10 things to be thankful for today

As an American tradition, Thanksgiving has never been celebrated among my family or many families here in Australia, unless they've had some American or Canadian influence. Traditions aside, in the lead up to the silly season, when often the commercialism and the statement of it all takes away from the genuineness of it's purpose, it's a pretty good time of year to take a step back and think about what you really are thankful for.

So here's just 10 things in my life that I'm thankful for today.

1. I'm thankful first and foremost for family, friends and a beautiful man who love and encourage me, and I them in return.
2. I'm thankful for a well paying job that offers me security and challenges alike.
3. I'm thankful for having had the opportunity to study whatever I wanted, to read whatever I wanted and be afforded knowledge that in many countries and cultures is either still denied of women or simply cannot be afforded for anyone. 
4. I'm thankful for both the times my family did it hard and those when we lived well, because it's taught me to be appreciative, taught me to be resourceful and taught me to be compassionate.
5. I'm thankful for having lived in the country, the bush and the city in this enormous country of ours that so few get to experience the true breadth of.
6. I'm thankful for the opportunity to travel, to be in a position that has afforded me the opportunity to explore other countries, meet long lost family members and experience things I never dreamed I would.
7. I'm thankful for a creative mind that takes me on many journeys.
8. I'm thankful for the harsh words said to me throughout my life that have thickened my skin and thankful for the encouraging voices as well that have fed my soul and ambitions.
9. I'm thankful for clean running water available at my beck and call.
10. I'm thankful for my little home, that each night I am sheltered, comfortable and surrounded by nice things and for all the little things it is teaching me in this new phase of my life.

This list could really go on and on. Yes we live in a country where there are many opportunities available to us, but above all that, all the little experiences in life, good or bad have influenced who I am today and how I interpret the world around me. So we might change this or that, if we had the opportunity to do it all again but from where I'm sitting, I've got a lot to be thankful for.

What are you thankful for?

Love thy sister and thy self

I've been witnessing a little too much womon hating lately... by other women and you know what? It's really got to stop.

First we criticize women for not changing their names when they're married, now we're criticizing them when they do change their names.

We criticize them for being too fat, then we criticize them for being to thin.

We criticize them for not breastfeeding, then we criticize them for breastfeeding in public.

We criticize them for not 'contributing' to the workforce and financially to their families, then we criticize them for neglecting their children by also having a career.

Why is there so much scrutiny on a woman's choice? On a woman's right to make her own decisions? And why, oh why, when we burned our bras and banded together for women's liberties are we now judging them for the biggest liberty of all? 



A woman's right to shoes - I mean choose

You have the right to choose your lives ladies and you know what - it can be whatever the fuck you want. 

It shouldn't matter what it is you choose, the name of the game is that you get to choose it. And whatever your fellow ladies choose - respect that it's their choice, because in 2014 Australia, thankfully we can! 

So let's drop the judgement, ladies and pick up the empowerment!





*I saw these images recently and thought 'Amen Sista!' For more truely inspiring peices of acceptance check out Carol Rossetti on Tumblr.

Back in the land of the living

I don't know if you've noticed, but I've been well... ah... absent lately.

I'd love to say that my absence from this space (and several other spaces both physical and virtual... and mental now that I think of it) is because I've been on some spectacular trip sunning myself, sipping cocktails or trekking through majestic mountains with my nearest and dearest... but no. I've been working. Working harder than I ever have before on a program/event. But I must say, climbing that metaphorical mountain has been a significant challenge and the view from the top is pretty darn good actually. I've not climbed down yet, I'm staying up here with the sunset for the time being, assessing the world from this height and appreciating every bit of it.

But now that the climb is over and the next phase begins, I've been taking time to rejoin the land of actually living, instead of the land of the working dead - yes I mean working, not waking.

I've been able to appreciate little things like the smell of jasmine from a tree in full spring bloom, the incredibly happy face and wag of tail from my hound running around the park, even a cup of tea. I've had time to start new projects, to read beautiful books, to eat cake and start planning a big exciting trip in the not too distant future with MR. There's been time to sip wine on friend's front porches, to watch soccer grand finals and to celebrate the coming of the new season with those I love. 

I've come out of my cave just in time for my favourite time of year in Perth. When the sun wakes earlier and goes to bed later, as do I. When I want to be out in my garden more, want to exercise more, want to generally celebrate more. And the sunsets are starting to become really beautiful too.

It's good to be back in the land of the living.      

Thia week's pearls

1. Blue skies and sunshine - hasn't the weather been fabulous! What winter?

2. Forgetting which Tuesday of the month the play writer's meeting was and going into the city on the wrong night... so I bought myself dinner and had a glass of red over a good book in one of my favourite bars. I should do that every week!


3. A much overdue lady date with a girlfriend and spotting another kind of date at Elizabeth's Bookshop on the way home. I love love love this concept!

 

4. A Sunday roast chicken dinner (not pictured because we were too busy gobbling it) with my beloved, in which all elements were perfect - which is more than I can say for my last attempt with floury gravy and woody parsnips. Sunday roast success!


5. The book club - come food and wine club that was altogether the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

6. Love, friends and family making my week.

This week's pearls (the birthday edition)

1. Beautiful yellow tulips. Yellow flowers are just absolutely my favourite! 

2. Taking my favourite 7 & 9 year olds to see How To Train Your Dragon 2 - forgot how much fun kids movies are! 

3. A dainty bracelet brought by beau for my birthday.

4. Friday night surrounded by beautiful friends - felt so spoilt & so blessed.

5. Poached eggs with a sweet potato, ricotta & pinenut crepe & rocket salad topped with sweet potato chips. Sayers - I love you!

6. Impromptu trip to the Leederville Farmer's Market reaps handsome rewards of the vegetable variety.

7. A support crew of the marsupial kind brightening my work day.

Home

There are a number of songs I could have picked for this post, Crowded House You Better Be Home Soon (an old fave) among many more spring to mind. But none other seemed more fitting than Edward Sharpe's joyous jig-along track to welcome you (by virtual way of typing)to our new home.

It has been an exceptionally busy two weeks of moving, cleaning, unpacking & a bit of friendly fun thrown in too. But how thankful we are that through the exhaustion we are home. 

For the most part, the Operation One Truck was a success but it's all those little things like removing junk, maneuvering plants and unaccounted for outdoorsy stuff, organising cleaners and pest sprayers that had us shuffling back and forth to Old Milney several times that first week. But finally I handed over the keys - the final inspection was done (not without a few hiccups of course) and Old Milney is now free for new tenants, as we are to enjoy our new home.

Apart from us, nothing has quite landed exactly where it belongs in the little unit yet; our new couch is still a few weeks away, we are yet to organise wardrobes and a spare bed/storage, even Zeus hasn't quite identified his 'corner' yet. There are so many wonderful ideas we have for the place that will take some time to execute. But we've managed to clear the sea of cardboard boxes (or at least confine them to the spare room) which has made being in our space much more relaxing! 

None-the-less we're both so happy to be home and know everything will (literally) fall into place soon enough and we'll start to establish a new kind of 'normal'. 

I look forward to brining you some pics very soon!