A Year of Good Things - 14/366 - Friends

And inbetween it all...you sit with two lovely women and yak for three hours over several lattes and several glasses of water...and that puts life in perspective. Sigh.

The sun.
The surrounding bush.
The birds eating crumbs.
The divine latte (or two).
The chitter chatter about life.
The feeling of being understood.

So damn nice.

xNess

A Year of Good Things : 13/366 : Autonomous Writing

I remember learning about autonomous writing at uni when I was studying advertising - specifically copywriting. I can't remember the correct name for autonomous writing and I know someone famous started the whole autonomous thing, but for the life of me I can't remember what it's called or who started it. Jung, perhaps?

Basically it means writing without thinking about what you are writing. It's an amazing tool for creativity, as well as working with your psyche to lift issues that are underlying into the main realm of thinking....if that makes sense?

Usually my autonomous writing is basically creative babble - but you can pull the writing back, with some experience, until you have a free-flowing form of a message or an idea or two.

Here is my autonomous writing for today...

Are you where you want to be?

I mean – seriously – are you where you want to be in life at this very instant? Can you sit where-ever you are and honestly nod your head (vehemently, if necessary) and say with absolute conviction that there is no other place you would rather be? And how about this – does your heart give the same response as your head?

Wow - it came out very heavy today. Great food for thought for me, though. You should try to write without your thoughts clouding your creative direction - it's hilarious and oh so enlightening what comes out! It's certainly a wonderful every so good thing to do!

x Ness

A Year of Good Things 12/366 : Summer Holidays

The 2011-2012 Summer school holidays are almost at an end. The end of grade two for Logan seems a million light years ago. And Christmas morning, just one month ago, is a distant memory. This last six weeks has been spent zipping around the countryside, in the water, sliding down huge slippery slides, picking fresh fruit and lazing about. I loved my school holidays as a kid in the 70s...I hope my boys enjoy these weeks just as much as I did!



Today we took off to Melbourne Zoo to generally sloth about and stroll around the grounds to view animals (of course!). The giraffes were a highlight for the youngest, the reptile park was adored by the eldest and the oldies loved the orangutans and the white-faced gibbon. Is there anything more cuter than a baby orangutan? Gosh, I could cuddle one for a lifetime...


And, yes, I am still addicted to Instagram. I am sure I will return to regular photographic programming soon...ahem.

Have a fabulous week!
xNess

12/366
Good Thing - Summer Holidays
This Good Thing is For : Kids!

A Year of Good Things - 11/366 - Conquering

So...two days ago I cleared out my personal Facebook account. Yep, I messaged all of my 'friends' to tell them I would only be communicating on Facebook via the Retro Age page, so to come on over if ya'll want to chat there etc. I've been on FB for 3-4 years, I think - too long, perhaps. Some 'friends' followed. Some 'friends' didn't. But I didn't care. The power was in deleting the friend list and deleting my communication with 'friends' on Facebook. I felt like I was on a pure high. I felt elated. I felt relieved. I felt totally free. I had wanted to delete my page for a long time but was always fearful of people being offended or of losing contact with people I loved and liked. How bloody silly is that? I know all of the people I love are in my life, in one way or another, and I had to remind myself that I was loved and cared for offline.

So I conquered my fears about removing the FB 'friends' and just did it. It feels strange - yep, even after two days - but it feels even more fantastic by the day!

PS. This post should actually link to a really cool clip on YouTube but it's not embedding for some reason. If you want to see it - it's here...

11/366
Good Thing - Removing my FB 'friends'!
This Good Thing is For : Me!

A Year of Good Things - 10/366 - Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

Today was all highs and stepping outside comfort zones. It started off with a bungee jump or two for the kidlets. Both were nervous, but determined. Both dominated their fears and got in the harness. And then both proceeded to leap and twist and twirl in all manner of directions...



Please note I officially saw people playing ball games, riding skateboards, riding bikes anywhere and everywhere, walking mutts hither and thither and also driving (and biking) faster than 5kph. These peeps were definitely living life on the hardcore side...according to this sign.


...and then our day ended up in a night ride around this mighty wheel. I was nervous as I am not entirely a fan of heights (I am a totes bad flier). And even though there were a couple of moments I was sure we were going to die and the carriage was going to fall apart, I mostly felt giddy (with excitement)...and exhilarated by the view (and feeling 15 again).

Good Thing - step outside your own comfort zone!

A Year of Good Things - 9/366 - Buckley and the Chickens

A good thing for my spirit and soul is touching base with nature. I am not the hiking type (trust me)...I am the 'slow stroll by a beautiful lake' kinda gal. Today the boys and I went off to a local spot called Buckley Falls to admire some pretty special scenery. The falls form part of an old paper mill and the water comes out just below the blue stone building. (I would link to Wiki for you, but the site is down in protest).

Our good deed for today was taking in two chickens who someone no longer wanted - and, to be blunt, who were treating them badly. Today was spent trying to get these lovely black and green ladies into our coop and then welcomed out of the coop to free range with our little flock. The newbies were cage ladies so are fearful of everything out in the open (you can barely handle them and they are even scared of sparrows) and they don't seem to know how to peck and forage...but I am sure they will work things out. There are much 'pecking order' shenanigans going on and our own gals don't seem enthralled with the idea of their huge space being invaded, as there is much bustling on the best roost position tonight. I have to say watching these girls sort each other out is quite interesting...and entertaining.

xNess

A Year of Good Things - 8/366 - Clean Up Australia & Florence

Pip gave us a little pep talk today about taking the 'Year of Good Things' one step further - and rather than basking in our own grateful glory, to actually give some good back. So I asked the kidlets if they would like to take their 'claw toy' to our local wetlands and we'd walk around and pick up rubbish. Of course they lept at the chance to make the wetlands clean. And while we were there we had a ball - the kids were horrified at how much rubbish there actually was (and we were amazed that they'd never actually noticed it!). Half an hour of picking up rubbish, kids fighting at the bit to pick up the next piece and two parents tired from laughing left us with...fighting ducks. Yep, two ducks were not happy chappies today. Their shenanigans made us laugh even more. Sorry about the a la crappola photos - I took three shots before my camera battery packed up...



Now that I know doing a good thing actually means doing a good turn, I have to say that my take on 'good' is a little different. I am going to try and do good turns from hereon in, but I also wanted to continue to focus on what I think is good...and the people who made such positive impacts in so many ways. Florence Broadhurst never failed to be herself - well, she lied about everything under the sun, including the place she was born and her parentage, but I have to say she remained truthful to her 'design' ethic that she found after returning from Englan right up until the day she died. Some of her designs will be around for hundreds of years, I am sure. I admire her for this strict adherence to gorgeous design - in fact, I gladly thank her for her 'good thing' - her design legacy.
,
Florence Broadhurst advertisement, as displayed in House and Garden magazine, September 1973.

A Year of Good Things - 7/366 - Change

Usually there is nothing better than slothing at a park and enjoying a game or two with the kidlets. You know the usual here in Australia - kicking the footy, chucking the ball, playing an over of cricket. Usually I sit aside and let the boys run amok with each other....Daddy and the boys, all playing and having fun. Today I sat aside to read Frankie magazine. And that's where the usual good thing stopped for me. You see, I have Frankie popped aside at my local newsagent for me every two months (since I let my subscription lapse). I had forgotten to pick up the last issue and the lovely peeps at the newsagent called yesterday to let me know I had the new copy - and the old issue - to pick up. So I drove past yesterday and picked up both mags and promptly shoved them in my satchel.

And forgot about them.

Then, when we were off to the park, I though 'hurrah - I'll take my Frankie's' and read them lazing about in the sunshine.

But I didn't. 

I have to now admit to myself I think my love for Frankie is on the wane. Why oh why, I beseech you? I have no idea myself. All I know is that I forgot to purchase two months ago, forgot to read them last night and then flicked through them today and got a 'meh' from my brain.

Oh dear.

But then it struck me how good change is. Something has changed in my life for me to move on to something different and exciting. And that is a really good thing, I think. I adore Frankie, but when it's time to move on, it's time to move on.

I am sorry, Frankie love...but my good thing today is change. I now need something different to feed my soul. Sad, but true....and that is a good thing for me, I think.

12/366
Good Thing - Change is for the better - a new door always opens for you!
This Good Thing is For : Me!

A Year of Good Things - 6/366 - Having a cackle every day...

It was one of those mornings. You know the ones - you're the last one up, the kids have been fighting over toys since they got up and the husband is grumbling that we've run out of bacon. I can hear them rabbiting away to each other in the lounge room. I come slothing out of our bedroom and yell out 'good morning!', but get tiddly squat response. I think gosh, what a way to start the day. And then I walk into the kitchen and reach for the jug, only to look into the eyes of a....chicken.

Obviously Miss Mary Land couldn't wait for her Weetbix this morning and was having something to say through the kitchen window.

I laughed. Justin laughed. The kids laughed their head off. What could have been a crappy start to the day ended up being the perfect start.

Ya gotta laugh throughout the day, peeps - laughter is good for you! Don't forget to remind the negative Nancy's to laugh, too...and those pessimistic types...and those dower people who never enjoy themselves.

Thank you for the laugh, Miss Mary Land. It made the most wonderful start to my day.

9/366
Good Thing - Remember to laugh!
This Good Thing is For : Our mind, body, soul and spirit!

A Year of Good Things - 5/366 - Love One Another

We strolled around a local sanctuary today, all keen to get out and about in the fresh air. The day was very average, I have to say - but it was warm, so the outside invited us in for a visit, so to speak.



Our township has around 9000 people clustered together - and surrounding us is classic Aussie farmland and bay.



We walked and chatted and enjoyed ourselves. And then we spied a much beloved family. There is Papa at the rear, led by his six cygnets strutting out front.



And, boy, are they friendly now! No more Pap and Mama raising their feathers and beating their wings at us. No, siree - they were all curiosity and friendliness and welcoming-ness and had no problem waddling up as close as they could. By this stage you can imagine how the two boys were. Giggling. Giggling. LAUGHING! As were all we.



Here is proud Papa, all black and beautiful. He kept a close eye on his loved ones, but never felt intimidated or worried about the humans loving his boys and girls.



Here are two cygnets, all friendly and nippy when they missed a tidbit of bread. They loved Logan's toes peeping out of his shoes - and they loved my fingers on the camera!



And five minutes later we came across Mama on her nest, all tucked up in the corner of the reeds, safe and warm.

Seeing this gorgeous display of love and family made me think about the people who don't have this kind of affection in their lives. I think it is very important to love one another - as friends, as lovers, as family...in fact, as a community. We need to be there for each other more, I think. These days we are all so much more fearful rather than welcoming, don't you think?

Black swans mate for life (apparently there is a 6% divorce rate according to Wikipedia!) - and although I have spent almost half my life with my love, I never felt unloved before I met Justin. I was loved by friends and family - strangers, sometimes! - and that made me feel good. Perhaps just remembering to show and tell someone how much you appreciate them - and love them - would make their day?

8/366
Good Thing - Telling each other how much we love them!
This Good Thing is For : All of us

A Year of Good Things - 4/366 - Childhood Rituals

I loved playing board games when I was a kid in the 70s. Absolutely, utterly adored it. I was a Monopoly machine and a draughts dynamo. Loved the odd card game, too. So today I found myself playing the same games with our eldest. He almost beat me at draughts on his second game...either I have lost my edge or he has my draughts genes. There was a bit of chess going on, too - although the youngest thought it was funnier to make the chess pieces talk and move them in ways that aren't in the rules. It was lively. It was funny. It was spontaneous and just oh do good. Visit your childhood rituals, peeps - it's heaps fun passing on the childhood love.

7/366
Good Thing - Passing on your childhood rituals
This Good Thing is For : my sons...and their children, should they have any

A Year of Good Things - 3/366 - Summer

It was a beautiful warm day today - tonight was the perfect pre-dusk walk along the beach. A perfect time for family time. We went up through the dunes and almost got lost - so many dead end walking tracks. We had fish and chips and ice-creams and laughed. We stole some of Logan's peppermint ice-cream. Gabriel repeated the word 'stupid' (oops) and it was windy and blustery and beautifully warm.

Sigh. I love Summer family time.

6/366
Good Things - quality family time
This Good Thing is For : my family - and for me!

A Year of Good Things - 2/366 - Twinkling Lights

I love a twinkling light - yep, I sure do. It takes me back to my childhood Christmas' in Thornbury in Melbourne, Victoria. I loved those Christmas tree lights - I could spend what I thought to be hours (which is probably seconds in parent time) admiring their beauty and spirited twinkling. I loved waiting for Santa to arrive and I vividly remember being marched off to bed 'as Santa won't come unless you're asleep', only to realise it was pure daylight and I had a long night ahead of me. I have made going to bed a kind of ritual of late, making myself go much earlier than normal to just enjoy the Summer evenings, lay there to appreciate the dusk and birds chirping and also have enough time to read before ebbing into my sleep. And I have put some twinkling lights on my bedside table to say goodbye to the day with me...

A Year of Good Things - 1/366 - Choppy Chop

Sometimes we forget the good in life, you know? Sometimes our days can get so busy and go so quickly that we forget to truly evaluate what was great about it and how you actually lived it. Pip is doing a series on 'A Year of Good Things' over on her blog - and while I am not one for doing this type of thing, this series truly got me thinking.

I also want this blog to be a place my sons can read and learn about what their parent's get/got up to and why.

Each and every day I look forward to my breakfast/lunch. Justin and I went primal late last year and we are not looking back, I can tell you. We try and eat grass-fed meat, free from hormones and all the other icky stuff - and as much vegetables and salads as we can. No more preservatives, no more processed food, no more wheat, sugar and no more legumes.Some sun each day and some exercise, too. We eat when we're hungry and don't stick with the breakfast, lunch and dinner thing. We eat when our bodies let us know 'hey - we need some calories here!'. Today my first meal was just after 12 midday and it was a warm salad with marinated lamp chops. Delicious. It's like your own private BBQ every day...

I am truly thankful for the food we can get and eat. I would prefer to be vegetarian, though - but when I went vege for six months I got very sick. So meat it is for me.

So - this is my good thing. Food for today - my body is very thankful for it, too!

xNess