The Pale Blue Dot.

Looking for some perspective? Well here it is. This is a great video to bring our self important lives back to some form of reality.



These sort of films are very humbling and I love it. We could all be a little bit more humble at times, even me :-)

"To me, it underscores the need to deal more kindly with one and other and preserve and cherish the pale blue dot; the only home we've ever known."

We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.

This is a quote from Frank Tibolt that I read on a blog recently and it reminded me of what I was pondering over the weekend.

My brother bought a block of land last weekend. He's building a house. He has always been the type to leap into action and never waits to do proper due diligence or analyses of any decisions, big or small. As a result he has a small family, a home (which he will now sell to build a new one), a car, and happy little life of achievements. He wins some and he loses some, but he always learns a great deal.

I am quite the opposite. I see him buying a house and get inspired for about 15 minutes. I look on realestate.com for a place of my own and work out how much I can borrow. I analyse how this would impact my budget and work out what I would need to sacrifice. I try and find a mortgage broker and about then it gets too hard. I then put it all away and go get some food to eat and watch TV. It never turns into action for me. Ever. As a result it has taken me about 6 years of inspiration waves in order to make a plan to go overseas to travel. And I STILL haven't booked it yet. My brother did that at 21. Just did it. Borrowed the money and went. Paid it off when he got back and moved on to the next thing.

Sometimes it takes me so long to take action that I often wonder if I'll ever do anything!! I'm being dramatic of course but you get the point.

I figure we're all on the spectrum of consideration to action. Some of us consider things for much longer, others will just do it. My attempts are often made to stop getting into a situation where I feel I made an error. I am avoiding failing at all costs. Problem is I think failing is really important. It's when we learn the most and have the best stories to tell.

How action orientated are you? do you just leap right in? I'm thinking about leaping a bit more in the future, but I'm going to ponder it a bit more first.

Wouldn't it be nice...

One day I hope to be as helplessly happy as these Otters. It teaches me almost everything I need to know about us as animals...

If this doesn't make you smile, nothing will.

Picking your battles

I've found in my experience, knowing when to fight a battle and when to leave it is a really difficult but important skill to learn. I also think we can only learn this through trial and error. I've been part of discussions where someones career within a company has literally been written off in a single conversation. This may be a scary prospect for some people, but I find it incredibly humbling. I believe it is important to never consider your role as an entitlement.

I have always thought that I will be in employment with a company for as long as two conditions are met:
1. I'm still interested in my role and actually want to be there.
2. The company I work for still feel I am creating value and worth the money I'm paid.

I read a quote today which really inspired my thinking on this.
The squeaking wheel doesn't always get the grease. Sometimes it gets replaced.
- Vic Gold

I couldn't agree more. When working out whether or not a battle is worth fighting, I run it through a quick filter. Specifically:
1. Is the battle based on a values or moral issue which is important to me?
2. Will the battle significantly change the perception of me professionally and then how?
3. Am I willing to live with the consequences of this if it weren't to go well or the way that I expect?
4. When I look back at this in 5 years time, will I be happy with the way that I acted or spoke in this instance?

This is my filter and I think it has worked well for me in the past. Have you got a filter and has the track record been good?

I guess I also use a similar filter for battles in a social context. Just change the above as appropriate. I do find I take more risks when it relates to a social context. I wonder if that means I value my professional reputation more than how my friends perceive me, or whether I'm just more comfortable with confrontation and being honest with how I feel with my friends. Something for me to ponder more on I guess.

Stuff that matters.

I was reading through my blog list today and saw the below YouTube clip.



Basically (if you don't have the 10 minutes), it's a film of soliders coming home early and surprising their families. The expression of the first girl says it all. I was watching this film right before one of the most difficult conversations I would have to face this month and indeed probably this year. It really put into perspective what really matters and what we should really value in life. I managed to go into the meeting very calm with a clear perspective on how important this meeting REALLY was.

People who we deeply care about and obviously where this is mutual are so important for us. For some reason, as a human, we can't just latch on to anyone, we actually need to have 'our people' to be happy. Just goes to show the importance of long lasting deep relationships and the effect it can have on us when we are seperated for a while. There is something about seeing someone who is so important to us after a long period that comforts us and brings overwhelming joy.

If you don't have anyone that makes you feel this way I suggest you focus more on building those relationships. It's the best feeling in the world.

How do you feel?

Someone once said to me that people will remember how you made them feel long after they remember what you said. I really like that and often remind myself of this as in my line of work I don't often get to give a really nice message but I can at least try and make the unsavoury message less terrible just by approaching it in a way that is less confrontational and more supportive.

On the way to work this morning I was thinking about this while listening to music and realised for me music has the same quality. I remember how music makes me feel long after I remember what any of the songs were about. Some songs make me happy and wanna dance, others make me sad and want to reflect, some even take me to a place or time where I have a fond memory; not because I heard the song there, but just because it leads my unconscious mind there.

This morning I was listening to 'The Waifs'. I love listening to The Waifs. I always start with 'Crazy Train' which always makes me smile and then as album goes on it makes me think about old Queenslander homes in summer and having a beer on the deck. It takes me back to my childhood and places I went outside of Brisbane and mostly inland. There is just something about them that take me away for a while. And even better, I know that's what it does for me purposely choose that music whenever I want that experience. I'm not sure what it is about 'London Still' that makes me feel like I'm in Queensland still, but I do enjoy it. I feel then that I identify with this imagery and get a sense of who I am (or who I want to believe I am). Of course, often this is disrupted by the pushing of the crowds as I get off the train and tripping over on the stairs, face planting the concrete and then limping to the lift at work, but for that moment, that's where it takes me.

Where do The Waifs take you?

Rebuilding trust

This election has been particularly interesting for me. I've had very strong views on a number of issues and I've gone back and forth in my head over whether or not my vote will go to the Greens or Labor. Being priviledged to have experienced the media industry both through family and personal exposure I have a great deal of cynisism towards their views and the rubbish they often go on with, without any real regard for fact or truth.

This year I think the ABC have been amazing job with their coverage of the election and particularly their program Q&A which has been a regular at my place for the last 4 weeks.

Last night Julia Gillard faced the questions herself after receiving an invite from the ABC. The questions raised were gruelling and Julia was not shown them beforehand. I believe Julia often tackles questions better when she has more time to prepare her answer (and thats absolutely ok, we are all different and perform better in different circumstances depending on our personal preferences) but thought she did an amazing job at answering them on the spot.



I witnessed a PM that was compassionate and intelligent on National and World issues and I finally feel comfortable with the possible outcome of Labor being re-elected. She really is an amazing woman and not for a moment was she concerned with what any person threw her way even if the questions seemed like attacks at times. I found myself glued to the TV for the entire program and even ended up clapping with the audience. I feel like quite the nerd.

I still love Julia, I think she's great. I still can't stand Tony, he's annoying. I will be voting Greens, they like the gays and I know the vote for them will count towards Labor in the long run but if enough people vote this way it will give the Labor government something to think about re:equality for all.

My friend posted a great Tweet today "Mark Lathom is like the sideshow Bob of politics". Agreed.

Oh and Family First can go to hell. I had no idea people could possibly still have views as out of touch as this.

Marriage. A great deal of Blog.

I love finding great stuff on the net and putting it here. 2 reasons. 1. I can find it whenever I want, easily. 2. people who stumble across this page can make use of the little bit of gold that I've found and perhaps learn something from it or be inspired.

Snapdragons and Teapots blog who I follow (although don't know at all) posted a great blog on same-sex marriage laws in California. The blog is here.

What I love is the imagery of the 2nd picture and the people in the background. This alone is all the proof I need to know that something needs to be done about this in Australia. I also love what she says about marriage and how people feel about it. I whole-heartily agree.

Great blog!

Jack’s Life Lessons

1. Don’t be a jerk
2. Don’t take anyone for granted
3. Enjoy the moment
4. Be honest, always
5. Be humble
6. Be kind
7. Respect people’s wishes
8. Allow endings
9. Fail openly
10. Have an amazing haircut

I think Jack’s cool. I have these on my fridge and I look at them all the time. Sometimes we all need to be reminded of them I reckon.

Who is Jack? The guy who started Twitter. Amazing.

A Life that Matters.

There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.

Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.
So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won’t matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end.

It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin colour will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.



What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.

What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice.

While you meet something beautiful, the first thing you should do is to share it with your friends anywhere.
So that these beautiful things will be able to spread out literally around the world.

- Author Unknown -

Enjoying. Your. Self.

As I get older I find I enjoy my own company a lot more. When I was insecure and immature I used to fear being alone more than anything. I would find vacant pockets in my day and quickly fill them with catch ups and friend time. Once a friend said to me that she enjoys travelling alone and exploring by herself. Nothing used to terrify me more. Now I savour them and protect my moments alone. Being alone is wonderful. Free to feel and think as you please. Free to sit and just be. I love taking the time out to be alone and what is starting to scare me is that I just love it more and more.

I once did my Myer's Briggs profile to find out I'm an ENFP. According to the report this means I am 'spontaneous, enthusiastic, optimistic, innovative and people-centred. I value relationships and intimacy and need to know that they are making a difference in the lives of people and in the world.' I would agree with this. I have loved having relationships with partners and friends and love spending time with people. But these days my favourite time is when I'm home by myself just hanging out with me.

What I find interesting is the report on ENFPs say that my midlife (ages 35-55) tell me that my 'introverted sensing will develop. The outgoing, idealistic personality of the ENFP will continue throughout adulthood, but now their attention turns to the inner world of reality, facts, details and sensory experience. They will seek more quiet time and will focus more on health issues and on practical activities. Many ENFPs at this time will become involved in activities such as art, craft, massage, meditation, natural healing, gardening, housework, sport or dancing. Some ENFPs will become interested in writing to share what they have learned about life with others. Some become advocates for disadvantaged people. ENFPs at midlife will be more comfortable living with reality and will often find they enjoy their own company.'

I feel like I fast forwarded my development to 35. That makes me 10 years older than I am because most of what is suppose to happen is happening right now. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.

What I do know for sure is that I love this video my dear friend sent me a lot. I really love it. I think we can learn a lot from spending time by ourselves. Take 4 minutes and watch it, it's perfect.