I was watching a kindergarten class this morning being taught by a policeman how to cross the road. It was very cute. They were being taught to stop, look and listen, before they stepped onto the zebra crossing. It brought a smile to my face.
This is a life skill in so many ways.
It then reminded me of a presentation I saw yesterday, when someone was talking about all the unconscious learning they had had in their lives, for example growing up with parents and grand parents from different nationalities and how that had taught them the value of inclusiveness and sport how it teaches you resilience and patience, along with the actual performance skill aswell.
So every day we are exposed to some form of learning, be it conscious or unconscious.
It is when we are playing an instrument, talking to our kids, reading a book. Learning is everywhere. We just dont always see it.
Those cute little 5 year olds were consciously learning this morning.
Have a think, what did you consciously learn today?
What have your unconscious learnings helped you be good at today?
Who do you want to be?
Three times this week I have been confronted with a decision that was not easy to make.
In many ways these decisions were incredibly simple and could have been answered easily and quickly. Yet I paused before I made each one.
The questions were:
1. Do I have time to go to the gym?
2. Can I cancel that meeting and take my mum to the airport?
3. Can I come in late in order to go for an anniversary breakfast with my husband?
In the cold light of day and with a rationale brain the answer to all of these questions is YES! However under pressure and with seemingly no time to do anything, my answer to each of these is often a big fat NO.
Yet the "No" felt wrong with each of these questions so I paused.
I paused and asked myself one question.
The question I asked was "Who do I want be?"
Interestingly I did not anwer the question with "I want to be the best employee of 2015", instead here are the answers I gave myself:
1. I want to be someone who takes care of themselves (and ideally has a cute bum too :-)!)
2. I want to the best daughter I can be
3. I want to spend time with my husband and celebrate 16 happy years.
To me it came down to what make me whole and what makes me happy. Don't get me wrong when these decisions are made it is very rarely at the cost of my work. This somehow always finds a way to get done, its just that a reshuffle is needed and this can be an effort.
So are you being who you want to be?
How do you know?
Is there another question that you use to help you keep on track?
Do tell..........
In many ways these decisions were incredibly simple and could have been answered easily and quickly. Yet I paused before I made each one.
The questions were:
1. Do I have time to go to the gym?
2. Can I cancel that meeting and take my mum to the airport?
3. Can I come in late in order to go for an anniversary breakfast with my husband?
In the cold light of day and with a rationale brain the answer to all of these questions is YES! However under pressure and with seemingly no time to do anything, my answer to each of these is often a big fat NO.
Yet the "No" felt wrong with each of these questions so I paused.
I paused and asked myself one question.
The question I asked was "Who do I want be?"
Interestingly I did not anwer the question with "I want to be the best employee of 2015", instead here are the answers I gave myself:
1. I want to be someone who takes care of themselves (and ideally has a cute bum too :-)!)
2. I want to the best daughter I can be
3. I want to spend time with my husband and celebrate 16 happy years.
To me it came down to what make me whole and what makes me happy. Don't get me wrong when these decisions are made it is very rarely at the cost of my work. This somehow always finds a way to get done, its just that a reshuffle is needed and this can be an effort.
So are you being who you want to be?
How do you know?
Is there another question that you use to help you keep on track?
Do tell..........
Top Tips for 4 weeks off
This Summer I decided that I would like to take four weeks of holiday with my family.
A few times I have taken 3 weeks, but usually I plump for 2 weeks and spread out the other weeks throughout the year, yet this year I decided to take 4. Not all travellng, just 4 weeks away from the office.
It was inspired by a few things. The first was that my friend took 4 weeks last year and said it was amazing and encouraged me to do the same. I also was granted an extra week of holiday just for this year as it was 10 years of service, and also I felt I needed to reconnect with my family.
So as I come back, all relaxed and calm from the wonderfully long break, I thought I would share with you my top tips for making this happen.
BBBs tips of taking a month off work
1. Communicate your intent often and to many. This starts to confirm the plan in your own head and with each declaration you actually believe it is true and start to committ.
2. Book 5 weeks off in your work calendar. This allows flexibility to change one of the weeks if work needs you for some days, you can always offer them week 1 or week 5.
3. Ensure you plan your workload so that the big stuff is done before you go.
4. Nominate someone to back you up, so that if something comes up and work need you, you can delegate to someone you completely trust
5. Committ to yourself that you are going to do it.
I don't think I would add more than that, but these 5 things definitely helped me.
So the big question, will I do it again? I think I might!
A few times I have taken 3 weeks, but usually I plump for 2 weeks and spread out the other weeks throughout the year, yet this year I decided to take 4. Not all travellng, just 4 weeks away from the office.
It was inspired by a few things. The first was that my friend took 4 weeks last year and said it was amazing and encouraged me to do the same. I also was granted an extra week of holiday just for this year as it was 10 years of service, and also I felt I needed to reconnect with my family.
So as I come back, all relaxed and calm from the wonderfully long break, I thought I would share with you my top tips for making this happen.
BBBs tips of taking a month off work
1. Communicate your intent often and to many. This starts to confirm the plan in your own head and with each declaration you actually believe it is true and start to committ.
2. Book 5 weeks off in your work calendar. This allows flexibility to change one of the weeks if work needs you for some days, you can always offer them week 1 or week 5.
3. Ensure you plan your workload so that the big stuff is done before you go.
4. Nominate someone to back you up, so that if something comes up and work need you, you can delegate to someone you completely trust
5. Committ to yourself that you are going to do it.
I don't think I would add more than that, but these 5 things definitely helped me.
So the big question, will I do it again? I think I might!
10 years of wigs
I have been wearing wigs for 10 years now!!
I did not actually know that it had been 10 years, but when I was recently at my special hairdressers, she mentioned that I had bought my first wig from her in 2006.
How time flies.
The experience of buying my first wig verus the three I bought on Friday could not be any different. The comfort level, the calmness, the conversation, the questions I ask, everything is different. Better and different.
I now also look forward to going and see it as a day out. I am no longer afraid of wigs, I am not intimidated by the choice and I always know what I want. I enjoy picking ones with highlights as at least I can benefit from them not growing out and exposing the grey roots hidden beneath!
I am also in and out in less than an hour, that includes trying on numerous styles, picking 2-4 to take home and then having them cut to shape. It is nowadays an enjoyable experience. It shows that time heals.
It's not to say its completely stress free, I always worry that once the hairdresser starts cutting at the style, if I hate it, I still have to buy it. I worry about the people staring at me in the shop, as even though its somewhat visually protected, people are curious. I worry that I will no longer like the style when I get home and yet I still have to wear it. But these fears are small in comparison to what i felt when I started out 10 years ago and these thougths are really just part of the process.
So here's to 10 years of a wonderful hairdresser who has been at my side through this part of the journey and here's to many more! See you next year.
I did not actually know that it had been 10 years, but when I was recently at my special hairdressers, she mentioned that I had bought my first wig from her in 2006.
How time flies.
The experience of buying my first wig verus the three I bought on Friday could not be any different. The comfort level, the calmness, the conversation, the questions I ask, everything is different. Better and different.
I now also look forward to going and see it as a day out. I am no longer afraid of wigs, I am not intimidated by the choice and I always know what I want. I enjoy picking ones with highlights as at least I can benefit from them not growing out and exposing the grey roots hidden beneath!
I am also in and out in less than an hour, that includes trying on numerous styles, picking 2-4 to take home and then having them cut to shape. It is nowadays an enjoyable experience. It shows that time heals.
It's not to say its completely stress free, I always worry that once the hairdresser starts cutting at the style, if I hate it, I still have to buy it. I worry about the people staring at me in the shop, as even though its somewhat visually protected, people are curious. I worry that I will no longer like the style when I get home and yet I still have to wear it. But these fears are small in comparison to what i felt when I started out 10 years ago and these thougths are really just part of the process.
So here's to 10 years of a wonderful hairdresser who has been at my side through this part of the journey and here's to many more! See you next year.
Waiting rooms and kindness
Sitting in a hospital emergency waiting room is thank goodness a new experience.
All is well now so I feel very comfortable posting this.
It makes me realise that my life to date has been very blessed. I have not had to spend time in hospital waiting rooms at all. What a gift I have had.
There is plenty of time to think and observe and for people like me to write down what I notice.
The first big thing is that it is calm here. Despite the TV hospital dramas it's not all adrenalin and noise here. It's calm and composed. The medical staff walk at a normal pace, so while purposeful in their steps, they are not running around in a panic.
The second thing I notice is that everytime the door to the "Shock" room opens, all eyes look up. Everyone is expecting someone or something. We are all hoping for news or status updates.
I am thankful for the fact that there is a water machine providing cold sparkly water and next to it a vending machine which has not only the usual goodies, but also salads and yogurts.
I am greatful for every single person who passed us today and offered to help. We were flooded with kindness and support. I hope I would have done the same.
I am also greatful that I live in a country with exceptional health care, something I have always known and valued. And today have been the benefactor of.
Thank you for these moments of reflection and good recovery to all those tucked up in hospital beds.
Domesticity rocks
A cake in the oven, washing on the line, peeling potatoes and listening to Morning Glory by Oasis on a CD! Heaven!
I like this life.
This life of domesticity.
I look out of the freshly cleaned windows and enjoy the garden.
Could I do this longer? Absolutely.
Much longer? Possibly.
I think I could.
So what would I miss?
The high heels and nice dresses. The coffee chats and office gossip.
The feeling of being someone, beyond wife and mother.
The deadlines and presentations.
The interviews and decisions.
Could I trade it in?
Right now I say yes.
But could I really.
Probably not.
I am good in the office, navigating the political playground and helping decisions be made in the benefit of the people.
So whilst I enjoy the final few days, I dream a little of another life, but it is a dream. One that I enjoy right now and know it is just a dream. Well for now at least.
Simple things
I can get excited about the simplest of things.
Examples, finishing the pile of washing and seeing it drying on the washing line or organizing a day out with times and entry prices all researched.
It does bring me great pleasure to sit back and admire these things.
I think these tasks give me not only immediate gratification, but they also give me a sense of pride. It's nice to feel good about something, even if it is the laundry or a trip to the cinema.
Do you have simple things in your life that when you do them, you feel good?
How often do you do them?
Do you feel silly about the happiness they give or rather great about it.
Do tell.....
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