Chasing my Dreams!

People Id like to meet – #7. ‘Ford Racing Alf’

Ford Racing Alf is the mischievious furry little alien from Melmac, who is a massive supporter of motor racing – especially Ford teams, such as Dick Johnson Racing.  Gotta love an alien who supports DJR as much as I do! hehe…

I’d watched his antics on his Facebook page over many months, loved seeing all the mischief that he gets up to!  My dream was to meet this little guy in person one day – and on Sunday 22nd July, 2012 – thats exactly what happened.  The sneaky little thing took me completely by surprise…hehe…

I headed to the AWESOME Pacific Ford FPV Show in Maroochydore, excited about seeing not only the display of beautiful Performance cars which were going to be there, but also knowing that Allan Moffat and his beautiful ‘Moffstang’ was making an appearance… also, Shane van Gisbergen and Lee Holdsworth (two Ford V8 Supercar racedrivers) were going to be there as well…awesome, what a special day this is going to be!  Little did I know who else I would be meeting that day as well!

I strolled around looking at all the different Fords from many different eras – some old, some brand new…but ALL awesome, I was in awe of these beautiful machines in front of me.  Stopping to talk to some of the owners/drivers, and loving hearing their passion they have for their cars.  Seeing two of Allan Moffats racing beasts in the Showroom was just…wow…  Then came the moment that Im sure more than a few of us were waiting for, the moment when Allan Moffat was standing right next to his beloved Moffstang, being interviewed by Dan Bowden from Bowdens Own Premium Car Care – and the magic moment, when Allan climbed into the beast, and started her up….OMG…what a moment..absolutely magic.  Actually meeting the man on this day when he stopped for a photo with me, meeting this legend of the motor racing world, was just amazing…

Meeting Shane van Gisbergen and Lee Holdsworth after their interview session was brilliant…these guys have my ‘dream job’!  Getting to go for a ride in the little Ford GT40 which was there – SO much fun.  On a public road, the driver obviously wasnt going to push her much (lol), but she went like a little rocket…wow!

But…the moment which I was completely unaware was going to happen on this amazing day, then arrived.  In the Showroom, talking to some fellow DJR Team Mates, I looked around and saw someone familiar, who I’d known from Facebook as well – ‘Mrs FRA’ (special friend of Ford Racing Alf’s), and then I thought…oooh…does this mean what I think it means?  And yes it did – the next minute, who did I meet, but the infamous Ford Racing Alf himself….WOW! haha what a moment… 😀

Meeting the infamous Ford Racing Alf!

Chatting away and laughing with Ford Racing Alf, and Mrs FRA, and other DJR Team Mates, was just brilliant…I couldnt believe the sneaky little alien pulled that on me, sneaking up on me like that..haha…but as I was also soon to find out…this little guy surely was full of mischief, for sure…as next thing we knew, he had snuck into Allan Moffats Moffstang….he’d climbed into this priceless piece of motor racing history.  Naughty, NAUGHTY, Alf!!

Alf in the Moffstang..Hilarious!!

Dan Bowden trying to get Alf out of the Moffstang..

What a little mischief-maker…but..there was more to come, as I was to find out. In the second week of August, I ran into Ford Racing Alf on a number of occasions…to witness even MORE mischief!…

During the Tour through the Bowdens car collection (31 July, 2012)..sneaking into Dick Johnsons Greens Tuf machine….*shakes head at Alfs brazen naughty-ness lol

“Willie!! I think I ran over the CAT!!”

At the DJR Team Mates night…(1 August, 2012)

Oh…look who Ive ran into again?! 😀

Stare-Out competition…or Alf being busted doing something he shouldnt have??

Oh dear…Alf! You better watch out Dick’s not around to see this! Alf smooching up with Jillie Johnson

Sneaking in another cuddle with the little guy…

And yet again…out at Qld Raceway, Ipswich, while watching the DJR Superteam work their magic on the track..(5 August, 2012)

Ford Racing Alf and Muffy, meeting the Pink FPR Falcon…

…getting acquainted with the Falcon. “Oh please, get a room!”..haha…

All I can say is….after meeting the furry little alien and witnessing his mischievious antics in person…he was well worth the wait – Hilarious! I wonder what he will get up to NEXT…..the mind abolutely BOGGLES!! haha..

This ‘tick’ off my List right here, is proof that, as I say to people when Im talking about Chasing my Dreams…your Goals and Dreams (and your list if you have one) are as diverse as you are. Some people wouldnt ‘get’ that a dream of mine was to finally meet Ford Racing Alf, they woudnt ‘get’ the buzz about meeting a ‘soft toy’ lol – but to me, and the way it happened, was just such a fun, special, tick off the list, coz I just adore the furry little mischief-maker lol…

It doesnt matter that not many would ‘get’ it – because as long as your goals and dreams are important to YOU – and no matter how big or small they are – they matter! 🙂

Anything is Possible….especially with Ford Racing Alf around….ANYTHING could happen! lol…

#73. Tour through the Bowdens Own car collection

On the evening of July 31, 2012, I headed to the ‘Bowdens Shed’ on the Sunshine Coast, for the most unbelievably epic evening – a tour through the Bowdens car collection.  I had wanted to have an opportunity to get to the collection for years…and here it was, right in front of me.  I couldnt believe it when I heard that this night was unfolding!  As a Dick Johnson Racing ‘Team Mate’, we were offered an exclusive invitation (the Shed isnt open to the public generally, its basically invite-only, or by ticket to one of their special Tours).  To do the Tour, with a whole group of racing/car enthusiasts and fellow ‘DJR’ supporters, was just something so special…

Words cannot explain the sight that was in front of us, when we walked through the doors of the first level of the Shed.  Oh…my god…the beasts which were in front of us were just amazing.  I dont know about anyone else, but I felt so, so lucky and blessed to be in front of this gorgeous, and immacutely kept collection of racing car history.

Everywhere you looked, everywhere you turned, there they were….the history, the muscle, the ‘tough’ of the cars…..right in front of us!  Wow…you could really ‘feel’ the energy of the cars, and the passion that Bowdens have for them, when you were in the Shed, with them.  Dan Bowden did an amazing job of recalling a lot of the history and knowledge behind the cars, as we drifted from car to car, marvelling at what was right in front of us….I could have sat and listened to his stories for hours..

To be right in amongst some of Dick Johnsons iconic racing beasts….Wow..

What I thought was also awesome about this collection was, there were no fenced/roped off areas..the cars were right there in front of us, we could very easily just reach out to them….but with the nature of who gets to visit this beautiful collection (purely car enthusiasts, as its not open to the general public), we respect the cars  – and the Bowdens – enough to know that, when we were told not to touch the cars – we didnt touch them, even though we could have, simple as that.

Ive put together a little video clip of the beasts, this can probably explain what went down that night, better than any words I can put down on paper…

Tour through Bowdens Collection

Thank you so much to Dan, Darren, and Bowdens Own, for allowing us into the doors of the Shed, for this magical night!  (Bowdens Own has a diverse range of car care products.  They are an awesome range – developed by a team of people who genuinely love cars with an absolute passion…so you know that when you are using Bowdens Own on your cars, your cars are truely getting some love!) 🙂

Anything is Possible….when you believe it will happen!

#118. ‘Give back’ by doing something ‘concrete/material/physical’ for someone/a group of people, supporting them directly, not, from afar

I have just come home from the most magical weekend – the Like Chocolate for Women Retreat, of which I was on the Support Crew.  SO blessed to have been asked to be on Crew for this beautiful, luxurious, experience – made doubly special, as I was a Participant last year, so I knew how special this Retreat meant to Kim (Kim Morrison – founder of Like Chocolate for Women),what it meant to me as a past Participant (last years Retreat was a HUGE weekend of transformation for myself ) – and I also knew what it would mean to the women who attended – and what it would grow to mean to most, if not all of us, by the end of it.

I am someone who has been supported in so many ways throughout my lifetime, sometimes to do the most menial of tasks, just to not only exist, but live a productive life, independently – so, to be on the ‘other side of the coin’, and to not only support the beautiful Kim Morrison in her mission to bring her amazing message to other women in this world…but to be there to support this roomful of women as they learn these tools – what an incredible experience for me, personally.  I was ‘one of those women’ last year, when I was a participant in the Retreat (and I also know how vital a support network is to have around you), so I know how much I valued having the Suppport Team there at the Retreat to turn to, for support, questions, a shoulder when tears fell etc – so to now be someone that another woman was depending on for support to deliver her message, and for the participants to be able to turn to, if and when needed – wow, what a priviledge. 

At first, as I was heading into the weekend, I admit I was thinking, ‘what can *I* do?’….’how on earth am I going to be able to support these women, when I need/have needed so much support in my own life’, ‘am I *really* going to be of value, and someone who Kim is able to utilise on this Retreat?’ ‘I hope Im not just going to be in the way’ – but these fears were eliminated as soon as I went in the door of the Room.  Meeting the other girls, helping set up the room, being on the door greeting the women as they first came in on the first day, and performing other tasks over the weekend, including just ‘being there’ for some of the woman, who turned to me personally when they needed support/someone to talk to etc  – yes, what a priviledge it felt, to be a part of delivering this special message to these women.  To be of support to someone else/a group of people, instead of me needing the support…yep, amazing. 

As I sit here back at home, sipping on a hot cup of tea, in my cosy PJs, my basil essential oil in the vaporiser (basil oil takes me straight out to nature, into the forest – it has the most exquisite aroma  to it.  Before the LCFW Retreat last year, I never would have thought to use basil as a relaxation oil – I always just associated basil with food! haha), listening to my relaxation music, reflecting over the past weekend as I write this blog, I am overcome with an immense sense of wonder…a wonder at life itself – it delivers the most delicious experiences, that I am so proud to be able to fully embrace with all I have got – proud that Ive been able to finally ‘step up to the plate’ for myself.  That is what this ‘bucket list lifestyle’ has given me – the ability to embrace life itself. 

As for anything that went on over the weekend – as the saying goes ‘What goes on Retreat, stays on Retreat’…haha…but seriously – a Like Chocolate For Women Retreat is something that every woman, given the opportunity, should experience.  Its not often I say the word ‘should’ – but this Retreat…in fact, any of the Like Chocolate for Women experiences, does nothing but improve your life, shall you be open up to receive the lessons it teaches you.   I wont go into specifics of what goes on, on one of these Retreats…for one, you really have to FEEL it, to experience it for yourself to get the benefit of it..and for two, if you do get to experience the Retreat one day – I don’t want to spoil a moment of it for you, by revealing any of the information/activities that went on, but lets just say, if its anything like what Ive experienced, it will totally change your life, and how you live it, and think of yourself, as a woman.  What I will say is..it is a weekend packed full of reminders, techniques, rituals of self-care, indulgence, pampering, connection, fun (OMG…SO much fun, Kim is just a brilliant presenter, and the ‘stories’ she shares, to relate to the messages that she is delivering – hilarious, and gorgeous at the same time…haha)  Oh, and not to forget the chocolate…the most exquisite chocolate makes an appearance…and champagne.  Cant forget the champagne haha….

(If you’re not able to get to a Retreat, or hold a Sparkle Night in your own home,  you are able to purchase the books, oils, and other selfcare products available on the online shop – and there also is the Facebook page.  These are all wonderful tools which contribute to self-care, as a woman.  Like Chocolate for Women, and the way it is able to be experienced, is just the most luxurious, but ‘reachable’ concept.  LCFW isnt just about ‘products’, and ‘just another aromatherapy company out there’ – FAR from it…the rituals (habits) it teaches you to bring into your own daily life, the value it teaches you as a woman in this world, the selfcare you are taught to embrace – it is a ‘lifestyle concept’, rather than just ‘products to use’). 

Oh and guys, you don’t miss out just because youre not a woman! Haha..ooh no…  If you have a woman in your life who lives the ‘Choccy’ way, by her taking on even just a few of these essential, and special, life and selfcare tools…you will benefit too, by having a more centred, happy woman by your side.  Oh and also…you are able to experience your own ‘touch’ of this, check out Like Sport for Men – a site run by a sportsman, for men (a man who knows ‘just a little’ (haha) about cricket and sport – Danny Morrison, ex-NZ International cricket player).  Danny also happens to be Kims wife.  A dynamic couple, who’ve truly embraced their lives – LOVE these types of people!

Oh, and I got to deliver a ‘mini-Talk’ – unscripted, no Powerpoint  presentation – just a few minutes up the front of the group, sharing my ‘journey’ – and once again, I was blessed and so proud, to be able to share my ‘story’ with this group of women.

Pride – who would have thought it?  I went through over 40years of just not being able to be proud of myself (even though I felt it from others, when they told me they were proud of me, I just could not feel it for myself).  In fact – when the song ‘Proud’ was played at the LCFW Retreat last year, I shed a tear, as I just could not bring myself to feel proud of myself – and I SO wanted to feel this!  Bringing time forward to this years Retreat, after this amazing year of life changing experiences – and when the song ‘Proud’ was played – guess what?  Tears were shed again – but this time, they came from pride itself – I was so proud of myself, for what Ive been able to achieve in my life, and for being asked to support such an amazing experience, run by an incredibly inspirational woman.  An amazing feeling!

I feel (and felt over the weekend) such a sense of pride also, for Kim (SO proud of Kim, for the incredible woman that she is, and for what she gives to others around her – what an inspiration!), Stacey, the rest of the Team who supported the group of women….and especially to the women themselves, for coming to the Retreat – the Retreat can sometimes bring up ‘stuff’ from inside of you – and I am proud of any of the women there who faced their ‘stuff’, and worked through it, over the weekend. 

Yet again…a ‘tick’ on my List has turned out to be such a magical experience.  Wow…  

Anything is Possible…with support

One small step, has led to an incredible journey..

Today, the Melbourne Half-Marathon is being run..and even though I didnt ‘run’ it myself, this Event will always have a special place in my heart….

One year ago today, is the day that I was inspired to get up and attempt to walk again, after 17yrs of using my wheelchair – inspired by an incredible man by the name of Mark Rostoks. Mark is a man who also uses a wheelchair due to his medical condition he has been dealt in life…but he hasnt just ‘sat idle’ letting life pass him by – he is living life ‘the bucketlist way’ himself. His website is 150 Buckets on the Wall , I urge you to go check out some of the awesome ‘buckets’ he has ticked off (filled?), on his list (and future ones he wishes to do)! Mark, you are amazing…the adventures you get up to, are just awesome haha…! 🙂

So, what about Mark had inspired me to get up after all that time, to attempt to walk again? Well, this man decided one day that he wanted to complete a half-marathon – so he did, he made it happen! He, and his support team of ‘pushers’ for his chair, raced all that distance, and crossed over that Finish Line…and that right there, knowing that Mark was not only attempting, but achieving this, was when I decided that ‘Anything really IS Possible’…this was when a HUGE spark of an idea hit me…it hit me like lightning…

That afternoon, when my gym was open, I headed down there with such an incredible sense of focus and determination, it was amazing to feel. I decided then and there before I headed out, that I was going to take my crutches which had sat in the cupboard for 17yrs, and attempt to stand up at the gym. How empowering to feel, that I had decided, after all this time, to do this, all by my own thinking – not directed by the doctors/physios etc – this was all my doing (inspired by Mark, of course)!

I arrived at the gym, feeling quite nervous…I had no idea what was in front of me, I had no idea if it was going to end up in failure, I didnt know whether I would just end up falling over, making a fool of myself – but, I was determined to at least try it. After arriving at the gym, and telling staff what I was about to attempt (partly because I was proud of my decision even if I hadnt attempted it yet so I wanted to share this with them, and partly because of the ‘comfort zone’ stuff – I just needed to know that ‘someone’ knew what I was doing, just in case something went wrong), I decided to just DO it.  This was SO far out of my comfort zone – but, that didnt stop me…once I set myself a challenge, theres no going back…I have to do it…lol…

Slowly but surely, after I set my arms in place on my crutches, I stood up…

Taking one small step…can lead you down the most incredible path!

In the last 17yrs, I hadnt been permanently in my chair, as in, yes Ive used my chair as my tool to get through life, but I have stood up plenty of times, and got my chair in and out of my car etc (while holding onto some sort of support, the car etc)…but this was different…this was purposely standing up tall, in the one spot….with the thought of walking down the path, away from my chair (my ‘security blanket’ of sorts).

OK…now came the moment of truth. With me, if I know I can do [—–] (this much)…..I immediately want to do [———————————] (THIS much)…haha. Merely ‘standing up’ wasnt enough for me, at this point. Oh noooo…haha no way….I had my sights firmly set on the pathway in front of me, around the fitness equipment. After steadying myself (I was feeling a little nauseous at this point, and, not dizzy, but a little light headed, because of the different ‘sense of gravity’ I now had (my body was now getting used to standing up straight in the one spot, instead of sitting in my chair), I slowly and deliberately set off down that path. It was a path of approx. 15 metres…and I had no idea if I was able to make it down that path….but I was determined to try. How could I not? 🙂

One foot in front of the other, my focus purely set on where each foot was going, and keeping them straight ahead of me (I have no feeling in my feet, so even though I move my leg forward, I have no control over whether the foot follows suit lol….in that sense, the feet have a ‘mind of their own’). I have no idea how long it took me to reach the end of that pathway, but when I reached it, Wow…what a moment for me. As I turned around, and reminded myself where my chair was, and saw it (right up the other end of the path)….panic set in. This was WAY out of my comfort zone….’what if I fall over, what if I cant make it back, what if…..??’. But…the only thing I had to do WAS make it back…what else was I going to do – ask a staff member to get my chair for me? NO WAY! haha….

Slowly, but a little more confidently than on the way down, I made my way back up the path…I made it back to my chair. I made it…I DID it! 😀 What an amazing sense of achievement, in that small distance! When I got home, I decided then and there, that, even though my aim is not to get back up and walk ‘permanently’ again, that is just not a ‘want’ I have for my life now (my chair enables me to keep up with my pace of life….struggling around on the crutches for the first 24yrs of life, compared to being in my chair and being able to get around faster, and with much less tiredness and stress on my body and mind – well, there is no comparison really. My chair ‘suits my lifestyle’ now) – I decided that I was going to do ‘something further’ with this standing up and walking business 🙂

I got to thinking….’hmmm….what else can I do, what things do I see others do in life, that Id really like to at least attempt to do?’. …and so my Fitness Goals (Climbing a Mountain, Walking down the beach, and having a Slowdance), journey was born. As Ive shared on here, and on my Fitness Goals site….WHAT an incredible journey this has turned into!! From standing up..to taking a few steps….to attempting to climb mountains…haha…whats NEXT? 😉 

Hmmm….Steve Johnsons Supercar beast is #17 (the beast I raced in, last year, which was the start of my incredible Chasing my Dreams journey)…I stood up to walk after 17yrs of using my chair…the half-Marathon which Mark completed was on July 17 last year. Oooooh….haha….

Thank you Mark Rostoks for your inspiration…this, what Im putting myself through with attempting to achieve my HUGE Fitness Goals in such a special way, at my Fundraiser Event,  is all YOUR fault! haha.. 😉   But seriously…Marks inspiration (even though he didnt know it at the time, what he had inspired me to do), has changed my life in the most incredible, special way..I will always be thankful to Mark, for this 🙂 x

Chasing my Dreams….one step at a time!

Not all (Guns and) Roses….

(thank you to ‘Neil’ for this phrase, I love it haha…)

Life…yep, its not all ‘roses and sunshine’ – Ive had a magical ‘dream run’ since June 2011 when this all started for me, my energy was 100%, I had no physical setbacks/hurdles, life was seemingly effortless – which was such a welcome break from the previous few years in my life, with what was happening with it…but in June this year, life kind of came down to earth with a big thud  and the ‘old me’ threatened to return – and I discovered that I didnt like that ‘old me’, ‘she’ was so unfamiliar to me.  The Event is getting closer, my fitness training is getting more intense (which I LOVE..the harder my gym trainer works me, the more I want..haha!), the organising of the Event has been full of hiccups and setbacks, along with certain ‘life stuff’ going on behind the scenes – and I had a ‘moment’ in early June where I just wanted to give it all up. I had been warned that this may happen, that I may reach a point where Im going to really struggle to strive towards these huge goals, especially mentally – this is completely normal apparently, with such a huge challenge Im facing…I didnt think it would hit me that hard though!

Shot down…but got straight back up again!

But, it is at this moment, when you realise just how important something is to you.

After a lot of soulsearching, and a complete break from ‘everything connected to the Event’, while dealing with a chest lurgy that completely flattened me, I now am back to the passionate mindset of, I cannot WAIT to bring my Fitness Goals to reality in such a special way.  This is without a doubt the most intense, emotionally charged, challenge(s) I have ever set myself – but you know what….its making me feel the most ALIVE that I have ever felt in my life.  Oh yeah, when I was tearing around the track @ 240km/hr in Steve Johnsons #17 Ford Beast last year…I ‘woke up’, I came alive, BIG-time haha….but this is different.  I am SO passionate about bringing these three Fitness Goals to life…and in ‘giving back’ to the charity who have given me so much over the years. 

To experience not only ‘Climbing my Mountain’…but at 42yrs of age, to experience two beautiful men walking and supporting me down the beach, and also having a slowdance, both for the very first time in my life – its going to be pure magic…so special.

I am very passionate by nature, and I strive to seek out experiences in my life, which make me feel challenged, confronted, and ALIVE – my passion for life itself is what drives me.  When I am passionate about something, I give it 110% – and I have 4 x 110%’s going on at the moment haha…striving for my Fitness Goals (which are proving to be more difficult both mentally, and physically, than I ever imagined them to be – especially the ‘simple act’ of walking down the beach – I long for that feeling of just a natural/casual walk down the beach, and Im dealing with the acceptance of never being able to feel ‘natural/effortless’ while doing it, which is hard to accept right now), arranging the Event, fundraising for the charity (striving to raise what I possibly can with the generosity of others, in the leadup to the Event)….and being SO excited about my future, after the Event. 

I believe my recent ‘meltdown’ was one that was meant to happen…I was ‘shot down’ for a while there…but this ‘rose’ is blooming again in full colour, ready to GO get em, with all that I have got! Bring it on!

Chasing my Dreams…with guns AND roses! 🙂

My first Motivational Talk!

On Thursday, 31st May 2012, I headed to Community Solutions, a training college here on the Sunshine Coast, for what was to be my first Motivational Talk.  I had done a couple of ‘disability awareness’ type Talks/Q&A sessions at this college…but this was to be my first Talk, based on my ‘Chasing my Dreams’ journey….and my first taste of what I hope to be a part of my future.  It was unpaid (not that I expected to get paid, I was just grateful for the opportunity to ‘share my message/perhaps inspire others’, and to grasp at the opportunity to practice my Talk). 

As I was (nervously) getting ready at home, I looked outside, and it was POURING with rain….oh NO!  I knew that the parking was over the road from the college, so that meant that I would have to do a mad dash over the road to the building –  hopefully, I wouldnt turn up like a drowned rat, to somewhere where I wanted to make a good impression!

As I left, still pouring with rain, I was so excited..I kept thinking ‘have I forgotten something, I feel like Im missing something’ – and I was soon to find out what this ‘feeling’ was about.  Arriving at the college, rushing over the road as to not get toooo wet (although unfortunately my hair got wet, so I had a little of the ‘drowned rat’ look going on…uh oh..), I wandered inside….and all of a sudden got hit with such a special feeling…I was doing exactly what I knew I was meant to be doing, in that moment – I love sharing my message, my journey, it feels like such an honour to be in the position to be able share what essentially just is ‘my life’, and have others learn/gain from it, for themselves.

Before too long, the facilitator of the class came to get me – she looked at me and smiled, she knew I was nervous, as she knows me (Ive trained at the college, myself), and supports my journey, she knew that this was a special moment for me.  We headed for the classroom, and before long, I was up the front of the (small – only half a dozen were present that day) group of people, and I was introduced to them.  Looks of curiousity came from the group…and thats when I thought “OK, Ive really got to step up to the plate here, this is it, this is my moment to perhaps have an effect on someones life here”.

About to Talk…little bit nervous, little bit excited – but exactly where I knew I was meant to be!

 But…yep, there is a ‘but’ – we discovered that my Powerpoint presentation on the USB stick was ’empty’…NOOOOOOOOOOO! (I must have checked half a dozen times before I left, and yes, it was on there…so I have no idea what happened to it, between home and the college).   My first Talk, and this was to be my guide/tool to emphasis points, through photos and key phrases throughout….I had my notes with me…but the Powerpoint was to add that ‘extra visual touch’ to it.  And now it wasnt available to me.  For a moment, major panic came over me…but then I thought ‘Tania, you’ve been thrown in the deep end, as usually happens in your life…you CAN do this!’ – and then I launched into the Talk. 

Sharing my journey, various experiences Ive made happen in my life, and explaining how, they to, can have this in their own lives….I was SO enjoying myself, Im proud of ‘my little journey’ – and then the magic happened – I looked around, taking it all in – and the audience was actually engaged in me, and what I was saying!  SUCH a special feeling, at that moment.  Id experienced being engaged in Speakers who were speaking about something theyre passionate about, its awesome to see/feel this happen, as an audience member – and here I was, having people totally engaged in me, and what *I* had to say.  Wow. 

As I got further into the Talk, I then realised that in parts, I had repeated myself (I now realised that its not until you actually ‘speak’ the Talk, that you realise points that can be improved/deleted etc), and it was going on for longer than I intended…but, there was nothing I could do at that point, except continue and just try to silently cut parts out, that had been touched on earlier, but in a different way.  

Reaching the end of the Talk, I glanced at the facilitator, heaved a silent deep breath (not of relief, but of ‘Ive DONE it!’), and she beamed a big smile at me.  At that moment, a couple of the students said ‘Well, thats it, Im going to go home and change something about my life now’ – and that was the moment that I knew I had achieved what I had set out to….Mission accomplished!  Despite no Powerpoint, repeating myself, it going on for longer than I anticipated/planned…I had still captured their attention, and encouraged them to think about their own lives.  Maybe not everyone in the class (I have no way of knowing that), but confirmation came, from not only the two who spoke out….but, after everyone else had left, one of the other students stayed back to praise me, and to have a chat about her life, and mine…and that night I received an email from her, sharing a couple of her goals in her life.  Awesome…so rewarding! 

So, that was it, my first Talk was over and done with.  Bring on the next one! 😀

Update:  I must have done something right haha….I’ve now been asked back to the college, to speak in front of a class of trainee construction workers.  From Commercial Cookery students, to Construction workers – I now know why, when I go to speakers sites, why they mention that they have Talks tailored to suit different audiences/dynamics! 

Chasing my Dreams…and maybe even inspiring others, to chase theirs!

Happy 1st Birthday ‘Chasing my Dreams’!!

Wow…what a year this has been!!

Racing in a V8 Supercar, being a model for a day, experiencing the magic of a Hug Patrol, setting myself fitness challenges that I never thought Id be able to manage, surfing, kayaking, confronting a fear Ive had for 40 years (riding on a train), my first Motivational Talk, break a world record (as part of a crowd), being on TV, track down a racer with a disability..just SOME of what the last year has been, for me….WOWZERS!!

My most memorable ‘tick’ (of course), was the moment when I raced around the track, at Qld Raceway with Steve Johnson in his #17 Ford V8 Supercar – THAT was the absolutely life changing moment, when we arrived back at the Pit area, where I ‘woke up’, the moment I became a different person, the moment I was truely fulfilled.  The feeling deep down inside of me when we arrived back at the Pits was just magic, something I had never felt before – I had brought to life a childhood dream that meant the absolute world to me, a dream that was inside my spirit and my heart, but it was a dream which I had basically ‘put to bed’ as never happening for me…but here I was, now living it.  Living MY dream.  When I got out of that V8 Supercar, I felt I could do ANYTHING!  Childhood dreams really do change your life!

True Fulfilment

 The other ‘most memorable’ tick and moment in this last year (among the MANY memorable moments), was when I was down in Melbourne, experiencing ‘Be an extra on a tv show/movie’ – the moment that I went through the door of Studio ‘A’, into the Neighbours set…an unforgettable feeling of complete and utter fulfilment came over me.  I was exactly where I knew I was meant to be, at that moment.  Not just where I wanted to be, but where I was MEANT to be.  I hadnt experienced that, to that extreme, since sitting in the V8 Supercar, at the moment that Steve Johnson fired the beast up.  Moments, and feelings like this, are when you know you are REALLY alive….and its what life is all about! 

This journey hasn’t just been about meaninglessly ‘ticking things off a list’ for me (just for the sake of ‘ticking off the bucket list)..its about discovering who I really am, what I really want to do in my life, creating ‘me’ as a person…and discovering and learning about life itself.  Every single one of my ‘ticks’ that I have experienced, has created a special moment, a special memory, in my life…and when I think back, every ‘tick’ has taught me a lesson, in some way or another.  This I believe, is because the ‘ticks’ on my list, arent just ‘yeah, I might give that a try one day’ experiences…they are experiences that Ive really wanted to bring to life…..and Ive strived to make it happen, by taking that first step, by putting them onto my bucket list.  Ive created them, into my life.  They are ‘meant’ to be there (if that makes sense?).   Looking back, I can now say that every experience Ive had in this last year, whether its a ‘tick off my list’ or not….Ive looked at it with new appreciation….and I now look at everyday life, with fresh, new ‘eyes’.   Yes I still have days where I get ‘tired’ and ‘over it all’ (as we all do when we get drummed down with life and its stressors – even ‘good stressors’ can be exhausting at times!)…but when those moments occur, I remember what has happened to me in the last year…what Ive created…and I know that life wont always be ‘meh’…life IS, and can be ‘Yeeeeeewwww!!’..(haha)..

One of the most surprising aspects of this entire year has been the ‘inspiration’ angle of it…at first, I was *as I still am!* just simply enjoying living my new life of adventure, this new life of possibilities that was opening up in front of me..totally enjoying this (foreign) feeling of no longer being ‘lost’, as a person, as I had felt for so many years prior to this unfolding for me.  But, over time, I noticed something…I noticed that there were people saying to me that they were gaining something from my life, that they thought of me as ‘inspiring’, that they had changed something in their own life, because of observing/hearing how Ive chosen to now live mine.  This was surprising to me at first because…*shrug*…’Im just ‘me’, living my life’…Im just this person living her life, alongside everyone else.  Then I started to realise the power of how I had now chosen to live my life, the power of really embracing life itself – and this aspect of it has turned into one of the most rewarding parts of this entire year – the fact that what Im doing with my life, has affected others in such a positive way…its reminding others, to embrace their own lives too, just as I am.  The feeling when Im sharing my story with someone, and I can see the spark light up in their eyes, when they resonate with what I have said, and they then tell me that theyre going to change something in their own life because of it?  The most AMAZING feeling on earth! Yes, Im still living this journey ‘for me, and my happiness’, but it really is a special feeling that others seem to be benefitting from it too.   And its a feeling that I value, very much..

This journey has tested me, and is continuing to test me, on so many different angles…confronting fears, testing limits (and pushing through them), teaching me SO much about myself, and my world around me….but most of all, it has taught me that I CAN do whatever it is that I want to do in this life.  If not in the conventional way, I can do it ‘MY way’.   No more saying ‘Yeah, I’ll do it one day’ (and that day never coming because Id left it as a passing thought), no more thinking ‘I wish I could do that/have that in my life’…but instead, having the knowledge that I WILL and CAN do whatever it is that I want to do – its MY life, and its up to me to honour it.   My list of Dreams I want to chase and experience is evergrowing (my ‘goal-posts’ of what I thought I could do, and would want to do with my life, are getting further and further apart all the time – Im finding that Im challenging myself with more and more ‘daring’ things, to do in my life….’scary’/being nervous, to me, is exciting now!)…and who knows, I may never get to experience every single thing on that List…but what I DO know is that, every day of this life, since this new journey began a year ago….I have LIVED.  I have EXPERIENCED.  I have EMBRACED life, with all that I have got inside of me.  Yes its been exhausting at times (I am someone who has a very passionate spirit, so this new life which I always knew I wanted, I am giving it 110% of that passion – which can get exhausting at times!) as I am adjusting to this new life of mine that I have chosen to create (and constantly being surprised at how its grown into what it is) – but, what I do know is that I would not trade one second of this life, and this last year, for anything in this world.  Not a second. 

I am finally who I know I am meant to be in this world…I have found my purpose…I am the woman who always yearned for a ‘life of adventure’, I always had this inside of me….but didnt know how to reach inside and grab it.  And this, I believe, is one reason why I felt so ‘lost’ for so many years…as I knew this was inside of me….but I just didnt know how to get it.  And now I do…

Through the door of endless Possibilities…

Its never too late to create YOU into who you want to be. Im in my 40s, and living with my disability/health conditions where, I just dont know what they have in store for me, around that corner (none of us really do know whats ‘around the corner’, whether for the good, or the not so good…so why wait to find out, why not create your life as you want it, now?).  I honestly thought, when I was younger, that when I got to ‘my age’ I am now, that I would be just living a simple, quiet little life, maybe doing some volunteer work, and just being content with that (not that theres anything wrong with doing that, living the ‘quiet life’…but the ‘adventurous me’ deep down inside, would always know there was ‘more’ to my life).  This was because, when I was younger I was frightened about what life would have in store for me, when I got to ‘my age’, with my disability, and didnt dare to ‘dream bigger’. But…little did I know what life would have in store for me!

I cannot WAIT to see what the next year (and my future…I have never been so excited about my future!) has in store for me…its been one hell of a ride so far…I wonder whats NEXT?? 😀

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me, inspired me, been there for me, opened up doors and opportunities for me, and ‘had my back’ in the last year…you have helped me become the woman I am today…the woman I FINALLY know I am meant to be, in this Life. 

….All because I have chosen to Chase My Dreams!

…Are you Chasing yours?…

#64. Go on a Moon Walk – Tick!

On Monday, June 4th 2012, I woke up with a feeling of excitement…I was about to achieve not one, but two magic events this day – I was to walk on the beach for the first time in over 18 years with my Trainer, in my fitness training for my (the now former) SBH Qld Fundraising Event – ticking off my Fitness Goals – and I was about to tick a special item off of my List – Go on a Moon Walk!  No, I wasnt channelling into Michael Jackson (although his ‘moon walk’ is a feat which I love watching others do, it looks awesome, especially when they do it so smooooth as he did!) – but I was going to be gathering with a group of walkers from the Heart Foundation, and go for a stroll that evening, under the Full Moon.  This particular Full Moon was going to be something special, it was a partial Lunar Eclipse!  Wow…

I had been trying to ‘tick’ this off of my List since last year….but because of illness, bad weather, or a (to be honest!) case of the ‘cant be bothered’s some evenings, or just missed opportunity because of being busy elsewhere, I hadn’t been able to achieve it – so to finally have this day arrive, it really did feel magic.  It was finally happening, I was finally able to bring this magic into my reality…..I never gave up on believing that this was going to happen one day for me – I never let it slip ‘to the back of my mind, to do one day’ (but that ‘one day’ never arriving)..awesome!

As the day was coming to a close, the energy seemed to really pick up inside of me…earlier that day I had been exhausted from my walk (a small walk, but a walk nevertheless!) down on the beach for that first time – but, as dusk fell, I could feel the magic starting to well up inside of me – sure, it was a cool evening, being the first weekend of winter…but somehow, it felt ‘balmy’, it felt perfect – you know those evenings where you just want to go out and experience it, be out in it, rather than just be at home?…it felt as if the energy was drawing me towards going for that walk, that evening.

Then the time came to experience the magic, and as I pulled up in Cotton Tree, I could see a group of people starting to gather – I was not the least bit nervous, even though I was stepping into a group of people I had never met before.   Some ‘ticks’ make me nervous, which I love, purely because of what the experience is (something confronting)….some ticks, like tonight, make me feel like I am ‘home’, I am completely calm.  But they both have a common theme – they all make me feel like I am exactly where I know I am meant to be, in that moment.  Because I have chosen to put myself in that moment..in that experience.

After introductions were made, and a photograph was taken (a photographer was there, to take a picture of us, to submit to Council, to promote ‘healthy living’), next thing we were off!  Oh yes…we were OFF…I had no idea the group were such a brisk, fast group of walkers!  I thought this was just going to be a slow, wandering stroll under the moonlight…I was about to find out that I thought very wrong!  Most of the group raced ahead of us…but a few of the walkers stayed back with me, to walk with me..which was nice of them!  I was feeling guilty at this point…they may have wanted to go on a faster walk with the others, but they chose to stay back with me.

I had taken my camera along, but I was fast discovering that there was no time for photos…we were all too busy walking and chatting away, to capture our surroundings (and the Moon) with anything other than our sight.  After initially being disappointed that I wouldnt get to capture this ‘tick’ (and the breathtaking sight of the Full Moon in partial Lunar Eclipse) in photos, while in the midst of it…I quickly decided that I would stay back afterwards and take photos later, when the walk was over.

As we continued on the walk, I glanced up, and what I saw, and felt, took my breath away….

Full Moon, in partial Eclipse

  …I HAD to stop and take a photo of this, the energy I felt was just AMAZING….THIS was what I wanted to experience when I first thought of this ‘tick’…to experience being totally ‘present’ in nature…..and that is what I felt, in this moment…

I dont know whether it was because it was a partial Eclipse, whether it was because I was out there near the ocean which I love, experiencing it (not just at home, looking out from the back yard), whether it was because I had waited so long, so many months to experience this particular moment….or whether it was because we were very near where I had gone on my walk on the beach that morning for the first time (Maroochy beach)….but, I felt TOTALLY alive, and so serene, in that moment.  Incredible.  And again, the feeling of ‘this is what life is ALL about’, came over me.

We finally arrived back at our starting point…I had gotten used to the fast pace of the walk, it was a long way, at that constant fast pace for me (but Ive committed myself to going again next month, next Full Moon, as this will be great for my overall fitness levels, and personal energy).

Maroochy Beach at night…the venue for my Beach Walk in October. Bliss…

As the group left and went our seperate ways, I found myself not wanting to go home….so I went back to Maroochy beach and just sat there, contemplating life, taking in the peaceful surroundings around me, with no one else around, nothing but nature – the magnificent ocean in front of me, the glorious full moon above me –  to capture my attention…next thing I knew, it was a couple of hours later, I had no idea I had sat there for so long!

This is a night that I know I will never forget…

Anything is possible..under the moonlight!

#93. Dance in the rain – Tick!

On a rainy Saturday morning on the first weekend of Winter 2012, I headed down to Cotton Tree Park, Maroochydore, for Laughter Yoga Sunshine Laughter .     Laughter Yoga, in the park, next to the water (the Maroochy rivermouth) is such a fun, refreshing, exhilarating way to start the day, the weekend…and to start winter – theres nothing like the feeling of being out in the fresh, brisk morning air, breathing in all that goodness (being beside the water adds to the bliss of it too…!), and being surrounded by a group of the most amazingly beautiful people, who, like me, were there to LAUGH, play, and just be in the moment of this beautiful thing called Life!

After half an hour of laughing, breathing, pretending to be dodgem cars, kookaburras, fireworks, an array of other scenarios, and just playing – we gathered together for our usual ‘after-Laughter cuppa and chat’.  As we sat there laughing, talking and just enjoying the moment…it started to rain again….and a thought immediately came into my mind. 

“I WANT TO DANCE IN THE RAIN, right NOW!”

As soon as the thought hit my mind, it came flying out of my mouth…I looked around at my friend who was next to me, we looked straight at each other, a glint of mischief came into both of our eyes, and we laughed and said LETS DO IT!!! 

Off we went, out into the middle of the grass/park, grabbing each others hands, twirling, spinning, laughing, dipping, laughing some more..it was AWESOME.  I felt so free….so childlike and playful…I was ME!  THIS is what living is all about..just being who you are meant to be, living who you really are, deep down inside.  In these moments, dancing on the grass with the rain soaking us, I truely was the free spirit I know I was born to be. 

THIS is why I put this particular thing on my List…not to ‘challenge’ me, not to confront me, not to test me, as some of the Ticks on my list are based around…..but to BE me.  And it worked…and even better, was that it was impromptu…the opportunity was there, I/we grabbed it, and I lived it…! 🙂

Dance in the Rain!

Gotta LOVE an impromptu ‘Tick!’ – two in the one week – meeting the racer with a disability last weekend….dancing in the rain this weekend – awesome! 😀

“Dance like nobody’s watching; love like you’ve never been hurt. Sing like nobody’s listening; live like it’s heaven on earth.” – Mark Twain

Anything is Possible…when you dare to be YOU! 🙂

Just had to share this thought that I posted on my Facebook page, at the end of the day of this particular ‘Tick’:

“It was only for a few minutes…but it was the best few minutes of today, and has made me end this day with a big smile in my heart – Todays ‘Tick’ #93 – Dance in the Rain ♥

Treasure the small things in life…they can sometimes mean the most 🙂 xx “

#70. Work/Volunteer with a childrens and/or animals organisation – Tick!

At a recent Fundraiser night, I was introduced to the wonderful charity organisation The Board Meeting that helps fund equipment needs for local Sunshine Coast kids with disabilities – they raise money through various ways during the year, and fund equipment that the child may not otherwise be able to obtain, because of not being able to receive it through other ways (other funding bodies/disability organisations etc). 

At the Fundraiser, I got chatting to the man who runs this charity, and raised my want to ‘give back’ to a childrens charity…I then asked whether they would need any more support through someone like myself coming on board.  “Sure, we’d love to have you!”.  I then was given a contact to make this happen.  Wow..as easy as that, I was given a wonderful opportunity to make a difference, in my small way, to the lives of kids with disabilities.  Having been a ‘child with a disability’, it somehow felt wonderful to be able to do this, for them, in whatever way I was going to be able to do it.

The Board Meeting holds a Charity Corporate Surf Event every year – this year it is on 10th November, 2012 – Register a Team, take part, and help change childrens lives! 🙂

Fast forward to 29th May, 2012 – 5am, on a very cold morning.  The alarm went off…but rather than cursing it, I excitedly got up (as I said to my friend who took me out to the racetrack on the weekend, and I had to be up at 6am to make it happen – getting up this early, in the freezing cold, is EASY, when its something youre really looking forward to!) and looked forward to what was about to unfold.

After getting lost on the way….I always seem to get lost when I use my GPS!…I finally arrived to where the meeting was to be held.  Making my way into the building, I was then introduced to the other members of the charity.  What an awesome, giving, group of people!  I felt honoured to be there, making this happen for kids out there, on the Coast.  As the meeting unfolded, I was then given an opportunity – the want was for ‘someone’ to go out to the family on the day of handover of the equipment, and take photos of it unfolding for this child.  I immediately spoke up, and said I would love to do it.  I felt that this would be such a priviledge, capturing the moment this child received a piece of equipment which was going to enrich their life, while living with their disability.  I know the feeling myself, of receiving new mobility equipment – it is MUCH better than Christmas! So to be there and to witness when this happens for these children…yep, its going to be something pretty special.  It may be something small that I am doing for these children/families….but, ‘every little bit helps’, in this world!

As I drove away from the meeting, I felt so good about what had just happened in that office – childrens lives are being enriched/improved, by what this group of people strive to do for them.  Awesome!

Anything is Possible…when you’re given an opportunity like these kids have, through The Board Meeting!

**Update:  Unfortunately this didnt work out for me – so, #70. Work/Volunteer with a childrens and/or animals organisation, is back on the list…