Back then, I believed:
If it was meant to be, it was up to – my parents, my teachers, my employers, my family, my neighbours, my boyfriend.
Anyone, but Me.

When I was reminiscing on this arrogance… The thought made me reason as to why I was like this. Why I believed at that time that people/ ‘the world’ owed me.
It didn’t make sense. I was a ‘nice’ person to everyone I met at face value… Why? Because I was in pain. I was uncomfortable in my skin. I never believed I had the power to stand up from the crowd and live a dream that was my own. I was always searching for more and could not settle for what was right in front of me.

What was right in front of me?… What is right in front of all of us!
The journey of life!
That one being “If it is meant to be, it’s up to – ME!”

Not found in external fixtures, alcohol, drugs, people, lovers or matters of substance, but rather – matters of the heart. What’s inside of you – your soul, your spirit, your desire. Your relationship with the creator of the universe. Your plug-in to the source of all power. Your substance, full of wonders. That can not be found within anyone (IN THE WORLD) but you. How great is that! You are beautifully created to be ONE of all kind.

So what is the desire of your heart? Which direction has your feet fell upon time and time again and yet, you let your mind and your circumstances hold you back.

We are so powerful. Yet try so little. Society has settled for mediocrity because, as we say here in Aussie – ‘nobody likes a tall poppy’.  May as well be saying: ‘No body likes to feel inadequate’.

To quote a strong and powerful women that I admire to the end degree:

”Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Marianne Williamson

Shine brighter. Live Larger. Because; if it’s meant to be, it’s up to – ME.

The challenge of knowing and then following through to the doing.

What I learnt the most is that we all have ‘seeds of greatness’ within us. Not just me, but you – the reader, and everyone else. Even say, that annoying borderline alcoholic relative that ruins christmas consecutively every year. Yes, we ALL have seeds of greatness in us. We just need to follow a 5 point structure to watch them grow and evolve into something bigger than what they started as.

“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”

THE SEED OF GREATNESS JOURNEY

1) Plant it in good soil.

Toxic environments chock the life out of any great person. Without a solid environment to feel safe and secure in, your hopes and dreams can be crushed by criticism and misunderstanding. Even the relatives who generally love and care for you – they want the best for you (genuinely).. Yet, still speak hurtful truths of them not believing you have the ability to grow the heights of your dreams. E.g I just don’t want you to give your HOPES up.

Life is not about giving up. We all have a destiny which implies we have a destination – correct?

2) Water it!
Learn, practise, study, fail, get back up and then try it all again – consistently! If we don’t add the effort to what we want then we will be paid for our foolishness.

3) Pull out the Weeds..

We all come across fear, doubt, sensitivity and negativity on the way to achieving what we want. If your heart truly believes this dream is your destiny, than by no means do you EVER give up. Pull those thoughts out and throw them well away from your greatness. Continue to grow and understand you will experience thoughts of doubt – but never act on them.

4) The Seasons.

Summer, Winter, Fall, Spring…. Some seasons are all bright and sunny – some are daft and rainy. You have to work with the seasons you are given – knowing a better day is around the corner. Seasons happen for a reason. You have to appreciate the good after the bad otherwise we become arrogant. Work through the hard times and be grateful for the easier times.

5) Enjoy the fruits of your labor.

“An oak tree is nothing more than a NUT that held it’s ground” Bear Grylls

HOLD YOUR GROUND! Be sure that your destiny is YOURS. No one else can take it down – but you.

I personally, have had to overcome many challenges in my earlier years which leaked into the inability to grow up as a young adult. I blamed so many people for my downfall and my inability to finish something once I started.

Any one else relate to being good starters but bad finishers?

Reality is : we are the gate keepers of our own destiny. I believe that we all settle for less than we deserve. Make a decision today to start accepting that bad will come, but high spirits will outlast it all.

Run with the seasons… 

Enjoy the Fruits of your Labor…

I believe in you all.

Love Express, You Are Self

Wow! What an honour it is to get recognised by your fellow writers. Only a short few days ago, I was nominated for a Liebster Blog Award by an equally optimistic women who’s writing is rhythmic, relatable and very realistic. Readers, this wonderful women is the owner of LOL (click on title to open pages).
Love Out Loud
A blog dedicated to capturing love in it’s rawest form – -> Experienced! Name says it all really

So what is a Liebster Blog Award????
It’s unsure of the origin of this phenomenon but I am not one to stop a good thing. The rules of this bloggers delight is very simple.

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who awarded you.
3. Copy & paste the blog award on your blog
4. Reveal your 5 blog picks.
5. Let them know you choose them by leaving a comment about their blog.

Just a little FYI - Liebster is German, it means sweetest, kindest, nicest,dearest… So in keeping with tradition, my nominees are as followed (in no certain order) :

Natasha Haqim
Tasha’s blog is real life on WordPress. Real spirit which yearns for more out of life. One of the rare blogs that makes you feel better after reading it because it is so personal.

From the mind of a modern-postmodern
Matt’s blog is based on the truth of  God’s Word in Action. It entails one of God’s servants going through every day struggles and changes. An honest display of servant-hood and human behaviour entwined.

GhettoSun
YB has one of the most rhythmic writing styles I have ever had the pleasure of reading. He displays himself so vulnerable and vividly. Somewhat dark yet mesmerizing and filled with hope of a better day.

Sean King
Sean is  breath of fresh air – he explains himself very well in all but a few words. A realistic, an opportunist, an everyday man but one of the better every day men. His writing is suited for every day reminders. Great to subscribe to.

Dom TV
Dominic’s blog is all about self-development and is great for those who like to short cut to get the best bits out of it! High energy, authentic content and where I draw great inspiration.

There it is peeps! Wasn’t easy choosing only 5 but I believe these 5 have been my most influential. These great blogs have a purpose, a message, a meaning and it is my pleasure and honor to endorse them to all that land upon my page.

Pa (as he was adoringly known to me) was a typical Aussie battler; Loved his wife Lorna (g’ma) and his family – all 4 generations; Loved to explore the great ocean roads of Australia with a caravan; And, cracked the biggest smile whilst creating vegetable gardens with his grandkids.
A simple man with a big heart.

All but a few days ago, this great man I speak of died at age 92.

He put up a good fight. Being ninety two and all… Still alas, I come to my struggle. As much as I should of seen this coming – it still did not prepare me to say that final ‘goodbye’.

I had never said goodbye to anyone I love before. I never experienced the words ‘…. has passed away’. I have heard many stories proclaiming these heart aches but in essence, I could only sympathise.
Now I am awaken to the facts:
It hurts…Why?
It makes you angry… What?
It Confuses you…  Who? and  When?
So many questions….
I personally have a solid faith built through Jesus Christ but that hurt even more… Yes he was a good man. Was he convicted to the Lord? I couldn’t bare to think of nothing but!

Death…. what a life shaking experience. I once heard that life is like a baby to a womb. Even though to the womb – you are dead and ‘gone’ that does not mean that life is lost. In fact, it has merely begun! I liked that analogy because rather than farewell it is – see you soon! Just a  process of moving onto the next stage of life. So I wonder – what’s spirit life, like? Can my Pa in fact be watching me as I write this article thinking of him? Has he forgotten this world already and is resting with the Good Lord above? My g’ma has decided to cremate Pa’s ashes and keep it til she is dead and buried – Will he be waiting for her?

So…. many….. questions.

To help mend and educate my pain, I put it towards you – Dear readers, what experience have you had with death? And – What can I/we learn from it?

Treasure life and those in it.

In memory of:
Pa
Kenneth James Meldrum Snr.

Lest I never forget.

Growing pains are a lot different now …. They don’t come in as much of a physical aspect as they do a mental one. You know, the kind of pains that you experience when you feel like your head is going to explode! The kind of pains that agitate the very core of you, as you keep doing the same thing over & over and nothing that has worked before is working now.

So you decide to do things a little differently. Differently you say? Yes, different. Against the Grain.. The pains of changing what you previously knew because you no longer know much at all. This, my dearest readers – is the growing pains I speak of.

The mental struggle – the spiritual growth: all clashing to make one big, beautiful package of individuality. Hopefully making its way to be - The Real You & Me we intend to see.

One thing I wanted to press on within this post is an expression that allows people to feel the growing pains and realise that they ARE very short-lived. Much the same as when we were children, you have to massage & stretch the sore spots over and over again before the growth is noticeable. The pain always comes first. Repeat: The pain always has to come first. This rubbing and massaging is now what I like to call small consistent daily activities. It can be anywhere from your professional to personal life. Either way, there are required over and over til the growth is automatic and engrained within us.

Every day I had to practice new principles in dealing with people. Everyday I had to pray to be granted strength and serenity in my moments of foolishness. Everyday I have to get up with a purpose. Everyday I set myself Goals. With the focus in mind that: Everyday is a new day.

‘Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

Remind yourself of that next time you are experiencing your growing pains. Focus, feel and forgive. Growing pains are in reality, the start of something even greater. When you’re experiencing friction in life, sigh in relief – a new dawn is a-coming.

God Bless

Why you may ask I have such enthusiasm for the number 100. Great question! Cause it all started with a WHY!

I finally stretched my mind wide enough to embrace the possibility of 100 Dreams & Goals for WHAT I want out of life. EXHILARATING!

As I completed my number 100 on the notepad application of my iPhone, I started to ponder on the difference this list has made in my life since I was first put to the test to write one. WHY you may ask is this relevant? Because so many people I come into contact with on a day-to-day basis, have no vision for themselves besides the one that they think is simply OK. (pardon my disgust but YUK - average)

HOW this came about? I was on the hunt for something more. Now, this isn’t a new forte of mine either – I have always been the sort that searched for more. HOWever, even with a dreamers sense I had trouble believing that any of the things I dreamed about where possible. I was always humbled by the Facts of Life.

The Facts of Life! Lets look a little closer at them shall we…
It took 6 – SIX – VI months to BELIEVE the possibility of having 100 Dreams & Goals of mine fulfilled.
- 6 months ago, I had a job that I hated.
- Six months ago, I was content to be in debt for the remainder of my 20 something life. – VI months ago I encouraged everyone around me but knew not, how to encourage myself.

Now …
6 months on… I have a Dream! 100 of them to be precise!
Six months on – I have my own business which I am totally infatuated with.
IV months on – I AM DEBT FREE! Loving life.

How simple it is now that I have figured out this formula;
When I was searching for WHAT I wanted to do – I found no such thing.
When I was researching on HOW I was going to do it – No such Luck.
But! Now that I have a WHY- The facts don’t count!

Everything started to fit tightly into place once I searching my soul for;  Why it is that I want to succeed, Why would I want to be a better person. WHY WHY WHY?

Don’t start with How or What – Start with WHY!

Once you understands what drives you, everything else starts to fit together.

Dearest readers, I pray that you start to try to put together a list of 100 dreams. Get crazy with what you want too – No boundaries – You can go where ever your mind allows you to go. Be the first person to drive to the moon. I don’t care how crazy your friends think you are – Dare to be different.
Dare to Dream.

Anyone else relate to this? … Mmmm hmmm!

Given; Yes, it is a normal human emotion to be down and out especially when experiencing  the HALT’s : Hunger, Anger, Loneliness &/or Tiresome.

Now, for those of you who are still following me with nods of agreements: When things are in such a manner – How easy is it to act out of character or outside your general borders of conduct?.. My answer: extremely easy! Not proud to admit that but tis the truth.

“The ability to have thoughts and not act on them is what separates man from beast”

In hearing this quote one fine day, I started to ponder –  How do we retract the beast within? Refusing to act on raw emotion?

But of cause – like a moth to a flame it hit me: GRATITUDE!

Rather than focusing on the negative – be thankful for the positive! In making a list you also have the power to turn a negative into a positive, all by the power of Love.

When was the last time you made a gratitude list?

-Love to all and to all a good day - 

‘It’s time to Grow Up now’

I remember the words so vividly… As I shortly after, admitted out loud  that I hadn’t given my all in this department.
How I came to this realisation?
I started a nightly activity with my partner, which includes reading to each other out loud. Not just any old books either; books of benefit. Self development books written by credible authors who have taken the rough roads and had their own life mapped out as ‘what not to do’ for their readers.

As we took turns turning pages, it gave us time to reflect on;
 - What was being said,
- What it means in our life,
and;
- How it relates to the road ahead.

Think about it. It’s quite brilliant actually! It isn’t just two people trapped in their own world denying the painfully obvious – It is the truth in between your own knowledge and another’s. That place that has no room for ‘stories’ to manifest and take up residence.

This is an outline of what brought on the theme of this post;

Characteristics of an Immature Person:
1) Living in the Immediate.
2) Short on discipline.
3) Dominated by Emotions.
4) Limited knowledge without knowledge of Limits.
5) Operating from a Sentimentality base, not reality.
6) Sexually Absorbed.
7) Identity Sensitive.

Now, for a girl who has overcome a lot of personal obstacles and experienced an immense amount of growth over the last two years as it was – it was a hard blow to still be able to relate to 5 out of 7 of the above!

So, here’s what I DO know: I have an ability to act mature at the right time. I have an ability to be immature at the wrong time. I’ve recently learnt how to be content within myself but! In all honesty – I wasn’t wanting to change at all. I had a willingness but I had no walk to match the talk. Just because I knew how to ‘act’ a certain way for the majority of the time, I thought I was doing ok. The rest is just ‘human nature’… Right?

Dearest readers, ‘OK’ isn’t the quality of life we are called for. We are called to make a difference. To be the difference. To be above the average and push through the boundaries. Just because we have read the manuscript – does not mean we are right for the part. Who are we but our own main character in our story? Why try to play another role when it is your own that makes you grow.

“I see far too many good people with big dreams who want to upgrade their lives that unfortunately have yet to master the basics of a daily routine. You must be accountable to yourself and be consistent if you want to upgrade any area of your life. Do not be one of those positive speaking people who is a complete inconsistent fool. We all have the ability to be better than that. Plus we owe it to the people we ‘Quote’ to, to put some actual effort behind the words we are repeating from them. My heart hurts when I see people who are completely fooling themselves.” Dean Kosage

In closing….
I really don’t know… But  - It’s Time To Grow Up Now.

As I took my church pew, I felt the emotion coming to the surface – it was hot, warm and wanting to escape. I held the tears back and continued to worship. As the service began the pastor started to speak of Mark Chapter 6. Your faith will not work without honor. It had me go into a spiral of thinking which was conveniently directly relative to my current circumstance… What are any of us without honor?

All of us withhold a role within our community of friends and authorities. We are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, employers, employees, business owners, customers. We are many different things in one day – let alone a lifetime! Without honor towards these roles or the roles above us – we become too familiar and it breeds contempt. We abuse our authority of power, we disrespect, we do not allow the authority given to over look us – we fight. But what are we really fighting?

Respect ? Freedom ? Understanding?

Ultimately, my faith lives in all areas of my life. However, in saying that – all too quickly I start to feel like I am that of all authority when I choose not to listen to those who have gone before me.

So, how do we stay we check? You & I, dearest reader  - We honor those positions outside of ourselves. We honor our own. We honor the systems: the government, the police, the doctors. We honor the people who were there to help us when we were helpless: Mother’s & Father’s, Aunties & Uncles, Friends. We honor our partners. We honor ourselves. No matter what fault has been displayed in the past – It is not our position to judge. It is our job to honor the job at hand and do the best with the authorities that we have been given.

“A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” Mark 6:4

How sad that would be to have too much pride or resentment to not see the perfection within the person before you – just because you have seen them without that authority. It puts a new meaning to honor and obey. Faith is a trust – Yes…. What is any of it without honor?

Yes! The new chapter of my life has indeed begun and I am happy to report that so far, the best lesson God has graciously shown me was this:

Allow yourself to make mistakes.

How I learnt this lesson you may ask? Would you believe – in traffic – lost – freaking out – lost – fretting – LOST – had a GPS in the car – still lost!

As I found myself screaming in one ear, echoing through to the next. I heard the smallest whisper, the gentlest voice, with the strongest string pulled upon my heart saying:

Allow yourself to make mistakes…. How else will you learn if you don’t?

How true is that voice of greater reasoning… While I was running around, making a mess of the journey at hand – the real purpose was to acknowledge what does not work so I could move faster onto what does. The more I got frustrated with myself in an unknown position, the more I regressed.

“The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we don’t know what to do”  

- John W.Holt, Jr

The most ironic part of this lesson is that I had the previous quote sitting in my wallet for the last year and it only made the distance from my head to my heart when I experienced a few days again.

Law of attraction? Coincident? Or Divine timing? Which ever you believe to be true. I want to impress on you the importance of being able to make mistakes. Simple, careless and easy to learn from mistakes. We are here to learn about ourselves, to grow together and to support each other when times are tough…. Mistakes are the difference between knowing what’s wrong & right to feeling what’s wrong & right.

Mistakes help you make the distance from the head to the heart. Why not acknowledge a few you are experiencing within this moment and let your heart feel, know and accept your truth as to what is right & what is wrong.