Hello 2011; I shall know you as…

 New Years Eve really snuck up on me this year. Living the gypsy life its hard to maintain rituals. The first years that New Years held any value for me I spent camping; surrounded by good friends, nature, music and making magical memories. It organically became a time of recalibration, release and joy. But for the second consecutive year I am in living in the Canadian snow which doesn’t easily lend its self to a beach side road trip with little more than a tent, a play list, rations and besties.

I’m not into the implied failure of new years resolutions.

I leant a few years ago how well I work with a process and framework so this is my little ritual that lets me ground, focus and shoot forth into a productive year…

I think about who I want to be in a year’s time. What I want to have achieved, what I want my life to look like or not look like. “Some times its more important to know what you don’t want” – awesome wisdom from my mum

Then I think about how I need to grow to become that person. What needs to develop from knowledge to finance to feelings and more?

And then how to measure that I am growing and stying on track with it. This is where I need to get creative.

Like 2009 the year of humanity; how do I measure that I am working out-just like a muscle and there for growing my gratitude? My solution: watch one sunrise a month- not too hard as there are 30 of them but when was the last time you can say you sat quietly and soaked in the glory of a sunset, took that time for yourself 12 times a year? It was a challenge and required discipline as I am always time poor but the rewards were rich and instantly fulfilling. And anytime I need a little more gratitude in my life I make time to soak in the sunset and lock back into that. the skill building is not constrained to that year- that year is simply the lab to road test what works for me and what doesn’t on the topic.

After I have a general theme I consolidate it all down to a single focal point. I sometimes have goals that are outside this but it is from this focal point that the name of my year comes.

I started with ‘ The Year of Understanding’. For instance when someone cut me off in traffic and turned off a few streets later I took a moment to understand that they were in a rush just like me and to them pushing in for just a few blocks was ok because they knew they would be out of my way again soon. And understanding that made it ok; subsequently curing my road rage. This may not have been the whole picture but that was secondary to me growing my understanding- in this instance compassion. The more I understood the easier it was when I didn’t understand; because I understood that there was probably what seemed like a good reason even if I couldn’t see or imagine it.

The bottom line and most important factor in all of my decision making for the year is if it supports the focus of my year. The point of all this is choosing things that I need to build skills in and my favourite example of this challenge comes from the year of Happiness.

Named because I had just ended a terrible relationship with my ex and with my work place that had been causing every aspect of my life and my self to crumble. I realised that I had lost the ability to make myself happy and I didn’t want to live like that any more. I knew that it wasn’t just a matter of being happy or not; I needed to build skills in decision-making, release and self-preservation that promoted my happiness.

So heres the story…I hate being late and always beat myself up for it.  One morning I woke up and knew that I wasn’t happy at all and had a full day at work- a place only adding to the unhappiness (and with perspective a gym for me to build my strength to make myself happy). The thing is if you don’t make the decisions that are aligned with your goal but are hard to make you don’t grow.

That morning there was only one thing to do. I gave myself permission (because guilt would undermine anything I was trying to achieve) and I lay in bed studding everything on my grateful board (I’ll tell you about it later J) and every reason why I was so grateful for that until I felt happy. It took me two and a half hours- effectively I missed the first half of my workday. But the meeting survived without me, the work got done (even thought I thought it was the end f the world if I want there)  I built invaluable skills not only in happiness- it was a break though day for me- but also in my understanding of what it sometimes takes and the rewards there are reaped. I am still reaping the rewards form what I did in that 2.5 hours and think I forever will.

So that’s the how, why and result of me naming my year;

I am still working on what I will make of 2011 but I’ll let you know when I have got it… J  

Mornington Vic, Australia March 2009

Anthony's Nose, McCrae Australia- My favorite place in the world

Anthony's Nose again :)

Time lapse shows 20-hour blizzard in 40 seconds

Tue, 28 Dec 8:57 AM EST - AP 0:37 | 48386 views

A photographer in New Jersey captured the blizzard falling there by taking a single picture every five minutes starting when the snow first began to fall and ending after the last flake. (Dec

Stacey Kramer: The best gift I ever survived

trusting in the system

This is Alex. We met for one day last season and it didn't take me long to not like him; something pretty rare for me. I didn't like him so much so that 9 months, 7 countries and countless new people later I remembered his name the moment I saw him. 


But I believe in giving people the space for them to show me parts of themselves I am yet to see. This means putting what I have decided about them to the side and seeing what they are currently showing me. Often it looks like I am a push over but its a system works for me. 


9 months, 7 countries, and a little bit of time together later and lucky me because I have got to see that Alex is awesome. And now I am stoked to be +1 awesome friend; my reward for letting the past go and believing in the good in people. A reward that is worth its weight in gold. Thanks for being Awesome Alex!


Incidentally if I was worth as much as per kilo as this piece of cheese I saw today I would be worth $2400! 

Happy Christmas(War is Over)-by John Lennon

This has been my favorite christmas song since I first heard it... wishing you and your loved ones love, peace and adventures. Merry Christmas xx

Lizzie's Status

‎"Why do you fly outside the box?" "I fly outside the box because I can." "But, we know the box. We are safe inside the box." "That, my friend, is why I leave it. For you may be safe. . .But I am free."

Sitting with my friend Nisty last night he dropped this nugget of inspiration discribing his current life to me. 


"Sleeping till I wake up. Snowboarding till I get tired. Eat when I am hungry, then anything from 3-9 is easy peezy time." :)


He lives the dream because he made it happen. It may not be forever but its never unless you do it. 


Nice one Nisty!

Global Poverty Project

If you don't live in poverty take a moment to support millions of others to have the opportunity to be as lucky as you. if you do; you will do it for yourself :)

From facebook direct to you- from my brilliant friend Hugh Evans...

The Australian Government has made two very important commitments recently. First, an increase in funding for a vaccination program that will combat child mortality, and second, a review of the effectiveness of Australia's foreign aid program. These commitments will have positive implications for the world's poorest people - so we'd like to say thank you, and keep up the good work!

‎| United States | Global Poverty Project

www.globalpovertyproject.com

Take Action! Show your commitment now to end extreme poverty and join others on a journey to change the world.

Kamal Meattle on How to Grow Fresh Air | Video on TED.com

Mine for the Taking

Sometimes you see someone and it strikes you straight away that they are fantastic. Its not that they are perfect but there is some greatness that runs so deep in them it is a force in its self that draws you to them. So it was with Qudus.


My first morning in Mali, Youchaou was translating at Danse l’Afrique Danse! (Dance Africa Dance!) a contemporary dance festival. Contemporary Dance was my major at university so I can't describe how blessed I was to be there. The first discussion we attended was questioning the place of Traditional African Dance in the world of Contemporary Dance and the impact Contemporary Dance has on the evolution of Traditional African Dance.


Qudos is not a huge man, his presence isn’t aggressive but he is captivating. He spoke with a deep insight and balanced feeling, was unimposing yet strong in presence and his huge charisma was balanced with the extensive humanity he was able to communicate. I decided before he finished speaking that I wanted to know him.


I have this theory that I hold on to with both hands when I want something but usually the fear of reaching for it seems greater at the time than the possible rewards of possessing it. I remind myself:
• This may be my one and only opportunity.
• Good things come when I capitalize on my opportunities,
• I don’t know the limits of how fantastic it could be or what greatness it could lead to.
• I remind myself that if people think I am a fool I wont let it bother me because all I am do is trying to cultivate greatness for myself (and often others too.)
• And that if I swing and miss I have given it my all, received my answer and won’t be left with should-haves or regrets.

This is the same theory that propelled me to kiss Heath Ledger when I was 17 while my friend Jess ran and hid. It’s still working for me.


After the first discussion Youchaou and I had to rush off and I missed the opportunity to connect with Qudus. 2 days later I found myself back at the festival and was stoked when I recognized him in the crowd. My heart was beating out of my chest, I couldn’t think straight. I was freaking out and had no idea that I should have been feeling this way at the thought of what I was about to do.


Clearly going out of your way to introduce yourself to someone new is a scary situation. But it was a black and white. Following my heart and body would mean pulling the pin while I had time and letting the opportunity slip by. Or I could go with my head telling me that nothing too bad can come of this and so I should push ahead. Why would I not?

I scribbled my name and email address on a scrap of paper I ripped from my note book, excused myself from Youchaou asking him to wait for me for a moment and walked up to the group that was crowed around Qudus. I had no idea what his first language was as I had seen him speak English and French and this panic thought chose that moment to flash across my forehead. I was so nervous that things were already a bit blurry and I interrupted because I was far too nervous to read the social cues. Not the smoothest start.


“Hi, I’m Dallas, I saw you speak the other day, umm, on Tuesday I think at that other discussion.” Confused looks all round for a few moments before the girl that was giving me the evil eye for standing between her and Qudus told him what I was talking about. “So I just really loved what you said and I would love to know more about what you do. ” At that point I handed him my email address on the scrap of paper.  He looked very confused so I added, “ I used to dance when I lived in Australia.” His eyes went from the scrap of paper to me to his friends and back to me but his intense look of confusion didn’t ease.


We shared pleasantries and I clutched at all the composure I had left and tried to look confident as I walked away and not like I was running.

Five minutes later I blindly followed Youchaou as he walked up to Qudus and introduced him to me as a world famous dancer! It was just the 3 of us so there was nowhere to hide and I was kicking myself hard. This guy probably thought I was crazy and I was pretty sure I didn’t have enough time to change that opinion.


I often wish that people could understand me in and instant but I have never mastered the art of letting people in, to see me, in the blink of an eye. The best answer I have is to choke any insecurities I have in that moment and be my best self. It was easier said than done this time but he warmed to me; it may just have been that I was no longer just a crazy white woman all the way from Australia at a festival for African dancers but I was legitimately connected through Youchaou.


I think I came a fair way from crazy in his head though because Qudus gave me his blog (http://www.qudus.blogspot.com/)  and email address; but I am still yet to hear from him. And while I still cringe when I think about that moment standing in front of him and the group starring me up and down it’s a better feeling than regretting that I could have learnt more about what he does but inhibited myself from knowing. As it turns out what I really wanted was to learn more about what he does and I can do that through his blog- perfect :) 

racism from fear, giggles form rapport

Sure the kids point at me and shout ‘tibabo’ (white person- equivalent to the N-word) when I walk by but they also shout ‘Bonjour’ from 50 meters behind me; their friendliness is so extensive that they don’t have to be in my line of sight to acknowledge me and welcome me to the day.

It didn’t happen when I was in Mali solo but now when the group of us whities walk around the suburb there seems to be one child every kilometer who runs screaming and crying at the sight of a white person. Often their mothers will drag them over to us intent to squash their fear and have a good laugh in the process.

I feel honored that I can do the deed of quietening their fear of the new unknown. Partly because I know others wouldn’t be so genuinely kind and care so personally about these children exchanging their terror for inquisitiveness and there tears for giggles. That they develop tolerance and have a positive out come to facing a fear head on.

I think it’s the first step in opening up to become a more worldly person and in that allowing so much richness and beauty to rush in.

No matter how old, the screaming kid’s reaction to being dragged towards me was always the same intensity of terror and powerlessness to do the one things they wanted; to break free and get as far away from me as quickly as possible. While it was quite a sight I always restrained myself from taking  a photo- I knew how they felt. Their terror was the same as mine on my first meeting with Santa Clause...

This photo is clearly from the 80’s but still every time I look at it I can hear the terror in my scream…although it’s funny to me now. It was almost bizarre how in a short space of time and without a common language the kids could go from being completely terrified of me to giggling and tackling me. The human capacity for adaptation is phenomenal when lent to presence, openness and honesty. 

www.postsecret.com

one of my favorite things in life...

Mali; in a Facebook album- or 3

Mali- The People 1
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=254687&id=630172422&l=80734fab14


Mali-The People 2
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=254688&id=630172422&l=3e081b94f0


Shades of Orange- Mali... country and culture 
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=254666&id=630172422&l=ed40a5c52d


Enjoy!

It wouldn’t be hard to collect images that tell of a land in despair; a landscape, a people, a potential.

These scenes are common, set up, and ready to be snatched from their context, immortalized and co-modified.

I struggle to capture a portrait of a village child’s giggle. Partly because the moment is so fantastic, so transfixing I don’t want to put anything between me and the magic bubbling up in front of me. And secondly because these kids have not yet learnt to pose for the camera.

Sharing a laugh it crackles back and forth between us like a pin pong ball bouncing off the walls but the moment I hold up my camera their faces quieten into a deep question of why I would bring something lifeless to this moment? I don’t need to capture their best angle or even their entire face for them to receive the image of themselves on the screen with wonder and rapture. Is it too deep to think that just like life in the village they don’t need to be perfect; just present?

A world to explore

I grew up watching a lot of TV. And I think that the impact that it had on me was greater than anyone could have expected. From all the hours of substance less TV I watched a few things have and continued to shape me.  

Before I went to Mali I was discouraged that maybe there would be nothing new for me to discover and explore for myself; that the essence of Mali had already been communicated to me though my friends photos and stories and the growing media consciousness of the country. But how wrong I was.

Photos, stories or documentaries can’t school you on what the village smells like at dawn, how the community makes life work for each person or the mental fortitude it takes to sit on a hard wooded bench in a piping hot classroom and learn from a blackboard for 2 hours straight.

Photos of a sunrise is beautiful but so much richer when it takes you back to that morning; the bird calls, crisp air and smell of the fire that made that moment magical. Ernie Dingo was right in those NT tourism commercials...

 “ You’ll never, never know if you never, never go” 

I want adventure. To new frontiers

I want an adventure. To new frontiers.

When you take all the western countries that are not all the different from Australia, and all the countries that speak English. Also subtract all the exotic tourist destinations that are now engulfed with the creature comforts of those English speaking countries that resemble Australia. And when you take all the places that I have explored though fellow travellers adventure stories I was a bit down at the thought that there was nowhere left for me to explore for myself. In this time of global community and instant communication I hunger to discover new frontiers.

So the plan had been to spend a month in Mali, Africa with one of my best friends who lives there part time. Working as a field research assistant; collecting people dreams and aspirations’ as to how they want to pull themselves and their country out of poverty. Sounds pretty perfect right?

Well it did to me because as a child I dreamed of being an explorer, cutting my way though jungles with just a back pack and wide imagination. So maybe that’s my I was surprisingly unfazed when 3 weeks before departure my guide/ friend/ local expert had to push her portion of our trip back 2 weeks, a luxury among many that I didn’t have.

After a day of letting my imagnation run wild with all the marvellous possibilities of the places I could go and consulting some friends I decided there was nothing better to do than push forward and fly solo in Mali.

Tomorrow I am off to Africa, my first time in a 3rd world country, living where I don’t speak the first or second language. I have briefly met the principle of the local school in Kalabankoro and have faith that he will honour his word and take care of me. I have a body full of travel vaccines, a backpack full of things I hope will be the right things for the life I am about to live and I have a calm feeling which’s powers is not to be underestimated.

Reading travel warning about the place I will be next time I am not living in an airport is an interesting way to spend my last night, warm and safe at home. Mali presents real life dangers, such as kid napping, that my current experience is only though on line research and I don’t wish for it to grow.

Despite serious warnings I can’t help but expect to be blown away by the beauty of the humanity I find as I go off to live real life Mali style.

I am excited and I am nervous and right now I feel like I am winning:)

I once heard a wise friends of mine Ash say “unless you are in mortal danger; fear is your bodies way of telling you you are about to grow.”... So here I go!

Good Advice Dear Ella, Cheers xx

my advice:
listen to music
laugh
write
wake to morning sun
draw
oppshop
skate
take photos
read
sit in a park
surf
dance around
eat
ride kid bikes
sing
keep a pen nearby
get on stage
drive
listen to the rain
love

Flaunt It!

As I watched live the rescue of the trapped Chilean miners my mind flicked back to August 5^th when they became trapped to see if it was a standout day in my life. Straight away I could pin point that day and my mind raced forward thinking of all that I had done, seen and experienced from that day to this. It was instantly clear that I could never calculate the true value of the life I had lived in those couple of months. In the 69 days that the men were trapped ....meters underground, among many other things, I had spent a month working with a circus in Edinburgh, seen the sights of London, Paris, Shanghai and Melbourne and flown on a trapeze. I had hugged my loved ones, played with my dogs and was presently surprised to bump into old friends.

 When talking about it with my friend Alex it was elements of my daily life that I do just because I can; go for a run or soak in some sunshine etc that weighed heaviest on my mind. I do these things often and I do them just because I can, sometimes in the case of going for a run- I do them begrudgingly. As a white woman I put in considerable effort recognise and appreciate things that I could easily take for granted. I have learnt to value every exchange with my loved ones and the following cliché’s and that I can follow and achieve goals that I set for myself. Alex joked that I was ‘Flaunting It’ by going for a run when the miners couldn’t- in the moment I didn’t even want to be doing it. So it got me thinking about all the things that I do flaunt- travel, just because I can. Calling my friends, just because I can. Reading, just because I can. I soon realised that the bank of things that I could potentially flaunt is HUGE and my imagination ran wild about all the things I could do and share and become if only I flaunted what I had on offer to me a little more.

All of this is a nice idea of course but I often struggle with the motivation to do good things for myself. My beautiful friend Zoë (master world explorer) recently returned to Australia with a spinal cord injury leaving her paralysed from the waist down. I have no doubt that Zoë along with her friends and family will be flaunting all that she has in order to get the strength and mobility she seeks. And I have the same capacity to flaunt what I have and grow...so I figure I should.

I think that I am going to look in to creating an International Flaunt It Day.

International Flaunt It Day- Flaunt what you are blessed with.

Or International Flaunt It Day- do good things just because you can.

I’ll get back to you when I find a date...

Till then I will be working on appreciating all that I do have and flaunting it...for the best of course J

P.S Dear Zoe sending you love every day and will now add to that a thank you for your motivation.

Making It Happen- Starting Sport

Have you ever stared in awe at a skier getting some seriously big air in the terrain park? Sat and watched a surfer, wondering what it feels like to ride a wave? Gazed out the window of a smelly bus at a cyclist whizzing past you at peak hour? Everyone has to start somewhere – but how do you take the first step?

This article (link below)  popped up in my Yahoo window and I think it has great concepts to make life work. Let your imagination wonder to see how you can become what you want. I have ticked the Skiing, also throwing myself into living in the snow; currently working on the running and surfing isn't too far down the desire list :)

http://au.sports.yahoo.com/banzai/snow/feature/-/8182053/getting-started-the-first-steps-in-sport/

AH the treasures to be found discarded in other peoples' store rooms :)

A Tourist in my own back yard

I love travelling; and when I had to return to Australia for an extended period of time this year there was no way I was going to give up the lifestyle I love. Travelling is not just for new places- there is a world of magic still to be discovered in your own back yard.

I had this moment hanging out at Garth’s house down the coast. It was a step away from my everyday Australian life but such an awesome quintessential Australian experience. It reminded me of the glorious pay off for making the most of what I have.

Love for the Ones You Miss

Last Thursday night I was at a pub celebrating a dear friend’s birthday when Katie walked in, handed me a small stack of colored scrap paper with messages scribbled on them and bull dog clipped together and turned to leave. The front page simply said "Some reminders that home always loves and misses you love Katie xxx"

It was a strange line to read in Australia. I am yet to feel ‘home’-that peacefully sense of belonging that I have discovered through my travels, in my homeland.

Sometime in the last year and a half, during my most recent time overseas my former work place, The Reach Foundation (http://www.reach.org.au/),  had run a session on ‘Love for the ones you miss’- a simple concept that produced magic. Reach is a rapidly evolving culture of cool and I reside myself to the thought that I fade to a memory when I am away. But in my hand was gold for my sole; an insight into the long-lasting impact that I had made unknowingly.

A message, memory or some love on a scrap of paper, written I don’t know how long before it made it to me instantly became a highlight of my travels even though at the time I was back in Australia and comfortably nestled back within my friendship group.

That was Thursday night and by the end I of the weekend I had discovered that there are a few of my friends that need some love and support that I couldn’t have imagined. And I was reminded that sharing with someone what they mean to you never goes unneeded.  And you will probably never know the great and lasting impact that you really make.

Liana's Fridge

I woke up to this message on my dear friend's fridge after a slumber party- what a way to start the day.

Chilling with Saint Nick Dal Santo, such a genuine and lovely guy. He gave it all in the 2010 AFL Grand Final yesterday and will be back next week to do it all again.

2010 AFL Grand Final (take 1) Melbourne, Australia

The last day in September is a holy day for many Australians regardless of their religion. As ledged lives on the strongest 2 sides of the season met in Melbourne for their hard earn shot at glory and to taste the ecstasy of ultimate victory that so few ever know. They came to give it all and at the end of the day leave with one winner and one loser and the knowledge of which one they were. In the end when it was found they were equal, a draw of scores at the final siren, the men from opposing sides lay down next to each other, on the field where they had just given their all. The humanity took my breath away. In the end they were equal.

The 2010 AFL (Australian Football League) Grand Final saw the Collingwood Magpies take on the St Kilda Saints.  Collingwood from north of the  famous Yarra River and St Kilda from the south each team has strong, loyal and long standing fan base who have team colours running though their blood. In a country that is not yet 250 years old the club you support is often a family legacy dating back over 100 years; that’s how it is in my family. For both Collingwood and St Kilda fans it had been a long time between drinks from the premiership cup. Both teams representing suburbs, lifestyles and landscapes contrasting and integral to Melbourne’s beauty and steeped in tradition. But both clubs will be breaking tradition this year with victory claimed by one of them not on the last Saturday in September but the first in October. The AFL’s Grand Final rules it have no overtime; in a draw the season is extended and everyone returns next week to fight it out all over again.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/gallery-e6frf9o6-1225929271256?page=7