January about the things she is grateful for. For the past few days Melissa has not blogged because she has been really sick and I miss her - so today just for you Melissa I am 'Sharing Some Sugar' 'cause we can all do with a little extra love - especially when we are sick. Hope you feel better soon my love.

So if you would like to Share Some Sugar with someone you think needs it - feel free to use the little blog image I made this morning.

Hugs from Perth xxx

Letting Light Into Your Day

2010-01-10T12:55:00.004+08:00

There is a study that some people get winter 'blues' (or Seasonal Affective Disorder) from the lack of sunlight, grey skies, etc - particularly people who live in the northern hemisphere where they have long periods of night.

I wonder if even in more temperate climates, closer to the equator were sunshine is not a problem whether by living with your curtains/blinds closed all the time it can have the same effect.

The first thing I do when I wake up is open the blinds in all the rooms, open windows and doors, even if it is cold and raining (obviously not if the rain is coming in though). At work, it is the same - the blinds are always opened when I walk in every morning, in fact our whole end of the building has the same philosophy.

Surrounding ourselves with light seems to make sense if we want to feel happy. How do you let the light into your day?

Some New Year Inspiration

2010-01-05T06:05:00.004+08:00

Two quotes I would like to share, hope you too find them inspirational.

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Years Day

Edith Lovejoy Pierce

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives ... not looking for flaws, but for potential.

Ellen Goodman

Let us all overlook our flaws for none of us is perfect and embrace the potential for happiness we all have within. Here is our chance to write a whole new book, well at least a new chapter in our lives - I'm going to make this chapter of my life filled with love and laughter what will your chapter be filled with?

And So The Year Begins

2010-01-03T08:19:00.004+08:00

Well Day 3 of 2010 - are they to be the teens or the tweens given that we traditionally say being a teenager begins at 13?

How has your year begun? Mine has started really well. We welcomed the New Year/Decade with 2 of our closest friends, got to bed about 2am which is way late for us, but had the most wonderful evening full of good food, good friends/new friends, and lots and lots of laughter especially at midnight when I was really tired and kissed my hubby on the check instead of on the mouth!!

Yesterday was my Mum's 78th birthday and I celebrated by going shopping for manchester/linen and got some beautiful new towels - 2 x turquoise bath sheets and 2 x sunshine yellow bath sheets with a bath mat, plus some new bed sheets - I don't like shopping but I love buying linen especially towels. We also got an awesome chocolate and raspberry mousse cake to take to Mum's in the afternoon - yummy - and obviously no calories. It was a great evening with my kids and grandkids coming along to celebrate with Mum.

This morning I woke up to a hot blue sky - so I can see it will be a day indoors for me to keep cool.

If the year has started this well it can only one hopes keep getting better. Hope your New Year is treating you the same.

Hugs from Perth xxx

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T17:43:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year

May 2010 bring you nothing but happiness, love and laughter

May the goals you set be easy to achieve

May you find more reasons to smile in each and every day

No matter when midnight strikes for you

May the following dawn be full of promise

Many hugs from Perth

xxx

Entering the New Decade

2009-12-28T09:48:00.003+08:00

So only a few more days and another new decade begins, having been born right in the middle of the 50s there are quite a few already under my belt, I hope that I have many more to come.

I am not one to make New Year's resolutions, but way back in early December I decided that 2010 was my year, the year I turn my health issues around. I will lose weight in 2010 - I am not setting myself a goal, but weight will be lost. I will exercise more and eat well and stop drinking coke (my one weakness). This is the year my life change starts.

Have you decided to make some life changes in 2010? Are there things you are going to do that make your life better, happier, more fulfilled. Is this the year you are going to look at life as 'glass half full'? Let me know, for if I can encourage you in any way during the year I would love to do so.

Roll on 2010 - it is going to be a great year!!

2009-12-25T08:04:00.001+08:00

Wishing you a Merry Christmas

May 2010 bring you peace, love, laughter and happiness

Hugs from Perth xxx

The 12th Day of Christmas

2009-12-24T13:51:00.003+08:00

2009 - the year that was, good, bad, painful, happy, sometimes joyous, often filled with laughter, sometimes with loss, new beginnings, sad goodbyes, days when my glass ran over, days when it was dry. But always filled with love - both given and received. So I don't think I could ask for anything more.

Bring on 2010 - a new decade, the year I turn 55, the year I lose weight (yes I am determined it will happen).

Wishing everyone a year ahead filled with love, laughter and happiness.

Hugs from Perth xxx

The 11th Day of Christmas

2009-12-23T19:18:00.002+08:00

Well the 11th day of Christmas sees me busily wrapping Christmas presents and thinking, boy I have gone overboard again!!! Obviously still a lesson I need to learn and not taught in 2009 - but then again, while I can give I love doing so.

So what else can I share on this 11th day of Christmas? Well, 2009 saw me start this 2nd blog as a way to try and inspire others with my life philosophy. I had hoped that other bloggers might send me inspirational stories of their own that they would like to share. Initially I was a little disappointed that it didn't happen that way. But then I realised that it was unfair of me to have expectations of strangers and I should be happy that people come and visit and read and hopefully go away with something to think about, something that might help them in their life journey - and really that is enough.

And so I blog when I have time and have something to share, I no longer feel guilty if that is not every day or every week, for there should be no expectation by me on me either.

So I hope that you have found the odd thing here and there that has helped. 2010 may bring more, but only time will tell.

The 10th Day of Christmas

2009-12-22T10:10:00.003+08:00

2009 has reaffirmed some things - I am not perfect, never will be, and don't really want to be - after all once you are perfect what is left for life to teach you.

I know that my heart is pure and strong, that I use it to love unconditionally, that it helps me care deeply for others not just family and friends, but the wider community.

I know that my friendship has helped others and that my friends have been there for me this year - they have lent me their shoulders to lean on - and I realise it is okay for me to take solace there.

I've learnt to be happy with my face, it may be a little worn with time, but the lines are mainly smile lines and my eyes still sparkle with the joy of life.

The 9th Day of Christmas

2009-12-21T18:51:00.004+08:00

2009 has been a year of loss, we have lost some friends, some family and some old family friends (from when I was a child so more my Mum and Dad's friends but people I knew well). Some of the people who left us this year have had long and fruitful lives, they were aged and while none of us wants to see anyone die, for some it was a relief from suffering. We also lost some friends who were our age (hubby's and my age) - one from a heart attack, one by their own hand, a cousin of mine from cancer who was not much older than us.

So each and every day, I now appreciate even more than before, for no-one knows when the time will come for us to leave this earth, I hope it is a long time from now, but just in case it is not, I take the time to smell the roses, tell people I love them and enjoy the blessings that life is giving me (of which there are many).

Never get too busy to appreciate what you have, once you have gone it is too late.

The 8th Day of Christmas

2009-12-21T07:03:00.002+08:00

2009 presented me with some new toys - a brand new iMac computer which this blog is written on, a new laptop so I can stay connected even when we travel and a brand new car. So I suppose you could say that I have been spoilt with material things in 2009. Each of these give me joy, I love driving my car - I could spend hours in it and never get tired of the pleasure of driving - I have loved driving since I was 15. My old computer was getting so slow that some days it drove me insane - so a new one was one the cards - and it has renewed my love of getting out there in cyberspace to see what is happening in the world - a chance to reconnect with some old friends and to meet new ones.

What this has also done is make me even more aware of how lucky I am, and so this year I have also given more than I normally do to a number of charities, for while I get joy from my new things, I am also acutely aware that others in the world - including Australia - are less fortunate.

The 7th Day Of Christmas

2009-12-19T19:39:00.004+08:00

The 7th thing 2009 has bought me is a renewed sense of looking at life with the glass half full.

I have had some ups and many downs this year - probably more than in any other year that I can think of. I have had more pain than ever before, I've been more lonely than ever before, I've felt sadder then I have in a lot of years. There were days and days of sadness, loneliness and pain - maybe even weeks. Some times I got bogged down in it, but always I tried to think of my glass as half full. For no matter how bad my pain was, someone somewhere is always worse, no matter how lonely I felt because my hubby was away - I had family and friends and knew he would be back - some people have no-one in their lives. No matter how sad I got, I only need to have my chicken (my eldest grand-daughter) ring me up and hearing her voice put a smile on my face, I only had to spend some time with my munchkin (my youngest grand-daughter) to have a happiness injection. And though it all, I had my sisters and my family loving me just because they can. So really my life is very blessed and I am so thankful to be walking this earth each and every day.

The 6th Day Of Christmas

2009-12-18T21:13:00.004+08:00

One of the surprises of 2009 was my trip to Singapore, my daughter's blog Childhood 101 was nominated and then became a finalist of the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards for best parenting blog. She asked me if I was able to come to help with my youngest grand-daughter as her hubby was unable to take time off work.

While I initially said yes without even thinking, when I stopped and thought about it, it was a little daunting, see my menopausal mumma blog entry here for more info.

It ended up being an amazing journey, I really enjoyed spending time travelling with my daughter and my little munchkin. We met some amazing people, got to experience a different country and to top it off my daughter won the award.

Sometimes things are put before you, you can either choose to jump or stand back and not try - this time I chose to jump and free-falling was awesome.

We Interrupt This Transmission

2009-12-17T21:44:00.005+08:00

Did you know the Salvation Army is having a Christmas Appeal. You can donate online here.

Any amount is worth heaps, it all adds up. I've donated for the past 2 years as I feel I am in a position to share with others less fortunate at Christmas time. Can you help to?

By the way, I don't work for or follow the Salvation Army, this is not sponsored in any way, I just wanted to remind people the Appeal was on. There are also many other worthwhile volunteer organisations that could use your help - whoever you prefer, please give something to one of them this Christmas - Let Share The Joy.

The 5th Day of Christmas

2009-12-17T17:37:00.002+08:00

Well the 5th thing that 2009 has bought me is new cyberfriends - some are fellow bloggers and some are new FaceBook friends (with some connections to old friends once lost too).

There are some amazingly wonderful women out there blogging, for the most part they are honest to a tee, show an openness that sometimes astounds me, show support for each other - even though most have never met face to face. There are some wonderful young Mums and some wiser older women - all merrily blogging away, not worrying if they are followed or not (although most do have some). There are some mothers of sick children, using the blogging world as a sounding board, a place to voice their frustration and their confusion. There are women with amazing literary talent, all have stories to tell. Taking the time to visit their blogs makes me feel a connection I never thought possible.

So to all my new cyberfriends - thanks for sharing with me and supporting me through the ups and downs of my life.

If you are a lurker and do not have your own blog - go for it, it is a fun ride and opens a whole new universe.

The 4th Day of Christmas

2009-12-16T19:00:00.002+08:00

The 4th thing 2009 provided me with was, something I didn't think possible, a deeper love and appreciation of and for my husband. For most of this year he was away in Adelaide working every week (only home on weekends), it caused its share of up and down moments for both of us. But we survived and are now closer and more in love than ever.

So I am thankful that the hardship of his travel came into my life, for after 32 years, while we still love each other and really are soul mates - we are human and took each other for granted somewhat.

I am also thankful that this travel is now over.

True love can endure and strengthen no matter what the obstacles.

3rd Day of Christmas

2009-12-15T20:33:00.003+08:00

So what could be the 3rd thing that 2009 bought my way that I am grateful for.

The chance to cut my working hours down to 8 days per fortnight. Didn't know how we would cope money-wise or how I would cope doing 10 days in 8. I should not have worried. We have managed with less money and by re-scheduling and dividing the workload between my staff and I, probably as I should have been doing for a while now, we have had all bases covered.

Don't be afraid to take a chance, I arranged to do it on a 3 month trial basis first with the option of going back to full time if I felt I needed to. Sometimes all you need to do is admit you need a change and then have the courage to ask for it.

On The Second Day of Christmas

2009-12-14T20:47:00.004+08:00

Further to yesterday's post, my strange bent on the 12 days of Christmas, here is the 2nd thing I am thankful for.

2009 gave me the chance to become closer to some great friends, started by sharing New Years Eve with them and finishing with celebrating New Years Eve this year too.

P & J, I have really appreciated the time we have spent together this year, the 4 of us always have a blast and your cooking P is to die for - glad we are going to get fit together in 2010 - then I can eat more of the cherry tart and not worry about my expanding waistline - LOL.

Finding time to spend with friends is always uplifting and well worth the effort in our busy lives.

The 12 Days Of Christmas

2009-12-13T06:31:00.004+08:00

A new bent on the old favourite. I am going to list 12 uplifting things over the next 12 days that 2009 has sent my way. I would love you to join in by leaving a comment and letting me know what has happened in your life over the last 12 months. After all it is only 1 thing per month.

In the first month - the world gave to me - my Sydney family moving back to Perth - yippee.

Oh and I am also having a new layout just for Christmas. Do you love cherries too - head over to Childhood 101 they are giving you the chance to win a cherry red iPod Nano courtesy of Cherry Growers of Australia. Just look under the Sponsors Section. There is also a week's worth of Glamour for Mums posts - just the thing to make you feel better about yourself.

Hugs from Perth xxx

Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life

2009-10-13T20:37:00.005+08:00

Most of my family are huge Monty Python fans ... I on the other hand only enjoy bits and pieces ... but these few verses from the Life of Brian (he is not the messiah he is just a naughty boy) always bring a smile to my face. Remember - if you take yourself too seriously you might begin to loose the ability to laugh. Enjoy.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (from Monty Python)

words and music by Eric Idle

Some things in life are bad 

They can really make you mad 

Other things just make you swear and curse. 

When you're chewing on life's gristle 

Don't grumble, give a whistle 

And this'll help things turn out for the best...

And...always look on the bright side of life... Always look on the light side of life...

If life seems jolly rotten 

There's something you've forgotten 

And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing. 

When you're feeling in the dumps 

Don't be silly chumps 

Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing.

And...always look on the bright side of life... Always look on the light side of life...

WANT A LAUGH?

2009-10-07T22:00:00.002+08:00

If this doesn't make you smile, then I don't know what will - enjoy.

Hugs from Perth xxx

Living Life To The Fullest

2009-10-07T21:37:00.006+08:00

Feel like you are not getting anywhere, stuck in a rut, think the grass is greener on the other side? We have all done it, I recently had a period of finding it very hard to see my glass as half full, some of the following inspirational quotes gave me cause to reassess - may they help you to by allowing you to put on some other glasses when viewing your world and life. If there are some inspiration quotes that you use in your life, I would love for you to share them here.

There are only two ways to live your life. One is though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle ... Albert Einstein.

A bird does not sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song ... Chinese proverb

Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you deal with it is what makes the difference ... Virginia Satir

Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent ... Marilyn vos Savant

Hugs from Perth xxx

The Simple Things

2009-09-26T16:17:00.006+08:00

Do you find pleasure in the simple things of life - or do you overlook these striving for the dream. Don't ever stop striving - but sometimes take time to smell the roses - or watch a butterfly as it soars around the garden - or listen to a bird sing - or enjoy the sunshine.

Take time to appreciate the wonder of a sunset or sunrise, marvel at a rainbow, enjoy the laughter of a child, a smile of a stranger.

To often we are so caught up in following that dream that the small simple pleasures of life pass us by.

Today I am marvelling at the small spiderweb of rainbows that the prism on my window sill is spinning across my desk. The sun has gone behind the trees as it moves towards the end of its daytime journey here, and just the littlest amount is catching my prism, so rather than rainbows dashing around my room, there is a spiderweb of small interconnecting rainbows patterning - smaller and smaller as the breeze rustles the trees.

Hope you find time this weekend to leave the big stuff behind, relax and enjoy some of the small things that we can so often fail to see.

Taking The Time

2009-09-20T21:22:00.005+08:00

Today my hubby and I caught up for lunch with some good friends of ours - we spent a few hours, eating, talking, joking and watching the wind, waves and rain out of the windows of the restaurant. We were lucky enough to be at a restaurant right on the beach.

It is so easy when you work as hard as we do, to not take the time to just do something as relaxing as sharing some time with friends.

Normally Sunday is my washing day - and today was no different, but I hung it up (under the patio) and just left it there to dry - tomorrow is soon enough to bring it in, today was about enjoyment and friendship.

I encourage you to make a point of not getting so busy just doing that you forget to enjoy the life you live. I need to remind myself of this more often as well. Time is fleeting.

My Room Is Full Of Rainbows

2009-09-12T15:11:00.004+08:00

Are you lucky enough to have a room full of rainbows? I am.

Last week one of my sisters (see this post on my other blog) gave me a prismed glass paperweight and with it came this note "To my beautiful friend, I couldn't resist this reflection of what a wonderful person you are. Angels bless"

I knew just where to put it - on the windowsill in my study - and so here it sits today, catching the sunlight on this cold blustery Spring day - casting rainbows all around my room.

I can not help but smile every time I catch one out of the corner of my eye. I hope you find your rainbow today and that it leads you to the pot of gold that is a true and lasting friendship.

Thank you so much JB you mean the world to me as well. xxx

Inspiration

2009-09-03T16:07:00.012+08:00

Where do you find your inspiration - I would love you share that with me here.

I find mine from nature - the ever changing seasons bring so much into our lives, in each day there is something that can be found that if you look closely enough you can find a parallel in your life - black rainy days are followed by sunshine - or maybe just a little bit of sun shining through to let you know there is light ahead.

Rainbows show you the beauty in a stormy day. Thunder and lightning is followed by peace - it is so quiet when it all finishes.

Spring days bring you sunshine and bird song - if you stop and make the time to listen. New growth all around you.

Autumn brings falling leaves and a time of change.

Summer is hot but often brings balmy evenings when you can lay outside and look up at the stars and marvel at the universe above you.

Babies and toddlers are also inspirational - the sense of wonder you see in their faces as they discover new things around them, the way they laugh so easily - without stopping to worry about what other people think, they way they cry and then put the hurt behind so them quickly - not holding on to it all.

If we could find that wonder in every day, laugh when the feeling overtook us, leave behind the hurt - how much happier we would all be.

Spring is Just Around the Corner

2009-08-30T14:56:00.003+08:00

For all of us that live in Australia, Spring is just around the corner. Blue sky days, gentle breezes, flowers blooming, gentle Spring showers, warm sunshine on your back as you work in the garden.

Spring a time of rebirth, of new beginnings - if you have had a winter of discontent - my wish for you is that you will embrace the Spring change - that the universe will bring you contentment and good fortune.

Here are some Spring quotes to inspire us all:

An optimist is the human personification of Spring - Susan J Bissonette

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" - Robin Williams

In Spring time, loved is carried on the breeze. Watch out for flying passion or kisses whizzing by your head - Emma Racine deFleur & my addition - why not catch a few as they whizz past!!

May this Spring bring you all of the good things that life can bring - embrace all that life offers you for you never know what may bloom - Karen Shaddock

A Fun Way of Starting Married Life

2009-07-26T21:10:00.003+08:00

Celebrate - thanks to Melissa for finding this and sharing on her blog.

Have You Checked Your Happiness Lately

2009-07-05T08:58:00.004+08:00

Here is a happiness health check - food for thought at least. "Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections"

Do you judge your happiness on everything being perfect in your life - if you do are you denying yourself happiness - lets face it nothing is perfect and does it really have to be, is not choosing perfection as a benchmark making a rod for your back - as you will always be striving for something that may not be possible? This doesn't mean you should accept second best but be realistic in your expectations.

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognising and appreciating what we do have." - Frederick Keonig

Do you constantly crave what is unachievable - like thinking you would be happier if you won the lottery or had a different job. There are no guarantees that achieving these things would make you happier - they might, but they also may bring other pressure and hardships you don't expect. If you seriously look at what you do have in your life - is it really that bad?

"Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold, the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul." - Democritus and "Happiness is not having what you want. It is wanting what you have"

It is easy for us to get caught up in our struggles, my hope is that you find the time to find your inner peace and to be happy within yourself - that really is the only thing we have control over.

My life, like everyone elses has its ups and downs, sometimes like now there seem to be more downs than ups - I give myself permission to be sad and angry, but above all I give myself permission to rise above and see the world in a different light.

If your life is full of serious troubles, please don't think I am making light or saying it is easy for you - I am only writing from my place of thought.

LIfe - A Journey Not A Race

2009-06-30T21:47:00.006+08:00

Life is not a race
But a journey to be savoured
Each step of the way
Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a gift

Do not fret over what has passed it can not be undone
Remember tomorrow always becomes today
So cherish the moments that today has bought

And above all - Take time to smell the roses

Life Is LIke A Winter's Day

2009-06-25T19:41:00.006+08:00

I was sitting at my desk this morning, looking out at the climbing rose, admiring how much it is flourishing under the blue winter sky - no clouds, just fresh winter sun. Thinking to myself how funny it is that a plant could reaffirm to me so many life lessons.

I then got busy on my computer and in my study - still sorting out stuff - my life seems full of stuff.

The next time I looked out the window I was surprised to see a grey sky instead of blue - no real clouds (obviously high ones that blended together to make the grey) but not stormy at all just grey. Probably only 15-20 mins had passed and yet the day took on a totally different hue.

This got me to thinking about how life is like a winter's day - one minute sunny and one minute grey. But rather than let the grey get me down, I gave thanks that more rain was on the way, we so desperately need it here in Perth. It is also warmer when there is cloud cover and we have been having some cold nights that play havoc with my old bones. But I also looked forward to knowing that the blue will come back, something to look forward to. A bit like eating the veggies you don't like knowing that you are saving the good part of your dinner for last.

Life is like that - one minute good things are happening, the next some more difficult one may appear, but the difficult ones can allow you to achieve things you didn't think you could, and for most of us there is light at the end of the tunnel - your blue sky so to speak.

Who would have thought that moving my study into a new room would give me the opportunity to become so philosophical on such a regular basis.

My wish for you is that I hope your life is giving you a good balance of fresh blue winter skies to outweigh the grey ones.

xxx

Looking For Your Feedback And/Or Posts

2009-06-22T18:06:00.002+08:00

As mentioned in the header to the blog, I would love people to share stories, or quotes or anything that inspires them - it might be a web address or even another blog (I'm not going to get upset by that).

So if you would like me to post here on your behalf, just email it to me and let me know if you want to tell the world your name, or keep it anonymous - I don't mind either way, but I would love this to be more than my thoughts - after all maybe only I find them inspirational.

Or maybe you just want to tell me "I dreaming" (quote from the Aussie movie 'The Castle' - now that will give you a laugh, well it will if you are an Aussie).

Be assured that I won't be discouraged if I don't get any response for there is more that I want to share but I want to make sure you all know that I would love you to be part of this blog journey as well.

Inner Strength & Endurance

2009-06-20T13:17:00.009+08:00

It is a little over a week since I wrote my Giving Thanks post. As I look out of my study window this morning, my climbing rose is lush and green, shading my study window from the sun. Even those branches that I thought had no hope of recovering from my neglect are now sprouting green leaves. Two honeyeaters are busily feeding off the various insects and sipping water droplets of the leaves left from the last shower.

I know that this is a plant and not a person, but this plant did not give up, I had - I thought it was dead. But it found inner strength to thrive.

So perhaps there is another lesson this rose can teach us - even when others have given up on you, you can find your inner strength and show them what you are made of. Don't let others take away your hope.

As Christopher Reeve said after his accident

"Once you choose hope, anything is possible".

If you are feeling down and hopeless, I hope this may help, please believe that there is always hope, there is always a way forward - you just need to find your inner strength and choose to thrive.

Focus

2009-06-16T19:11:00.005+08:00

One of the blogs I follow - My Charming Kids - had a post by McMama about Focus - and I have borrowed from it as it rang true to me and I feel it is something I would like to share here. Among other things, McMama was talking about when her marriage was going through some tough times how her focus became on the faults of her husband, but how the following words inspired her to change her focus so that now by focusing on what is good, rather than what is bad, even though the bad things may still be there they don't dominate. I have paraphrased somewhat here and so If you would like to read all her post so that it is in her words not mine - here is the link

Her inspiration came from the most read book in the world, the Bible,

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things." Philippians 4:8

If we are honest with ourselves, I think we would agree that it is easy to focus on the negative things that happen in our lives and if we are not careful they then dominate. My philosophy of living the 'the half full glass' life is while I don't bury my head in the sand, that even on the hardest day - maybe a day of pain from my arthritis, or feeling sad when my hubby flies off to Adelaide yet again, I acknowledge that is how I am feeling, but once it is acknowledged then I put it behind and find the good in what else is to come or what else surrounds me.

So my challenge to you for this week is to take the time to find the good and to embrace and celebrate it. I hope you will accept.

Giving Thanks - A Timely Reminder

2009-06-10T09:41:00.009+08:00

Now I'm not sure if anyone is even reading this blog of mine, but somewhere, sometime, I hope that someone comes across this and what I write gives them some hope or inspiration or even just a good laugh at my naivety.

So this morning I am sitting at my desk looking out the window at a climbing rose that I was given by a dear friend probably 10+ years ago. This beautiful rose gets very little love and yet it has grown and thrived until this past long hot summer and suddenly one day it looked very dead. It seemed to happen overnight - although obviously that is not true - but we took it for granted and loved its beauty and the shade it gave (it is big) and admired the little pink roses, masses of them every flowering - and then suddenly one day I really looked at it and it seemed dead - brown leaves and worse still in spots leafless dry brittle stems pointing jaggedly at the sky - a little like accusing bony fingers pointing at me and scolding me for its neglect. I mourned the loss and did indeed scold myself for not making sure it had water, for not caring - I know I am busy but I neglected this beautiful plant, I took the pleasure I got from it for granted and I thought it would always be there - it has been for over 10+ years so why would it not for another 10.

Today as I look out, there are new green shoots appearing on many of what I thought were dead branches, and so I give thanks for the small amount of rain we have had, to nature for the strength of this neglected beauty, to my friend for sharing this plant with us. This weekend we will prune back those branches which are no longer viable and then I will continue to enjoy and give thanks as I watch it come back to life.

I wonder if there are other things or people in our lives we take for granted, that we don't give thanks for, and then suddenly they are gone. If it is people - unlike this beautiful rose - they can not come back from the dead. Take time in each day to give thanks for those you love and take the time to tell them of your love - don't take it for granted that they know.

Belief

2009-06-08T20:43:00.002+08:00

I believe ...

that all good things are possible

that you deserve all the good things that come into your life, they are sent to you for a reason

that everyone has the potential to see the glass as half full, you just need to give yourself permission

that everyone deserves to be cherished in some way

that every new day has the potential to be the best of your life if you let it

that even the bad things can be lessons for us to grow if we give ourselves permission to see it as so

that all the people who come into my life are sent for a reason, but that some will only stay for a short time, while others are mine to keep forever

What do you believe?

Thankfulness Quotes For Your Consideration

2009-06-07T12:28:00.005+08:00

These quotes have touched my heart this week - may they also touch yours, or at least give you something to ponder.

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit - Albert Schweitzer.

Each day offers us the gift of being a special occasion if we can simply learn that as well as giving, it is blessed to receive with grace and a grateful heart - Sarah Ban Breathnach

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life; and thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine - Thomas Jefferson

A Good New Story

2009-06-06T16:29:00.002+08:00

One of my girlfriends has been out of work for about 8 months and has been looking hard for work. In one week alone she sent off 20+ applications. A lot of the time she hasn't even managed to get an interview and she was understandably getting disheartened and disillusioned.

She did a couple of months contract work with me, but I had no more money to keep her on contract, even though she did a fantastic job and was a joy to have working with our team.

We had discussed the fact that there was a job out there somewhere, it would come and find her, she just had to be patient.

Well - it found her yesterday - she didn't apply, she didn't even know it was on offer. It found her anyway. So if you are out there looking for work, keep positive and believe. I know it is easy for me to say, I am not in your shoes. But keep your confidence and self belief as I am sure you can be just a lucky.

Happiness - Some Quotes to Contemplate

2009-06-01T08:20:00.000+08:00

"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want" - Margaret Young

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have" - Frederick Keonig

"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued is always beyond our grasp, but, if you sit down quietly, may alight on you" - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Random Acts

2009-05-31T11:33:00.000+08:00

In a world that is full of stress and negativity is taking the time to smile at someone too much effort? I sort of hope that for every smile I give someone they might pass it on to someone else because just maybe it makes them feel better. I'm probably being really naive but wouldn't it be nice to have a smile chain-letter (so to speak). A bit like the ripple effect before you know it there is a tidal wave of smiling people - could it be that easy?

So I am setting a weekly challenge to anyone who wants to accept it, how about you pass on a random act of kindness, friendship or caring or even something as simple as a smile to a stranger this week.

It may be just complimenting someone else on their smile, or their service to you, or may be how a certain colour they are wearing suits them and makes their eyes sparkle.

Just some small thing that you normally wouldn't do on a daily basis.

I would love to know how it makes you feel and what sort of response you get from the person you shared this random act with.

We all get so caught up in our own journeys that the blinkers are on and we fail to see what it around us, sometimes the simple act of acknowledging someone else can make not only our life journey better but theirs as well.

Will you take on the challenge?

The Half Full Glass

2009-05-29T17:06:00.000+08:00

There is a philosophy on how people look at life - the glass half full or the glass half empty. The first supposedly means you see life more optimistically than the second which is viewing the world more pessimistically.

For those of you who may have read my other blog (menopausalmumma) you would hopefully know that I try to see the glass as half full all the time, don't always succeed, but certainly try.

I have for a while been thinking about having a blog that shares a positive view on life and helps us focus on things that can inspire us and brings us joy. I very rarely watch the news anymore or read the paper as I find they are mostly full of stories without hope - and I believe in these time of struggle we all need hope in our lives. Hence the name of this blog and the intent behind it - to bring some fun and positive inspiration to others to help everyone see the glass as being half full. It just needs to start with one person feeling happy and they can ripple it on to others. If 100 people feel good it can ripple out to thousands.

So if you have something in your life or something you do that inspires you or makes you feel good, or you come across a story that makes you feel there is hope in this world, you can email it to me at thehalffullglass@amnet.net.au and I will happily post it here so that together we can inspire others. I may also just have links to other people's blogs if they have a post that I find inspiring, uplifting, funny or zany.

I really feel that if we can try and see the good in all things - even if we have been hurt or disappointed badly there is a lesson that life can teach us - we can survive or we can choose to let life victimise us - what will your choice be? I choose to be a survivor because I deserve to have a life full of good things and I believe that you do too.