tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7383045397289838122024-03-14T16:38:38.755+11:00Nila Sweeney's BlogWhere passion, adventure and inspiration flourishAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-78942166637863426482013-10-14T22:07:00.000+11:002013-10-14T22:07:19.901+11:00<br />
Hi everyone,<br />
Thank you for visiting my blog.<br />
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I'm currently working on a new blog www.happilymarriedladies.com, a blog dedicated to showing women how to have a happy marriage that lasts a lifetime.<br />
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Everyone deserves a loving and lasting relationship and I think it's sad that many marriages are disintegrating and causing immeasurable suffering to children and families.<br />
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It is for this reason that I'm dedicating myself to inspiring and empowering women to invest in themselves, in their relationships and families with the hope of making a difference in this world even in a very small way.<br />
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Thank you and please don't forget to visit my blog: www.happilymarriedladies.com and leave your email address so I can contact you when it finally launches.<br />
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Be well and happy.<br />
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With love,<br />
Nila<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-8772841497137105502013-08-10T21:01:00.000+10:002013-08-11T09:38:19.289+10:00Amazing Sydney Street ArtsWelcome to my collection of Sydney Street Arts Photos I took around Newtown, Sydney. Enjoy!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-14944543711221122852013-08-10T20:22:00.000+10:002013-08-11T09:38:59.786+10:00Sydney's Street Arts Welcome to my collection of Sydney's Street Arts Photos I took around Newtown, Sydney. Enjoy!<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>By Nila Sweeney</b></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-1630730912335978192013-08-09T22:04:00.000+10:002013-08-10T23:04:18.119+10:00How to subdue your fear<h3>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Your fear is like your shadow. It's scary because it looms over you. Yet it doesn't have power over you. </span></h3>
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<b style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 17px;">By Nila Sweeney</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Once upon a time, we were all fearless creatures who believe we can do
anything we want. We were not afraid to do things, say things and push our limits.
We were convinced we can do anything. And we did, most of the time.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">And then one day, we did something and suffered some unpleasant
consequences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Maybe we got punished. Maybe we got told it’s too dangerous. Slowly, little
by little, we lost this gift. We learned to be cautious. We no longer want to
take risks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">We were afraid to try new things for fear that we would fail and make
mistakes. We’re afraid to say what we think for fear that we would be judged
harshly and won’t be accepted by others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">So we started to put up appearances, overcompensating for the things
we’re really afraid of by doing the opposite in excess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">And so we go through our own lives taking the safe route and living an average
life. We never dare to stand out for fear that we’ll be ridiculed. We try to
hide behind a facade to cover up our fear of not measuring up, of making
mistakes and looking stupid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I’ve lived like this for the longest time in my life. I was always
afraid of rocking the boat, so I would always agree to do things no matter how
much I wanted to refuse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I’d say the “right” things even if I don’t really mean them, just to be
accepted. I didn’t take many risks such as investing because it’s too
“dangerous”, I could lose my life’s savings. So, I’ve let many great opportunities
passed me by.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Yet I know in my heart that the gutsy girl who used to ride motorcycles
and do deep ocean dives is still in there somewhere. All I needed to do is to
reconnect and awaken her from her long slumber.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">After many attempts at confronting my irrational fear, I’ve finally made
some progress. Have I eliminated them? Of course not. That wasn't my goal. My aim was to subdue my fears so they no longer control me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I know now that my fear is like a shadow. It never leaves me. But like a shadow, it has
no real force or power over me unless I let it run wild.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">So how did I tame my fear? Here are a few techniques that helped me. It may help you too.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Know your enemy</span></span></b></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You may have a clue in your head about what you’re really afraid of, but
unless you write them down, they’re just nebulous ideas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">By crystallising these irrational fears, you’d see what’s triggering
them, which in turn help you to deal with them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Say hello to
your fear</span></span></b></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Acknowledging that you are afraid is an important step in confronting
your fear. Trying to pretend it’s not there will only make it more potent.
Getting your fear out in the open and facing it squarely will lose its impact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Remember that your fears are like shadows. They’re scary because they
loom over you, but once you turn around and confront them, you’d see they’re
nothing but a feeble threat, with no ability to hurt you unless you allow them
to.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Assess the potential damage</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">What’s the worst thing that could happen if
this irrational fear materialises? </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The reality
is, the imagined future is scarier than what happens in real life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">For example, we may be afraid of losing our jobs and unable to provide
for our families and pay off our debts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Yet if push comes to shove, we will find a way, no matter
what, to earn a living to support our families.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Assessing the worst case scenario goes a long way in putting things
into perspective and subduing your fears. </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Take a small step out of your comfort
zone</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">For some people, the only way to confront their fear is to go all out
and stare it in the face. There is nothing wrong with that. It can be cathartic
and effective. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">In my case, I had to take it slowly. Making changes in the way I do
things in small doses were more manageable for me than to go full on
straight away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Arm yourself for battle</span></b></span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal;">If you’re afraid of speaking in front of people, get trained. Practice a
lot. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">If you’re afraid of investing, educate yourself so you know what traps
to avoid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">If you’re afraid to fail in your project, have a game plan to follow and
mitigate the risks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">As one wise
person once said:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Fear is a
dark, pessimistic force that makes our future gloomy and bleak. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We attract what
we fear and when we confront the fear, they disappear.”</span></span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-56134000084752355112013-08-06T21:05:00.000+10:002013-08-06T21:05:21.743+10:00On quitting and picking yourself up again<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>By Nila Sweeney</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKq1c7Zgvqg/Uf-BrGVMEAI/AAAAAAAAA3M/NUd3h9t0f54/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKq1c7Zgvqg/Uf-BrGVMEAI/AAAAAAAAA3M/NUd3h9t0f54/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+413.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">I've tried. In fact </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">I've</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> been trying
for days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">
No matter how long </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">I've</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> stared at the screen, I couldn't come up with
anything meaningful, let alone witty and brilliant. Again and again I
would start typing, only to get stuck after the first paragraph.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">When it started happening, I
dismissed it to be nothing but a temporary setback. My creative juices would
flow soon. So I kept telling myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Except that they didn't. No
matter how I tried to find that elusive creative spark, I came out empty-handed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Predictably, I started believing
that little voice in my head telling me I'm not good at this blogging thing.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I ignored it at first, but then it
grew louder as I started seeing proofs. I have half a dozen half-written
articles with so much promise at the start, but have since been consigned to
the article graveyard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">How
picked myself up</span></span></b></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">At this point, I just wanted to quit
and join the ranks of the 99.9% of bloggers out there who failed and abandoned
their blogs. But a bigger part of me was headstrong and perhaps too proud to
stop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">So I had to pick myself up. To do
this, I had to stop listening to that nagging voice in my head telling me
I’m not good enough. Most importantly, I had to get clear about why I was stuck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
So I went to the gym.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
I tend to get the best ideas when I’m working out, so I decided to give this
old brain some oxygen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">As I walked towards my local Fitness
First Club, I noticed myself thinking, “Why can’t writing be as effortless as
walking? Why is it so hard?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">
That’s when it hit me: </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">I've</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> been forcing it. </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">I've</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> been trying too hard. I had
this fantasy that I would always come up with amazing stuff. Every time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Of course, with such an unreasonably
high expectation, I was so afraid of being judged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">I've</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> also realised that </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">I've</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> been
trying to write about topics that </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> truly touch and inspire me. </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">I've</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> been
a fake.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">While my aim was to write inspiring
posts, my intention in this particular instance has been less honourable. It
was in fact about looking good and less about what I can offer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is what I've learned from this breakdown</span></span></b></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Lesson #1. The truth will set you and your creativity free</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Duh, I kn</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">ew this.
Obviously I haven’t truly learned this lesson; therefore I must go through the
painful process of learning it.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I pretended to be wise and all-knowing. The hard truth is, I have a long way to go. I’m still suffering from insecurities. I’m still scared of baring my soul.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Admitting to this and vowing to work with honesty and integrity is the way forward for me.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Lesson #2. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vulnerability is not a sign of weakness</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">In fact it’s the opposite. The strongest people </span><span style="font-size: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've</span><span style="font-size: 13pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> known were not afraid of admitting to their mistakes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead of hiding behind my bullet-proof vest of pretensions, I can now let the bad news out: I’m a phony and I’m weak. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that’s out of the way, I can now focus on letting this go and become the strong person that I know I am.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">When you’re no longer concerned about people judging you, betraying you or hurting you, you’re free to do and live as you please.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
You become at peace with yourself and your world. You unleash your creative energy.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-44171734503632355012013-07-28T09:02:00.000+10:002013-07-31T22:34:13.946+10:00My manifesto for living a happy life<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>By
Nila Sweeney</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6R_ZwWj1ez0/UfMuUlLe-hI/AAAAAAAAAwU/E-6zTgaUmLM/s1600/small+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6R_ZwWj1ez0/UfMuUlLe-hI/AAAAAAAAAwU/E-6zTgaUmLM/s1600/small+004.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">I give up craving for approval, </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">k</span><span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">nowing that those who give it can also
take it away on a whim. By </span><span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">placing my self-worth and
happiness at the mercy of others, </span><span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">I became unnecessarily needy
and despondent when I don’t get my fix.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">I know now that the only way I can truly be happy is to do the things that I love and that makes a difference to others. I shall no longer be a hostage to other people's opinions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: blue;">I give up being a coward,</span><span style="color: purple;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">k</span><span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">nowing that
I am stronger than I give myself credit for. Being afraid of taking chances has
cost me some of the biggest misses in my life. I’ve wasted precious time that I
can never take back and opportunities that may not be repeated due to my
cowardice. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">Having survived the things that I went through earlier in life, I know I
have what it takes to thrive. It’s now time to liberate myself from the self-limiting
fear and open myself to life and everything it offers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: blue;">I give up being a perfectionist,</span><span style="color: purple;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">knowing
that making mistakes is a part of being human and the best way to learn life’s
lessons. </span><span style="font-family: "Cataneo BT"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">By being a perfectionist, I've alienated even my closest allies due to my unreasonable demands. I realised I've only been seeing what’s wrong and never
what’s done right. It’s time for me to start appreciating people even more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">I give up being judgemental, </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">knowing that I, too, have many
flaws. Being judgemental has made me suspicious and distrustful of others. It also gave me permission to blame them for being
the way they are.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">People don't get any chance with me when I’m judgemental. Even before
they make the first move, I’ve already diminished their worth in </span><span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">my head, justifying my choice of avoiding them altogether.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">Therefore, I shall stop judging people, and instead
spend time getting to know them on a deeper level. I know I would be pleasantly
surprised with what I discover. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;">I give up procrastinating,</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Cataneo BT'; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span>knowing that I am wasting
precious time and not accomplishing the things I set out to do. If I’m really
honest about it, I’m procrastinating because I’m afraid to take action. It’s time to let go of my excuses and
start acting. The time for procrastination is over. It's time to take that leap.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cataneo BT"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Cataneo BT"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-54066401753479047722013-07-25T23:01:00.000+10:002013-07-26T16:32:04.171+10:00How to find inner strength<h2>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: blue;">By Nila Sweeney</span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0pYywNd_rMk/UfEgPDOvtgI/AAAAAAAAAwA/HlvzgHK3ANg/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0pYywNd_rMk/UfEgPDOvtgI/AAAAAAAAAwA/HlvzgHK3ANg/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+168.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Do you sometimes wonder how you've managed to face
and handle tough situations in the past? Those times when you thought you’ve finally
able to regain your footing; another wave of failure or losses knocks you down
all over again? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I’ve been thinking about those myself, especially
at times when my confidence is taking relentless battering from the problems
that’s been coming in rapid succession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Yet when I look back at my past troubles and
then look at my current predicament, I'm amazed at how resilient I've been. No
matter how difficult the situation was, I’ve always managed to pull myself out
of the hole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Each time I was about to reach my breaking point, I
somehow got handed in a new lease of life, a hope and incredible inner strength
that enabled me to bounce back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Experts believe that some people have a natural
predisposition to resilience and are able to bounce back from traumatic or
difficult situations without trouble, while some people simply fold and crumble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I believe anyone can cultivate resilience with a
bit of effort. Here are the things that helped me develop inner strength and
how it may help you too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Nurture
supportive relationship at home and at work.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Being nurtured by caring people makes you stronger,
there’s no doubt about this. No matter how tough things get when you know you
can count on someone for their unconditional support, you become more confident
to face any challenges that come your way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Let
go of your need to control events. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Equanimity enables you to regain your footing
during turbulent times. It’s a refuge or an island where you can rest and find
stability. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Accept that some problems are outside your control.
What you can control is the way you react and handle these situations. Focus in
managing your thoughts, actions and habits. These will help you better deal
with any adversity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Face
your problem squarely.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Avoiding the problem will only delay the inevitable
fall out. It's better to confront the issue sooner than later so you can move
on. Take stock of the situation and then take positive action.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">A well-known Indian poet sums this up nicely in a beautiful prayer.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><i>"Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><i>But be fearless in facing them.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><i>Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><i>But for the heart to conquer it.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><i>Let me not crave in anxious fear to be saved,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><i>But hope for the patience to win my freedom."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><i>-Dr. Rabindranath Tagore </i></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Trust
yourself.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">When faced with seemingly endless
litany of woes, we sometimes forget that we do have the mental, emotional and
physical faculties to deal with these challenges. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">We sometimes allow ourselves to be
complacent, maybe even arrogant in maintaining a sense of entitlement. “Why
should I have to deal with these issues?” “I deserve better!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The thing is, when you adopt this line of thinking,
you often end up suffering unnecessarily and unable to find a workable solution
to your predicament. As a result, you’d be stuck in the fall out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You’re stronger than you think. You’ve
been here before and you have the mental and emotional toughness to face this
crisis. You just have to trust yourself.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Be humble.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Humility enables you to see and admit to your role
in this crisis. It helps you learn from your mistakes and enables you to focus
on the positive steps you need to take to improve your situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Let
go of the drama.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Sometimes we make things more difficult than they
really are because we love drama. We tend to magnify the damage and blow it out
of proportion either to elicit sympathy or just want to punish ourselves. When
we let go of the drama and approach the problem as it is, we’ll be able to handle
the situation better and find an appropriate solution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Embrace
change.</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Everything is in a state of flux and nothing stands
still. This means that no matter how difficult your current situation is, it
won’t stay that way forever. It will get better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Change is scary and uncomfortable, but it also
brings possibilities and endless potential. No matter how difficult it can be at the
start, trust in yourself that you will adapt and you will thrive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-72100077989094983722013-07-17T18:48:00.000+10:002013-07-24T22:51:29.329+10:00How to snap out of negative mindset quick<h2>
<strong><span style="background: white; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“You become what you think about all day
long.” Earn Nightingale</span></strong></h2>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0av6mmmfjq4/UeVNW_7mimI/AAAAAAAAAvg/F9Bj4qrRkw8/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0av6mmmfjq4/UeVNW_7mimI/AAAAAAAAAvg/F9Bj4qrRkw8/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+229.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I just had one of those days.</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You know the ones when nothing seems to
be working? When everything you touch breaks and all the problems in the
world seem to drop in your lap in one giant heap? Yes, I had one of those days
today.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">At times like these, it would be so easy to succumb to pointless wallowing in self-pity, thinking that I have the worst situation in the whole world. It would be normal for me to engage in futile ruminations of the things I could have done,
should have done and would have done, knowing fully well that I could not undo
the past. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">But not today. Admittedly, I allowed myself to indulge, albeit briefly, in this
negative mindset today. But as soon as I started seeing the warning signs: I'm unable to focus, I'm getting increasingly irritable and starting to breathe erratically, </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I knew I
had to snap out of the funk. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">It’s all too easy to get carried away by the negativity when you’re
facing a difficult situation such as losing your home due to financial
difficulties. Or when the love of your life cheated on you and left you for someone
else. You may feel depressed and helpless when you've lost your life-saving to someone who took advantage of your trust. At times like these, it may seem impossible
to dig yourself out of the slump.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The good news is, we can snap ourselves out of this negative state
quicker than you realise. Here’s how I get out of the funk quick and how you can do
it too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">1. Find something that makes you laugh, real belly laugh. </span></h3>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">There are millions of websites dedicated to humour and funny posts dominate Facebook. Allow yourself a few moments to enjoy something funny. Laugh hard. Laughter immediately helps in diffusing the negative energy and floods your body with
endorphin. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Yes, I know it’s hard to laugh when you’re suffering, but keep trying.
Before you know it, you’d be laughing uncontrollably, probably at the silliness
of taking yourself and situation too seriously.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">2. Notice the stories that you're telling yourself as you try to deal with
your problems. </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Are you blaming yourself? Are you berating yourself for being ‘weak,
stupid and lazy’ for allowing this problem to happen?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">All too often, we judge ourselves harshly compared to others. We beat ourselves up and subject ourselves to </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">endless</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> torture because we think we're not good </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">enough</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> and therefore don't deserve to be happy.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Realise that these are just stories. You made them up and therefore, you
have the ability to un-make them. You can stop and change the </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">story line</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> altogether. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">You are not weak or stupid. You may have made the wrong decision,
but this is not a proof you are not smart enough. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">3. Look for things to be grateful about. </span></h3>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">When we’re facing a multitude of
problems, it may be difficult to see the bright side. But they are there if you
look hard enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You can be grateful for the fact that you’re in good health and living
near the people you love. You can be thankful to live in a country where you
can enjoy peace and freedom. Despite your current problems, you still enjoy the
good fortune of earning more than enough to live on. You have a roof over your head and food on the table. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You can even be grateful for the problems you are now experiencing. Without
these challenges, we cannot grow as people. It makes us stronger and wiser. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Here’s a beautiful poem I turn for inspiration when I’m facing a
difficult situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Be thankful</span></b></h3>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">If you did, what would there be to look forward to?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Be thankful when you don’t know something</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">For it gives you the opportunity to learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Be thankful for the difficult times.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">During those times you grow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Be thankful for your limitation</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Because they give you opportunities for improvement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Be thankful for each new challenge</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Because it will build your strength and character.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Be thankful for your mistakes</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">They will teach you valuable lessons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Be thankful when you’re tired and weary</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Because it means you’ve made a difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">It is easy to be thankful for the good things.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">also thankful for the setbacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Find a way to be thankful for your troubles</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">and they can become your blessings.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">~ Author Unknown ~</span></i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br />
Remember that no one is hopelessly condemned to eternal misery, unless you
allow yourself to be. There’s always a way out of the problems we face in this
life. It may not be readily apparent today, but troubles will soon pass. And you smile again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-36396151370293198862013-07-10T14:55:00.000+10:002013-08-07T20:22:03.928+10:00How to ensure you finish what you started no matter how much you want to quit<h3>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">Struggling to finish what you started? These tips might help.</span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">By Nila Sweeney</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiWIfOuOSbE/Udv7QQD09bI/AAAAAAAAAvE/v2lQJcWO5uQ/s1600/small+Nila+Night+Photos+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiWIfOuOSbE/Udv7QQD09bI/AAAAAAAAAvE/v2lQJcWO5uQ/s1600/small+Nila+Night+Photos+029.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I’ve been known to start off big on projects, lose interest
halfway and rarely get to finish what I started. Indeed, I’ve been known to peak too soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Things changed when I started using these two exceedingly simple yet practical
strategies. Each time I’m stuck on a project or starting to lose enthusiasm,
I tap into these two simple steps. They work every time. You may want to give
it a try too.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Start small and recognise your
small victories</span></b></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I know
you’ve known this all along. But admit it or not, we tend to bite more than we
could chew when we embark on a project.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We want to escape the part
where we’re not amazing yet so we go full on in the beginning so that we can be
amazing already. The predictable outcome is the we lose interest when things don't go according to plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">By starting
small and setting ourselves smaller goals that we can measure, we’re able to
see and track our progress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sometimes
it’s not always easy to spot or recognise our victories because we’ve got in
our heads that success has to be earth-shattering and anything less would not
be worth celebrating. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">That’s why a
lot of aspiring entrepreneurs quit half-way down the road because they feel
they’re not achieving their goals fast enough or as fast as the others, even though they have
already made significant progress. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But success
also comes from our triumph over small things that accumulate over time. It’s
about getting better at the things we set out to do each time. It’s a result of
taking action, a step, no matter how small, to bring us closer to our goal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The power of
starting small is even more evident in my yoga practice. When I first started taking yoga
lessons, I was quite discouraged by the fact that I can’t even reach my shin
when I do forward bend. I was so stiff. But my kind Iyengar teacher kept
assuring me that I, too, will be able to touch the floor one day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Although I
didn’t see how that was possible in the beginning, I stuck it out, with my teacher's guidance, gently
easing into my practice rather than forcing my body into submission. Each time I went to my yoga class, I set an intention to push my practice just a little bit harder and enjoyed even the smallest improvement that I made. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It
happened sooner than I expected, although by this time, touching the floor was
no longer my primary motivation for practicing yoga. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When you’re
struggling to get motivated to finish your project or get to your goal, it’s helpful to see the big
picture and where you are at in the process. Look at your situation, your depth
of knowledge, your confidence, your fitness level, your well-being and then
compare this when you’ve just started, or even just a year ago. Have you become
more decisive? Have you become more knowledgeable and confident? Have you
become healthier and happier? These are all achievements worth celebrating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sure, you
should always aim to fulfil your lofty goals, but the only way to sustain and
motivate yourself to get to the end is by celebrating every little victory you
achieve along the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Pre-commit</span></b></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Another
fail-proof strategy to ensure success is to agree to do something that would
help your cause. Most importantly, you make it in such a way
that it would be near impossible for you to back down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This works
because you're essentially not giving yourself a chance to renege on your
commitment because the consequences would be costly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So how do
you pre-commit? There are a few ways you can do it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">If you’re trying to quit a habit, remove the temptation that will cause you to relapse. If you’re trying to give up smoking, for example, don’t carry cigarettes. If you’re trying to lose weight, don’t buy chips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">On the other hand, if you’re trying to develop a habit, say exercising or practicing yoga regularly, pre-commit to work out that day by packing your gym gear to work. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=738304539728983812" name="_GoBack"></a>Because you’ve already gone through the trouble of packing your workout clothes, you’re likely to be motivated to use them.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Another very effective way is to pay for a class, a seminar, a personal training or coaching
session t</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">hat is not refundable. When you know you can’t take your money back,
you’re likely to show up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You can also
get someone to ‘police’ your progress to ensure you do what you’ve
pre-committed for. This can be in the form a coach or a mentor or someone you
trust to keep you accountable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To take this
even further, you can set it up so that you get penalised by a certain amount
each time you lapse. The amount needs to be big enough for you to feel the
‘pain’ when you pay your coach or friend. A good start would be $50 each time
you miss your training session, you ate that extra piece of cake or didn’t meet
your target. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The point
is, if we don’t give ourselves the opportunity to back out, we’re likely to
stay the course and achieve our goals.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-47490786846935911032013-07-08T20:48:00.001+10:002013-08-10T19:21:51.867+10:00How to make that leap even when you're scared<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">If you’re finding it difficult to
make the ultimate leap towards your dream no matter how much time you’ve
prepared yourself, these might help.</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"> </span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">By Nila
Sweeney</span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BWO6lHHroog/UdqLPkC_R2I/AAAAAAAAAu4/9gkEglMSgHQ/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BWO6lHHroog/UdqLPkC_R2I/AAAAAAAAAu4/9gkEglMSgHQ/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+574.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps you're thinking of starting your own business. Maybe you want to change career or go back to work after taking a long break. Maybe you're dreaming about travelling the world, taking your relationships to the next level, or ending the current one you're in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">You’ve been diligently
preparing yourself. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">But then even after spending a lot of time getting ready, you're still unable to make the crucial next step.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">You know you need to act and desperately want to take the plunge. But how?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Here are three simple steps that
might help you finally make that leap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">Acknowledge your
fear.</span></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">There’s no getting around this
first step. Until you admit to what you’re feeling, whether its anxiety or
fear, you won’t be able to get to the bottom of what’s really causing it.
There’s no point ignoring your fear because it’s bound to resurface when you
least expect it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Remember, what you resist
persist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">It’s helpful to see fear
and anxiety for what they really are: feelings that are fleeting. They come and go. You don’t have
to fear them or avoid them at all cost. Learn to sit with them. Embrace them.
Make them your best friend. Since they’ve been with you all this time, they’re
likely to stick around for awhile more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Realise that perhaps you’re
more afraid of the feeling of fear rather than fear itself. If you can be with
your fear or anxiety long enough to understand that they’re just feelings,
you’ll be able to move on to the next step.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">Find out what’s causing
this fear.</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Ask yourself, is starting your
own business or travelling the world really such a dangerous thing? Actually,
it’s not. There are far riskier things you could be doing right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">So what are you really
afraid of? Make a list. I can hear you grumbling. Not another list! I can
assure you, this works. Try it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Putting things into writing
really helps in clarifying your thoughts by understanding the root of your fear
and anxiety. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">You might find that what you’re really afraid if is not about
losing money. Perhaps it’s more to do with not meeting the expectations you set
upon yourself. Perhaps you're afraid of failing. Perhaps you created this elaborate fantasy that you should make
tens of thousands of dollars in your first venture. Recognising that these are
just fantasies will help you realise just how much you’ve glorified your fears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Once you get to the bottom
of what’s really causing your fear, you can now let it go and take the next
step.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">Focus on what you
gain by letting go of your fear.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">What would it look like if you let go of your fear? Would you gain the juiciest relationship? Peace of mind? Would you gain adventure or
financial freedom?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Focusing on what you gain makes
it easier for you to let go of your fears. It enables you to see how your fears make
you procrastinate and miss out on all these available opportunities. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">As you loosen your grip to your
fear, you’d find that it also slackens its grip on you. You can now go through
any perceived obstacles with confidence; knowing that you largely created them
and therefore, you do have the power to banish them.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Now, take a deep breath and jump!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-76066669073002808012013-06-28T20:47:00.001+10:002013-07-02T12:35:33.926+10:00How to bounce back from failure<h2>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">Nobody wants to fail, but we still do, from time to time. Here are 4 tips to help you get back in the game, fast.</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><b>By Nila Sweeney</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--nhyqAMHK3k/Uc1ngVykvdI/AAAAAAAAAuM/xodqVt02I6w/s600/small+Bushgems+1+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--nhyqAMHK3k/Uc1ngVykvdI/AAAAAAAAAuM/xodqVt02I6w/s600/small+Bushgems+1+059.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></b></div>
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</div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I don’t like failing. Failing sucks and it’s
painful. It weighs you down and makes you just want to give up. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, I failed
many times and I still fail in some of the things I set out to do.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">For example, I set out a goal to do yoga every day.
I do it most days, but not every day as I aimed for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I still procrastinate. I aimed to be more decisive
and productive, but I still put off doing things or making crucial decisions.
Sometimes for days. No wonder, I'm still nowhere near the size of the property
portfolio I need to retire on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I wanted to be organised particularly with
paperwork, but my bills and other important documents are still piling up in
the box under the bed for me to sort out.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br />
I had many failures in the past, including losing
money on ventures that bombed and getting involved in relationships that were
doomed from the start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">There were many occasions I was tempted to just
throw in the towel. And I did, a number of times, albeit briefly. Somehow I
keep finding myself back in the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">It’s never easy to motivate yourself when you fail, but there are steps you can take to get you out
of the rut quicker. Here are four tips that I use to pick myself up after a
humbling defeat. You may want to give it a try too.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><b>1. Take a
short break to refocus<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Taking a short break to regroup helps you to see
things clearly. When we fail at something, we have the tendency to magnify its
impact. We think the fall out is bigger than what it actually is. And it could
be really big, but if you look at the grand scheme of things, you’ll likely to
see it’s not that serious. It's not insurmountable. It’s not the end of the
world. You can only do this if you take time to refocus.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The other benefit of taking a breather is that you
avoid knee-jerk reactions that could exacerbate the damage. Dealing with failure is uncomfortable and it’s normal to want to make the discomfort go away as fast
as possible. If you're not aware of your actions, you could end up making riskier moves that would compound your loses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">2.
Don’t take it personally</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Easier said than done, I know. There’s a big
difference between failing at something and failing as a person. When we fail in
our ventures or projects, we tend to take it personally. We make it mean we’re
failures. We think we failed because we're not good enough, that we're stupid
or losers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">When you had a lapse and ate a whole block of
chocolate for example, this doesn’t mean you’ve failed as a person. It just meant
that you broke your diet, a sign that something in your method is not working.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br />
When you bought an underperforming investment, it
means your methods were flawed, not you as a person. It doesn't
mean you suck as an investor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">When we just see failure as it is: a sign that a
process is not working, we'll be able to find a way to improve it
to prevent it from happening again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">3.
Change the way you do things</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Once you’ve identified the ineffective ways of doing
things that led to this failure, you can change it. You can look for a new
or different method of doing it. Maybe ask other people for help. Maybe set up a system to keep you accountable. Maybe you need to overhaul your whole process of doing things.
The important thing is that you’re making a distinction between the failure of
the methods and your failure as a person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">4.
Take action, no matter how small</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Failure makes you want to stop and just crawl under
the bed and never get out. It’s tempting to quit and not do anything. But this
will only postpone the inevitable: dealing with the consequences of that
failure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">When you take action, no matter how small,
you’re sending a message to yourself that this failure that you’re dealing with
is not insurmountable. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You start feeling better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Before you know it,
you’re back in the game.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You may also want to read my article <a href="http://www.//nilasweeney.blogspot.co.nz/2013/06/still-making-excuses-now-you-can-stop_20.html">Are you still making excuses?</a> for an extra dose of motivation. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Other inspirational articles you may want to check out:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><a href="http://www.//nilasweeney.blogspot.co.nz/2013/06/could-this-be-missing-magic-ingredient_8592.html">Could this be the missing magic ingredient in your relationships?</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><a href="http://ww.//nilasweeney.blogspot.co.nz/2013/06/no-time-to-lose.html">No time to lose </a> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-48859811352658091842013-06-26T20:28:00.000+10:002013-08-03T18:52:47.857+10:00How I found inner peace in Japan<h4>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Strange things happen when you travel to places
like Mount Koya. If you don't watch out, you might just find serendipity in places you least expect.</span></h4>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: blue;">By Nila Sweeney</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6X7D8XmSDN8/UcqaFRjg8OI/AAAAAAAAAqo/8fHiBw6b45w/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6X7D8XmSDN8/UcqaFRjg8OI/AAAAAAAAAqo/8fHiBw6b45w/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+901.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A temple near Danjo Goran, Mount Koya</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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</div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I knew this part of the journey would be very
special. Why won't it be? I’d be staying in a Buddhist temple and I'd be able
to sample, albeit in small doses, the monastic life.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">What I didn’t expect was for my stay here to
eclipse the heady experiences I've already had with the cherry blossoms and
Mount Yoshino.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I thought things couldn't get any better. Well,
Koya San, you proved me wrong!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Even with a few false starts in the morning, such
as getting lost on my way down from the guest house because I thought I'd
follow a different route (Yup, I know, I never learn), arriving in Mount Koya
or Koya San made me instantly forget these niggly little things.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AIPCbGs1wfI/UcqaWTq8H6I/AAAAAAAAArE/lmwdE7IxRFw/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1008+v1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AIPCbGs1wfI/UcqaWTq8H6I/AAAAAAAAArE/lmwdE7IxRFw/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1008+v1.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple near Okunoin</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The place has mystical written all over it. The
crisp spring air was colder and the town seemed to move in slow motion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Koya San is certainly special. It's been recognised
by UNESCO as a World Heritage Area and is the centre of Buddhist study and
practice. As such, Koya San features a lot of temples, with a few offering
accommodation to guests who want to experience a bit of monastic life.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You can walk around to explore the town, which
seems to be the norm in Japan, although buses run regularly to take tourists
from one end of the town to the other. I arrived well before the shukubo or
Buddhist temple lodging opened for check in so I dropped my bags and started
exploring the place.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4d9jcKyNxQ/UcqabuWnR-I/AAAAAAAAAsc/NblWTow1fhM/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4d9jcKyNxQ/UcqabuWnR-I/AAAAAAAAAsc/NblWTow1fhM/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+874.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Danjo Goran Temple, Mount Koya</td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">First stop was Danjo Goran, a big red temple, which
stood proudly in the middle of a large compound. A few of the monks were
bustling about, preparing the temples for a festival of some sort. Inside was a
different story altogether.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">It was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. The
main hall featured a giant golden statue of the Buddha flanked by his
disciples. The peaceful energy was palpable.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">An elderly Japanese woman was praying quietly when
I walked. She smiled and showed me how to do the offering. I wasn’t sure if I
should, but I gave it a try anyway. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Perhaps the stillness of the place got to me, but I
felt a wave of calmness wash all over me as I sat quietly, taking in the
surrounding. I could feel my pulse and breathing slowing down considerably. It
was an unfamiliar sensation after having been running on adrenalin at full
speed.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Koya San does that to you. You just slow right
down. I actually found myself walking slower and speaking softer than normal
without even realising it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I could have spent the whole afternoon there but I
knew I had a limited time to explore the area before I headed back to Tokyo the
next day. So I made my way to Dai Mon or Big Gate, featuring two fierce-looking
deities guarding the town. With the sun shining brightly, I thought I'd fit in
as many sights as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-td9FkzGKSgQ/Ucqaa45BHoI/AAAAAAAAAsU/wevK7gqDFj4/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-td9FkzGKSgQ/Ucqaa45BHoI/AAAAAAAAAsU/wevK7gqDFj4/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+919.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dai Mon, Mount Koya</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Next stop was Okunoin, the most sacred
site in Koya San where more than 200,000 monks, lay people, prominent people
and royalties have been buried, some hundreds of years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PEeYsKYxt0c/UcqafhO-UcI/AAAAAAAAAtM/-nspmHEuZF8/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PEeYsKYxt0c/UcqafhO-UcI/AAAAAAAAAtM/-nspmHEuZF8/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+995.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okunoin, Mount Koya</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I've seen the photos, but seeing it in real life
was simply mind-blowing. The towering, centuries-old cedar trees sheltering the
tombs with the sun's rays peeking in between them created such a glorious sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GwJ42425_DU/UcqadpeZEQI/AAAAAAAAAs0/L5OT8VJBRSk/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GwJ42425_DU/UcqadpeZEQI/AAAAAAAAAs0/L5OT8VJBRSk/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+961.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient stupas in Okunoin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The graveyard, Japan's largest, also featured hundreds of stupas,
some dating back several hundred years ago. Stupas are Buddhism’s sacred symbol
of enlightenment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">At the centre of the graveyard was the mausoleum of
Kobo Dashi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism in Japan, who is believed to be in
eternal meditation since 835 AD. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">There was nothing morbid about the graveyard and I
found myself happily spending the whole afternoon exploring the 2km stretch.
The tranquillity of the place was infectious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Without even noticing, I started thinking about my
own transient existence and how I’ve been living my life. It was one of those
moments when you’ve got nowhere to go but inside your head. It was confronting
but liberating at the same time. I realised I’ve squandered a large chunk of my
life living the way I did, but also joyful that I’m still alive to make things
right. The setting was perfect for these kinds of contemplations. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-76Cm_vEm1b8/UcrA9I-VrrI/AAAAAAAAAto/e4TUfz5JFXM/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-76Cm_vEm1b8/UcrA9I-VrrI/AAAAAAAAAto/e4TUfz5JFXM/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1138.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okunoin, Japan's largest graveyard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">It was very tempting to stay longer, but it was starting to
get dark so I decided to return to the temple where I’d be spending the night.
I was warned by Lonely Planet that I should not be late for dinner which was to
be served at 6pm.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I arrived with plenty of time so I’ve decided to
try out the much-raved about Japanese bath. I was a bit nervous but relieved
that there was no one else when I got there. What followed was an
out-of-this-world experience.</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DsQXLPDOwsI/UcqaY6RVJYI/AAAAAAAAAr8/PKdG_4dmA-M/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DsQXLPDOwsI/UcqaY6RVJYI/AAAAAAAAAr8/PKdG_4dmA-M/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1124.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buddhist temple lodging or shukubo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I didn't know what to expect, but the bath in this
temple was above what I’d consider top notch. Everything was perfect and oh, so
beautiful.</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">As I slowly slid into the large bath and felt the
warm bubbling water on my skin, my brain just froze. I was totally lost in the
moment. I lost the sense of time, place and self. The experience was so
profound that I felt a sudden urge to cry and laugh at the same time. Perhaps I
was just tired, but hey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The bath left me feeling like a jelly when I
emerged, 30 minutes later. I felt so light and fresh, with no care in the
world. All the worries about work melted away. It was cleansing in more ways
than one. I felt like a new person, inside and out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AiL73JQnwh0/UcqaYOpWRAI/AAAAAAAAAr0/zf-68MfjYaQ/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AiL73JQnwh0/UcqaYOpWRAI/AAAAAAAAAr0/zf-68MfjYaQ/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1119.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My shukubo room. Simple yet elegant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">As I staggered out of the bathing area and into my
room, a monk asked if I wanted dinner served to which I said yes please. Within
a couple of minutes, he came bearing not one, not two, but three trays of
neatly presented traditional Buddhist feast!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TeGLlB7BjHU/UcqaVw-MVzI/AAAAAAAAAq0/L89EolixYcY/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TeGLlB7BjHU/UcqaVw-MVzI/AAAAAAAAAq0/L89EolixYcY/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1068.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buddhist vegetarian feast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I was almost reluctant to eat them. They looked too
perfect to touch, let alone eat. So I spent at least 10 minutes admiring the
food and taking photos, as you would when presented with something this
exquisite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lVSC_0wrAns/UcqaWu5qKEI/AAAAAAAAArM/jMuPl5hzfPY/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lVSC_0wrAns/UcqaWu5qKEI/AAAAAAAAArM/jMuPl5hzfPY/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1070.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't know where to start! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uq3C9wUAtlM/UcqaXI4pAKI/AAAAAAAAArg/U-Xy8rYBbOw/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uq3C9wUAtlM/UcqaXI4pAKI/AAAAAAAAArg/U-Xy8rYBbOw/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1072.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best food I had in Japan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The food tasted as good as they looked. It's the
best food I’ve had in Japan so far. As I tucked into this marvellous feast, I
felt so much gratitude for the good fortune I have been given, to be here,
right now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X0ixjEI1cWg/UcqaXPkusnI/AAAAAAAAArY/ULzgkpyHYBU/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X0ixjEI1cWg/UcqaXPkusnI/AAAAAAAAArY/ULzgkpyHYBU/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1083.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It tastes as good as it looks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IDjWQJBYCzg/UcqaXow3IMI/AAAAAAAAArs/097Vu15u7PE/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IDjWQJBYCzg/UcqaXow3IMI/AAAAAAAAArs/097Vu15u7PE/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1093.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfection in every way</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I felt incredibly privileged to be able to
experience all these wonderful things. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Peace, it seems, had come to me, at
last.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Read my <a href="http://www.nilasweeney.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/my-unforgettable-adventures-in-japan.html">unforgettable adventures in Japan Day 1- Tokyo Highlights.</a><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-86170056238784652062013-06-20T20:43:00.000+10:002013-06-29T21:44:18.335+10:00Still making excuses? Now you can stop with these 4 simple steps<h4>
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">We know excuses hold us back. Yet we all make them.
Here’s how to get rid of this self-limiting habit once and for all.</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><b> By Nila Sweeney</b></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tyPDAXsbW5Q/UcLYBd2AdyI/AAAAAAAAAjM/C8sc1y3whwE/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tyPDAXsbW5Q/UcLYBd2AdyI/AAAAAAAAAjM/C8sc1y3whwE/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+536.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">I’m full of excuses. At least I used to be.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">I had a lot of excuses for the bad decisions that
I’ve made in the past. I had a long list of excuses for my bad behaviour and
certainly made excuses when things went wrong. Of course I also had many
reasons for not doing the things that I’m passionate about.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">I used to believe that if I had an excuse, then I
didn’t have to be responsible. I could get away with anything. And I did
get away with a lot of things.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">But I also paid a big price. Because I was too busy
making all these excuses, I didn’t learn from my mistakes. I kept making them
over and over again. I’ve wasted many precious opportunities to improve myself
and my situation.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">I was stuck in a rut, which is not exactly the kind
of life I dreamed about.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">I wanted an extraordinary life where I’d be doing
what I love while making a difference to others. I didn’t want a life where I
was just getting by.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">So I knew my excuses had to go. Once I
made the decision to let go of my excuses, I was able to focus on actually
doing what I'm passionate about. I've been a happier person as a result of
taking action instead of hiding behind my excuses.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Here's how I banished my excuses and how you can do
it too.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>Get clear about what’s important to you.</b></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Once I got clear about what I want in my life and
what’s important to me, I was able to see my excuses for what they really are:
obstacles in my path to living my dream.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Once I realised just how much my excuses have been
running the show and preventing me from living a fulfilled life, it was easier to
let them go.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">You can do it too. Ask yourself, what excuses
have you been telling yourself and others for not pursuing your
dreams? Why are you holding on to these excuses? Are your excuses more
important than living the life you want?</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>Realise that having an excuse is not a substitute
for taking action.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">If you missed a deadline for example, having an
excuse doesn’t make up for the fact that you missed it. You’re still late. You
still have to bear the consequences, like it or not.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">If you want to travel but always have an excuse not
to do it, you’re still stuck in wishful thinking territory. You’re still not
going anywhere.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">If you want to start an exercise regime but always
finding an excuse not to do it, you’ll still end up in poorer health despite
your excuses.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Until you realise that your excuses are not
substitute for taking action and responsibility, you’ll always be stuck. You
would continue living a comfortable, but pretty ordinary life.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>Take responsibility.</b></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">I’ve used my excuses to get out of owning up to my
mistakes. I’ve also used it to justify my actions, no matter how damaging they
were.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">When you take responsibility instead of making excuses you'd find solution to your situation. It compels you to take action.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>Realise just how much your excuses are hurting you.</b></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Holding onto your excuses is pretty twisted. Yet we
do it because it's an easy way out.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">But if we’re really honest about it, we can see how
it’s hurting us. Our excuses are holding us back. They prevent us from reaching
our potential and living a fulfilled life.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Next time your excuses crop up, remember to see
them for what they really are: ineffective and damaging habits that are obstructing your way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Once you stop believing in your excuses, you can
start living your life.</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 17px;">Please feel free to share with others. </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">You may also want to read </span><a href="http://www.nilasweeney.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/how-to-bounce-back-from-failure.html" style="font-size: 17px;">How to bounce back from failure</a><span style="font-size: 17px;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-39000025562132804492013-06-14T08:16:00.000+10:002013-08-01T19:51:03.047+10:00Random plans, cherry blossoms and disappearing crowd<h4>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">High
Drama in Mount Yoshino</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">A dream trip took an unexpected turn when I decided to follow the path less travelled.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">By
Nila Sweeney</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FdH_rncaGyM/UbVJ_wntXaI/AAAAAAAAAeo/4KtVqdwyfnc/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FdH_rncaGyM/UbVJ_wntXaI/AAAAAAAAAeo/4KtVqdwyfnc/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+774.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Yoshino</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Waking
up at 5:30am, my day was wide open. So many temples to see, so many cherry
blossoms to view. What shall I do today, I asked myself as I checked the
weather forecast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I
wanted to make a quick plan on how to tackle Kyoto today. Apparently, one
doesn’t just show up in Kyoto.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Over
breakfast of two very thick slices of white bread and a sad-looking fried egg,
I brainstormed with my roommates; a German girl named Meike and a French girl
whose name I didn’t quite catch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I
thought about going to the bamboo forest, which was about 45 minutes from
Kyoto, but then I remembered the crowd I encountered the day before. Do I
really want to bump into so many pushing and shoving tourists today? The
thought of it made me recoil a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">There
was another option: Mount Yoshino, which boasts 30,000 cherry
blossoms - the ultimate destination for a cherry blossom junkie like
me. It was a no-brainer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CKSF4BcLZgg/UbVhTzNI0KI/AAAAAAAAAgU/GiMrFQn7BlA/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CKSF4BcLZgg/UbVhTzNI0KI/AAAAAAAAAgU/GiMrFQn7BlA/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+790.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherry Blossoms On Mount Yoshino</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The two-hour train ride to get to Mount Yoshino was quite pleasant. The announcements were all in Japanese, but I understood a lot of the words and the accent, so I knew when my train stop was
coming next. It was nice to leave the mob behind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">As soon as I arrived in Mount Yoshino, I took the bus halfway up the
mountain to give me a head start. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">It
was all uphill, but what a view! The sight of the thousands of cherry blossoms
clustered along the top of the mountain was simply stunning. Funnily, they look like a bald patch from afar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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</div>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uHnhLWdp7gE/UbVxoscZwcI/AAAAAAAAAgw/vgDje5VyczU/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uHnhLWdp7gE/UbVxoscZwcI/AAAAAAAAAgw/vgDje5VyczU/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+763.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">30,000 Cherry Blossoms on Mount Yoshino</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">There were some tourists too, but nowhere
near as many as Kyoto so there was no chance of elbowing someone off their place
so you can take that perfect shot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-99jTwsjx5jg/UbWhGLJbOnI/AAAAAAAAAhA/u9TqPY-wpgU/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-99jTwsjx5jg/UbWhGLJbOnI/AAAAAAAAAhA/u9TqPY-wpgU/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+728.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Yoshino</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I
lingered at the mountain top for another half hour and then decided to make my way down when the heat got too much. It was a bright and sunny day. Just the perfect day to be in Yoshino.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ipsCbI82mQI/UcVZSsclW4I/AAAAAAAAAlY/iugrjl8Uzn4/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ipsCbI82mQI/UcVZSsclW4I/AAAAAAAAAlY/iugrjl8Uzn4/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+738.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I
could hear the bus announcer from a distance, so I thought I'd just follow the
sound. However, my curiosity got the better of me so </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I followed a different route and I ended up in the main
village. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">It wasn't a wasted effort because the village itself was fascinating. I wandered around for a few minutes before asking an elderly gentleman for direction to the nearest bus stop. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1xRdbh5bK9c/UbcfmLBeCUI/AAAAAAAAAhY/VFSe6Hqv3ww/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1xRdbh5bK9c/UbcfmLBeCUI/AAAAAAAAAhY/VFSe6Hqv3ww/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+797.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">While
the helpful gentleman was giving me directions, I saw from the corner of my
eyes that the train station was 4.6 km away. I asked him if there was a shortcut to the bus station. He said yes, and pointed me to a road going downhill. It looked right so I followed it. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">After walking
uphill over the past hour and half, I was ready to take the easier way down. My
legs were starting to fatigue at this point.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">When
I first started my trek down the mountain, there were a lot of people walking
in the same direction. Then, they became fewer until I was the only one walking down the isolated road. I looked around but there was
no one else. It was eerily quiet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFkKk3Db7fA/UbVgX9RUvxI/AAAAAAAAAgA/7LdY1aPjTis/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFkKk3Db7fA/UbVgX9RUvxI/AAAAAAAAAgA/7LdY1aPjTis/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+809.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The long way back to the train station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I
wasn’t worried during the first 2 km. The scenery was so captivating I forgot that I was on my own in the middle of Yoshino.</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">However, after
walking alone for an hour, I started to wonder if I was lost. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">My eyes also started playing tricks on me at this stage. At one point I thought I saw the top of a
bus, only to find out it was actually an abandoned building. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I started to worry a little,
and contemplated calling my friend Tomoko to send in a rescue party. I quickly
checked if my phone has reception. Nothing. Oh dear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BMKqBd-HAcc/UbVgf-m6ikI/AAAAAAAAAgE/jW-Ndex55Qs/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BMKqBd-HAcc/UbVgf-m6ikI/AAAAAAAAAgE/jW-Ndex55Qs/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+778.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alone in the middle of Yoshino</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Then,
out of nowhere, an old woman, probably in her late 60s, appeared behind me, and
walked briskly past me. Where did she come from? I didn't hear anyone walking behind me. I nervously looked around to see if there were others. None.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I tried to catch up with her and asked if I was in the
right direction to the bus station. She just laughed. She told me in Japanese
that I’d just have to keep walking. Then I lost her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">At
this point I was really worried. Was she for real or was I just imagining her?
I walked faster, almost running down the mountain as the sun started to set. I desperately wanted to see a lot of people. Then I chuckled at the irony of that thought as </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I started to sprint.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">To
my relief, the sign I was looking for appeared just around the bend: the train
station! </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I
was so happy to finally get back to civilisation. I’ve never been happier to see so many people again. I jumped into the first train back to Kyoto, even if
I have to pay another $10 for the ticket. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">As
I sat on the train, I was quietly laughing at my adventures today. I wanted to escape the crowd and got my wish. I also got to see one of the most breath-taking sights I've seen so far in Japan. What else could I ask for?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-28828214871743960792013-06-12T20:00:00.002+10:002013-08-01T21:23:29.974+10:00No time to lose<h2>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">Are you still putting off doing the things that you're passionate about? Time could be running out.</span></span></h2>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><b>By Nila Sweeney</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
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<div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You’ve dreamed about visiting Norway to see the Northern Lights. You've
always wanted to learn the tango and speak French. You've been thinking about
quitting your job to start your own business.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Yet when
push comes to shove, you get cold feet. You talk yourself out of it before you
can say go!</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You rationalise that there will plenty of time to pursue all these
things. For the time being you need to make more money. You need to stick with
your day job so you can save for that dream house or car. </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">So you go on living the same old life, doing the same thing, day after day,
year after year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Occasionally, you notice a nagging feeling that perhaps
there’s more to life than this. Then you look at where you are now. You’re
comfortable. Why rock the boat? Why change anything now? So you revert back to
living in autopilot. Possibly a mediocre life.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Then a big jolt. Someone you know has just passed away. </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">There’s nothing like death to shake you back into
reality.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Like today, when I found out that one of my college
friends has passed away. I simply couldn’t get around the fact that she’s
gone. How did this happen? When did people in my generation start dropping
dead? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I guess I've been living
under the false security that we’ll live a long life and that dying wasn't an
option.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I was stunned at first and then I panicked. I mean if she died that
young, then it could be my turn any day now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I know it’s irrational to think that people should only die when they
reach a certain age, but how often do you think about your own mortality?
Exactly. Why would you even think of such a morbid thing, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The reality is we’ll never know when the time comes. And most of us
don’t want to know about it anyway because we don’t want to face the reality of
our own demise. It’s too horrifying. It’s such a dampener.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">But just because we don’t want to face it doesn’t make it go away. By
pretending it’s not there, we go on with our lives as if we’re going to live
forever. We make plans, we party like it's 1999 and we can’t get no satisfaction
(ok that’s really cheesy) as we work like crazy to build security around
finances and our career. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">As if we’re absolutely certain we’re going to live
long enough to enjoy the fruits of our labour.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">But what happens if you don’t get to the end of the line? No one can
predict how and when one person expires from this world. You hear it every day:
people who are young, healthy, rich, beautiful, famous, poor or old people who
are dying of various causes. So what makes us immune to this eventuality? When it comes to death, there’s nowhere to hide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Stop putting your life on hold</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">It’s good to make plans and prepare for the future. This
would be the responsible and sensible thing to do. However, it’s important not
to get fixated by the end game that you put your life on hold for the time being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">We only get 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and if we’re lucky to live
to a normal lifespan, we might live till we’re 80. You might think you’ve got
all the time left in the world that you put off doing what you love. The
truth is you may not have. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Death does not discriminate. When your time comes, ready or not, you
will have to go and leave this world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">In your death bed, can you honestly say you’re glad that you held off
living a full on life or you wished you’ve done more of the things you thought
you’d have more time to do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Next time you find yourself deciding whether to do something that’s
exciting and scary now or leave it for another day; I’d challenge
you to do it right away. You may not have a second chance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dPJHdkrwLGY/Ubg_hXdFp_I/AAAAAAAAAiU/yLy-ybEMroM/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dPJHdkrwLGY/Ubg_hXdFp_I/AAAAAAAAAiU/yLy-ybEMroM/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+664.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">That phone call to your mother and father that you’ve been meaning to make? Make it now. Tell your love ones how much they mean to you. Hug them; hold them
close to your heart. Enjoy this moment while you can.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-3363881487793416102013-06-10T08:16:00.001+10:002013-08-03T22:09:45.695+10:00Why I keep falling in love with Sydney<div class="MsoNormal">
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</h2>
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">By Nila Sweeney</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58va1Fq9jqo/UbR05J8DFcI/AAAAAAAAAbA/PY9DmIobr74/s1600/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58va1Fq9jqo/UbR05J8DFcI/AAAAAAAAAbA/PY9DmIobr74/s400/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+103.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing Sydney</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">It’s
Friday and I was feeling good about my progress this week. It’s been a week of
high drama, but the weekend was only a few hours away. I was looking forward to the well-earned break.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Then
I found out that it’s a long weekend and everyone has already made their grand
plans on how to spend the next three days. I’ve been so wrapped up with work
that I didn’t realise I’ve actually got three days to play, not two. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Dang, I haven't planned anything. I frantically searched for last minute deals, as you do, even if you know how futile would be to think you can make a last minute arrangement to leave town.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">I
remembered seeing some cheap flights in my inbox and briefly contemplated booking a trip
to Queenstown, New Zealand. Maybe Gold Coast. Anywhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Then
I realised Joe was scheduled to work some this weekend so going out of town was not an option. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">That's when
I remembered that the Vivid Light Show was still on. I’ve heard about it and
saw some amazing photos but haven’t paid close attention to the event.
Then the phone rang. Joe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Goodie.
He wanted to go see the lights and so did I. Done. Friday night sorted out. I made
a mental note to arrange something for Saturday, Sunday and Monday as well to
make the most of the long weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">Sydney
explodes</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">There’s
nothing like a mild and clear Friday night to bring the whole population of
Sydney out to the Opera House. I’ve never seen so many people jostling to see the
display on the famous sails. Children, senior citizens, families,
out-of-towners and people who didn’t plan their long weekends have all flocked
along the harbour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E-p5wM2IZCk/UbR2z6DYsiI/AAAAAAAAAbY/7e7ec_IgsDA/s1600/small+Vivid+Sydney+072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E-p5wM2IZCk/UbR2z6DYsiI/AAAAAAAAAbY/7e7ec_IgsDA/s400/small+Vivid+Sydney+072.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sydney Opera House, Vivid Festival</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Sydney definitely knew how to put on a great show and this was just one example of its
brilliance. The way the projected images flow with the music was simply
stunning. The Sydney Opera House provided the perfect canvass for the mind-blowing
displays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPIeRSbClP4/UbR3iOnbhjI/AAAAAAAAAbk/ugtWQh1EuHc/s1600/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aPIeRSbClP4/UbR3iOnbhjI/AAAAAAAAAbk/ugtWQh1EuHc/s400/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+127.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sydney Opera House</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nXuGg_HsTug/UbR4KrIXsXI/AAAAAAAAAbs/spujTu5L_tE/s1600/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nXuGg_HsTug/UbR4KrIXsXI/AAAAAAAAAbs/spujTu5L_tE/s400/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+066.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sydney Opera House</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">As
the Sydney Harbour Bridge watched quietly</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"> next door, a giant ship
slowly made its way. I could see camera flashes twinkle in its cabins as it
moved out of the harbour.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--MFRIJXL-WM/UbR5RLb-kFI/AAAAAAAAAcM/l9NTzrKLiBY/s1600/small+Vivid+Sydney+112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--MFRIJXL-WM/UbR5RLb-kFI/AAAAAAAAAcM/l9NTzrKLiBY/s400/small+Vivid+Sydney+112.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sydney Harbour Bridge</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">From
a distance, I could see Luna Park with that taunting look. I wasn’t about to
succumb to it, so I returned my attention to the ongoing display of lights and
colour at the Customs House, the buildings along the harbour and then back to
the star attraction of them all: the Sydney Opera House.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AHpalmURN3A/UbUST9OxTiI/AAAAAAAAAd4/3s7CHNyG4uA/s1600/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AHpalmURN3A/UbUST9OxTiI/AAAAAAAAAd4/3s7CHNyG4uA/s1600/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+142.jpg" height="277" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RYzFlcUqA5M/UbUSgZuTXoI/AAAAAAAAAeE/7VUZEBsep5s/s1600/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RYzFlcUqA5M/UbUSgZuTXoI/AAAAAAAAAeE/7VUZEBsep5s/s1600/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+180.jpg" height="306" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Somehow
Joe managed to find a place to set up the tripod for my camera. It wasn’t easy,
as people were pushing hard behind me to get that perfect shot. I tried using my
phone camera to see if it can capture the display. Not even close. I was glad to have
a ‘proper’ camera to use.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">By the time the set up was complete, I was already standing in the front row. I was
ready for action. I checked all the settings. So far so
good. I took my first shot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Whaaat? How did that hand get there? </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">As
soon as I thought I had the perfect shot, a head, a hand or a camera suddenly
appeared on the viewfinder. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FEezGtq5rNw/UbT8yNJFyUI/AAAAAAAAAdg/4SzxDwmIPtA/s1600/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FEezGtq5rNw/UbT8yNJFyUI/AAAAAAAAAdg/4SzxDwmIPtA/s1600/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+213.jpg" height="268" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">I started to feel a bit frustrated, then I realised,
I actually don’t have exclusive rights to this space. Everyone has the same
right as I do to enjoy the show. So I waited patiently until the next cycle started and
the people with offending heads and hands have moved out of the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Finally
I had my chance. Knowing that the vacated </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">space </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">would soon be taken by others, I frantically took as many shots that I could manage.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A1SJWMvvldM/UbUSj4uy3iI/AAAAAAAAAeI/buICoQpzuGw/s1600/small+Vivid+Sydney+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A1SJWMvvldM/UbUSj4uy3iI/AAAAAAAAAeI/buICoQpzuGw/s1600/small+Vivid+Sydney+011.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nu9Vf_t-jog/UbR54aCX69I/AAAAAAAAAcU/o6te3fkpvQc/s1600/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nu9Vf_t-jog/UbR54aCX69I/AAAAAAAAAcU/o6te3fkpvQc/s400/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+078.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sydney Opera House, Vivid Festival</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g9kyNT2dVK0/UbT82FMHIlI/AAAAAAAAAds/lkeEEXQVpj8/s1600/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g9kyNT2dVK0/UbT82FMHIlI/AAAAAAAAAds/lkeEEXQVpj8/s1600/small+Sydney+Vivid+2+235.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Customs House</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">After 10 minutes of snapping madly at the display, I decided that I've taken enough
photos. Time to enjoy the show. That’s when I noticed a little
girl trying desperately to squeeze in to have a look. My heart just melted. So we
offered her family our space. It was time to move on to the next
location.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Darling
Harbour. Joe and I arrived just after the fireworks display but we were told
there was another show within half an hour. We decided to wait as Joe traded
tips with another photographer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5PZLYrKzk9g/UbR_gGkKuLI/AAAAAAAAAdA/OTNAFxfuHVY/s1600/small+Vivid+Sydney+287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5PZLYrKzk9g/UbR_gGkKuLI/AAAAAAAAAdA/OTNAFxfuHVY/s400/small+Vivid+Sydney+287.jpg" height="268" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darling Harbour, Sydney</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">The
water display was different, but was equally impressive. The crowd were a bit
more subdued, but it was still a large audience. There were also a few street performers, which added to the party atmosphere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">After
briefly losing Joe (I thought he was right behind me), it was time to go and have
dinner. I was kinda glad we didn't have much planned this weekend. The activity tonight has given me fresh ideas on how we can enjoy Sydney even more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">It rekindled my deep love for the place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">As
we walked towards Town Hall to catch our train, I can’t help but feel grateful
to be in this city where everyone could enjoy amazing shows like this one for
free. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">There's no other place I'd rather be stuck on a long weekend than here in gorgeous Sydney.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-77030855123785537582013-06-08T08:23:00.001+10:002013-06-22T16:54:15.403+10:00Could this be the missing magic ingredient in your relationship?<h2>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tapping into this unfulfilled need could catapult your relationships to a juicier level.</span></h2>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">By Nila Sweeney</span></span></h3>
<div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xR_1uYWW_1Q/UbM3AvG7C9I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/FBqWMDXFXZY/s1600/small+Bushgems+1+316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xR_1uYWW_1Q/UbM3AvG7C9I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/FBqWMDXFXZY/s1600/small+Bushgems+1+316.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He says: “People should get their news or
information from diverse sources to broaden their views”. What I heard
him say was: “Your blog posts are boring, they’re just focusing on one thing.”<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">Isn't</span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> it silly how we listen to others and
hear things based on what's going on in our heads and not what’s being said?
Rather than really listening, we get too caught up looking for the meaning and intention behind what the other person is saying.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Why did he say such things? What did he really
meant by that? Rather than listening to what’s being said, we make up our own interpretation based on our reality.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In my case, I made it mean “I’m not good enough to write, I’m stupid,” and so on and so forth because that comment </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 17px;">triggered my insecurity.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When there’s a breakdown in communication, it’s
less about what's being said, but more on how we listened. That’s the root of
miscommunication.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When we listen while running our own internal
commentary, we can't listen fully. Even if we're nodding and looking at them in
the eyes if we’re too busy judging, agreeing or
disagreeing, we’re not really there for them. We're not present.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Being heard is a basic human need, yet those who give them are as scarce
as a hen’s teeth. It’s a rare commodity because it’s not easy to listen
fully. It’s difficult to listen when someone is attacking you. You’d be tempted to interrupt with a counterattack of your own to get
even.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The predictable result is that nobody wins. Not
even the person with the louder voice or the one who can unleash the most profanities. Everybody loses.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Learning how to listen fully opens up a whole new
dimension in your relationships. When you give someone the gift of listening,
you’re allowing them to heal. People will start to gravitate towards you. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When you listen with open heart and mind, people
feel they matter. They’d feel closer and safe around you
because they can trust you. They no longer feel the need to hide or pretend.
You get genuine connection because of your willingness to lend your ears. Your
relationships become more meaningful.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The best part of it? You don’t need to do or say
anything special: just be present.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>How do you really listen?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Here are a few suggestions that I've used
myself and they've been immensely helpful. I still have my bad days
when communication dies a sudden death. But I’m getting better at it, the more
I practice.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g9zyW3cAUrc/UcVJeKjg41I/AAAAAAAAAjk/J0IdMAj2nws/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g9zyW3cAUrc/UcVJeKjg41I/AAAAAAAAAjk/J0IdMAj2nws/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+624.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>Listen without judgement<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Now, this is a hard one to do. We’re all wired up to
be </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">judgmental.</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> I know I am. But you can set this judgement aside until the
other person has finished whatever it is they want to say.</span></span><b style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Try to just listen without having to agree or
disagree or judge what the other person is saying. Even when they say something
that is blatantly untrue, don’t interrupt. Don’t try to correct them. Doing so
would rob them the opportunity to release and heal their suffering.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When you let go of your judgement, your stance
towards others softens and your need to defend yourself also lessens.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>Set aside your feelings<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When listening to others who are expressing
negative emotions such as anger, we tend to respond in kind. This is normal.
It’s also completely ineffective.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When your emotions are triggered as the other
person unloads, keep reminding yourself that this conversation is not about
you, it’s about the other person. Give him this moment. You’ll get your turn, some other time.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Set aside your feelings about the matter being
discussed and just listen to what the other person is saying. You might just
discover something new about the other person and yourself, in the process.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>Give something up<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ego often gets in the way of our ability to listen
fully and with love. When we give up being right, we allow the other person to
express themselves freely.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Let go of your need to be right for once and just
listen. You might just be surprised at the
outcome.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>Be generous<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Giving the other person the chance and the space to
say what he wants to say is one of the greatest gifts you can give to someone.
It </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">doesn't</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> cost you anything yet the rewards are huge. When you listen without any hidden agenda and without expecting anything in return, you become the most wanted person in other people's lives. It's the law of supply and demand. You give them something that's in short supply, you become in huge demand.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">So there you have it. If you’re looking for a juicy and delicious
relationship, mastering the art of listening could just pave the way.</span></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></h2>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-57910548434330443972013-06-02T11:32:00.000+10:002013-07-31T22:02:24.370+10:00This is how you can reboot your life<h2>
</h2>
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">When we're always running towards our goals, we miss out on the wonders of this life. And then it's too late. It's time to slowdown and start living. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">By Nila Sweeney</span></h2>
</div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yjqwh9WpII4/UbM8ddmkROI/AAAAAAAAAW4/dhZE1HAZNOQ/s1600/small+Bushgems+1+1517+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yjqwh9WpII4/UbM8ddmkROI/AAAAAAAAAW4/dhZE1HAZNOQ/s1600/small+Bushgems+1+1517+v2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Do you sometimes feel that you're always running, towards a goal, towards something or somewhere you think would make you happy and fulfilled? And yet w</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 17px;">ithout fail, you find yourself back to where we started?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You're not alone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">This
has become a default activity in this hyperactive world we’re living in.
Somehow we started to believe that if you sit still, life passes you by and you
miss out.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">But
do you really? How many times we end up running around in circles just because we decided to run?</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">How
many important life events have we missed out on because we were on the go? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">We rationalise that what we’re doing would benefit the people in our lives in
the end. So we continue to relentlessly pursue these ambitions.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">We trade our most precious commodity - time - just to get to our goals, whatever
they are. We lose sight of the important things in life such as family,
health and relationships.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">In
our pursuit for money or fame, we were willing to give up our humanity, our
morality and sense of decency. At the very least, we
compromise our health and sanity.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">It’s
a high price to pay. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">But we don’t always see it that way because the urge to
get to our goals is so strong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">We
become frustrated and decide that if we run just a little bit faster, work a
bit harder... maybe this time, we finally make it.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">The
sad truth is, this cycle will go on. </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Then you run out of fuel. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Once </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 17px;">you've</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"> used up all your life’s energy, there’s nothing left.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: purple;">Time to take it slow</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">When
we’re running, we don’t see and appreciate the beauty of this life </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">we've</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> been
given.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">We don’t appreciate the good fortune we're enjoying. </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">We take for granted
the people in our lives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Slowing down enables us to see that we have everything that we need to be happy right now. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 17px;">We don’t need to chase that mystical, magical future where we believe all our wishes come true.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Q7WtiJXV0E/UbM8tKB3F3I/AAAAAAAAAXA/QX0Qc7Mo26Q/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+552+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Q7WtiJXV0E/UbM8tKB3F3I/AAAAAAAAAXA/QX0Qc7Mo26Q/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+552+v2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Maybe
you find it hard to convince yourself that you should slow down and take a break.
That’s normal. Don’t beat yourself up. Instead, have a look at the following
list of almost probable, highly inevitable realities that you will face if you
continue down your current speed and trajectory.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">1. You will lose your most precious relationships.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Relationships
need to be nurtured. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Of course you know that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You also know that if you’re
always running, you won’t have the time and energy to develop relationships and appreciate
the people in your life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Even
if your intention is to make life better for them in the future, your
continuing pursuit for that future takes you away from their lives now, when it
really matters. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You would find that there’s no amount of material possessions
or fame could ever replace the precious time you spend with your love ones. </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Soon,
they’d move on, with or without you in their lives. </span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Once </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 17px;">they've</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"> gotten used to
you not being present, even without realising it, </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 17px;">they've</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"> eliminated you from
their lives. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You become someone who comes and goes and never stays. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 17px;">You've</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"> lost
the most important reason for your cause.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">2. You will lose your health.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Relentlessly
pursuing a goal comes at another hefty price: your health. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Even if you exercise
and do all the relaxation practices in the world, the unrelenting demand you
impose on yourself will eventually take its toll on your body. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Every
time you feel stressed, anxious or angry, you’re subjecting your body to
unknown harm. There’s no way of knowing what would
eventually trigger that unexpected nervous breakdown, burn out or worst, a
heart attack.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Being
always on your toes, tend to make your more agitated, which put more pressure
to your nervous system and heart. Study after study shows that angry people
tend to have a shorter lifespan compared to those who are peaceful and contented. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">It
makes perfect sense. When you’re relaxed, the body </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">doesn't</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> have to work as hard.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">3. You will lose your job or source of livelihood.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Ironically,
the more we work hard towards our goals, the more we risk losing what we’re
working for. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Even if your goals are centred on your career or work, your dogged
hunt for the prize, at any cost would eventually alienate your allies. </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Without
realising how your behaviour is having a negative impact on your colleagues or
clients, you’d continue to self-destruct, until your boss no longer have a
choice but to let you go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">No
matter how valuable you are to business, no matter how much your manager loves
your work, the undesirable effect of your behaviour and ways would force them
to make that hard decision to let you go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">In
the grand scheme of things, everyone is expendable, even the star performers.
Especially the one with the bad attitude and “do all it takes no matter the
consequences” mindset.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: purple;">How to reboot your life now</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Since
you’re the only one who can make this decision, there’s no amount of
encouragement will help you if you’re steadfastly sticking to your gun.
However, I suspect that there’s a big part of you, that pure self within all of
us, that wants a change for the better.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">So
here are some things that may help you finally stop and start living life. They’ve helped me a great deal and I’m making progress.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><b>1.
Realise the highly probable, almost inevitable future you’re heading to,
if you don’t stop and reverse course. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Ask yourself, are these goals you’ve set
for yourself worth losing the most important people in your life? Is it worth
the resulting illness? Is it worth losing your job?</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">2. Ask yourself what’s the worst that can happen if
you stop right now.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">What
would be the worst consequences of stopping what you’re doing and taking a
break right now? List all the things that you’re worried, afraid of and all the
other reasons you make yourself believe are important to keep you going on this
path. </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Getting
them into writing would help you realise that they are scarier in our heads
than when we see them in black and white. It also help us see where we’ve been
assigning the most fear and make us realise how absurd these assumptions are.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><b>3.
Ask yourself, what’s the best thing that could happen if you stop right now.</b></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">This
can be a hard question to answer especially if we’ve invested all our waking
hours and energy in pursuing something for the future. We tend to forget what
we love doing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Asking
ourselves this question also forces us to really acknowledge where we’ve been
unreal all these times. Are we trying to avoid or escape life by focusing our
attention to our imagined future? What really motivates you to keep going as
hard and as fast? </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">If
you really look deep inside for answers, you’d find that deep inside, what
you’re looking for is not what you’re working towards.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">It’s
not really about money, or fame, or power. It’s about being loved. It’s about
being happy.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The
good news is that when you stop running, you’d see that the beautiful people in
your life have always been there for you, waiting for you to come around. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">They
are always there to support you now matter what. All you need to do is open
your eyes and heart and be present. This can only happen if you slowdown.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7VPTFu81f9g/UbM81rhhfSI/AAAAAAAAAXI/GQOFhgIlb0I/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+401+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7VPTFu81f9g/UbM81rhhfSI/AAAAAAAAAXI/GQOFhgIlb0I/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+401+v2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">When
you stop running, you realise that you already have everything to be happy in
the present moment. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You have your health, your loyal body and sharp mind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You
are still alive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Recognising these gifts goes a long way to bringing happiness
and peace of mind. </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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Thanks for reading. You may also want to read my article <a href="http://www.nilasweeney.blogspot.co.nz/2013/06/no-time-to-lose.html">No Time To Lose.</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-80697044433245213042013-05-31T00:28:00.000+10:002013-06-22T17:10:18.426+10:00My unforgettable adventures in Japan: Day 2<h4>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cherry blossom explosion</span></b></h4>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A trip to Japan fulfils a childhood dream and so much more. This is my journey to
self-discovery and redemption. Welcome aboard! </span><b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">By
Nila Sweeney</span></span></b></h2>
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</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_cm8JtwI1tA/UbUcxHNCkJI/AAAAAAAAAeY/RVA6C_YsGHY/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+237+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_cm8JtwI1tA/UbUcxHNCkJI/AAAAAAAAAeY/RVA6C_YsGHY/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+237+v2.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 16px;">After a great day on April Fool's Day, I woke up the next morning wondering if the punch line will be delivered today...Hmm. Better make sure I have everything, I thought to myself as I rolled my futon bed and prepared myself for another day of adventures. Today, I will be heading to Osaka for a day before continuing on to Kyoto.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
haven't really made any specific plans except to visit a few temples and see
lots of cherry blossoms. Ahh, I'd be right, I kept reassuring myself, as I made
my way to the local train station to catch the Shinkansen or bullet train to
Osaka.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Today,
there's a spring in my step as I confidently navigated the train
system. Even as I got squashed by the morning crowd rushing to get to work, I
found myself even enjoying it, bizarrely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
reserved a seat on the earliest bullet train and just like a seasoned Japanese
traveller, I availed myself a bento box and went down to my designated platform
- without asking for direction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Yes,
I was so confident in my ability to read Hiragana characters that I actually
stood at the wrong platform and could have gotten into the wrong train going to
the wrong place. Luckily, I quickly realised my mistake and moved promptly to
the right area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">My
Hikari train arrived and I dutifully settled in my seat for a 3-hour journey. I
could hardly contain myself. My first bullet train ride! I didn't care how
ridiculous I might have looked with a big silly grin in my face. Who cares, I
thought to myself. I am about to take my first bullet train ride and that's the
most exciting thing so far today!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mRYNS6vb9ik/UadIPQZWUgI/AAAAAAAAALw/jNPvlPTWiUw/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mRYNS6vb9ik/UadIPQZWUgI/AAAAAAAAALw/jNPvlPTWiUw/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+1203.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hikari train. By Nila Sweeney</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
elderly gentleman sitting next to me was rather nice and promptly nodded off to
sleep as soon as we left the platform. I contemplated striking up a conversation
with him, but after the mix up with the train platform earlier, I felt less
confident and chickened out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
felt the train take off. This is it!!! Oh my, it's really fast, I thought to
myself as I tried to keep my cool as much as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">It
was overcast outside but the speed of the train was more than enough to keep me
enthralled as the landscape changed outside. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I thought Yokohama and Nagoya were
pretty forgettable, but then again I only saw a small part of these areas. Surely,
there's more to these places than what you can see from your bullet train
windows. Maybe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
arrived in Shin-Osaka in no time. I quickly made my way to to Osaka
itself and down to Shin-Imamiya where I would be staying. Confident that I
could find my way around, I just winged it and somehow made it to my small
hotel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">But that's after taking the wrong train and then taking the right train
but making the wrong turn!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Desperate
times calls for desperate measures so I summoned all my remaining Japanese
capabilities and successfully got the right direction from non-English speaking
locals. My friend Tomoko did warn me that Osaka people don't speak that much
English, which means lots of practice for me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Feeling
a slight panic that I haven't really planned anything during my Osaka stay, I
quickly plugged in and went online to find the best things to do when in Osaka.
I've read a while back about Osaka Castle and decided that I will spend the
rest of the day exploring the area. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">So off I went, camera on one shoulder, a
stash of assorted papers and sweaters on the other bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tc87fIKmQa8/UbM0TX0oQBI/AAAAAAAAAUM/WTb5TNC-UE0/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+197+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tc87fIKmQa8/UbM0TX0oQBI/AAAAAAAAAUM/WTb5TNC-UE0/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+197+v2.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osaka Castle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">The Osaka Castle didn't disappoint. When I saw the sheer number of cherry trees in full bloom in one place, I nearly squealed. It was incredible! People were having picnics, getting married and generally having a great time even as it started to drizzle.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x6F6SlZKWsI/UbM1CnkUy6I/AAAAAAAAAUY/kRnfa_48icU/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+113+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x6F6SlZKWsI/UbM1CnkUy6I/AAAAAAAAAUY/kRnfa_48icU/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+113+v2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanami parties</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">To get to the Osaka Castle viewing deck, I needed to climb 8 steep and long flights of stairs. Dang, the steps were high and so
steep. I was sweating like a pig when I got to the top. I took some more photos
and then climbed back down. I couldn't wait to get back to those cherry
blossoms!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bHlGYclLApg/UbM1YfopZYI/AAAAAAAAAUg/anH9iH1l8yI/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+125+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bHlGYclLApg/UbM1YfopZYI/AAAAAAAAAUg/anH9iH1l8yI/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+125+v2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Osaka Castle</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
wandered around the gardens and I lost myself completely. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 16px;">The hundreds and hundreds of cherry blossom trees clustered along the canal, around the garden area, everywhere I looked there were cherry blossoms of so many varieties! I couldn't keep up, there were so many cherry blossoms to see and photograph!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3gBEdn6YXDY/UbM1oatwhyI/AAAAAAAAAUo/ymAoa-PCyxw/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+233+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3gBEdn6YXDY/UbM1oatwhyI/AAAAAAAAAUo/ymAoa-PCyxw/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+233+v2.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">There
were no words. I was simply speechless. I felt so much gratitude to be alive to
enjoy this marvellous display of beauty. I felt so incredibly privileged to be
here, right at this moment. I said a quiet thank you to the universe for this
wonderful moment.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qTSZ10oQ5rc/UbM1wm96GpI/AAAAAAAAAUw/JGvWH44vtwQ/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+218+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qTSZ10oQ5rc/UbM1wm96GpI/AAAAAAAAAUw/JGvWH44vtwQ/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+218+v2.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was truly a paradise. Even though there were so many trees, their quiet elegance
made it such a sensory delight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
strolled around the garden, admiring every single tree, not discriminating any.
Everywhere I turned to; there was beauty at its purest. Small, dainty and
incredibly beautiful, cherry blossoms are truly one of nature's masterpieces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I've
walked and walked for more than 6 hours. I didn't want to leave the garden but
the guards told me they're closing down some parts of the garden already. I
thought about staying further but decided against it as darkness started to
descend.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VKrC2QyNVA0/UcVMTdpzWWI/AAAAAAAAAkM/9EcNNa4bBtw/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VKrC2QyNVA0/UcVMTdpzWWI/AAAAAAAAAkM/9EcNNa4bBtw/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+371.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">With
so much hesitation, I made my way to the train station to Osaka. I wanted to
check out the famous Osaka City Station that I heard so much about. It was
indeed a work of art. I walked another half hour before deciding my legs had
enough walking. Time to retire these tired feet. I grabbed a nice bento box of
cod and rice and headed back to my hotel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">After
dinner and a shower, I typed my handwritten notes about my Osaka adventure,
knowing full well that words can never fully capture the spectacular beauty
that I've witnessed today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Stay tuned for Day 3:-)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-78438786666184062202013-05-29T21:42:00.000+10:002013-06-21T22:47:31.529+10:00My unforgettable adventures in Japan: Day 1<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tokyo April Fool’s Surprise</span></b></h2>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A
trip to Japan fulfils a childhood dream and so much more. This is my journey to self-discovery and
redemption. Welcome aboard!</span></h3>
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">By Nila Sweeney</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8-oEMrlSEpk/UbMquIbCSXI/AAAAAAAAASU/UehL4nnJHA8/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+042+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8-oEMrlSEpk/UbMquIbCSXI/AAAAAAAAASU/UehL4nnJHA8/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+042+v2.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h2>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">After nearly ten hours flight from Narnia, otherwise known as Sydney, I
excitedly peek through the window as the Qantas plane slowly came to a halt. I
was almost dismayed not to see much but a few airplanes, and then
realised how silly it was to expect anything else. This is an airport, of
course there's really not much to see, I muttered to myself chuckling at the
silliness of it all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Surprisingly, I felt quite refreshed. I’ve forgotten how quiet and
considerate Japanese passengers are! I’ve gotten so used to the rowdy Aussie
crowd that seemed to invade every flight I’ve taken recently. It was certainly a
very welcome change from the last flight I took going to Manila where I endured
an excruciating 8-hour flight with a couple of drunken Australians sitting in
front of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I took my first breath in of the Japanese air and instantly regretted
it. Why are people wearing masks? Was there something nasty in the Japanese air?
I found out later that they were protecting themselves from the Beijing smog.
Yup, I thought it was a joke too, but my Japanese friend assured me that on a
bad day, they get the smog from Beijing. Hmmmm..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">So I proceeded to the immigration lane where I queued up for more than
an hour. I was beginning to wonder if the famous Japanese efficiency has been
replaced by the love of paperwork. Nevertheless, I waited patiently, even as
the Indian woman behind me kept on complaining about how she's going to miss
her train. Really? This is Japan, lady! Trains come pretty frequently, I nearly
blurted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The upshot of the long wait was that my bag was already waiting for me
when I got out to collect it. So far so good!</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Next stop, I needed to get a temporary SIM card.
Well, what do you know; I can't actually use my own phone in Japan! So I rented
one, except that it's an older style phone which means I can't browse the
internet. Oh well, that would do, I thought to myself as I nervously tried to
figure out how to send a text message. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
Next, I went to collect my JR Pass. I bought the JR Pass voucher before I flew
out of Sydney as it wasn't for sale in Japan. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QMMQcn_iz7w/UbMrGrE6FjI/AAAAAAAAASc/8d-hO8tcr9A/s1600/WP_001315+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QMMQcn_iz7w/UbMrGrE6FjI/AAAAAAAAASc/8d-hO8tcr9A/s1600/WP_001315+v2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narita Express</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">After collecting my JR rail pass, I took the Narita
Express train to Tokyo and excitedly settled in my seat as the train zoomed out
of the airport. I peered outside and saw my first cherry tree. Wow! They're
everywhere! I almost jumped out of my seat when I noticed the amused look by my
fellow passengers. In my broken Japanese, I told them, "First time in
Japan" as I slinked back in my seat, feeling slightly embarrassed.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Before long, I arrived in Tokyo and into my friend
Tomoko's apartment in Gotanda, Shinagawa where I'd be basing myself as I go
gallivanting around Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Gotanda is a hip residential and commercial area
just a few train stops to the city centre. It was a perfect base.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fUYTh95GiTk/UbMuaXys5jI/AAAAAAAAATM/5m0GBHV3Z6A/s1600/small+WP_001156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fUYTh95GiTk/UbMuaXys5jI/AAAAAAAAATM/5m0GBHV3Z6A/s1600/small+WP_001156.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotanda, Tokyo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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</div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I thought I'd know what to expect when using their toilet. Hmmm..Let’s just say it was very interesting...and weird. Really weird. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span>
<br />
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</div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YzpS4CuUUoo/UbMwhU2tubI/AAAAAAAAATs/Yy79EJhyFbg/s1600/WP_001314+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YzpS4CuUUoo/UbMwhU2tubI/AAAAAAAAATs/Yy79EJhyFbg/s1600/WP_001314+v2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was almost too embarrassed to come out. Was Tomoko secretly giggling behind my back as I tried to figure these things out? Tip: you can use the toilet roll!</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">So the long-awaited Tokyo adventure began. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">After getting a lowdown from Tomoko on how to navigate the Tokyo transit system, I
was set for the day.</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 16px;">The great thing about getting a JR pass is that you can use it in any JR train line, which is quite prevalent in Tokyo and other cities. You can't use it to ride the subways though so if you don't have JR Pass, get the pre-paid train ticket that you can top up at any train station.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I made my way to the local JR train station and headed down to Meiji Jingu Shrine near Harajuku and Shibuya, both known for their teenage culture and shopping. It’s interesting to see the traditional and the modern part of Japan coexisting side by side quite happily. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The tall gate of the Meiji Jingu Shrine was quite imposing and the forested walk was equally impressive. Apparently, there are a total of 170,000 trees along and around the Shrine. Needless to say, it was breath-taking. The Meiji Shrine was bustling with pilgrims and the faithful, but it was surprisingly serene.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DvKo1kiycN8/UbMsFEYz6mI/AAAAAAAAAS0/BAD9c2c3h4w/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+002+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DvKo1kiycN8/UbMsFEYz6mI/AAAAAAAAAS0/BAD9c2c3h4w/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+002+v2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meiji Jingu Shrine, Harajuku, Tokyo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0SN-P8q_9k4/UbMw64LYLgI/AAAAAAAAAT0/3-d5it9g-sA/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+024+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0SN-P8q_9k4/UbMw64LYLgI/AAAAAAAAAT0/3-d5it9g-sA/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+024+v2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meiji Jingu Shrine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 16px;">After exploring the temple for an hour, I headed back to Shibuya as I was getting pretty hungry at that point. Of all the restaurants I could have chosen, I've walked into one that actually served westernised Japanese food. Too late, my stomach has pretty much taken over my brain. I have to eat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Real”
Japanese food was indeed literally just a couple of minutes away. A Japanese
food festival was being held in one of the citys’ biggest department stores.
Despite having just eaten, I went for a second helping. I was in
food heaven! Finally, I had my
fix.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
explored Shibuya for another hour, admiring the vibrancy and energy of the
place. It’s really like a small version of New York’s Time Square. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eut9_pF1g04/UbMt4K9rbWI/AAAAAAAAATE/iCf2AXj3m48/s1600/small+WP_001299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eut9_pF1g04/UbMt4K9rbWI/AAAAAAAAATE/iCf2AXj3m48/s1600/small+WP_001299.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shibuya at night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was a lot
of fun crossing the road. So I did it twice and contemplated doing it the third
time but I thought better. Starbucks has the best view of the crossing, but
it was like a war zone out there, so I decided to check out the back streets
instead. Shibuya is definitely a shopper's paradise. It's where all those hip young things and a lone tourist from Australia hang out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
went back to my friend's apartment and rested for a while before I decided to go out and explore the neighbourhood. Near Tomoko's place was Meguro River where hundreds of
cherry trees were still in bloom.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 16px;">The cherry blossoms were on their last leg and the petals have started to fall but considering I haven't seen so many cherry blossoms in one place before, I thought this was paradise! I happily spent an hour taking pictures, admiring and marvelling at their beauty. I felt almost spiritual. One of my childhood dreams just came true! I was mesmerised by the way the petals fall out, just like snowflakes as they gently and gracefully sway with the wind.</span><br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0l8lEYgg2U/UbMumglyatI/AAAAAAAAATU/MNzmZ4ZE1zc/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+082+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0l8lEYgg2U/UbMumglyatI/AAAAAAAAATU/MNzmZ4ZE1zc/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+082+v2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meguro River, Gotanda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
evening was a different experience altogether. Tomoko and I joined a bunch of
Tokyo friends and fellow travellers at the New York Grill in Shinjuku and enjoyed the best
vantage point of Tokyo. I was kicking myself for not bringing the camera. Oh
well, another time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">After
dinner, Tomoko and I went to meet up with an old colleague at a bar in Roppongi, famous for its active nightlife. We went to a trendy bar which I later found out to be controlled by
the Yakuza. It was surprisingly laid back, which made me suspicious even more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A
few more drinks and I was ready to hit the sack. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 16px;">I only had a few hours’ sleep since I left Sydney the night before so I was getting really tired. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 16px;">But I was so happy and excited to see my old friends and to see my first cherry blossoms. I savoured the moment and thought about the people who made it possible for me to be here. I felt the luckiest person in the world to have my whole family behind me. I missed them dearly and wished they were here with me too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HPZhWOc_30s/UbMwA2bqP5I/AAAAAAAAATk/OO-8iYrBN0I/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+052+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HPZhWOc_30s/UbMwA2bqP5I/AAAAAAAAATk/OO-8iYrBN0I/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+052+v2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">After
packing my backpack for my trip to Osaka the next day, I was finally ready for
bed. As I laid down on my futon bed, I have a big smile on my face and thought
to myself, 'life is good' as I slowly drifted to sleep, dreaming about cherry
blossoms and bullet trains.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Second instalment coming up in my next post:-)</span> </div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-88256915779194458382013-05-25T12:16:00.000+10:002013-06-09T00:18:54.061+10:00Probably the quickest way to be happy<h2>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“What I spent, I had; what I saved, I lost;
what I gave, I have.”</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #181818; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white;">―<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #666600; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5814608.German_motto">German motto</a></span></span></h2>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y_q1K1fs3Aw/UbM9Mq0bb8I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/X1lrQFV1iaY/s1600/small+Bushgems+1+562+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y_q1K1fs3Aw/UbM9Mq0bb8I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/X1lrQFV1iaY/s1600/small+Bushgems+1+562+v2.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">I’ve
always considered myself to be a fairly generous person. I’ve always been
willing to help out whenever I can and would often go above and beyond to lend
a hand. So imagine my surprise and indignation when someone pointed out that
I’m actually quite stingy. Whaaaat? Me, stingy?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Oh
yes, I was rather offended. How could someone even suggest I’m stingy?
Normally, I would be defensive to a point where I might even lash out to this
person. “How dare you call me stingy! Don’t you know how I helped this person? Do
you even know who I am and what I do?” And so on and so on. That’s how I would
normally handle this situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">However,
in this particular instance, I actually managed to stop myself getting
defensive about the remark. I took it in and with all the restraint I could
muster, I asked why she thinks I was stingy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">She
told me that I don’t share enough. “What do you mean I don’t share enough?,” I
asked, with anger rapidly surging through my voice. She calmly explained that I
actually don’t share enough love and affection to others, especially those that
are not close to me. She pointed out that I don’t share enough of myself to
others so they too can benefit from my experiences and knowledge. She also said
I tend to withdraw love and affection as easily when someone pisses me off,
instead of clearing the air and working out a way to resolve the upset. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Those
remarks jolted me. She was right. I have been stingy. In fact, I have been
extremely selfish. I have been quick at cutting people off my life when they’ve
done something to upset me and I have steadfastly refused to deal with people I
don’t like. A lot of times, they don’t even know the reason why I don’t like
them. As far as I’m concerned, they don’t deserve my love and affection so I
ignore them. That’s the messed up part. People actually have to “deserve” my
love and generosity first before they get it. Wow. No wonder I’ve been unable
to form lasting and meaningful friendships and relationships. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Realising
how selfish I’ve been really shook me. I realised that if I continue behaving this way, I’d end up isolated, sad and alone. Not the kind of life I had in
mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So
I started sharing, cautiously at first. But I realised that there’s really no
point in holding back. So I went on a sharing rampage. Well, not quite, but I
shared more than I normally would have. I have a long way to go. It’s a work in
progress, but the payoff has been amazing. I’ve been a happier person as a
result.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Each
time I do something for others without expecting anything in return, each time
I share myself genuinely with others without them having to deserve it first, I
get so much more than what I give. I feel happy instantly. It’s more effective
than any mood-enhancing drug you could ever take (legally). It’s so true that
the more you give, the more you receive. Don’t believe me? Try it and see for
yourself</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-4256074526552469712013-05-23T20:17:00.000+10:002013-06-30T10:28:42.283+10:003 ways to beat your fear of not measuring up<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>By:<span style="color: blue;"> Nila Sweeney</span></b></span></h2>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Hn5yn-jxNs/UbM9iaKtFKI/AAAAAAAAAXY/D3Bh3A6ibvY/s1600/small+Bushgems+1+1524+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Hn5yn-jxNs/UbM9iaKtFKI/AAAAAAAAAXY/D3Bh3A6ibvY/s1600/small+Bushgems+1+1524+v2.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I've been
wanting to blog for a very long time. I know it should have been a no-brainer
as I've been writing for many years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">But
I was very afraid of not measuring up to the “standards” set by the prominent
bloggers out there. I was wracked with self-doubt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Who
would read my blogs? Will I be able to produce compelling articles that people
want to read? Would people like what I write? There are already millions and
millions of bloggers out there, who would care about what I have to say?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">So
I spent a couple more years consuming other’s work rather than creating them
myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Then
one day I realised, I’ve been letting my fear of not measuring up run the show.
It’s been holding me back from pursuing the things that I really care about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I
realised that just because I’m new and unknown doesn’t mean I should give up
the idea of blogging altogether. I may not be amazing yet but I can aim to be. I </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">can write honest
and hopefully, helpful posts that people find relevant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">So
far it’s been an interesting experience. It was scary and exhilarating at the
same time. So how did I make the leap? Here are a few things that helped me get
over my fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I
stopped comparing myself with others</span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">This
is easier said than done. Even as I write this, my monkey mind is busy telling
me that this subject matter have been done to death and there are better posts
out there discussing this topic. And that I shouldn’t bother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I
now know that if I allow this voice to rule my action, I would stop. If I allow
myself to compare my writing ability with others, I’d be utterly depressed and
unable to proceed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">So
instead of simply ignoring this nagging doubt, I face it squarely and
acknowledge its presence and I keep on blogging anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I
focused on the things that I’m good at</span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">This
step is harder than I thought. That’s why I find it really difficult to put
together my resume. I feel uneasy talking about the things that I’m good at.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">When
I first attempted this exercise, I could not list more than three qualities I
see in myself. I’ve taken for granted so many things that I do well because I
see them as rather “normal” and nothing too special. I thought anyone could do
them, given training and time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">What
I realised is that I can do and have done a lot of pretty exceptional things. I
also became present to the vast knowledge on various subjects that I carry
around and that I’ve taken for granted for a very long time. Taking stock of my
strength made me aware how much more I can offer as a human being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">So
try it. Make a list of everything that you’re capable of doing. List all
your strengths and accomplishments, no matter how trivial they look to you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The
aim here is not to brag about your achievements, but to get reacquainted with
your innate greatness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I
learned to accept my flaws</span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Becoming
aware of my limitation but not allowing it to control me has been another
breakthrough for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I
know I don’t have a perfect body, and I’m ok with that. I know that I have many
character flaws such as procrastination and being judgmental, so I’m working on
improving those areas. Instead of using these flaws to measure myself unfairly
with others, I now see them as an opportunity to improve myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Comparing
ourselves with others is completely unnecessary. It only makes us miserable,
depressed and even jealous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Instead
of focusing on the things that you do not currently have, look at the things
that are now present in your life, all the people in your life and the good
fortune that you’re enjoying. That’s right. You have everything you need to
live a happy and satisfying life, right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
You may also want to read my article <a href="http://www.nilasweeney.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/no-time-to-lose.html">No Time To Lose</a> for an extra dose of inspiration:-)</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-50392166911270248312013-05-19T10:24:00.001+10:002013-06-09T00:23:27.753+10:00A simple way to avoid disappointments forever<h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Living a fulfilled life could be as simple as doing more exploring and
less expecting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">By </span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Nila Sweeney</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q18Y_5QpeoY/UbM92IYxw4I/AAAAAAAAAXg/0cfTGPZlXZ0/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+561+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q18Y_5QpeoY/UbM92IYxw4I/AAAAAAAAAXg/0cfTGPZlXZ0/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+561+v2.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">As I sit here writing about exploration, not expectation, I can’t help
but feel a bit like a phony. Of course, I expect myself to come up with
brilliant prose about this very subject. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">It's ironic isn't it, how we set ourselves up for disappointments
without even realising it. It's like an automatic setting in our brain. Every time
we do something, we attach to it an expectation of a certain outcome, which
prevent us from being open to other possibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">When we create expectations rather than exploring what’s possible, we
close ourselves off from potential breakthroughs because our expectations dictate
how we do things. We exclude other possibilities because we get so fixated with
certain outcomes. We miss out on potential opportunities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">When we set expectations around people and ourselves, we're really not
giving them, or us, for that matter, a chance. They have to be a certain way,
or things should be this way or else...Yes, or else we judge it a failure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Taking for example my yoga practice. Like many A-type personalities out
there, I'm a very driven person. I want to be always at the peak of my game. I
have to be able to do certain things well at all times. If not, then I judge
myself as a failure because I couldn’t do certain things on certain days.
Instead of focusing on being in tuned with my body just like what yoga
intended, I'm more preoccupied about looking good and proving to myself and
others that I can do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">When we let our ego and desire run the show, we're setting ourselves up
for disappointments or in the case of my yoga practice, injuries. We're
limiting the potential outcome in a bid to control the results. When we let go
of our need to control, when we soften our stance towards how things should be,
when we let go of the shoulds and musts, we're opening ourselves to limitless
possibilities and the joy of the unexpected outcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The joy of being an explorer</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I love the word explorer, the same way I love the word adventurer. They
connote so much excitement and uncertainties with just a hint of danger. I
aspire to be one and I’m currently working on being an explorer and adventurer
in my remaining life.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NFIy1et9Dr4/UbM-DBvvunI/AAAAAAAAAXo/XrZWkuQ4YvY/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+449+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NFIy1et9Dr4/UbM-DBvvunI/AAAAAAAAAXo/XrZWkuQ4YvY/s1600/small+Zoo+Trip+449+v2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">So I've experimented and tested the theory that you gain more by trying
to let go of a preconceived outcome. I started to apply this to my yoga
practice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Rather than forcing my body to do certain poses, I start my practice
with the intention of pushing myself to the edge to see how far I can take my
practice, and at the same time be open to what comes up. While this may sound
like I am still trying to control the outcome, the difference this time is that
I do so with softness, openness and compassion to myself. This simple act of
setting an intention works wonder in making my practice more enjoyable. I
continue to grow and advance my yoga practice without forcing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Finding the balance between effort and surrender comes as a result of
exploring what my body can do. It’s about knowing when to push it to the limit
and knowing when to pull back. When I go through my practice without 'forcing'
it, I often come away more satisfied with myself. When I discover that my body
can do certain things, it becomes a celebration. It's no longer a
yardstick by which I measure myself worth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">I now apply the same principle with my dealings with other people. I
used to create certain expectations around my relationships with them and
consciously or unconsciously, I act, driven by those expectations. Rather than
be open to other possibilities, I sometimes “manipulate” the outcome by some
sneaky tactics such as applying pressure onto the other person. Rather than
going with however the relationship is meant to be at that point, I ‘force’ the
outcome, sometimes to the point of threatening the other person to commit or do
things or else I banish them from my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Now when I’m with others or meeting people for the first time, I
consciously drop all my preconceptions and judgement. I go with an open and
curious mind and be open to how things will turn out. When I treat the
encounter as an adventure, there was no way for me to lose, only reap the
reward of meeting another human being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Being an explorer is a more fun way to live. It allows you to see things
differently. You are in constant discovery. You see things you’d otherwise miss
because you were not looking for a specific outcome. You’re open to anything.
Suddenly the world becomes your oyster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Adopting a beginner's mind</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">There’s something exciting about being a newbie. The rush of discovering
something new is a wonderful feeling. Your mind is ready to soak up and learn
new things. It prompts curiosity and adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Remember when you’re young and raring to learn anything? I remember the
first time I worked in a newsroom. Being a civil engineering graduate and has
no previous work experience in television journalism, being thrown in the deep
end as a news assistant is the most-nerve wracking yet immensely exciting experience.
I was so excited; I was literally jumping out of my skin. I felt so alive. It
was a sink or swim situation. So I approached the challenge with open mind and
heart and learned everything that I could within the shortest possible time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">I asked a lot of questions, I asked for help. I had no expectations
about myself. I treated the challenge as pure exploration and self-discovery:
to see if I have what it takes to make it into television journalism. Of course
I pushed myself to the limit. There was no way I would not give this
opportunity my best shot. But I did it with the attitude that I have no control
of the outcome and therefore deliberately didn’t set any expectations. I worked
hard and learned everything that I could, out of gratitude for this life-changing
opportunity. Needless to say, I made it and ended up working in
broadcasting for about 10 years. I worked my way through to associate
produce/writer position at CNBC Asia and then later at CNN International. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Being a beginner can be quite scary, because it exposes our lack of
knowledge or expertise in certain areas. But rather than looking at it as a
weakness, a better approach will be to look at it as a great opportunity to
learn new things and skills. It’s when we’re learning new things and new way of
doing things that we grow as human beings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Adopting a beginner’s mind in everything that we do help us to relax and
explore. Our interaction with others becomes more meaningful. When we treat
each encounter as a chance to explore, we open ourselves to anything. When we
simply explore and not expect anything, we save ourselves unnecessary
disappointments. We become a happier, more content human being.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-47226363961643966592013-05-15T20:11:00.000+10:002013-08-01T21:30:09.219+10:00How to suffer less and live a happier life<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When we’re in pain, we tend to focus on what it is that’s making
us suffer, which perpetuates more suffering. Yet, by simply shifting our focus,
we could lessen our pain and be happier human beings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">By: </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nila-sweeney/14/5a5/338" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Nila Sweeney</a></span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cIP5wwZry3s/UbM-sW0CjcI/AAAAAAAAAX0/bk9w7tEYcqs/s1600/small+Bushgems+1+1306+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cIP5wwZry3s/UbM-sW0CjcI/AAAAAAAAAX0/bk9w7tEYcqs/s1600/small+Bushgems+1+1306+v2.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My favourite yoga teacher told us an
interesting story the other day about this famous guru who trained among the
monks. Every night, they will wake up at around midnight to meditate until
sunrise. At some point this guru complained to the head monk that his left foot
is getting too sore, by which the head monk responded: “Focus on the other
foot, the one that’s not hurting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">How
elegantly simple, yet, effective when we take this advice to heart! How often
do we focus on what’s not working in our lives, ignoring those bits that are?
If you’re like me, pretty much all the time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It’s
messed up, I know. For example on a physical level, when we have a headache, we
take it for granted that our legs, our senses and our heart are still
functioning perfectly. We get so caught up with the pain or sensation of having
a headache that we become miserable, as though nothing is working in our lives.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We
also tend to focus on our “flaws”. My butt is too big; my arms too flabby, my
thighs too thick or my breast are too small or saggy. We conveniently ignore
the fact that our “big” butt bears the weight of our body, our “flabby” arms
enable us to do things like eat or type in our laptops and our “thick” thighs
take us places.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Applying this to the different areas of our lives such as family,
finances, relationships or work, we can see how easily we become despondent
with every bump that comes our way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Focusing on what’s working in our lives does not mean ignoring or
even pretending the pain is not there. It’s acknowledging both the suffering
and the good fortune that we currently enjoy.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
know it’s not easy to be happy when you have a toothache or a splitting
headache or just been separated from the love of your life. However, our misery
would be so much worse if we nurture this feeling of suffering instead of
looking for the things that are actually not “broken” in our lives.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So how do we focus on the “other foot”? Here are some of my
thoughts and own techniques on how we can apply this to every aspect of our
lives.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Health</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When you’re suffering physically, acknowledge the pain and see if
there’s something you can do to eliminate or at least lessen the suffering. If
there is, then there is no need to compound your suffering by worrying about
it. If there isn’t, the more reason for you not to worry.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Appreciate
the fact that other parts of your body are still functioning perfectly.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">You still have your eyes that can see the blue sky, the beautiful
faces of the people you love and the redness of a rose. Be thankful that you have
a pair of lovely lips that bring smiles, ears that can hear your love ones’
laughter and a heart that works tirelessly to support your life.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Family</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When one of our family members is not in a good space, we tend to
focus solely our attention to “fixing” them and making them better, while
ignoring the other members who are in better shape. We tend to devout almost
all our time getting this family member back on track. In the meantime, the
other people in our lives are not getting much attention from us. We
rationalise that they don’t need us as much as this suffering member does.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In
a way, this is true. However, this creates more pain in the long run as
animosity and resentment arise instead of compassion towards the suffering
member.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Acknowledge the other members and let them know through your words
and deeds that they matter as much as the suffering member. Tell them that they
are important to you and show your appreciation by spending as much quality
time and attention to them, as you can possibly can.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Finances</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When it comes to finances, we tend to focus on what we don’t have
rather than what we have. We get jealous when we see others earning more money
and accumulating more material stuff than us. This drives us to pursue money
endlessly and in the process sacrificing other aspects of our lives. Time and
time again, this is proven to end in more suffering.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Instead,
focus on what you already have. Are you earning enough to support yourself or
your family? Do you have enough financial resources to do as much of the things
you want to do and still help others in the process?</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Then you already have more than enough to live a happy life.
Giving up the feeling of “not having enough” will give way to contentment and
peace of mind. Just look at how some people continue to struggle no matter how
much money they make.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>It’s not about how much you have but how you make what
you have enough for you right now.</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If
you want to bring in more money, sure, go for it. But do it for the right
reason. Do it because you enjoy doing what you do. When you do things out of
love, you’ll sure to see good fortune flows through your life.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Relationships</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Bringing in focus to the things that are working in our
relationship rather than those that are not undoubtedly results in happier,
juicier and more satisfying relationships.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As humans we tend to focus on the negative aspects of our
relationships, making it less satisfying and fulfilling than it can be.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Focusing on your partner’s “annoying” habits for example will
diminish his importance in your eyes. You would get fixated with this habit
that everything you do would be coloured by your secret or not so secret
disdain. Meanwhile, you’d overlook his or her redeeming qualities. You’d take
for granted all the other things you love about this person. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As
you can imagine, a relationship built on this premise can’t grow and flourish. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It’s not about putting up with abusive relationship. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It’s about accepting the
small quirks that all of us have.</span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Work</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Yes, we all have things we don’t like about our work. We don’t
like our boss, we dislike having to travel far for work or we simply don’t like
parts of our work.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Guess what this makes and leaves us? You got it! Unhappy and
dissatisfied. Many of us would focus on the things we perceive as making us
suffer. We get more and more frustrated and unhappy because the things we don’t
like get magnified. It’s true, the more we focus on the things that we don’t
like, the worse they become. They become real, even if we were just imagining
them at the start.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If you are employed, there are things that are out of your
control. Obviously you have no control of who your boss is going to be, where
your work is located and other decisions that are made by your company that
impacts your work and life.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What
can you do? Lots. Instead of focusing and complaining about how things are not
working, look at ways to eliminate if not reduce these things. If you can’t and
you’re increasingly unhappy, you do have the option to leave and look for other
employment.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
point is, there may be aspects of your job that you enjoy, such as the
friendships you built over time, the flexibility, the autonomy or simply the
fact that you are making a difference to others. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It’s easy to ignore all these positive aspects of life when we’re
too focused on the painful experiences we’re suffering. Focusing on the good
fortune that we have, with our health, finances, families, relationships and
work goes a long way to making us happier and more satisfied human being.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I’d love to hear your thoughts about this post.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">You may also want to read <a href="http://www.nilasweeney.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/how-to-bounce-back-from-failure.html">How to Bounce Back from Failure</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773687547037363123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738304539728983812.post-38535853901145684212013-01-06T20:22:00.000+11:002013-06-09T13:43:18.945+10:00The revenge of the clumsy claws of chaos<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal;">I'm not one to admit, but I wish I heeded my husband's warning at the outset. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal;">I wanted to prove him I'm right. Turned out, he was. Again.</span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">By Nila Sweeney</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ypwvk8-2DY/UbPxD928HDI/AAAAAAAAAac/Zs_VCHznplc/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ypwvk8-2DY/UbPxD928HDI/AAAAAAAAAac/Zs_VCHznplc/s1600/small+nilas+trip+to+japan+146.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">After Christmas, Joe
and I decided to go to Kiama, a 3-hour drive south of Sydney, for
serious walking and possibly swimming. It was drizzling a bit and the beach was
full of blue bottle jellyfish (those creatures with the nastiest sting), so we
decided to just walk along the coast instead.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Even with rain and
wind, Kiama was beautiful. I love the fact that you can walk 22 km along the
coast and also enjoy the bush. Joe and I didn't walk the whole distance
but we covered a fair bit and had a really great time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Until we went to lunch. Somehow, during
lunch, I've triggered my clumsy fingers. A soon as we've left the
cafe, I've started dropping things. Starting with my new shiny HTC 4G phone.
Ouch!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">You know that sick feeling when you damage something
precious? My phone's screen was shattered and it's only a couple of days old. In case you're wondering if I've been imbibing alcoholic beverages during lunch. Sadly no. If I did, I would have had an awesome excuse:-)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ad_IWRNFL98/UbP0RONPy1I/AAAAAAAAAas/f_VabaROzTs/s1600/HTC+phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ad_IWRNFL98/UbP0RONPy1I/AAAAAAAAAas/f_VabaROzTs/s1600/HTC+phone.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broken after just 2 days</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">So being clear-headed and all, there's nowhere for me to go but to blame myself for being clumsy. Normally. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">But not this time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I'm not exactly sure what induced it. It could have been the fact that we just had a lovely lunch and the scenery was simply breathtaking and peaceful. It could have been the fact that I still have another brand new phone to fall back to. It could have been the holiday spirit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Whatever it was, it made me stop to realise that it's just a phone. It can be replaced or fixed. What cannot be replaced is the time I'd spend berating myself and getting depressed about the whole thing.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I've decided that
rather than be overcome with remorse about the incident, we can look at getting
it fixed if it's not too expensive, otherwise, I'd go back to using my other
phone which was only a few months' old anyway.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Making that decision was so liberating and empowering for me. I wasn't pretending it didn't happen. What I did was to accept it was an accident and there's no point in getting angry about it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Unfortunately, the
saga of the clumsy claws of chaos didn't end there.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I also brought my
iPad with me during the trip and I decided to use it after
I dropped my phone. Joe warned that I should just leave it in the
car. I insisted I'll take it with me. It will be fine, I assured him. I did
alright, until we started the bush walk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The scenery was
achingly beautiful and I wanted to capture some of it myself so I took out my Ipad. What do you know, the moment I took it out of my bag, my Ipad slipped right
out of my fingers and landed on the hard pavement. The corner of the screen was
shattered. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I've broken something. Again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">I don't know anyone
who can top my record of breaking two gadgets within 3 hours!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">Joe and I looked at
each other and burst out laughing. "You're not touching my phone," he
said. I responded, "I would be too scared to touch anything at this
point!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The really wonderful
thing was the fact that Joe and I both thought what happened was hilarious.
We both saw the light side of it. We continued on with the trail and had an amazing time communing with nature. The thought of two broken gadgets a
distant memory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 13pt;">The best part of this
whole saga? Joe got me a proper camera to play around with - a shiny Canon SLR
650D. Now I don't have to worry about dropping anymore phones and Ipads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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