Caring is defined as kindness and concern.

The tricky bit is when you become a carer. Someone who is providing care for someone who cannot care for themselves.

I just returned from a holiday. I highly recommend taking a pre-Christmas break!

Christmas can be so stressful - the people, the endless list of things to do, to get, to buy and to think about.

Even if you have the most low-key Christmas planned there is the parking, the queues and the other stressed people to deal with.

Happy December!

It is an interesting time of year and I have noticed people being grumpy and fatigued. I started thinking about why we all bother!

Money is a shitty thing for a lot of people.

And this is the time of year when it gets really stressful! Finding extra cash to buy gifts and food and holidays can be tough.

I think that two of the best gifts to give at Christmas are generosity & honesty. 

If you have money, be generous. If you don’t have any money, be honest!

I was helping a friend who is suffering from anxiety.

Her head is a theme park - it’s filled with adventures and ideas and wonder. The trouble is that it’s open 24 hours! It’s an exhausting, messed up, busy place that she wants to escape. She thinks her head is a problem- something that she could ‘get rid off’.

This Thursday is World Diabetes Day.

Diabetes has had an enormous impact on my life, emotionally, financially and mentally. The impact of having children diagnosed with Type 1 is enormous. The impact of having your child diagnosed with anything is huge. Three of my children have Type 1 and while it has been enormous for Mark and I to deal with - my kids blow me away with what they handle on a daily basis.

Being powerful is really important to me. I want to be powerful in my own life. I want to raise children that are powerful enough to speak their minds and I want to work with people who feel empowered to share their thoughts and know their worth.

Life is hard!
Sometimes you’ll be happy, 😃 sometimes you’ll be sad, 😢
sometimes wobbly and sometimes mad!😡

Newton's third law is the law of action. “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” I am a huge fan of action and I love bold behaviour. But I also love consideration. Considering the impact of our decisions is smart. Regret can be a painful energy.

Today, I get to meet a new group of women at Repotted.

Repotted is a retreat I have been running for years and it is one of my favourite things to do.

I get to sit in circles with beautiful, honest, real women. We sit and see and be seen. Being seen is unfortunately rare. Having people witness your stories, your challenges and your dreams is not an experience that many people have the luxury of. 

This Friday is World Menopause Day!

Before you decide that this blog doesn't relate to you - read on!

Maybe you are miles away from menopause, maybe you are way past it, maybe you have no idea about anything menopausal! 

Menopause affects everyone! As a child, I remember tip-toeing around on eggshells not wanting to tip my Mother over. I know men who are living in fear of their partners who have appeared to have personality transplants overnight!

I cannot understand people who do not plan. I am with Benjamin Franklin when he said “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” All of us have been given a precious gift of time and yet we are so ineffective with the way we use it.

As someone who loves action, I have always been a fan of a to-do list. 

I am especially keen on digital to-do lists like “Todoist” - an awesome app that helps you track and plan your to-do’s.

Think of each of the roles in your life as a ball. 

Some are heavy, some are bouncy, some are soft. Some are more important than others. Some are precious. Some balls are crystal — like the teenage daughter ball. Drop that one and there will be a mess! Tears, drama, chaos and likely a nasty memory that will be thrown in your face when she is 30!

What can I do about that? It is my favourite question. 

Sometimes the answer is nothing. There is nothing I can do about it. It is raining - what can I do about that? Nothing!

I watched a very cute video this week of a little girl repeating to her mum "all feelings are welcome" - I loved this video and the message.

I grew up being told that not all feelings were welcome - that it was not ok for me to be angry, cry, or show any big emotions. Many of us were shut down as children and taught to hide our feelings.

Spring has sprung!

The daffodils are up and winter is behind us!

I was asked recently by someone about how to recover from a heavy winter. This winter has been hard - financially, medically and mentally for many. My answer to most questions is ‘action’!

How would you live if you could live any way you chose? 

Would you live alone or with others?
Would you have pets and plants?
Would you have a tiny space or a big space?
What colour would you paint your walls? 
What would your rooms look like?

How heavy is your load?
How much do you currently have in your emotional basket?

Most of my life, I have carried a load. Many would say it is self-inflicted weight that I carry around! Being an over-responsible rescuer who identifies as capable is not easy! 

I am off to China next month - I am very excited.

The tour run to China is all about choices.

We start the day with the most extraordinary breakfast. The most insane array of options on a buffet. Tables and tables of options!

We do a lot of shopping - the size and population of China give us so many more options than what is available in a country the size of NZ.

There are never-ending options all able to be made into the size, colour or design of your choice!