Day 30 - the end ( and I cant count!)

 … well its been an interesting time...doing the 30 day challenge helped me to think about what I was experiencing each day. One thing that has become clear to me is that I need to be vigilant about marking out time to do the things that nurture my spirit, just having a wish wont do… I need to have a plan and yet I need to be not so rigid about my plan…sometimes I have to let go and let god , especially after I have done my share.  Here are the lessons learnt:

Day 1 – getting clarity on what I want and having a plan , its not going  to happen without a plan

Day 2 – listening to my body

Day 3 -  acknowledging discomfort and still being me

Day 4 -  dealing with emotions

Day 5 – standing up for what I want

Day 6 – making tough decisions by letting go

Day 7- follow through and closing escape doors

Day 8- routines are grounding and give me balance

Day 9- gratitude , don’t have be anything or do anything

Day 10- making time for chores

Day11 – embracing everything

Day12-  still finding peace when things don’t go my way

Day 13- being a top dog

Day14- family time

Day 15- helpers from the universe

Day16 –learning and dealing with confusion

Day17- giving and receiving

Day18- I love you, I am sorry, Thank you

Day 19-energy and exercise

Day 20- serving others

Day21- bliss

Day22- the world is a reflection of my thoughts

Day23 – enjoying my own company

Day24 – magic

Day25 – nothing to say

Day 26 – just a little time with God

Day 27- old habits creep up

Day 28  and 29 – being vigilant about looking after me

Its been fun, thank you for following this part of my blog.

Day 28 and 29

Its been a struggle to keep my balance especially over the holidays...routines get thrown out of the window...slowly finding my way back. Its day 30 tomorrow, I will make time today to review what I have learnt in the last 30 days. The very fact that I needed to post something everyday, kept me on my toes. Blogging really helps me to clear my head and forces me to stop and focus within. I have also been thinking of picture blogs, don't know enough but pictures say a thousand words... dont know enough yet but I reckon will be good fun!

Day 27 - Christmas Day

Had a good time with friends but I wasnt quite there some of the time, I think its because I didnt give myself enough time ...its a balancing act... everyday!

Day 25 and 26

well, I missed day 25... didnt I ? too much happening and didnt have that much to say.

Today I bought beautiful flowers for my home and I am preparing for Christmas lunch tomorrow..time for me not much... actually after I finish this sentence...its time for me to have some quiet time to thank God for everything I have in my life and for all my blessings.

Day 24

I am noticing that as I practice awareness and being in my true essence... I get happier and happier and things happen quite magically and I am able to find creative solutions and opportunities so easily. Its been a fun day to do that...

Day 23

My thoughts are about distractions today... ways I distract myself from hearing my own thoughts or listening to how I feel in the moment...there'e the TV, the internet, my phone, my blackberry, newspapers... its a long list.
When I was driving home today from the dentist, I made four calls and was talking to someone till I got home... whats up with that?
I complain about wanting to be alone and when I do get it... I pick up the phone and call someone!  tonight ...i am going to look at all my escape routes and see if I can close some of them down ... just for fun...maybe just swim quietly on my own instead under the night sky.

Day 22

I have only 8 days left to get to Day 30 ...I have had a pretty laid back month. I have been in people's faces at times...mainly because I wanted to stay authentic and in my own truth... which sometimes meant pissing someone else off. Speaking of being pissed off.....i lost a bracelet and 2 rings at a spa recently ... never happens to me usually... there's a part of me that is sending out the message to the universe to send it back and there's a part of me that says "maybe somebody else needs it more than me...maybe I owed somebody something that I havent returned....its messing with my head just a little....its not about the jewellery...its about the memory and the what it symbolises. will work on letting this emotion go later and accepting the situation and putting out a clear intent. I have been saying " I have too much stuff lately " and I have even said that I have too many rings and jewellery ... because I dont want any presents for my birthday or christmas... maybe its a reminder from the universe that its very literal and i have to be more aware of what i say.

Day21 catch up day

woke up to rain and I let the day surround me ... heard the enya song " wild child" song in my head. took my time and had time for exercise, meditation, and even got a traditional chinese massage focussed on the meridians. Found healthy recipes on the net for the holiday season.

Day 20 - the missing day

missed writing about my day. hosted an office christmas lunch at my home, woke up in a bit of a panic and started planning the menu. turned out well , just missed blogging

Day 19

My daughter and I made friends last night so that ended well. This evening I had my pilates class and on my way home I was talking to a girlfriend about how my muscles are getting " switched on" with the regular classes. And when we spoke I made another distinction about energy and how it can get stuck in our body ... and how exercise helps to move that energy and even if we have a regular routine like running or walking, we only use specific muscle groups but we dont really give ourselves an all body stretch to create a more dynamic body for the energy to move through..motivates me to keep doing what I am doing through  the holidays and not stop/get distracted because this is for me.

Day 18

Just when I think I have got it all sorted...something new crops up to remind me that I still have a long way to go. I got into an argument with my daughter today and she is not very happy with me now and we both of us have our view points, noone is wrong or right. All i can think of in such situations are three sentences : I love you, I am sorry and thank you. Its not about who's right or wrong,  at the end of the day, its only about love and so i will go upstairs and tell her how much I love her, that I am sorry if she feels hurt by me and thank her for being a wonderful daughter.

Day 17

Its my birthday and we had brunch together at a nice little restaurant at a park nearby. Then we played monopoly all afternoon. I have a cocktail to attend tonight and the aim is to honor sponsors for a street children project  that I am donating my art to. I think it adds a nice touch to the whole day to be given the opportunity to do that. My dad always said that when you help someone the person who is helping gets more benefit from the process than the person receiving... it's an honor that only someone gifted gets. I feel very blessed!

Day 16

What a fabulous day, I celebrated my birthday a day earlier. I had a nice party of friends ...people who genuinely want the best for me.
I started reading two books , one on the healing secrets of the ages by Catherine ponder and the other one called " Bye Bye Black cat" written by a friend, Sylvia.
Its all coming together and I seem to be acquiring knowledge and concepts around the connection between the mind, body and spirit....I thought I knew alot but what i know is so little because each day I am making new distinctions. And there are so many layers and points of connectivity.. that it is both exciting and confusing at the same time!

Day 15

I was up all night...think its hormones....and I asked the universe for help...it got answered immediately... I had  several helpers come my way and everything that came my way was aligned with what I needed. Sophie drove all the way to my place to give me a herbal drink that has helped her get the sleep she needs, I received a book I ordered sometime ago on hormones, a girlfriend gave me the contact information of a great naturopath.
And to top it all up, I got myself a purple lily ...more about this on my main blog.  This evening, I am going to catch a funny movie with my two children and tomorrow its my pre-birthday celebration... I promised my kids no blackberry, no phone, no work..just swimming, eating , laughing and chilling out with them and a some friends. The plan is to spend two days doing nothing.
I like December... people are nicer!...or maybe its just me who is changing...or a bit of both... anyway... its working!

Day 14

Wow , its day 14, half way there... well nearly. Pilates in the morning, spa in the aftrenoon, hairdresser late afternoon and the evening was spent sitting outside enjoying the evening breeze with my son, my mum and our dog.
Its been a challenge prying my son away from the computer, this evening he commented that he hasnt had much of a desire to be on his computer today and that he actually enjoyed himself more. My son has returned from being kidnapped by the internet and computer!!! ...lets see how long it lasts...but even if its for a day... it still creates balance. There is such a difference ...he seemed more at peace with himself.

Day 13

A close friend sent me a message last night after reading my Day 12 post... saying that whatever I am facing will blow over and she reminded me that I was the Top Wandering Dog! That instantly, took me back to a time when I used to be called the TOP dog!
Top Dogs dont roll over and die! they sometimes lie down for a while for a well deserved break...pref under the sun on a beach somewhere...planning their next adventure. Thank you for the reminder, you are a Star!

Day 12

feel not connected... managed to get myself sucked into work dramas.. going to switch off my mind... chill , watch TV, read a book  or something and then meditate.

Day 11

hugging the day like i wrote in my blog ! This allows me to embrace everything that comes up. I was postpponing getting on my treadmill this morning but when I embraced the experience wholeheartedly...it became a fun thing that I thouroughly enjoyed!

Day 10

I still struggle with balancing my time between what i should do and what i want to do...especially when it comes to my children... I feel that I could do more for them and be more present with them.


There are chores, there is duty and then there are moments ...usually spontaneous where I float and lose time. The chores give me the time to float freely... the duty part ...well, i think i will ditch it... its just my perception and it feeds my sense of self importance and stems from ego. Who needs that, just messes with my head and creates conflict. So today, its about doing the chores that I have been postponing but when I do , to do it 100% and be there fully..infact to be present fully in anything I do today. More later...

Day 9

dont want  to do anything, just want to be. Dont want to say anything, just want to be still. this is what i really want to do but I get caught up with day to day stuff and sometimes it just shifts me off balance for a while... at least it is not days .. guess i should be thankful for that.
Gratitude.. is a good thought for today

Day 8

I am slowly realising that sending  my inner drill sergeant on vacation does not mean that I dont have routines. Routines are grounding. One of the things I have been bad at doing is going to bed on time ... somedays I am awake till 3am  or later...hormones, distractions.. or just pushing myself to meet deadlines. And I have been using the TV to "relax" ... actually it keeps me awake and numbs me to such a point that I usually dont even have enough energy to pick up the remote control to put it off. Well that can end today, lights off at 11pm latest, ideally 10.30pm ... so my body can produce seratonin and all that good stuff for me to be balanced , healthy and happy....nite nite!

Day 7

Being authentic requires me to  be completely aligned to my true essence.. today, its about Follow Though. Doing what I say and saying what I do. To really be aware of that part of me that tries to make excuses and get away with making it someone else's problem. To own everything that comes my way today and not escape into my auto pliot routines BUT to also have fun ... laugh out loud many times today!

Day 6

Working from home... already a great start. let my daughter sleep in instead of going to school..bad mum...maybe..

Today's list :
Drink air
Breathe deeply
Take a nice long walk
Watch cartoons

sing my "drill sergeant " a lullaby as she gets restless now and then!

also made a tough decision with so much ease as it feels right ... cant talk about it yet till January!

Day 5

woof !! woof!!

I can smell it... dogs have a good sense of smell ... its going to be a great day today! more later

Decided to switch pilates teacher after i tried a new instructor... because I wasnt interested anymore in conquering the reformer...instead I just want to go slow and give my body a chance.

I got "sucked into" some politics today and offered to do something that would help me  defend a position and then I rang back to say " you know what, I dont really care" I figured that its not worth it and I had bigger things to deal with ... like what can i do to add to the planet!

Day 4

This evening, I will be attending a workshop on the Sedona method. Not sure what it is but I get to be in a learning environment with a few friends and that sounds like fun.
My realization today has to do with wanting to hold on to what works...there is a part of me that tries to keep things the same as its all flowing nicely... I know that this is when I stop growing!!
So today for me is about learning with an open mind and trying new things. I will update on how I do at the end of the day.

Its 11pm here... what a day... its been a mixed bag of emotions, living in awarerness makes me notice the various emotions I go through. I learnt today that emotion is energy in motion - got to keep it moving.... reminds me of that character in the movie Madagascar that sang " I like to move it , move it" ...yes that's the inner child coming out to play. I was laughing so much today ... my 14 year old daughter said " what's wrong with you mum.. these days you laugh at stupid things and laugh so loud!" guess I can take that as a compliment!

Day 3

Woke up feeling frustrated with my body... stiff all over even when i diodnt do much. Tried to do some Yoga but didnt get far.

Last thought last night was about being aware and this is what i intend to do today... just being aware of what i feel and accepting it... which reminds me. Yesterday at the dentist, whenever i was resisting the pain, it hurt more and whenever i acknowledged that i was feeling uncomfortable and when I accepted the situation, the discomfort disappeared... I found this very interesting.
that brings me to my stiffness - maybe its just because of the dental treatment and how I must have tensed up my body during the process ...Great Workout!!!! ha..

Its been a great day, back in form and it was easy to do anything with awareness. I also updated my blog to include my photo and all my data and linked it to my linkedin profile. I wasnt sure if the corporate world was ready to read my "unbusinesslike"  ideas, so I am have been keeping my blogs private.....I think the corporate world is exactly where its needed the most .... besides this is me!!

Day 2

Failing miserably...I dont even want to get out of bed. I am not sure if I can do anything without my "drill sergeant" pushing me along....

Dentist appointment today...maybe thats why... lets see what the day brings up...

Awareness is a funny thing... I find myself not having to "do" anything...just being aware is good enough and so I acknowldeged that I am tired and did only what i could today.
Very happy to put my head down on my pillow... maybe i should have stayed in bed all day

Day 1

As soon I set this up, my  14 year old daughter wants me to take her out to lunch... and I say " I dont know" .... I dont know because I havent worked it out yet ....how to figure out quickly if something on offer is what i really want to do. So used to being on auto pilot, new experience for me.
what do i really want to do today?

1. have a nice meal with my children - breakfast together
2. have a nice long bath
3. make some christmas presents with my kids
4. read a book
5. lie in bed and watch TV

sounds like a plan... lets see if i succeed?

Update : turned better than I expected,  a nice long bath, watched TV in bed , read a book... no breakfast with kids because they organised  their own breakfast. Iced cupcakes with my daughter, drew and played with paints for her still life project.