daily photo #5

For the last eighteen months my husband, Glenn has been restoring a 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible. Every moment of his spare time is dedicated to this project! Yesterday he took the day off work to do a few errands, including getting a wheel alignment done on the Mustang. It was a beautiful clear sunny (but very cold day). Here's a picture of the car, almost ready for its 'big reveal'.

daily photo #4

The temperatures have plummeted again! The day started off grey, showery and cold but by the afternoon the skies had cleared and the sun was shining. Sarah and I had a delicious lunch at The Falls in Henderson, before doing a little bit of shopping at Kathmandu - they have a huge winter sale on now. Afterwards it was time to fetch the girls from school. I took this photograph of the water tanks at Talya's school - brightly painted with the school emblem and motto - 'Together we learn, care and grow'. It's a great little school!

daily photo #3

Anika had her ballet exam today - Rosette Pre Grade Two. There were seven little girls in her group and they all looked so pretty in their pink leotards and tights, hair up in little buns. I've snuck in two photos today - this one is of Anika having her hair done - I love the way the sunlight shines through her blonde hair:

Here is her group of girls after bring presented with their bright pink Rosette's - number 5 desperately trying to squeeze back into her spot... 

daily photo #2

This afternoon Sarah and I went walking in the hills behind the town of Helensville (about 40km north west of Auckland city). It was a sunny but cold afternoon, a brisk breeze was blowing but it felt good to be out in the fresh air. Stupidly I left my camera in the car so couldn't take any photographs on our walk but I took this shot at the end, looking back towards the sheep-dotted green hills. As you can see, some dark grey clouds were gathering - about an hour and a half later there was a huge downpour! Luckily we were safe and dry.

daily photo #1

Last night, my sister Sarah arrived from Cape Town for four weeks (I started this blog after her last trip which was just over two years ago).   We've got a long list of things we plan to do and hopefully the Auckland winter will present us with some clear sunny days (although even if it's raining we'll find something fun to do!).  I've decided to post a daily photo (taken with my point and shoot Sony Cybershot) for the next 4 weeks as a record of her stay.  Here is the first, taken yesterday afternoon - after a showery grey start to Sunday, the sun appeared in the afternoon and a beautiful rainbow appeared.  Rainbows have always been a good omen for me so no doubt lots of good times lie ahead in the next month!

Trust30 - Prompt #10: Your Personal Message

To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, that is genius. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Writing prompt: What is burning deep inside of you? If you could spread your personal message RIGHT NOW to 1 million people, what would you say?

(Author: Eric Handler)

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My response:

Turn off the television.
Go outside.
Look. Smell. Listen. Touch. Taste.
Move your body.
Breathe.
Live.

Trust30 - Prompt #8: Five Years

There will be an agreement in whatever variety of actions, so they be each honest and natural in their hour. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Writing prompt: What would you say to the person you were five years ago? What will you say to the person you’ll be in five years?
(Author: Corbett Barr)
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To my 39-year old self:
Don't wait until you're 43 to cut back on gluten and alcohol. Do it now. You'll sleep better. You'll feel better. You won't be so darn moody. I mean it!
And floss daily. Please.
Otherwise you're doing fine.

To my 49-year old self:
How's the new house?  Is it finished yet? 
Are you remembering to floss?
Remember you said you wanted to look 40 when you turned 50?  How's that going?  I really am doing everything I can - sunscreen, regular facials, yoga.  Hope it helped.
Laugh anyway. 
You are loved.

Trust30 - Prompt #6: Come Alive

Life wastes itself while we are preparing to live. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Writing prompt: If you had one week left to live, would you still be doing what you’re doing now? In what areas of your life are you preparing to live? Take them off your To Do list and add them to a To Stop list. Resolve to only do what makes you come alive.
(Author: Jonathan Mead)
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My To Stop List:
- worry about what other people think
- stew over the shape of my thighs
- fret about whether I did or said the right thing, yesterday or 20 years ago
- agonise over whether I am a good enough - mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, yoga teacher, writer...

The only thing that is preventing me from becoming completely ALIVE is the amount of time I spend worrying. 
I resolve to stop. Today.

Trust30 - Prompt #5: Travel

If we live truly, we shall see truly. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Writing prompt: Not everyone wants to travel the world, but most people can identify at least one place in the world they’d like to visit before they die. Where is that place for you, and what will you do to make sure you get there?
(Author: Chris Guillebeau)
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My response:
I was lucky to be able to do a lot of travelling in my twenties. I backpacked around Europe, worked in New York, au paired in London. And now that I live in New Zealand I've been able to visit some of the Pacific Islands - I worked in Vanuatu for a while, and got married in the Cook Islands, holidayed in Fiji.  I love travelling and the world is full of colourful destinations.  But of all the places in the world I'd really like to visit, India is the most fascinating and enticing for me.  More specifically I'd like to visit Pune, and spend a month training at RIMYI (Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute) with the Iyengar family.  Yoga has changed my life in so many ways, and to be able to travel to the 'source' would be a dream come true.  I doubt whether this is likely to happen in the near future...not until the girls are grown up anyway! 
In the meantime, I'll keep a special Pune savings account and keep up my daily asana practice so that when I get there, my body will be able to keep up!

Trust30 - Prompt #4: Post it Question

That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him. Where is the master who could have taught Shakespeare? Where is the master who could have instructed Franklin, or Washington, or Bacon, or Newton? . . . Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare. Do that which is assigned you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Writing prompt: Identify one of your biggest challenges at the moment (ie I don’t feel passionate about my work) and turn it into a question (ie How can I do work I’m passionate about?) Write it on a post-it and put it up on your bathroom mirror or the back of your front door. After 48-hours, journal what answers came up for you and be sure to evaluate them.
(Author: Jenny Blake)
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My response:
I thought about this for a while.  And after much solemn contemplation, I concluded that my biggest challenge right now is remembering to Laugh Out Loud Every Day.  Sometime between the age of 12 and 40-something, I’ve forgotten how to have fun, let go and guffaw.  I do smile a lot.  I chuckle when I hear a funny joke. I am basically happy and grateful for my many blessings.  But I take myself and my life a bit too seriously.  I cringe at my own mistakes. I worry (a lot). I fret over my To Do list...
They say 'Laughter is the Best Medicine' and even though I'm not quite ready to attend Laughter Yoga, before another solemn day passes me by my post-it question is

Trust30 - Prompt #3: One Strong Belief

It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. - Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance


Writing prompt: The world is powered by passionate people, powerful ideas, and fearless action. What’s one strong belief you possess that isn’t shared by your closest friends or family? What inspires this belief, and what have you done to actively live it?
(Author: Buster Benson)

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My response:

I believe strongly that the key to health and happiness is awareness – and whatever one does to increase one’s awareness of self and the world around us will contribute greatly to health and happiness. Awareness means asking the right questions; staying open; waking up to the truth; making conscious choices; taking responsibility; and responding to change from a place a knowledge and power.  

This is why I practice yoga. Every time I get on the mat, I wake up.

Trust30 - Prompt #2: Today

Your genuine action will explain itself, and will explain your other genuine actions. Your conformity explains nothing. The force of character is cumulative. – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance


Writing prompt: If ‘the voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of a hundred tacks,’ then it is more genuine to be present today than to recount yesterdays. How would you describe today using only one sentence? Tell today’s sentence to one other person. Repeat each day.
(Author: Liz Danzico)

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My response:
Today has been a zigzag to and from this moment - I come and go; asleep, awake – the path of joy is here beneath my feet, right in front of my eyes.

Trust30 - cultivating Self Reliance

I've decided to take part in Trust30, an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages you to look within and trust yourself. Inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson, each day from 31 May for 30 days prompts by authors from around the world will guide us on our writing journey.  

I'll be posting some (but not all) of my responses on this blog.