Just do it...

As my good friend says, "If you aren't living on the edge, you're taking up too much room".

Travel the world
Change jobs
Meet new people
Exercise
Learn to cook
Take some photos
Make someone a special gift
Buy a new car
Spend time with your family
Do some extreme sports

Do something different. You will never know where it will take you and really who cares? it's all about the adventure right?

When was the last time you were a human being?

There is a whole bunch of research on the importance of reflection and meditation and positive health impacts both physically and mentally. I think reflection is such an important part of working out who you are, who you want to be and how to get there. We live in a world where there is more and more to distract us, to demand our time and to take us away from what is important to us. We also live in a world where anxiety and depression are on the rise and we are heavily medicated to deal with the meaninglessness of our modern lives.

I find three things really helpful when reflecting. Being near large bodies of water; walking barefoot on the grass (when was the last time you did that?); and making a conscious decision to spend some time alone to be silent  (I like to go swimming, it's the only way to make sure I don't talk). So it does beg the question, when was the last time you were a human being, rather than a human doing? Do you put time aside for yourself to just be? What are the things you think about when you're not doing? What should you be doing differently?

VS.

Things I learnt from my friend Caryn

This week has been very difficult for me. This week I heard the terrible news that my dear friend Caryn had passed away from cancer.

Let me assure you the world is dimmer without her in it. You see, Caryn always had time for the people she loved. And she loved a lot of people. You would always feel better for knowing you had a friend in Caryn. She was encouraging, grounded and spiritual. She was adventurous. She made every minute count. When you were with her, she was present. Even when cancer was having it's way with her body, she was selfless and positive. I often had no idea how bad her health was getting, but I always knew that she loved and cared for me. While I was traveling overseas earlier this year, she would send me messages to make sure I was having a good time. In the final few months Caryn spoke to me about not fighting cancer, but accepting that this was going to be a part of her life and she had learned so much for having to deal with it. She spoke about how much she loved her friends for not changing when they found out about her diagnosis and spoke of some jokes they had used to get through the grief they were all feeling. She didn't shy away from difficult conversations but never missed an opportunity to laugh or to be kind.

And I know if she could talk to me now, she would encourage me to love my friends, to make the most of life, to accept my flaws and be successful anyway in every aspect of life (she would probably say "get on with it"). She would say that we should all take life for all the richness it has to offer; even if sometimes that meant we had to be sad or in grief.

My friend Caryn is a rare species of human. She was compassionate, loving, self aware, good at almost everything but especially at being a very special friend.

She was my hero. and I love her.
Rest in peace my dear friend, I will always remember you.