Broadening my horizons

I've never been a religious person and it's not something I was brought up with at home. I have vague memories of going to Sunday School when I was little but no real memories of what we did there and mum has since told me that we didn't go for long before she decided it wasn't for us. 

As I've gotten older and had more experiences and learnt things along the way I haven't changed my beliefs, but I do try to see things with an open mind and try to look further into why things happen. 

I'm reading a book at the moment called Life Without Limits which is written by Nick Vujicic who was born without any arms or legs. I actually bought the book for Scotty to read after he had surgery at the beginning of last year. He didn't really get into it so it's been sitting on our bookshelf ever since. 

When I finished my last book I decided to read this one. It's basically an autobiography on Nick's life and an insight into how him and his family dealt with his disability from birth, through his years as a toddler, starting school, moving countries and then on through his adult years. 

It's such an inspirational book and a real eye-opener into the life of a family that have endured so much. Nick is very religious and blames, but also thanks, god for the life he has. I find it interesting to read about his thoughts and opinions about god and how he links his religious beliefs to his everyday life. 

Because I work at a catholic school and we have an American couple that work with us who are very religious, they pray before dinner each night. Although not all of the students have strong religious beliefs, it is a nice way to have a moment of silence before our evening meal to be thankful for the day we've had. 

This really got me thinking. Just because I choose not to be religious doesn't mean that I can't stop for a moment each night and give thanks for the day I've had, the meal I'm about the receive and for the people that prepared it. This is something that everyone could do each night whether they are religious or not. It's a great way of reflecting on life. 

Another way to stop and reflect is something I saw on Keeping up with the Kardashians (I know, who would've thought I'd learn anything meaningful from that show). Before dinner each night they sit and share their 'peak' and 'pit' of the day. I think this is a great way of looking back on your day and appreciating something good that happened or the 'peak' of your day, and learning from something that didn't go according to plan or the 'pit' of your day. By reflecting on each day it gives you the chance to think about what you've achieved and also gives you motivation to achieve something on the following day without letting time pass without much thought at all. 

Although I am not religious I am a strong believer that 'everything happens for a reason' and that 'what will be will be'. This way of thinking can be used in any aspect of life and can help you to understand things that life throws at you. 

Whether you are a religious person or not I believe you can learn a lot from reading or hearing about other people's beliefs. You can take different aspects from many other beliefs and create your own. 

Everyone has different beliefs and even those that share similar beliefs have different perspectives on how they see or do things in life. 

Life is about finding yourself, finding what you believe in and living the best life you can with the knowledge you have. Talk to other people, see what motivates and guides them and learn as much as you can from the people around you. 

Perception is a powerful thing

Term 2 was over and it was time to head to Tasmania. 

We spent a night in Sydney on the way over and went to watch the Eels play. Of course they lost, but that didn't dampen our spirits. We really liked Sydney, it's such a fun and vibrant city. I can definitely see us living somewhere near Sydney down the track - and of course the Blue Mountains are a definite selling point! 

Next stop was Tasmania where we hired a campervan so that we could travel around and see as much as possible. Campervans are such a great way of travelling, they give you the freedom to sleep wherever you like, and you can stop and have meals or a break whenever you feel like it. 

We started in Hobart and made our way up the east coast, across the top, back down through the middle and then back to Hobart. Each region had something different to offer which made for a fantastic trip. Tasmania reminded us a lot of NZ which people had said it would. The landscapes and roads were very similar, but it was also unique and beautiful in it's own way. 

The east coast, Freycinet National Park and the Bay of Fires had stunning coastlines and cliffs. There were so many different bays to explore. Launceston in the Tamar Valley had the incredible Cataract Gorge. We caught the chairlift and explored some of the great trails around the gorge. We travelled to the very top of the north west via Devonport to see The Nut in Stanley which was a very cool feature. The Cradle Mountain National Park was stunning with lots of walks to choose from and a bit of snow around which was cool to see (no chance of seeing snow in Perth, so any little bit is exciting these days!) The lakes region was amazing with so many different lakes and rivers. Hobart was a great city with lots of tourist attractions including my favourite, the Cadbury Factory! Hobart was a really good base for day trips down south. We headed down along the Convict Trail one day and saw some beautiful coastlines and some really interesting historic sites. We had a great time in Port Arthur exploring the old historic site there and learning about how things operated back in the day. We took another day trip down to the Huon Valley and the Tahune Airwalk which was another great tourist attraction.  

Two nights before we were due to leave, we experienced some crazy road rage in Hobart where someone threw something through the back window of the campervan. We couldn't believe what had happened. It meant changing our plans slightly, but we weren't going to let it ruin our trip and enjoyed our final two days in Tasmania. 

I try to learn something new from every experience in life. You never know what's going to happen on any given day, and all you can do is try to make the most out of a bad situation if it arises. Being negative or letting things get you down only makes things seem worse. But if you try to see the positive side to things and try to smile through difficult situations, you will feel much happier. 

I read somewhere recently that if someone says something negative or hurtful to you or acts in a nasty way, and you refuse to let that person's words or actions affect you, then the negativity and nastiness falls back on the person that it came from. This way of thinking can be used in any aspect of life. The situation in Hobart was a perfect example of this. We refused to let the nasty actions of another person ruin our night or our holiday and continued to have a great time. Therefore, the negativity fell back onto the person that it came from. 

I always try to see the best in people. Although I wanted to be angry at the person that threw something through our window, I tried seeing the situation from their perspective. They could've been having the worst day of their life, and me cutting them off in traffic could've been the final straw. Instead of saying nasty things about the person I chose to be sympathetic towards them, and just hoped that things got better for them. Even if they weren't having a bad day, but they were just somebody that didn't know how to manage their emotions, instead of getting angry towards them, it made me think 'What has happened in their life to make them react in that way'. 

Apart from that one person, we had some great interactions with people from Tasmania and found everyone to be really helpful and friendly. We'll definitely try and get back there one day to explore some more. 

After Tasmania we flew to Melbourne for 3 nights to catch up with friends and have a look around. Melbourne is a very funky place with lots of alternative people which makes it a really interesting place to visit. There are lots of fantastic restaurants and bars which made for a very busy few days. 

Before we knew it, it was time to fly home. I love travelling and experiencing new places and meeting new people. A big part of travelling is trying to decide where to go. You need to take into account how long you'll need to see the places you want to see, and the best time of year to visit each place. Because we have school holidays off work we need to fit our trips in around those dates and decide which places we'll travel to first and which destinations can wait until later.

Taking all of that into account we've chosen Thailand as our next holiday destination! In ten days time we'll be leaving on a jet plane. 

From couch to 42km!

I always used to say I didn't have enough time to train, that was my excuse and I was sticking to it! Finally this year I made the decision to prioritise and make the time to run! And now I'm a runner!!

With a change in job at the beginning of the year resulting in a change in work schedule I now have my days free to train which is a huge bonus. And I'm very lucky to have a live-in coach who helps to keep me motivated. 

Before I met Scotty I didn't even like walking to the shops, let alone run anywhere. That soon changed once we started dating five and a half years ago. I still remember the first time I wanted to run from the house I was living at in Christchurch to the end of the street, around a very small park and then back home. It was probably about 1.5km at the very most. I jogged slowly to the end of the street and then put a burst on to cross the road to the park. I instantly got a stitch and had to walk around the park and walk home. I was so upset and wondered how I'd ever run if I couldn't even make it 1.5km. 

But just like anything in life, if you stick at it and don't give up, you will achieve your goals. About 6 months later I walked a half marathon in just under 3 hours down in Dunedin (south of Christchurch). It was a great accomplishment and I was so happy to have completed such a huge challenge. I had blisters like you wouldn't believe, but I was determined to finish - and I had to impress my new fitness freak boyfriend! 

About 9 months later I competed in my first half marathon. I tried following a training program leading up to the race but had injuries in my feet and knees and didn't do half the amount of training I'd hoped to do. I remember my first two hour training run that I had to do, and Scotty was away on a camp so I had to do it alone. It was pouring with rain and freezing cold but I was determined to get it done. I mapped out a route and jogged the whole way. It felt great! 

The day of the Christchurch Half Marathon rolled around quickly and I was lucky enough to have Scotty running with me. I really struggled, especially when it came to running into the wind and I didn't know how I was going to make the distance. But, just over 2 hours after I started, I ran down the finishing chute! I'd done it, I'd run a half marathon. At the time I thought this would be the biggest race I'd ever compete in. 

Over the next couple of years my running was very sporadic. I did a few short races (around 10km) in NZ and then in Perth once we moved. Every time I started training for a race I would end up injured which was very frustrating.

Last year I was doing a few of the WAMC 5 and 10km races. I was really enjoying them and  said to Scotty that I thought I'd stick to those distances. I said I might train up for a half marathon, but I really enjoyed the shorter races. I look back now and realise that this was probably just my excuse not to have to push myself.

Later that year I decided to train for the Perth Half Marathon. During my training I was doing a 10km run with a friend and started to get pain in my right foot. Being the inexperienced runner that I was I ran through the pain. The next morning I couldn't even walk on it and I knew something was seriously wrong. I went to the podiatrist and was diagnosed with having a stress fracture. That meant I could kiss goodbye any hopes of doing the Perth Half Marathon. 

It took a long time to get over my stress fracture, 4 months to be exact. And it was a very slow process of being able to walk on it again before even thinking about running.

Just before Christmas last year I competed in a 5km race in the 43 degree heat. The heat mixed with the fact that I hadn't run in 4 months was a bad combination, and I walked about 3 of the 5km. It was an interesting event to say the least. 

On New Year's Eve I competed in the WAMC 8km run which was heaps of fun. I struggled a lot and walked some of it, but it was such a fun way to start our New Year's Eve celebrations. 

After that I did a few more of the WAMC 5 and 10km races and started running a lot more regularly. I thought it was about time I tried some Hokas since Scotty raved about them so much. I think this was a major turning point in my training. I absolutely loved the shoes and they were perfect for me. They allowed me to run pain free and I pulled up the following day after a run without any pain in my legs. 

I was loving running and decided I'd train up for the Bunbury Half Marathon in April. I was getting a lot of training in and feeling great. I knew I was getting serious about running when I decided to do the Darlington Half Marathon as a 'training run'. I had a horrible stitch for most of the race but still finished faster than I had in my previous half marathon years earlier which I was happy with. 

My training continued along nicely and before I knew it I was tapering for the Bunbury Half. I had a great run in Bunbury with Scotty on the bike cheering me along. I ran 1.48 which was another PB and I was ecstatic. 

After Bunbury I had a very quiet month while we were in America. I was supposed to be doing the Perth Marathon once we got back but decided that with my lack of training on holidays I wouldn't do it. 

As it turned out I was 'talked into' doing the race the day before it was on, by Scotty and a friend Grant. Scotty had entered but had a sore knee so they convinced me that even though I'd only ever run 27km that I'd be fine to do my first marathon. 

I was feeling pretty good on race morning and managed to get my breakfast down without any trouble. Scotty was going to come on the bike and meet me along the way. The start gun went off and we were away. I planned on doing about 5.30 pace which is what I thought I could maintain for the race. I came through the half marathon in exactly 2 hours which was great. Things were going along nicely until I hit the 28km mark when the wheels fell off. It was still a long way to the finish line and I was really starting to struggle. My aim was to run to each aid station and then walk for a bit while I had a drink. It became harder and harder to run and I spent a lot of the last 5km walking. I refused to walk to the finish, so I really pushed myself to run for the last kilometre. It was such an emotional feeling running down the finishing chute. I couldn't believe I'd just finished my first marathon. I was so excited and so sore! It was really nice having my sister and her family there to watch me finish. And I couldn't have done it without the support and encouragement of Scotty on the bike. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever run a marathon, and I'd just done it. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. 

Since then I have competed in the Geraldton Marathon which was 3 weeks later. I paced myself a lot better and managed to run the whole way which was a great feeling. And I took 3 minutes off my previous time which was fantastic. I also did the Perth Half Marathon in August which was great fun, especially after not being able to do it last year. It wasn't my fastest time, but I was only a couple of minutes off and was happy with that considering my build up to the race (two weeks holiday and then training up until race day with no taper!) Something I'm learning about is choosing A and B races, which basically means that not all of my 'races' have to be run at 100%. A lot of them can just be for fun or as a means of getting in another training run. The Perth Half Marathon wasn't one of my A races for the year, which is why I didn't taper and did the race even after having a couple of weeks off. 

I am now training for a race called 6 Inch which is a 46km trail race in December. My goal after that is to compete in the Tarawera 60km Ultra Marathon in Rotorua, NZ in March next year. And after that... Who knows! I absolutely love trail running, nothing beats being out on the trails with no one else around, running through the bush and listening to the birds in the trees. In saying that though, I do enjoy my runs around the river and along the coast when I'm doing a shorter training run.

It's no secret that I love running, it's such a great feeling getting fitter and faster and it's something Scotty and I can do together. I would recommend getting into running for anyone that wants to get fit or lose weight. It's a great cardio workout and it has a great social aspect too. I've met some great friends through running and continue to meet new people all the time. Running communities are filled with friendly, outgoing people who are always willing to teach you what they know about running and racing. There are lots of different running groups around Perth for all different levels of fitness, with people that can help you achieve your running goals. 

I'm very lucky to have Scotty who teaches me everything I need to know about running. There are so many small things that I'd have no idea about if it wasn't for his advice. Every time we run together he explains things to me and tells me the best way of doing things, whether it be about pacing, running up and down hills or my nutrition. Without his support and guidance I would've never achieved what I have and for that I am very grateful. 

I often have people asking my advice about running or training and I love helping people with any questions they have. So, if anyone has anything they'd like to know, please feel free to ask, I'd be more than happy to help out. And don't forget, I couldn't even run 1.5km when I first started, so anyone can do it, even if you've never run before! 

Lemon, Lime & Bitters

On 4 September 2010 at 4.00am I was woken by an earthquake. At the time I had no idea what was happening. The whole house was moving and it felt like we were riding a huge wave in the middle of the ocean. Glass was smashing and I had no idea why. At first Scotty thought someone was breaking in, and it wasn't until later that we realised that it was an earthquake. 

Half the reason I didn't know what was happening is because I didn't really know anything about earthquakes and I certainly didn't think I'd ever experience one. And the other reason I was so confused is because I was still drunk from the night before. Just 2 hours earlier Scotty had picked me up from a friend's house where I'd been at a dinner party. As usual I'd had too much to drink and had been sick in the toilet - so ladylike! 

Once the house stopped moving I just wanted to go back to sleep. People kept calling and texting and all I could think was 'Just let me sleep!' I had no idea of the mayhem that was going on around me. Finally after trying to avoid all the calls I got out of bed and turned the tv on (I found out later that we were some of the lucky ones that still actually had power and water). It was all over the tv - 'Earthquake hits Christchurch!' It soon dawned on me the severity of the situation. Thank goodness nobody had lost their lives, but a lot of people had lost their homes or power and water, and the city was a mess. 

It was later that day that I said to Scotty that I wasn't going to drink anymore. Of course he laughed at first and said 'That's what everyone says when they have a hangover'. But I told him I was serious and explained to him that I didn't like drinking or the fact that I never knew when I'd had enough before it was too late and I'd had too much. 

I used to party as hard as the best of them and would end up in all kinds of drunken states. I'd drink so much that I wouldn't know what I was doing and I'd wake up the next morning not knowing what I'd done the night before. 

To be honest, I'm not sure what changed, I just didn't want to drink anymore. I didn't like the fact that alcohol made me act in a way I wouldn't normally act and say things I wouldn't normally say. Even having one drink would go straight to my head and impair my decisions and I just didn't want that to happen anymore. 

When I first started telling people that I didn't drink anymore they would laugh and say 'Yeah right!' My friends all gave me a hard time and joked saying it wouldn't last. After a while they soon realised that it wasn't just a fad and that I was serious about my decision.

Deciding not to drink was a big decision to make and it had a major impact on my life. 

People felt uncomfortable having someone sober around when they were all drinking. I stopped being invited out for 'drinks' or to dinners or bbq's, and gradually lost a lot of friends because I didn't drink anymore. A lot of people have the misconception that someone that doesn't drink can't have fun or wouldn't want to spend time with people that were drinking. This isn't the case, I have more fun now than I ever did before, and I have the added bonus of actually remembering what I did. Unfortunately the truth is, a lot of those friendships were based around alcohol. And when you take alcohol out of the equation you find that you don't really have much in common, and your 'friendship' was in fact a lot of drunken rambling. 

At the time it was upsetting to think that my friendships were falling apart, but I now know who I had real friendships with, and those are the people that support my decision not to drink and still enjoy my company. 

I have made many new friends and those people have never known me to drink and wanted to build a friendship with me based on the person I am now. 

I think it's really important to be yourself in every aspect of your life, and people that love you for who you are, are the people that you want in your life. Everyone is different, it would be pretty boring if we were all the same. And individuality is something that should be encouraged. 

The earthquake isn't the reason I stopped drinking, but it was definitely a wake up call. Being drunk in a situation like that really opened my eyes. There have been many situations over the past 3 years where I've said 'This is one of those moments where I'm glad I don't drink'. One of those situations is when we had a family member that was dying last year and our family from NZ called very early in the morning for us to say goodbye to her. If we'd been drinking that night we wouldn't have been able to concentrate on one of the most important phone calls of our life. 

Friends asked if I was going to drink on my wedding day - it was a celebration after all. My response was always the same - 'Why would I drink on the biggest day of my life and have my thoughts and memory impaired when I don't drink any other day'. I think special occasions are even more of a reason not to drink, that way you know exactly what you are doing and can remember every minute of it. 

Being a non-drinker is a personal decision and it's not for everyone. Life is about finding out who you are and what kind of life you want to live, whatever that may or may not involve. As long as you are happy, and making the right decisions for your own life, then live your life the way you want to live it. And enjoy every moment! 

Father's Day

A day that is meant for celebrating each and every dad, wherever they may be. 

I think dads can loosely fit into 3 groups (I don't usually like to put labels on people, but for this post I think it's the easiest way to explain my thoughts):

1. The 'best dad in the world';

2. The dad that was, and is, hardly ever around; and 

3. Sadly, the dad that passed away. 

For the children who are in the first 'group', Father's Day is a lot of fun and a nice way to celebrate and thank their dads for being so great. If their dad lives close by it might also mean breakfast or lunch together as a way to share their love and laughter. For those children, it's a day to look forward to each year. This is especially true for young children as they might get to make a card or gift for their dad and maybe even breakfast in bed, which is such a lovely thing for children to be apart of and a way of creating beautiful memories. 

Unfortunately I'm in the second group, which means that Father's Day is an annual reminder that my dad has never been around. It usually starts about a week out from Father's Day when I go to the shop to buy a card and have to sort through all the 'best dad in the world' and 'thank you for always being there' cards to try and find one that simply says 'Happy Father's Day'. I then struggle to find the right words to put in the card before finally settling on something and posting it off. If I'm really lucky I'll get a text to say thank you. 

Growing up without a dad is hard. When I was younger I didn't know any different so it wasn't as bad. I used to catch the bus up to see dad on the school holidays. Quite often it would just be me and the driver, so I would sit right up the front and talk the driver's ear off the whole way. I don't have many memories from my early childhood but going to stay with dad was something I used to look forward to. 

Fast forward about 14 years to my wedding day. My contact with dad had decreased significantly over the years with a period in the middle of about 5 years with no contact at all. Every girl dreams of having her dad walk her down the aisle, and I was no different. But for me, this wasn't an option. Thankfully I am blessed with having 3 incredible brothers, 2 of which did me the honour of 'giving me away'. (Personally I think they were far too eager to hand me over!) And I wouldn't have had it any other way. That was a very special moment for me, as I know it was for them. We skipped the father-daughter dance and my younger brother Craig did an amazing job at the speech, giving away far too much information about his big sister! 

Something I like to do each Father's Day is call my mum and wish her a 'Happy Father's Day'. She took on the 'father figure' role in my life and has done an amazing job, teaching me all the 'boy' things I need to know (mowing the lawn, unblocking the sink etc etc). 

For those children that are in the third group, and unfortunately a lot of people are, and some that are far too young, Father's Day is a really tough reminder that they can't spend the day with their dad. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it must be to lose your dad. I've seen other people go through it and it takes great strength. Father's Day for those children is a time to feel sad, but also a time to smile and celebrate the life of their great dad, knowing that wherever he may be, he is watching. 

Because we are all so different, and have different stories to tell, there are probably more like 30 'groups' than 3, but we'd both be here all day if I went into that much detail, and I don't want to put anyone to sleep. 

Father's Day means something different to everyone. Whether it be a celebration or a time to reflect. Although I don't celebrate Father's Day as such, I use it as a time to think of those who have lost their fathers and to share in their sorrow, letting them know that I am thinking of them (even if it's simply by 'liking' a post on facebook about their dad). I also use it as a time to think of all the great dads I know and the joy they bring to their children. It's such a wonderful feeling to share in other people's happiness which is something I love to do, whether directly or indirectly. 

I hope everyone had a lovely Father's Day (for those in some countries this won't be relevant right now, but it's still a nice way to reflect). Remember to always reach out to others. It will brighten someone's day and will make you feel good about yourself as well.