Chasing my Dreams!

#67. Track down a racer who has handcontrols in his racecar – Tick!

On Sunday 27th May 2012, I headed down to Lakeside Park Raceway (north of Brisbane, Qld), for what was going to be a great day of motor racing – the last day of the Qld Racing Drivers Championships 2012 (Rd 2).  Little did I know what a magical day it was going to be for me…a dream realised….

On arriving at the track, listening to the cars warming up and being worked on, smelling the fumes in the air, and looking out onto that track, I immediately felt ‘at home’ – motor racing is a passion of mine, and I just love being surrounded by anything to do with it.  My family raced when I was growing up, so it is literally in my blood.   Motor racing was also what started this whole ‘bucket list’ adventure in my life…having that come true for me in August last year, is still what drives me today (excuse the pun…haha)

Chatting away to the team (a friend is on the medic team who were based at the track that day), and looking forward to the day unfolding…I was then asked – “Did you want to go for a ride in the Chase Car?”….you BET I did! haha..I climbed into the backseat of the V6 Turbo Falcon beast, so excited….this is something new, something I didnt expect was going to happen.  We started off fairly slow, (but it was still exciting to be on the track, in the car!), and then…the driver planted his foot and we were OFF!!  It was AWESOME!! Not quite as fast as the racers around the track…but still a buzz, all the same.

Arriving back at the pit area, the days racing starting to unfold….I then had the biggest surprise landed on me…I found out that there was a racer with a disability (in a chair) racing that day!  “What??” I could not believe it.  It has been a dream of mine for YEARS, to get to meet a racer with a disability…someone doing what I missed out on doing growing up, when my family raced….the thing that is in my blood, and my spirit, to do.  And here I was thinking that this day was magic enough, just being there at the track. 

The old beasts lining up on the grid

After being told what colour/type car he was in, I then headed further down the pits area, on a serious mission….to track down this racer!

Stopping along the way to admire/drool over various other race cars, I then looked over, and what do I see, but a little blue and yellow beast (Toyota Celica), with a guy in a wheelchair sitting in front of it.  Wow…this was the moment I had been wanting for literally years…I still could not believe it.   I strolled up to him, introduced myself and told him that Id been wanting to meet a disabled racer for…well..forever.  We sat and had a great chat about his racing, his car, the handcontrols (of which I got to have a closeup look at…and to touch…wow!), and chatting about other things as well.  It was awesome.  This man (Matt Speakman), was living THE dream…getting out there on that track, in his racecar with the handcontrols, in amongst it all.  Just….awesome!  Sitting there, I was actually in awe…(and just quietly, knowing that I could actually drive that racecar, as it had handcontrols….I had to fight back the urge to want to jump in it and take it for a spin…haha…  For one, I dont have a  (racing) licence…and for two, that would be just wrong of me! haha)   

After a while, I thought I had better leave him to it….after all, he was there to race, that day!  I dragged myself away, still not being able to believe what just happened.  As I made my way back to the top of the pit area, I then got chatting to someone who came up to talk to Matt when I was with him.  I then discovered that at Lakeside (like there is at Ipswich), there is an opportunity to get my Ford out onto the racetrack!  Wow…can this day get ANY better?!?  I was given information about this, and discovered that, unlike at Ipswich (where it is much further away from home, and also not exactly cheap – but I would do and pay ANYTHING to be able to do it!), doing this at Lakeside Park was well within my budget, and not far from home at all – its something I could do in the very near future!  Bring it on! 

After getting back to the area where the others were who told me about Matt, I happily shared my excitement over what just unfolded.  After not too long, it was time to go watch Matt in action, out on that track…I have to say, watching him, racing IN that car, WITH the handcontrols, ON that track…it is a feeling that I have never felt before.  Watching other racing cars out on the track, I *know* that Im unable to drive those….but this was different….this was a car that I very well could drive…this was a man in a (similar) position to myself, in a chair *but with a different disability*, and he was living what I had wanted my whole life.  Racing with Steve Johnson in his #17 Beast in 2011, took away the ‘hole’ that was in my heart from missing out on racing…but here was a man who was actually doing it…racing, with handcontrols.  But far from feeling ‘jealous’ (jealous is a feeling I just dont feel), I really admired him, and was excited for him, being out on that track…it was almost as if, when watching him, that I was racing alongside him, somehow.  I was in awe….total awe of this man, racing around track, in that car, with those controls…he had found a way to bring his Dream to reality!

The set-up in Matts car….awesome!

Meeting Matt hasnt ‘opened up that hole in my heart’ that had healed, the minute that Steve Johnson and I got back to the Pits after I raced with him last year….it was just wonderful to see him race in the car that was just like any other car…but with handcontrols.  And more than that…it was brilliant to speak to a man who, like me…chased his dream, and is now living it.  Just awesome. 

Anything is possible…in a racecar!

#13. Be an extra on a TV show/movie – The showing of the Scene (Part Two of the ‘Tick’)

On the morning of May 9th, 2012, I woke up with an awesome sense of excitement – the scene from Neighbours which I had travelled down to Melbourne to experience and shoot, was to be shown TONIGHT!  I was going to be on the television again – Wow!  I was going to see the scene which we had shot, on Day One, of my magic two-day Adventure when I flew down to Melbourne in February.  All the memories of that magic time in my life….the two days which changed my life in such a special way, came flooding back.  SO much has happened in that time, it really is hard to believe that it is only just over two months ago! 

As the day was coming to a close, my excitement levels grew, I was…curious…excited…proud…and SO looking forward to seeing myself in a show which is shown in many homes, across this country and around the world.  I had no idea at this point just how much of me could be seen…all Iknew was ‘you can be seen’.  But, that was enough for me, even if it was just a glimpse – I had already had the awesome experience of being on the set, meeting the cast, crew and staff, and being treated to a behind the scenes tour of how the show is recorded and put together.  Even just the behind the scenes tour was enough of a magic experience for me – actually seeing myself, IN the show, was going to be the yummy icing on the cake.

I headed around to a friends place, we were going to be watching the show on her big screen TV – it is massive….’haha this is going to be interesting seeing myself on such a big screen,’ I thought.  Inside, I hoped that I would get just a little more than a ‘glimpse’ of exposure in the background…and as the show started I was soon to find out that I certainly did get more than a glimpse!

My friends and I sat there intently watching the show, me waiting till some familiar faces, words and scenes appeared, so as I would know that ‘my scene’ wasnt far away.  As soon as I saw Collette Mann in her purple shirt (the shirt she was wearing when I met her), I got SO excited…”She was wearing that on set, in my scene!!” I yelled…haha..  The show continued without my scene showing yet…another ad break came on….’where am I?’ I thought…the ad break finished – next minute – “LOOK THERE I AM!!!” “LOOK THERE YOU ARE!!!”….we yelled, and then burst out laughing!  I couldnt believe it (although I knew that that was part of the scene I shot) I was shown in the very FRONT of shot, wandering across the screen….’how bizarre’ I thought, it really was surreal, to see me on telly!  But…there was more!  As the scene continued, it then crossed to my ‘friend’ (the extra I shot the scene with), and I got SO excited again – I knew that they would pan over to the right….and sure enough they did…and there I was AGAIN!! haha….awesome!!  

When my scene was over, we all just burst out laughing and chatting away about it, I was so proud of myself.  Once again, I had taken an opportunity, and this was the result – being shown on national television. 

*as an extra special bonus, I got a phonecall the next morning from The Circle staff, asking if they could show the vision of my Neighbours scene on the show, and mention what I have said in the past about ‘the magic of a tick’ – that its not just ‘ticking something off of a list’ – these two days really did change my life in such a magical way – as has this whole journey since I started it.  So, as it turns out, I was on national telly, two days in a row – Wow!  Again, I felt such a sense of pride and excitement – which is happening SO much lately.   

Life…grab it with all you have got – it is SO worth it! 😀

*Exciting Update!  A week after my Neighbours appeared on screens across Australia – it was shown in New Zealand…WOWzers!!  What a buzz!* 😀

#13. Be an extra on a TV show/movie – Tick!

Anything is Possible….even being on telly!

#11. Grow a successful edible garden, without killing it! – Tick!

For as far back as I can remember as an adult, I always wanted to have my own vegie patch – I had kept this in the back of my mind, never making it happen (because of circumstance, living arrangements, and basically just not focussing on it in my life).  Part of the reason for wanting a vegie patch was, this felt really ‘homely’ to me, whenever I was at a house which had one.  As an adult, having a real ‘homely’ feeling, wherever I lived, was really important to me.  I had never really felt this….until just over a year ago, when I moved into my new home (unit), with a front and back yard.  You know when you walk into some homes, and you instantly feel ‘at home’? This is how I felt when I saw my new home….even before I moved in.  Awesome! 🙂  When I checked out the size of the yards, I thought of my vegie patch I always wanted, and I felt even more ‘at home’ – it was the best feeling!

By sheer coincidence, within a few months of moving into my home, I was talking to Mark, at the Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre.  The Centre had in recent years, started a successful Community Garden project at the Centre…and Mark was about to develop a raised/accessible garden bed so people in chairs, elderly people, and others with limited movement/ability to bend down to a garden were able to enjoy this hobby.  He wanted me to be the ‘guinea pig’ for this new garden bed, so he would have someone in a chair to test it out on, as it was developed and constructed.  I didnt hesitate to become involved, it was an awesome idea!

Over time, we discussed size, length, all sorts of measurements/designs etc for it, and as the bed was developing, I was getting excited – “Opportunity!” – this was a chance for me to start my own vegie patch at home, in this accessible garden bed! 🙂   One day not long after, I got the call I was waiting for “Come and check out the Access Bed, its finished!”..

Access Garden Bed – it is PERFECT, and very well designed! I can sit with my legs all the way under it, like a table, because of its triangular shape.

Two of the beds were added to the Community Garden, and I ended up purchasing and having one constructed for my home – I was one step closer to having my very own vegie patch!  I decided to wait until the following winter to start planting, as Id heard (me being less than a  novice gardener, I had NO idea!) that planting new vegies in winter was the better option for their survival – and with me not having a green thumb at all, I had to give my new vegies the best chance to live, under my hands…haha….

One morning in early May 2012, I went seedling shopping, I was SO excited – and this is what I came home with, and planted in my garden bed…..that in itself was special, the moment I started to bring my garden bed to life!

It was SO much fun, planting these ‘baby plants’ and knowing that I have the challenge ahead of me of keeping them alive, until one day I can enjoy eating my very own produce – awesome!

Now comes the challenge of keeping these babies alive, until I am able to enjoy them…wish me luck! haha

4 weeks later…my ‘babies’ are still alive, and they are thriving! I am now starting to enjoy some of what we planted – the lettuce, spinach, and herbs are SO yummy….and its such a great feeling to be able to eat my own produce that I have grown, myself! 🙂

4 weeks old – and still alive. Not only alive, but THRIVING! 🙂

Anything is Possible…in your own back yard!

Update:  Unfortunately, over time, the garden did die off….BUT, I am in the process of bringing it back to life again.  While it was alive the first time, I really enjoyed having the fresh produce to eat…and it WILL grow again! So, I guess you could call this a Tick..with an ‘Untick’ (as it did end up dying off).  Hey, gardens die off over time, vegies are seasonable..its what they do….right?? haha 😉  

Two ‘Ticks’ on the one night! Speed dating, and Break a World Record – Tick!

On May 1, 2012, I headed, rather nervously, to the Coffee Club in Mooloolaba, for….well I had NO idea what I was heading myself in for!  But, this is what a ‘Tick’ on the List is all about…heading into the unknown, facing a fear (I was feeling quite confronted and nervous with the possibility of some men on the night, maybe not liking ‘having to sit and talk to a woman in a wheelchair, for their speed-date’)….and doing something which Id been curious about for quite a while now.  Bring it on!

I arrived at the venue, waiting for my friend to turn up, giggling to myself ‘WHAT the hell am I DOING??’ – as the venue wasnt set up for the Event yet, there were a few of us, standing, or slowly walking around, obviously checking each other out, waiting for the night to get started.  Before long, action started to happen, the venue was being set up, and we were sat down at our tables (over-40s on one side, and under 40s on the other), and told how the night was going to be run – we were to have at least 20 ‘5-minute dates’  – with a quick scan of the venue, there was an obvious lack of over-40 men.  We were told that if there was no one in front of us (the men were meant to go from chair to chair, along the line of tables – but the lack of men would mean that this wouldnt be possible), we could ‘date’ the same sex, or the other opposite age group.  Hmmmm….this was either going to be a very interesting evening, or a complete disaster.  I was to find out that it was a mix of both..

After lots of laughter with my friend, and another couple of women we know….and a guy sitting next to us who we both recognised – at 630pm, *Ding-ding* went the first bell…we were off on our dates! After the first few ‘dates’, I started to realise, ‘this really isnt for me, this speed dating thing’, it just didnt do anything for me (I went so far as to find myself thinking ‘Id rather be curled up on the couch watching Packed to the Rafters’ – and thats saying something, as I just dont watch a lot of TV these days!) …sure, some of the men had ‘somewhat’ interesting things to say, but it was just basically ‘small talk’ and nervousness from them, some of them were obviously uncomfortable ‘having to’ interact with someone with a disability – and besides, in 5 minutes, you just dont have time for any kind of in-depth conversation.   Honestly, it felt like the kind of conversation you have with someone when waiting in a bank queue or waiting for dinner at a takeaway shop or something.

Until – we started to run out of men in our age group, and the younger men started to be sat in front of us.  Complete constrast of conversation, it was amazing (I mean no offence to any men who are in the older age group who may be reading this, but there really was a stark contrast in the conversation).  The younger men were definitely ‘there to impress’ – talking up their life plans, eye contact, actually talking about interesting topics and making sure they included me in their conversation.  One young man in particular, a 25 yr old….he had his life planned out in front of him, what he was doing now, where he was going, what he will be doing…it actually was awesome to hear this, from someone his age – as I said to him, thats impressive that he has SO much direction in his life already.  I went so far as to think ‘the young lady who ends up with him is going to be a lucky woman’, he really was *so far* the ‘pick of the bunch’ of all the dates I had had, to this point.  Sadly…25 years old is just FAR too young for this 42yr old..haha…. 😉

A few dates later…some of them females…some of them sitting completely on my own for 5 minutes…yep, you guessed it, we had started to run out of men lol…and things suddenly turned rather ‘interesting’ – here, right in front of me, was my HUGE learning curve for the night.  My friend had a rather nice looking guy (our age) sitting in front of her….I knew I was next, and I remember thinking and smiling to myself ‘Hmmm this is going to be interesting, he’s kinda cute’…*Ding-ding*….he got up from his chair, looked over to where he was meant to be headed next (to me, as next in line), put his hand on the chair as if to pull it out to sit down.  He then glanced over, obviously saw my wheelchair, and instantly took his hand off the chair and walked around the chair, to the next, giving me a very deliberate wide berth.  The ‘old me’ would have been quite upset at that, and felt rejected – but my instant reaction was to look him straight in the eye (so he knew I had seen what he did) and think ‘Mate, I wouldnt want to date you anyway’.   The ‘cutest guy in the room’ suddenly turned into (for me), ‘the ugliest guy in the room’.  It was such a moment of clarity….the very thing that was confronting to me, coming into the Event, was the very thing that taught me just how much I have changed recently.  And it felt AWESOME.  I was to find out in the days after the Event that this happened at least once more (a guy giving me a ‘wide berth’ after seeing the chair) – but I didnt see the second guy do this to me.  And honestly, it didnt even bother me, when I heard about the other guy.  *Shrug* “Oh well, if theyre going to be like that, theyre not my type of man anyway”.  Im often avoided, and not considered ‘date-worthy’ because of my disabilities..its just something I’ve come to accept over the years…but this was one of the biggest, most blatantly obvious times that a guys reaction was put right in front of me.

Soon after, I was to find myself sitting across from a lovely guy by the name of Michael.  Michael was by far, the best looking guy in the room…the ‘difference’ between him and the rest of the men in the room was that he was in a motorised wheelchair.  Of course, this didnt phase me one bit….and after chatting with him for maybe a minute (and realising that he had had similar experiences to me, with the ‘wide berth’ moment, and people just talking about our chairs, and not about ourselves), I started to think…’dammit I wish this was longer than 5 minutes’ – his character, personality, and sense of humour was just awesome.  He was very quietly spoken, so with the many people around us, and the rain falling hard around us (we were in an outdoor venue), unfortunately it was a little difficult to hear him speak in our conversation, but we had some laughs and nice chatter, before the bell went off again – and we moved on from each other. I admit I was a little disappointed, he really was the best ‘date’ I had had, all night – I think part of that was, when you have a disability, you have that ‘seed of familiarity’ between you….but ‘disability’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘compatable’.   As Michael left, the thought of ‘well at least the night wasnt a complete waste of time’ crossed my mind.

I then had a ‘foot in mouth’ moment with my next (and last) date – a young, well-spoken guy with a great sense of humour.  At the end of our date, we were talking about how the evening had unfolded, and I just looked at him and said straight out “Yeah, well I didnt really meet anyone that great tonight”  – we both just burst out laughing, me apologising profusely as I had realised how bad that had sounded!  The poor guy…haha… *What I meant was “I didnt really meet anyone who I ‘clicked’ with”…but it came out sooo wrong…haha…oops* At this point the Event was starting to wind up.

After having dinner finally at 830pm, a few laughs with my friend and another couple of women who joined us..we headed towards our cars. In a way, even though I will never put myself through that again – Im glad I didnt stay home to watch Packed to the Rafters, like I had thought earlier in the night! 🙂
#111. Speed Dating…√ Tick!
#91. Break a World Record (as part of the crowd)… √ Tick!Anything is Possible…on a 5-minute date! 🙂

Seeing things through…

Theres one thing that Ive noticed change about myself, since I started ‘chasing my dreams’.  I am actually seeing things through, I am committing to things, and seeing them to ‘completion’ – I am no longer flitting from starting one thing to another, trying to find something that I actually feel ‘fulfilment’ from (whether that be a hobby, interest, or something that reaches inside my spirit).  I see this as because, with this lifestyle I am living now, I AM fulfilled.  And I see it as, because I am no longer ‘trying something just for the sake of it’ (for ‘something to do’) – I am purposely doing things (the Dreams on my List) which actually do mean something to me, in my life.  From the thought of ‘Wow Id love to do that one day!’…to putting it on my List…to actually DOING it – I am living my life with complete purpose now – and it is an AWESOME feeling! 🙂

The sense of achievement I get, when ticking something off of my List, whether its something ‘small’ or something monumental….is one of the best, and most important feelings in the world, to me.  This sense of achievement sometimes is few and far between when you are living with a disability, and so not ‘achieving’ what others are, in this world.    This is part of what keeps me going on this journey – I am achieving…I am REALLY living…and *I* have chosen to achieve these things, myself! 🙂

It is through Chasing my Dreams, that I have discovered my true potential…

#128 – Photo with a Boy in Blue – Tick!

On Monday 23rd April, 2012 – my friend Tania and I met up in Brisbane CBD….we were women on a mission….we were going to find a Boy in Blue (Qld Police officer), and get a photo with him.  We had no idea how we were going to do this, all we knew is that, by the end of the day, we would both have this ticked off of our Lists!  Our thoughts were, maybe just to grab a photo in the street, we would have been happy with that! 🙂

After meeting in Roma St Transit Centre in the city, we went and had a brilliant catchup (we hadnt seen each other for 4 years so it was awesome, we could not stop talking, and laughing….things hadnt changed between us in the ‘mischief’ stakes, since the last time we spent time together!)

A couple of wines, and a belly full of the most delicious lunch (I can TOTALLY recommend MJ’s Bar, which is connected to the Holiday Inn Brisbane – the service and the food, is excellent!) we decided to hatch out our plan.  Little did we know just what was about to unfold….

MJs Bar…where our plan was hatched..

We wandered out onto the street…I glanced over, and saw a Police sign….immediately I thought….OPPORTUNITY!! Right in front of us! *thats how this ‘list’ thing works – once youve focussed on it…’put it out there…opportunities just seem to come out of seemingly nowhere*.  After I spotted the Police sign…I slowly looked up….and around…and it dawned on me….what was this sign attached to?…none other than QLD Police HEADQUARTERS!! Haha….AWESOME!!

We didnt settle for just any ‘ol Police Station…oh nooo, not us…we went STRAIGHT to the TOP – Qld Police HQ!

After glancing over at Tania and saying “Do you REALISE what that Building is???  Its POLICE HQ!! haha!!”…we both just broke out in fits of laughter –  one look at each other, with the looks on our faces reading total mischief lol….and we said “Lets DO IT!”….

We headed over the road, both laughing SO much, people around us may have thought we were mad!  Up the ramp of this MASSIVE building, absolutely no hesitation, looking at each other and saying “We’re really going to do this, arent we?”….we  casually just rocked into the building, with all its secure counters and doors etc…looking at each other trying not to laugh out loud.  Tania marched straight up to the counter, and spoke to the security officer “My friend and I have on our Bucket Lists, to get a photo with a boy in blue, a police officer – can we please do it here?”.  The officer at first looked at Tania, then over at myself, with a stern frown on his face as if to say “Hello, what do we have here?”…but by the time Tania had finished asking the question, he broke out into at first a small smirk, that turned into a wide grin, then a chuckle – it was awesome to see it resonate in him, that we just wanted to have a bit of fun. 

He agreed to make it happen…(Tania and I looking at each other, still trying not to laugh)…and went out the back to grab an officer.  The officer came out, with a smile on his face, he had obviously been ‘briefed of the situation’ lol…and this is the result…

Such a good sport, to go along with our plan!…awesome! 🙂

After thanking the officer and the security guy (who was the photographer for the shot), we wandered out of Police HQ – and just looked at each other (before bursting out laughing!) in amazement and disbelief at how easily we had just made that happen – especially in a huge operation such as Police HQ! Haha…all it took was ‘putting it out there’, and we had it happen for us, just like that!  A High-five, and LOTS of laughter followed, as we wandered back down the street…again, people around us probably thinking we were mad, as we just could not stop laughing! 

#128  Photo with a Boy in Blue – TICK!

Anything is Possible – especially with the Two Tania’s involved!

#128 – Photo with a Boy in Blue (video)

#27. Take part in a Hug Patrol – TICK!

On Sunday 15th April, 2012, I jumped in the car, and headed up into the Sunshine Coast Hinterland for what I just knew was going to be such a special day. I not only was taking part in my very first ‘Hug Patrol’ (a group of people whose ‘aim’ is to spread hugs and happiness to others by giving out hugs to anyone who would like one – while respecting the fact that not everyone wants hugs…especially hugs from a stranger), but this Hug Patrol was to take place in an aged care facility. Wow…(I had attempted to get to a Hug Patrol many times over the last year or so – illness, surgery, or postponement of the ‘Patrol’ kept it from me – but somehow, knowing that this special Patrol was my very first one, made me think that somehow, the Universe had planned it this way, to make my first one so special).

The drive up the Mountain was the perfect way to start the day – it was such a brilliant feeling to jump in my beast, crank up the music, get out on the road, and head into the hills – my life has been CRAZY busy lately, so to have this feeling of ‘freedom’ back was just…awesome.  Maleny is on my doorstep, but in everyday life I just dont make the time to head up there – this was another reminder of how easily the feeling of ‘relaxation’ can be brought back into my life…just by simply going on a drive like this – being behind the wheel makes me feel ‘at home’ 🙂

After a beautiful drive up the curves of the misty mountain (it was GORGEOUS!…a little like something out of a picturesque tv commercial, Id go so far as to say!), driving past the turn-off to my last ‘tick’ (the William Whitecloud seminar held out at Eudlo) and feeling SUCH gratitude at that moment, I arrived at the gathering place for the Hug Patrol. Slowly the others Patrollers drifted in, and after some happy chatter about what we were about to head into, we donned our Hug Patrol uniforms, and we were headed off – I was excited!

We arrived at the aged care facility, and after some happy, huggy snaps out the front…and a ‘huddle’ (or huggle as we called it!), like sportsplayers on the field about to head into a game…we were ushered into a room where we were briefed on the protocol of this experience we were about to bring to the residents. As we were also to head into the dementia wing as part of our Patrol (which was a very delicate situation we were to be in), we were strictly told what to do..and not what to do, so as to not cross any boundaries that the residents, and the staff had in place for themselves. The ‘Patrol’ was very well organised – I wont go into tooo much detail obviously, to protect the privacy of the residents – but each resident was respectfully approached first, by the staff member who we were working with, before we approached them to deliver their hugs.

And we were off…..off to deliver some hugs, touch, and hopefully some smiles, to these beautiful souls!

Hug Patrollers…all ready to head in and spread some hugs & lovin’!

Wow…..Wow. SO many heartwarming, heartwrenching, special, joyful moments were shared – moments of clarity and recognition where before ‘the hug’ (or the touch) there was none, eyes lighting up which signalled that life itself had just been ignited inside of someone, lots and LOTS of smiles, even surprise was expressed when it was realised that a stranger simply wanted to give them a hug, childlike happiness and joy, overhearing some of the residents in the dining room excitedly chatting about the hugs they had received that day…(that was special, to know and hear that we had, in our small way, made a difference to their day), even just having someone reach out their hand to touch mine (if not a full hug) was just beautiful…these beautiful human beings were experiencing what we all crave (and deserve) – the power of human touch, care and affection. Laughter was also a big part of the day, some of the actions and words that these gorgeous people came out with, were just SO cute! haha..

As we strolled from room to room, from wing to wing…it hit me – this was life in its purest form – we were fully experiencing the essence of life, we were giving ‘some’ life back to these people who had lived long lives of their own, through the simple act of giving (and receiving) a hug. From one heart to another. What a priviledge. Just simply spending the time (sometimes just a couple of minutes, sometimes a bit longer….it was totally governed by the person themselves signalling by speech or body language what time, if at all, we spent with them) with each person we approached felt like such a priviledge to me.

It was hard to hold back the tears at times (but we all managed to, of course…this was about ‘them’, it was not about us)…especially at one moment when one special ladys eyes welled up with tears, at the mere thought that we were there, simply to give her a hug. That tore so much at the heartstrings…but this was exactly what we were there for, to give her (and all the others) the gift of a hug…the gift of touch and care.

Then came the time for this unique experience to come to a close…while it would have been lovely to continue to ‘spread the love’, personally I was fulfilled…I wasn’t ‘hugged out’, but I was fulfilled in that moment. I had come to do what I had planned, why I had put this on my List…to experience life itself, in such a simple but powerful way.

….But WAIT…there was more…

After we gathered for a de-brief, and hugs shared in amongst us as a team – we decided we would head to the Maleny Markets for an impromptu Hug Patrol. “Awesome!”…I not only would experience the unique Patrol we had just shared…but I would also get to experience the ‘other side’ of what a Patrol does…heading out into the public, to spread the joy!

Arriving at the Markets, feeling so blessed about what we had just experienced, we gathered at the entrance to the Hall that the Markets were being held. Wandering in with our Hug Patrol sign, announcing that the Hug Patrol had arrived….what an awesome moment! haha….we slowly made our way around the Hall, asking people if they would like a hug (and again, as before, totally respecting if someone did not want one), sharing hugs, laughter and joy around the hall. This was such a different ‘feel’ to the Patrol we had just done – still special, but ‘different’ in ways of, being ‘lighter’, less emotional, more ‘joyful/happy’, than ‘touching’ is a way to describe it, I guess. I am so glad I got to experience the two ‘extremes’ of a Hug Patrol…both on the one day!

At the end of the Patrol, we were generously treated to some SCRUMPTIOUS cupcakes by a woman who runs a cupcake stall at the Markets – oh my GOODNESS, they were SOO good….SO naughty, but SO good! (hey…I hadnt had lunch yet, and was starving..hugging for hours takes it out of you..thats my story and Im sticking to it haha).

Hugging with the ‘cupcake lady’..YUM, on many angles…hugs AND treats!

It then came time to head away from this absolutely magical experience, and head back home. After more hugs shared with each other as we went our seperate ways, I headed back down the Mountain – my body, mind, and soul totally embraced by this day that had just unfolded. Wow. On the way home, I turned into a lookout, partway down the mountain range…the views were just spectacular! Looking out over the views and towards the coastline of my home, the Sunshine Coast…such a warm feeling again rushed over me – I truely felt like I was a ‘million miles away from home’ (yet in reality I was then only about 20kms away from my front door). This day had been filled with so many ‘life moments’ in so many different directions. Yes, the ‘core’ of the day was all about the aged care residents, of course..that was my/our main focus of the day, to be there for them…but I would be lying if I said I didnt gain anything myself out of this day, at all.

This ’tick’ was yet another reminder of what my bucketlist  journey (which is not just ‘at the moments of ticking something off’, its a total 24/7 lifestyle) is about, and has brought me – to purposefully create moments to treasure…to FULLY embrace life…and whenever I can, to ‘give back’ to others….whether I’m ticking something off or not…this is what life is all about, for me now.

Anything is Possible….with a Hug!

*I have since gone on to join in on other Hug Patrols after this one..and each one is just so special.  The feeling of offering someone a hug, and in some cases them, while accepting a hug from you, as a stranger –  saying “I really needed that today, you have no idea”, is just one of the most special feelings on this earth.  The simple (and sometimes the most powerful) things in life really are free…

#72. Attend a William Whitecloud workshop – (Author of “The Magician’s Way”) – TICK!!

Wow. Where do I start? Ive just got home from a truely Magical, confronting, intense 2.5 day experience with a large (70+) group of peoplI have never met before, people filled with such heart, gathering/partying with them tonight after the Seminar, and experiencing TRUE connection in its purest form – it was a Tick that really touched me down to my core. Its the very early hours of Monday morning (the Seminar finished many hours ago at 630pm, but we gathered together afterwards to let our hair down…which was much needed!), Im mindblown from the experience, completely buggered but wired at the same time – and we had a BRILLIANT time ‘coming down’ from the experience, at the party tonight – not to mention Im not quite sure how to explain this journey, as its really something you have to ‘feel’ to know what its all about – so if this makes no sense, I apologise…lol…

My ‘ticks’ are making a habit of having special meaning to me – and this was certainly the case this weekend. It also confirmed once again to me that, my Chasing my Dreams journey is exactly where I know I ‘belong’ in my life – and what I learnt about myself and others this weekend is an extension of my journey. Some people who dont know or live this journey, think its just ‘thinking of fun stuff to do, and just ticking it off of a written list’ – oh NO its not…certainly not to me, anyway!

The Seminar I participated in was “Living From Greatness – The Secrets to Making Your Life Work!” …living a life of Magic, to create your world exactly how you want to, with no resistance – just ‘letting it be and it will come’ – and I must admit, as I had already found out about, and registered my place in this Seminar before my life grew to the amazing lengths it has in the last couple of months – I did have some reservations the closer the Seminar was getting. I was thinking, but I know Im already living from my heart, living with my passions, through my current lifestyle, and my Fitness Goals which are leading to my Fundraiser later in the year, and actioning my life in such a way that I was putting true passion into everything I do lately. But…I found these 3 days to be a very valuable extension of my journey – and also further confirmation that, where my life is at now, is EXACTLY where I know I am meant to be. SO many confirmation moments this weekend – I was DEFINITELY meant to be there. Its made my appreciation of my journey, SO much stronger. If thats even possible…lol

“The Magician’s Way” – a beautiful, insightful must-read, which leads you to living with your heart…

The lifestyle surrounding William Whiteclouds teachings http://www.williamwhitecloud.com/ is one that, in some ways, runs parallel with ‘living life the Bucket List way’ (in the way of ‘living with your heart’) – but it also teaches you to live with your intuition, with your truth, with your heart, to purposely create what YOU want from YOUR life, to live a life free from judgement and assumptions, from preconceived ideas, to just ‘let go and trust’ in life itself, to ‘focus on the target’ (notfocus so much in the ‘but how am I going to get there’ – and ‘but why is it so’ – just trusting, it is because it is. Yes I am living some of these principles through my journey lately…but, and especially the ‘trust in life itself’ – this has been a fairly new concept to me, until my life ‘woke up’ in June 2011 with my V8 Supercar racing. It was so ‘free-ing’ to feel these confirmation moments that, yes, I really do have trust in this life now…something I had fought so hard (too hard!) for, for SO long.

The absolute pure joy and heart I got from every single person in that room as I either interacted with them, or looked around me, was incredible to feel. In the ‘big wide world’ out there full of strangers, there are some times, as someone with a disability,that you do feel ‘disconnected’ from the world around you – this may happen because of something said to you, an action towards you, or something that happened when you ventured out your front door into public. But to feel absolute complete connection with this ‘room full of strangers’ with absolute no judgement, complete openness and no hesitation towards me from anyone – wow.

When we were up on the dance floor area at various times of the day (beginning of each session, and after breaks etc), and I cannot begin to describe the POWER of the beautiful energy we created – we not only absolutely blew the ROOF off of Eudlo Hall lol (quiet little Eudlo didnt know what hit it! haha)….but I have never experienced in my life, the pure joy of being up on that dance floor, with so many people just letting go, and just being at one, with the music, and each other. Yes I LOVE to get up there on the dance floor when I go out….LOVE it…but this was different – for one, no one was ‘alcohol induced’ haha, and for two, we were just up there, dancing, jumping, stomping and pumping our fists with absolute EVERYTHING we had to give. It was AWESOME!

When we did the intuitive exercises (remembering, a lot of us were strangers to each other – and we were asked to not work with people who either knew us, or who we had worked with before in another session) – I was absolutely blown away. Here were these people who had NO idea who I was – yet they were picking up that I am on this magical journey at the moment, and that it is picking up an incredible momentum….and a number of people even picked up that I have been inspiring a lot of people lately (they call it ‘serving others’). And what also surprised me was, when I ‘read’ for other people, I was very accurate, in what I picked up from them, as well. Wow.

Just ‘let go’ – let go of all the thoughts and feelings, and just ‘let life be what it will’, while focussing on what you truely do want to create in your life – it is such a free-ing experience to do this…doing this allows you to create your world how you really want it – and not to get hooked into all the BS surrounding these thoughts and feelings that we create such ‘meaning’ to, which influence our life in a direction where we just do not want it to lead to. One ‘confirmation moment’ I had this weekend was when another participant shared something that really resonated with me, and I realised I had finally learnt this for myself, in my journey over the last 3 months – just let go, and strop trying to ‘fix your life’ – if you just simply let go, and stop fighting it, and stop searching, and instead, focus on that which you DO want in your life….and trust in this….it WILL come.

We had the absolute priviledge of having the ‘guru’ himsef, William Whietecloud, attend as a Participant on our Seminar this weekend – it is facilitated by other people – the beautiful Pete Maloney (gotta love Pete, he was just such a fun, georgous spirit, who ROCKED that dance floor..lol) and the gorgeous Ellen Lake. But William decided to attend this one, not as a teacher/facilitator, but to actually sit in with us, and experience it from ‘our side of the fence’. Have you ever been in a room with someone who holds such wisdom, such spirit, such, not power as in overbearing power..but they are like a beacon of wisdom that you want to just capture for yourself? William was this to us, purely by being present this weekend. I had connected up with William on Facebook and corresponded with him previous to the Workshop, and it wasnt until just recently that he posted that he would be at the Sunny Coast Seminar, and I would get to meet him – Wow. What an honour.

During the course of Saturday, I had seen William wave around a feather…somehow I felt drawn to that feather, he was having fun with it, waving it around, it seemed to be a ‘symbol’ of him. Later in the afternoon I feel a hand on my shoulder leaning down almost into a hug, and William himself reached over….and handed me this feather. Wow…

A precious gift given from one heart to another...

A precious gift given from one heart to another…

What a moment that was. This man, who we felt honoured by him just being there, in amongst us, was giving ME this token gift? So blessed…

Pete even managed to throw in an April Fools day ‘prank’ – but the funny thing was, because of the absolute pure Magic (which is what the ‘work’ is called – ‘Magic’) of the weekend, and the belief that anything really is possible if we just create and allow it to be…I believe that some people may have thought he was being serious – as for myself, he didnt ‘get’ me – but he very well could have, as it was delivered VERY well haha. I was just so ‘hooked into’ the fun side of his personality so I kind of knew he was just having fun with us….but the way he delivered the prank was awesome. On Sunday morning (April 1), Pete started talking about levitation…andseriously, without a smirk on his face, asked us if we would like to learn how to levitate – of course he was greeted with an enthusiastic ‘Yes!’ – we were all there to fully participate in thais weekend, this weekend WAS all about ‘magic’, and I for one, was open to anything which came my way. He then mentioned getting naked, and started taking off his vest, almost teasing us…we were laughing, and I dont know about others in the room, but I was half-thinking – holy shyte is he really going to do this – haha – by then, we’d (those of us who didnt already know him) learnt just how fun Pete is, and how much he believes in the power of ‘your world can take you wherever it will’…so, it was almost like, well, if its going to happen – Pete is the perfect one to teach us (levitating naked….lol)… He then revealed that it was (of course!) a Prank. Haha….well done Pete! Awesome!

There is so SO much more that I could share about this weekend..and I will probably read this tomorrow and say, you know what, I need to re-write this because it just makes no sense after writing it at this hour of the morning lol…all I can say is, I encourage you to experience a William Whitecloud Seminar for yourself – it will enrich your life in such a MAGICAL, heartfilled way. Even for people who stated that they thought they ‘had a handle on life’ – this way of living, really does extend it so much further, in such a special and unique way.

Oh and, ‘do yourself a favour’ and read Williams ‘The Magician’s Way’ – it is an amazing read, with such a simple concept of ‘Focus on the Target”, and just KNOW you will get there….and you will! (What we were able to do with a potato and a straw, was something you need to find out, and to experience, for yourself…lol)

So many moments….so many confirmations…so many ‘Wow’ moments…so many connections. Confronting, challenging, awareness. Such a sense of pure…Life, came out of this weekend. Incredible.

Thank you so VERY much to William Whitecloud, Peter Maloney, Ellen Lake, and everyone else involved in this truely magical weekend – including my fellow participants – I truely felt the magic energy of everyone in that room, it was just such a special space to be in….the energy was….I actually cannot find the right words to describe it..for once I am speechless…lol….! SO Blessed xxx

TICK!!

Anything really is Possible..if you just open yourself up to living with your Heart!

#89 – Model for a Day, strutting down the Catwalk – TICK!

On Saturday, March 17, 2012, I was very blessed to be able to proudly support a friend of mine in her new venture – the Launch Event for her new ‘arm’ of her business – “Finding Gorgeous” – a concept she has developed (which she has an absolutely natural talent for), to empower women, and to encourage us to ‘find our gorgeous’, to feel great about ourselves, both on the outside, and from the inside.

The day included not only me ‘strutting my stuff’ down the Catwalk, which was SO much fun and VERY empowering – meeting the other models was awesome, I felt such a sense of ‘inclusion’ with them…I was also interviewed on ‘my journey’ by Macushla Montell from XLR8 Results Coaching & Training – yet another opportunity to share my story with others…and yet again, it captivated and inspired others (the business, being called ‘Finding Gorgeous’ is all about women ‘finding their gorgeous’, and with the way Ive totally embraced life and myself as a woman lately, is why Mandy chose to have me share my story on how I ‘found MY Gorgeous’).

This interview with Macushla has ended up opening so many new doors for me, for my future….exciting times!!!

Nicola & Adam from Suncoast Fitness (my gym)

Mingling with others, drinking champagne after the Event, being approached by other women at the event, them being curious about my journey was surreal…they, some of them which were professional business women on the Coast, wanted to speak to me?? As much as this is my journey, I am feeling so blessed that others are taking what they are, from what Ive done with my life, and are motivated to change something about their own. It feels like an honour that this little journey Im living (although it feels HUGE right now with the changes that are happening in my life!), is having a positive effect on others around me.

Pure Happiness..exactly where I knew I was meant to be….

Finding Gorgeous Launch, Sunshine Coast – 17th March, 2012.
I felt so proud to be a part of my friend Mandy Hargreaves special day…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQXqqKl7NvU&list=UUZQD33wzo_ncWr_G0Gw-HaA&index=1&feature=plcp

Oh…and after the Event, a woman who approached me, started talking about her horse (yes I know, I have no idea – ‘finding gorgeous’ and ‘horse’ – no connection, right? haha)…and immediately I thought ‘Opportunity!’. After further chatting with her, and seeing a photo of her gorgeous boy, we now have plans for me to ‘get back up on that horse’, and tick off something else on my list! Opportunities linking together – again. Awesome!

ANYTHING is Possible…when you strut your stuff down the Catwalk!

Re-Ticks…and Babysteps

Re-Tick…

On 6th March, 2012, I headed to Studio Republic, in Warana on the Sunshine Coast for a ‘re-tick’ of – ’#36 Glamour Photo Shoot’. I’d already ticked this off in 2010 (before my Chasing my Dreams journey was born), but an opportunity came up to take part in a photo shoot of which my shots may be a part of Studio Republics advertising campaigns – this one in particular was ‘Vintage Vixens – Pin Up Girl’. Of course when I saw this opportunity I grabbed it!

This photo shoot was completely different to the last time I got shots taken at Studio Republic – I am now in such a totally different headspace – last time I was adamant that my wheelchair was not to be part of my shots – this time, I 100% embraced it being in my shots, in fact I encouraged it!

I love this, it’s definitely the ‘fun’ me…I got called ‘Gidget’ after people saw it!

Even though I had been told that the shot may be part of Studio Republics advertising campaign, I hadn’t seen it anywhere myself….until in 2014, I received an awesome surprise of seeing in person, the actual print that they had been using at shows and promotions etc.  Wow….that sure was a surreal moment, seeing “little ol’ me” in an actual print, and knowing that others were able to view it on display!

Its me…holding a picture of….me! haha. At Studio Republic, seeing the print for the first time! 🙂

Since the ‘Pin-up’ photo shoot, I have been approached (not connected to the photoshoot – but from my personal journey, itself) by Studio Republic, to write an article on ‘my journey’, for them to use in their media releases – the difference in myself between my first shoot in 2010, and this recent shoot in 2012 – the empowerment Ive felt in myself through the huge changes in my life lately, the empowerment that the photoshoots give me while doing them….and of course, its yet another opportunity to share my bucketlist journey with others!

Babystep…

On Tuesday 13th March I headed to my local library to take part in a photography workshop – it was only a mini-workshop for a couple of hours, but I got some valuable tips, advice, and lessons on how to get a bit ‘more’ out of my camera, and my shots, than I previously knew – and it also ignited my thirst to learn even more about the art of photography….and thats what its all about, taking smaller steps, to head towards those bigger goals in life. The bigger goals are SO worth, taking the babysteps, towards! This bigger goal is “#21. Advance my photography skills, creating a website for my shots (babystepping my way towards this one)” – and its one that I feel passionate about, as I love my photography. My ‘#68. Take a photograph a day(ongoing…started Jan 1,2012)‘ is also my way of another babystep towards this bigger goal.

March 16, 2012 – Coolum Beach

Its not just about ‘ticking’ things off….its about the journey towards the tick…and the re-ticks! Do something, enjoy it…do it again!