Monday, 24 November 2014

Maybe I was wrong

I really can't say whether it is just age, but over the years, I seem to have taken back many of those 'I would never' statements that I have made. It rattles me in a way, and sometimes it makes me feel super fickle, but on other days it just shows that I am adaptable and flexible and open to changing my beliefs on things and I kind of like that.

The funny thing is that the things that I was most passionately opposed to, are what I have really back-tracked and ultimately changed my mind on and really taught me the most valuable lessons. 

I would never...
I was opposed to living by myself, travelling alone, going to Bali and India, backpacking and hostelling, eating meat, trying online dating, living with a random flatmate and living with a friend. Gosh, talk about a whole load of self-imposed restrictions...and all of the above I now done and so grateful that I did too!

                                                       At an Ayurvedic Centre in Kerala, Southern India
I still have a few 'I would never' statements that I have begun to see that maybe I am still limiting life's options...like I always said I would never date a younger guy, but so many couples I know are living and breathing proof that I need to change that one up.
My job
My career has seen me start off in corporate, I became a bit jaded by the whole thing and moved into the Government and not-for-profit sector and said I would never move back into corporate. My aim was to do my bit for the world and work around people who shared a similar value system to me. I've come to realise that just because you work in a certain sector, doesn't make you a good or a bad person. 

Whether you work for profit or on the other side, if you follow your passions and you are making the world a better place - whether it be through bringing innovative products to make our lives easier, designing cool artwork for small businesses or being a human rights advocate, whatever it is, then that is awesome.

I've changed my mind (again)
And yes, I just landed a job back in corporate, I have to laugh, I was really sure I would never jump back over. But you know, I am living and breathing my passions of health and wellness during my 9 - 5, the very thing that lights me up and that makes me happy.

Never say never, as you just don't know.


Sunday, 16 November 2014

The Irish Pub light-bulb moment

I've never been a big pub dweller. This changed in the past year, as my life has been filled with Irish people (with the biggest hearts) and what better way to hang with them then to frequent the pub? I have to admit it, pubs slowly grew on me. I guess I always associated pubs and even bars to an extent with simply drinking, I never really saw any substance to it...until I went to watch a brilliant documentary which has literally turned my world-up-side down.

Jilly,  one of my Irish mates and also one of the sweetest people I know, asked me if I wanted to go and see a doco about the institution of The Irish Pub, called just that. As soon as I saw the trailer, I was sold. The film encapsulated the infamous dry Irish humour, the amazing scenery and what struck me the most, was the utter warmth of the Irish community.

Much like a church, a pub is where people come together. The film showed people of all ages in pubs all throughout the country, coming together to share their lives, their woes, their wins.

An old chap was interviewed in the film and what he said really struck a chord with me...he said, why should I go home to an empty house and stare at a box alone, when I could be with my mates at the pub? This really spoke to me...life is about the connections and communities we create. All to often, especially nowadays, we are physically isolating ourselves. We are spending our precious time living life through a computer. Being with your tribe whether at the pub or any location of your choice is always going to make you happy.

I am a big believer that you create your reality and the other day my neighbour, who I have bumped into a few times and always said hi to, but that was about it, knocked on my door to ask for a cup of rice. You have no idea how happy that made me! I know that if I ran out of rice, I would naturally race down the hill to the shops, how self-contained have we become? I gave her the cup of rice and the next day she dropped me off a beautiful bunch of flowers, that made my day. She was so grateful and so was I.

We don't have to be islands. I am so passionate about bringing people together, reaching out and creating communities. Because that is what makes the world so much of a better place to be.

Sunday, 2 November 2014

To Instagram or talk?

I have been intrigued recently with the whole concept of going back to basics and living simply. Nowadays, we all lead busy lives and we have an abundance of choices and technology available to us each and every moment of our lives. But sometimes I think these can overcomplicate, desensitise and even break down the core sense of community.

Everything can now be done in the comfort of your own home, you no longer need to physically be at a class if you want to complete your studies, you watch an online lecture on your phone. Which is great and oh so convenient, but I also feel that these great advances in technology mean that the chance of new friendships and relationships forming in a real life and organic manner are now getting less and less possible.

People walk through the streets of the city, never looking up from their phones. I have nearly been knocked out countless times from this. I am guilty of half listening to conversations whilst checking my phone. I once went to a social media lecture, which reported a crazy amount of people checking Facebook before doing anything else when they wake up in the morning.

I may sound very anti-technology. I am not. I just think we are over-doing it...a tad! 

I once dated a guy that refused to conform and did not use a phone. It was cool at the start, but that quickly turned to frustrating when I couldn't communicate if I was running late! I am not advocating that everyone ditch their phones, maybe we re-think how we use them.

One morning I caught a cab in for a morning meeting I was having. I hailed the cab, sat down, put my seatbelt on and told the driver where I was off to. I automatically went for my phone, for no reason, but to fill in the idle time. It was there I decided I had a choice, I could use my phone to distract me or I could have a proper human conversation with the man who was driving me. Luckily, I chose to converse with my Taxi driver, we had such a great conversation about this very topic and I gained a little insight into his life. That conversation made my day.

So next time you are faced with a choice, to needlessly distract yourself with the happenings on social media, or to actually share a story or two with another human, I dare you to put down that phone, go back to basics and chat. You never know what doors will open from it.