Chasing my Dreams!

#77 – Give ‘Disabled Surfing’ a go…”People helping People…TICK!

I had the absolute priviledge to take part in an event that took place this last Saturday, 3rd March 2012, on the Sunshine Coast, which was run through the Disabled Surfers Association (DSA), (they hold Events all around the country)

Having heard about Disabled Surfing, through the DSA a number of times over the years, I had either attempted to go to one of the Events, but not gone because of illness…or I had let my fear of ‘having water suddenly rushed over me, or being dunked under’ (a fear that I had had since my childhood) control the fact that I didn’t attend…

…On Saturday 3rd March I decided to face my fear head-on, and just DO IT! The funny thing is though…and I think its because of this new mindset that 100Things has shown me – rather than being afraid, I was REALLY excited….‘little kid on Christmas Eve’, excited! haha it was an awesome feeling!!

I woke up bright and early, looked outside at the absolute picture perfect day that lay in front of me…and I had a sense of what surfers must feel when they wake and look at the day outside….I could not WAIT to get out into that ocean (the ocean is part of my spirit, it has my heart, for sure)..not to mention give something a go that I had never braved before.

Getting ready, and heading out on the road up to Noosa…my focus and excitement was awesome…I have ‘one-track mind’ focus when I feel a passion for something in my life – I LOVE ’Adventure’…and this most certainly was an adventure that I was about to head into!

After arriving at Noosa Main Beach (First Groyne), and meeting some of the other Participants, and a number of the DSA Volunteers who were there for the day, I got an immediate sense of ‘heart’…everyone was just so happy, there was no stress, you could tell everyone was excited to start into the Event. Looking around at all the DSA Volunteers who were there, and listening to the ‘pep talk’ that they were given by the President of the Sunshine Coast DSA – you could really tell that they were there for one focus, and one focus only – for us….to bring us enjoyment and happiness…”People helping People”… it was just such a warm feeling, to be on the receiving end of such a legendary group of people.

What a BEAST! hehe...

What a BEAST! hehe…

Those of us who needed assistance onto the beach, were loaded into the awesome beach beasts (wheelchairs) they had for us….and this was it, we were off, about to have the times of our lives. I sat there, as I waited my turn, chatting away to some of the other Participants and Volunteers (one of the other Participants was a leg amputee,… he was SO determined to get up and stand on his board…and guess what…when he had his chance to get out there…he DID IT! Only for a few seconds, but he did it. The look on his face was priceless, such a sense of achievement, I was so happy for him!)

OK so now it came to being my turn to get out there into the ocean. I sat in the beach wheelchair that was to take me to my Dream, out into that ocean..to surf. And at this moment, was when I got such a sense of…WOW…these people who have come to support us, really are SO focussed on us, it was amazing. ’My Team’ consisted of about ten people, one of them held my board, as we all headed out to that ocean, all in unison, as one. Being taken out into the ocean in the beach chair was…I admit a little nervewracking (they were lifting me and the chair over the waves as they came in, before I was assisted onto my board) – not to mention as I knew that right then, very soon, I would be confronting the fear of having the water rushed over my head. But my Team were talking and laughing with me the whole time, so, even though I was nervous, I was actually having SO much fun! My Team were all awesome!

One Team..one Focus...

After being assisted on my board, laying down on it, feeling the awesomeness of an actual surfboard under my body – I LOVED it!…my Team surrounded me as to stop me falling off the Board (the Teams adjust the levels of support, depending on the level of ability of the Participant)…and then this was it…we were off, we were headed out further, to wait for a wave to come in. I felt SO safe with these people, but then again I had no choice, I had to trust them…lol…(but that was easy, they made me feel so calm and safe about it all).

I could, out of the corner of my eye, see a wave building up…and then I thought ‘ok..this is it, no backing out now!’…my Team, as one, all saw this wave as well, turned me around to face the shore…and a split second after – ’this is IT, this is YOUR WAVE’…next thing I was off!! I was Surfing!! AWESOME!! The rush of the water under and around me, the speed of the board as it was heading over the wave….the feeling of ‘Wow – so this is what it really feels like!’…unreal! Even though I had one of the guys jump on the back of my board (as the rest of my Team moved away) just before I hit the wave….it really did feel like I was doing it on my own, thats what I LOVED about it. I had support right there, but the feeling was that I was doing it on my own.

As I caught the wave, all I could hear around me (aside from the massive rush of this ocean that I love so much), was the cheering and applauding I got from my Team, which was brilliant – they were celebrating along with me, as I caught my wave. (They did this for every Participant, whenever they caught a wave, which was such a beautiful thing for them to do for us…celebrating that we were doing this, as they knew what a big achievement it was, for each and every one of us!)

My Team celebrating around me..this photo speaks volumes!

After I finally stopped moving as the wave died down..I could feel my smile, it was SO wide…haha….it was a feeling of pure exhiliration, adrenaline, and joy. Just like a child who had done something for the very first time (and Im not afraid to admit that I felt like a child, as we all deserve to have the innocent joyful, and playful feelings of a child, in this life). I was, once again as Ive felt so many times on this journey lately – ’deep down inside, HAPPY!’

Pure happiness...from both me, and one of my Team...awesome!

With words from me to the effect of “Lets do that again!”…we were off, back out, to wait for another wave. This was awesome…this was SO much more fun than I thought it was going to be! Laughing and chatting with my Team, we waited for my next wave…my perfect wave. Next minute, we spotted it, it was awesome…my Team turned me around, and once again, as the wave got closer, I was off…

Literally….I was off…I fell OFF the board…OMG!….this was my fear, being dunked under the water! I must admit, sheer panic and fright hit me in that moment – but in the next moment I was being grabbed and pulled up by some of my Team, who were right with me, as they had been, every step of the way. These Teams of volunteers are very safe, they are with you every step of the way….but the fact is, the ocean sure does have a mind of her own (which, with my love of it, Ive come to respect that in it)…and ‘things do happen’.

After lots of reassurance from my Team, who were so great with me, after my ‘bit of a fright’ (they were aware of my fear)…I actually relaxed enough about it, to joke about it….’OMG I did a Wipeout, on my first surf….that is AWESOME!!’ (haha..I dont do things by halves…go out for my first surf, and end up doing a Wipeout!)

I was so relaxed about it, thanks to these beautiful, caring people….that I immediately said….”Bring it ON!”, when I was asked whether I wanted to catch another one. The third wave went without incident….like the first two, it was SO much fun!

As we headed up out of the ocean (not wanting to leave it, as I was having such a ball!)…I commented to one of my Team “that was SO much fun, pity I couldnt stand up on the board, like real surfing’ – he immediately reminded me that hey, I WAS surfing, I WAS catching a wave…just like surfers do. That switched my mind to such an awesome place…I really HAD surfed…MY way!

Sitting back up on the shore, I had a chance then to watch the Teams of Volunteers in action – to see the pure joy on the faces of the other Participants, was something I will never forget – because of “people helping people”, these others had the chance to experience pure happiness, like I had just felt. Just beautiful!

At the end of the Event, after getting changed, I headed out to the BBQ they had provided for us.  It was then that I explained that I had just ticked off #77 on my list, and started to, again, share the concept of having a Bucket List, with others. Then…over walked the woman who was on the back of my board when I did my Wipeout…haha…she felt SO bad…I had to convince her that it was truely OK…that it had added an AWESOME angle to the day for me! Im always up for a bit of adventure…hehe….

After chatting away with others who had just experienced this incredible day, it was time to head off. I tell you what…that drive home was one of the most incredible, peaceful, drives….the feeling of achievement I felt, was awesome! The feeling I gathered from the absolute Legends from this day, was a ‘theme’ that seems to be running through this 100Things concept, as its gaining momentum and evolving – ‘People helping People’ – it was awesome…an entire Team of volunteers coming together out of the pure goodness of their hearts, to give people of varied abilities, the opportunities to get out there on a board, and to surf..’our way’.

Bring on the next DSA Event!

Here is a video clip that I put together of how the day unfolded…..in a way, this explains more about how the day unfolded, than words ever could…

Surfing with DSA!

On ‘The Circle’ Couch – 22 February 2012

Before I knew it, the show threw to a commercial break, and I was being ushered onto the Couch, and it was moments before the cameras were set to roll again –  I suddenly felt a strong sense of calm come over me…I think it was because I thought, ‘well you can either enjoy this, be in the moment with it…or freak out and waste the opportunity by being nervous’!

But mostly, I think it was because – I was exactly where I knew I wanted to be in my life. I was fulfilled…I was HAPPY.

When meeting the girls, and guest hosts, it was such a brilliant feeling – they all were so nice…‘this was going to be fun!’  As my story was starting to be shared, I actually started to enjoy myself more and more (as long as I kept my eyes off of the tv screen in front of us, and the cameras, that is!..haha) – I have grown to really enjoy sharing my ‘story’…it (embracing your life, and living by your passions) is such a simple concept in itself, which has the potential to be absolutely lifechanging.

After talking about how my V8 Life Dream came about, in such a simple way, and how it had changed my life and myself as a person, and how this had encouraged me to passionately attack my List with everything Ive got (talking about this day relaxed me even more, because of how much of a magic day it was!…I even forgot that this was being shared with viewers around the country, I was that relaxed about it…haha) – it was now time for another ‘achievement’ which showed the ‘power of the list’, what the List had brought me – self belief.

This was my moment, to show whoever was watching, what my Chasing my Dreams bucket list meant to me. This (as was everything else), was live, it was not rehearsed..but I did not even worry about this…I somehow knew that I would be OK, that I would not fall…I would be safe – it was only later that I thought…OMG I am SO glad I didnt fall, and we didnt end up faceplanting the couch!! haha. After Seb Terry stood up, taking my hand and easing me up to a standing position…in the next moment I was standing up, giving this person a free-standing hug, with no crutches, no ‘furniture-holding’ just two people hugging…what a moment…I even shed a tear, it felt so incredible to be standing there, with no crutches in sight, or in my hands, for support (When sitting in a chair, sure your hugs are real, warm hugs too…but to give/receive a freestanding hug just like other ablebodied people give, with nothing but this person physically supporting me…this was what the power of the List, had given me, the belief that I could do this).  What a brilliant feeling!

I was then taken off of the Couch, into the Green Room, to have a few minutes chat with Seb Terry.  Right there, I had another moment of ‘what has just happened to my LIFE?!?!?’…haha…it really was surreal..but real at the same time. Judith Lucy was in the Green Room, she wanted to know what the ‘story’ was about, so again (hmmm this was becoming a bit of a pattern…lol), I found myself sharing my  journey with her. That was awesome, chatting away with Judith Lucy, about it…I adore Judith, I think she’s brilliant…so to sit down and tell her a bit about my life and this journey which I am so passionate about, was great!

I was then taken back into the audience, to finish off the ‘tick’ of sitting in the audience for the rest of the show…The Circle is such a fun show to observe, and the cast/guest hosts are all just fun, decent people. Another experience I thoroughly enjoyed, and all because I had put it on my List!

Before I knew it, the show was over, and my two-day adventure (was it really only two days???…I had to remind myself that that’s all it was….wow..) was coming to a close…but…I still had one more ‘tick’ to finish off – my return flight home…I said my thank you’s to The Circle staff, who were all absolutely wonderful with me, especially Kate who had worked so closely with me through the whole experience, from the reply to that first email, right through to being there with me, when the adventure unfolded. I was then (reluctantly, I really did not want this Adventure to be over, it had been literally like a Dream…and a very emotional, adrenaline-filled, fascinating ride!) driven back to the airport, boarded on the plane, and my flight took me back home to ‘reality’…(but my reality is AWESOME, thanks to living life the Chasing my Dreams way)…with the BIGGEST smile on my face, and again, thoughts of “OK…what just happened???”…lol..

Opportunities…grab them whenever you can…you never know what it could lead to. This Adventure, as I stated earlier, started simply with an email sent off to The Circle…and ended up being one of the most special two days of my life….

Photo Compilation of my AMAZING two-day Adventure

The Circle segment – including ‘the hug’..

Life..its here to be embraced.

Opportunities..they are here to be grasped.

Dreams..they are here to be Chased….

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!

(oh…I must share a ‘bizarre moment’ when I got home from my Adventure, back to the Sunshine Coast)…I was still in the dress that I was wearing that morning on The Circle (we went straight from the Studio, to the airport), and arrived home, absolutely exhausted that night, so decided to get some Asian takeaway for dinner. I was in the shop, waiting for my order…out the corner of my eye, I spot a bike going past on the pavement – next thing the bike (and rider) appears back at the doorway ‘Excuse me, did I see you on the TV this morning?’…haha…now THAT was bizarre!…”Yes, that was me!!”…it was lovely to hear the feedback of how my segment had affected this woman…a woman I didnt even know. And (again! haha), I found myself sharing my 100Things journey with this woman. Life is full of bizarre moments…and that was certainly one of them!

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4. Be in the Studio Audience of a TV show

Feeling like a little kid again, when I woke again at 230am, not being able to sleep from the excitement (even though I had had a huge day the day before and NEEDED my beauty sleep) *thank goodness for studio makeup!..haha*, I found myself not being able to get back to sleep for AGES…grrrrr…lol. I lay there, reflecting on my 100Things journey, and what had brought me to this point, of being in this Hotel, living this incredible Dream – and I admit, having the biggest, cheesiest grin on my face!

OK…back to what unfolded on this Magic day…as I got up and faced the day, I had an incredible sense of excitement, more than I thought I would feel…

After checking out of the Hotel, and strolling over to Channel Ten which is adjacent to the Como Hotel….I almost had a sense of…not, wanting to back away from the days adventures – but strolling over there ever soooo slowly and not going in there ‘just yet’, as I just didn’t want this day to go any faster than it already would. I wanted to take it all in…I didn’t want to miss a moment…and I wanted to somehow control the speed of how fast the day may go for me.

Wandering into Channel Ten studios was incredible…and again, as I felt the day before, it really was as if I wasn’t out of place, at all…I felt as if I was exactly where I was meant to be. This is the only way I can explain my lack of being a nervous wreck for the whole experience…the fact that I had put this on my List, and I was facing it, ready to ‘tick’ it off, head-on – somehow, this was why I felt that I wasn’t out of my comfort zone, because I had chosen to put myself there, by putting these ‘ticks’ on my list in the first place (if that makes sense?) Even though, like the day before, I really was ‘facing the unknown’, (with the added element of now knowing that I would be ON that couch, with the girls and guest hosts), I felt SO comfortable in this space..it was awesome. In the past, ‘facing the unknown’ used to be something that I avoided at all costs – but now, it’s a challenge to me, a challenge which I enjoy…its exhilarating!

Straight into hair and makeup..chatting away with the stylist…and in walks Yumi, ready to be made up, herself. That was awesome..I was a little nervous at this point, the closer it got to time to head to the set, so wasn’t sure what to say, but that moment made me think ‘yep, this really IS happening!’. After hair and makeup was done (being ‘made up’ for the second day in a row…I could get used to this!), I was taken into the Green Room (after going for yet another nervous visit to the bathroom..lol)….and I was being briefed on how the morning was going to unfold. I was there to tick off ‘#4. Be in the Studio Audience of a TV show’ – but as I already now knew, I was also going to join the girls, Yumi & Gorgi, and guest hosts (Michala Banas & Lawrence Mooney) on the couch at some point. That’s all I knew. But..as I was being briefed, it was revealed to me that Seb Terry, the founder of a bucket list concept which initially started this new ‘adventure’ in my life, was going to be on the Couch, too.  I had wanted to meet this man, purely for the fact of, he has the same ‘sense of adventure’ that I have….and a previous television interview with him, is what started off my own Chasing my Dreams bucket list journey.

Myself, along with the rest of the audience were taken into the studio where the show was being filmed – again, I couldn’t take my eyes off of the cameras, the set, the equipment around me…I was fascinated! We were settled into our seats, then the audience warm-up guy’ (who was HILARIOUS!) started making us laugh, while explaining how things worked, and our ‘role’ as audience members. And then, all of a sudden, the cameras were about to roll…here we go…this is it…theres no stopping now, before long I will be up on THAT couch!! *my excitement levels just went up a WHOLE new notch, as if they werent already high enough, from the previous days adventures!*

The show rolled through with various guests, advertorials, lots of laughter…I was feeling very relaxed…and then the next minute, there was Seb Terry, on the couch, talking about his own journey. Theres nothing I love better, than sitting down and listening to/observing someone talk about their passion for their life, seeing their eyes light up when they talk about it, and knowing what it feels like to have passion and a sense of adventure for life itself…it is awesome. Sitting there listening to his latest account of his adventures, I suddenly felt very relaxed, (and DYING to get up on that Couch myself) the nerves about me being up on the Couch, live on telly, had all but disappeared. But this was not to last long…lol….

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#13. Be an extra on a TV show/movie – 21 February, 2012 (Part One)

After being on the road for about half an hour or so, and me looking around like a little kid (this was my first visit to Melbourne)…we arrived at Nunawading Studios – we were HERE…it IS happening, right now…OMG..haha.

As we drove in past security, we were asked to drive around the front, as there was The Circle film crew waiting there, ready to film my ‘grand entrance’ of us driving up, and me getting out of the car (lol…another surreal moment). My driver and I adjusted our hair and lippy (typical girl thing to do when a camera is in sight, I know!…)…then she drove me around the front, with the cameraman and sound guy right there, filming us as I arrived. This continued all throughout the day, through being shown past some of the rooms, where it all happens behind the scenes, right through to wardrobe, hair and makeup, then when actually in ‘Studio A’ where Neighbours is actually filmed, and for my scene. I must admit, it was kind of fun having this film crew with me…bizarre, but fun at the same time. I was starting to feel like a bit of a ‘celebrity’! (even if I was only pretending this, in my own head lol..I do have a visual, imaginative mind, after all!)….And also, having them there, and hearing them talk and discuss how they wanted certain shots filmed etc, I found this really fascinating – Ive always had an interest in what happens ‘behind the scenes’ on television shows, how the crew all works together, to bring together the ‘final product’ (the show they are filming). This interest I have, is part of what influenced this particular Tick, so my own/The Circle film crew were an added bonus, in that respect….awesome!

After meeting the wardrobe crew, (which was a lot of fun!) and getting dressed in the clothes and jewellery I would be wearing for my scene, then into hair and makeup (I must admit, Im not a real ‘girly girl’ who wears a lot of makeup and spends hours getting ready to go out….but I was really loving this experience of being ‘made up’, it felt really pampering!) I was taken down through corridors and past rooms where it all happens (me taking quick peeks as I went past rooms with equipment, screens, and various elements of the show behind the scenes, and feeling my creativity sparking big-time inside of me when seeing all this, was awesome!) and headed towards Studio A – but first not letting the ‘Extras Green Room’ sign on a door, get past me…”hey look, that’s for ME!”…haha. Then we arrived at Studio A – ‘wow, this is it..!’ – where Neighbours (indoor) scenes are actually filmed.

I was taken past the different sets and rooms of the show, and had various aspects of the set-up explained to me, got to see the ‘beasty equipment’, the massive cameras and lighting, which was absolutely awesome – this really peaked my interest, as this was part of what I was there for, why I wanted to ‘tick’ this off, not just for ‘my scene’. Seeing how the sets are, in real life, and not on the telly (which we see at home), and having explained to me how they put various sets together, to create the illusion of eg. Erinsborough Hospital, was really fascinating to me. As a creative person with a visual mind, and someone who is also into photography – this really got my ‘creative juices’ and desires on the inside, flowing…hmmm I was really enjoying this atmosphere…’is this something I would like to have more of in my life, this ‘creativity’ that was flowing all around me in amongst the staff and crew and this amazing set?..I think it very well could be’….I was gaining even more than I thought I would, leading into this! I was exactly where I wanted to be….I was in an environment that made me feel truly alive! And THIS is what 100Things (to me) is all about…doing things which bring you the feeling of REALLY being alive…THIS is what a ‘tick’ is all about – Life itself, in its purest form!

So now it was time to prepare for, and film ‘my scene’ – here was me thinking that, as someone I know was also an extra on Neighbours, he was ‘part of the background crowd’, and that’s what I thought my role would be as well…I almost died (but secretly was also thinking ‘this is AWESOME!) when they told me that I would be wandering into the front of the scene (which was in Charlie’s Café) from the side, to sit down with ‘my friend’ at our table – another ‘extra’ who was filming the scene with me. It was explained to me that we were to pretend that we were talking amongst ourselves as other diners in the cafe, as the actors were filming the actual ‘storyline’ scene behind us – that was bizarre, ‘silent talking’, as if we were having an actual conversation, and ‘ordering our meal’…haha..but hey, I love a challenge…so that was very cool, something I hadnt done before. I have trouble staying silent at the best of times (as many who know me, know all too well..haha)…so it was..err..interesting having to do this!

True fulfilment right there…

There were a number of ‘Takes’ as it was a very precise endeavour, to get the scene ‘just right’ – whether it was the lighting that was off, or a shadow, or something not said clearly, or little miss ‘extra’ (me) mucking up her scene….oops lol (I wandered into the shot before ‘Action’ was said….oops…haha there I was, just casually strolling into the shot like I knew what I was doing…when in fact I wasn’t meant to do that…yet…lol). But, after a number of Takes, it was a WRAP – my scene was DONE!! Yayz!! 

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience..and with talking a little with ‘my friend’ (the extra sitting with me at the table) who has done this a number of times, it made me wish that I could do it all over again!

I also got to meet actors Ashleigh Brewer and Christopher Milligan, and felt blessed to meet and sit down with Collette Mann, and have a bit of a chat with her (which was also filmed by ‘my’ film crew’…that was very, very cool!). Collette Mann is just as you see her on telly – shes georgous, and so funny! Another ‘bonus’ for my adventure that I wasn’t expecting – wow! I was loving this…

As we made our way back out to the car, Kate, the The Circle staff member who had been looking after me, right from day one of this all unfolding all those weeks ago, broke the news to me – I was asked whether it would be OK if, tomorrow when I went to The Circle to sit in the audience, for my ‘#4. Be in the Studio Audience of a TV show’ – whether it would be OK for me to sit ON the couch with the girls, on the actual show, and share my Bucket List journey with them, and the viewers. OMG…haha…but, typical of my new mindset that this has all brought me – instead of hesitating, I immediately said an enthusiastic “Bring it ON!” (even though the nerves kicked in, I wasn’t going to say no to an opportunity that showed up – the one thing that ‘Chasing my Dreams’ has taught me, its to say ‘Yes!’ to opportunities…YES to Life!)

So that was it..that was #13. Be an extra on a TV show/movie – Tick!   (Well, ‘half a Tick’ – I found out that I now had to wait a couple of months to see it on the actual show – I was SO excited to have this happen, in my future!)

I was then driven into Chapel St, to the Como Hotel, where I would be spending the night…all I can say is Wowzers!, this Hotel is amazing – and again, I had to stop myself from thinking that I was dreaming…’this is all happening to ME?’…total amazement at this point..again! After going out for a wander down Chapel St…which was amazing – I wanted to see a tram, all I wanted to do was to see a tram…lol…I finally found a TRAM – yayz!! Haha…how CUTE are they??….I then went back up to my room to order Room Service then have an early night – ooooh…ANOTHER exciting day in the morning!…

…little did I know what was about to unfold….

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FOUR Ticks in two days…Wowzers!!

OK, I firstly have to apologise for the length of this…there are so many ‘moments’ which happened in the two days – not to mention not one, but FOUR ‘ticks’, and the ‘hug’! I am going to try to condense this down, so its not a novel lol (I will post it in ‘parts’ – different posts for each ‘tick’)… here goes…

The background….

I believe it to be so true, about everything ‘weaving together’ and linking up, to create wonderful opportunities, if you have shown that you are ‘ready for it’ – if you take the first opportunity without hesitation, another one presents itself, another person, etc etc. Ive experienced it, and many people have said they have also…how things and people just seem to line up perfectly, to present these opportunities right in front of you, one after the other – its as if, when people around you, or in fact the universe, sees the self-belief/empowerment/passion in you start to roll with increased momentum, awesome opportunities do start to appear, as if by magic. Its amazing how it works…

What happened in the two days I recall in the following posts…all started from a simple email, to ‘The Circle’, after a segment on Bucket Lists appeared on the show. Immediately during the segment, I thought ‘Opportunity!’…and these amazing two days is the result. All I did was let them know whatmy own Bucket List had done for my life, showed them my List, and highlighted one ‘Dream’ in particular…they saw ‘something’ in my story…and this is the result..

After finding out the mindblowing news about me being flown down to Melbourne, have a chauffeured car pick me up to drive me out to appear on Neighbours, stay at the Como Hotel (mmm….very nice!) and to sit in the audience of The Circle…I then sat back and thought ‘what has just happened with my LIFE???’…this was surreal..

Fast forward, after a number of days of heightened feelings of excitement and anticipation running through me, to the morning of leaving for my adventure….still not knowing what else was in store for me….

(Part 1 of)..#18. Hop on a plane, fly somewhere..stay overnight..then turn around and fly back – 21st February 2012

After waking up SUPER early, just like a kid on Christmas morning (but much higher in excitement!), we set off for the airport. After a very stressful trip down, with massively delayed/stop-start traffic because of an accident many km’s in front of us, and stressing big-time that I was going to miss my flight because of this we FINALLY arrived at the airport, with literally minutes to spare, before check-in would have closed and I would have missed my flight! OMG…

Getting settled in on the plane, a member of the flight crew said ‘OK we will get you settled, then you can sit back with a glass of champers’…I thought ‘now this is kind of special…’ I sat back, relaxed, with the biggest grin on my face, people around me must have thought I was mad…or drunk….or perhaps even both..haha. As soon as the plane engines fired up, it was such an awesome feeling, knowing that I was about to set off on my special adventure, and that this flight down, was the first part of one of my ‘ticks’ (the flight itself). We coasted along the runway…then..there they were…the massive *thrust* of the jets engines as we were about to go full tilt along the runway then take off into the skies – LOVE it!! This is part of why I love to fly, these massive flying beasts are awesome!

About half an hour into the flight, the refreshments came around – I asked for a cuppa, sat back and was just starting to drink it when a member of the flight crew came down and just handed over a piccolo of champagne, and a glass. Complimentary. Wow…”now ya talkin’! “, I thought…haha (tough choice – cuppa or champagne??…hmmm)…I looked around me, and noticed that I was the only one being offered this. I was starting to feel ‘important’ and a little spoilt…not to mention that it was around 930am in the morning and I was about to dive into some alcohol (oh well, it had to be 5pm somewhere in those skies above the earth, right??)…and I wasn’t piloting the plane, anyway, so I was safe to drink….lol…

Laying back, watching the clouds out the window which were just like a big fluffy white blanket below us, drinking the champagne….yep, I was literally on Cloud 9 at this point…sooo relaxing!

Two hours after my adventure began, the jet landed in Melbourne. My excitement levels just went up another notch…AMAZING feeling!! As I was being assisted off, a member of the flight crew spotted my ‘100Things’ book that I had taken on the flight….Ive already read it, of course…but it’s a book that I just cannot get enough of flicking through, gaining more inspirations, smiles, and laughs from it – and besides, the book was the very essence and reason that I was on this trip! I sat there talking with members of the flight crew about 100Things, and about the special reason that I was down in Melbourne, what was about to unfold for me…they were fascinated, which felt awesome – I am always proud to share my 100Things journey, I feel the concept of it is such a valuable story that more people need to hear, in this world, to gain influence for their own lives, if they will, from it. It felt awesome to have the flight crew, who had just flown me to my adventure, sitting around me, engaged in the story that I was sharing with them, about this journey that has changed my life.

I was taken off the plane, then I headed towards the luggage carousel where I was to meet my driver – I couldn’t find anyone with a card with my name on it..’oooh no don’t tell me they didn’t wait around for me!’ (visions of us being stuck in that traffic that morning, flashed back ‘not another thing gone wrong!’) – but after a few minutes, I looked over and spotted a suited-up woman coming towards me, and yep there it was..the card with my name on it…haha…”how bizarre”! (isn’t this something that only happens to famous people, or in the movies?)

The next minute…we were on our way to the Neighbours set!! It was very surreal at this point….I was probably talking my drivers’ ear off at this point, I was beginning to get very blown away with what was happening to me…this was happening to ME???….but she was fascinated too, she loved also hearing about the 100Things journey, and what had brought me to this point of this adventure happening to me…

(Page 1 of 4…click the link to the bottom right, for page 2 of 4, of this incredible two-day Adventure..)

Ticking three Things/Dreams off in just over 24hrs….wowzers!

4. Be in the Studio Audience of a TV show

13. Be an extra on a TV show/movie

18. Hop on a plane, fly somewhere..stay overnight..then turn around and fly back

I am about to head off on an adventure of a LIFETIME – off to tick off three things/dreams on my list that I have been wanting to do for sooo long now! In two days time (Tuesday 21/2/2012) I will be heading to Brisbane airport, boarding a plane headed for Melbourne – met at the airport by a chaffeur, who will apparently have my name on a board, when waiting for me (isn’t that something that only happens to people in the movies, or famous people? haha). I will then be driven to the Neighbours set, where I will be ticking off #13 Be an extra on a TV show/movie. After spending the night at the Como Hotel (WOW!), I will then (on Wednesday 22/2/2012) be ticking off #4. Be in the Studio Audience of a TV show, on The Circle, Channel 10′s morning program – awesome! Being into photography, Ive always been fascinated with ‘behind the scenes’, the cameras, the crew, what goes on behind what we see coming out of our TV screens, as the public – the creative and visual aspect of putting a tv show/movie etc together fascinates me, so even if I get a glimpse of this, its going to be amazing!

After The Circle show is finished, I will be then driven back to the airport, getting on a plane headed back to the Sunshine Coast, where I will be, yep you guessed it, ticking off ANOTHER item: #18. Hop on a plane, fly somewhere..stay overnight..then turn around and fly back. When thinking of this item, I put it on the list purely as I LOVE to fly, and just wanted the experience of flying somewhere, then almost immediately, flying back again. Little did I know what would be happening inbetween the two flights, when it DID come into my reality!!

In excitement levels this is level-pegged for when my V8 Life Dream came true for me…lol (except the V8 Life Dream experience went deeper, with the very sentimental meaning it had for me – it was truely a lifechanging event, its what started off the magic of this whole journey of self belief and ‘ANYTHING is possible’, way of thinking for me)….

Never in a million years did I think that I would be having this much fun with my life, and the new opportunities that would open for me, once I became open to THEM. The very minute I was approached with this opportunity, I did not hesitate (the ’old me’ would have hesitated and maybe even come up with ‘obstacles’ that could fall in my way of this ‘running smoothly’ for me)….but the new me didnt even pause before saying an emphatic “YES!!”. This adventure Im about to fly off to is testament to the fact that, once you start saying YES to opportunities that come your way, instead of ‘No’, or making up excuses, or hesitating because of fear or similar emotion….once you start saying YES…even MORE amazing opportunities start to show up!

WOWZERS!! Bring it ON!!

Anything really IS Possible!!

Photo Compilation of some of my “Ticks”

I thought I’d put together a compilation of photos of “Ticks’ (Dreams) which have come true for me….some of these were before my Chasing my Dreams journey started, these things were ‘unofficially’ on my list, just in my mind to do…and I set out to do them – some of these are things that I’d thought I would NEVER get the courage to do – but now that I’m embracing my life and Chasing my Dreams– I know that ANYTHING is possible!

Chasing my Dreams

August 2011 – A defining time in my life…

**SO THAT WAS AUGUST 2011 – WOW, WHAT A MONTH!!**

This month has been the most incredible, life-changing, defining month of my Life. Not only have I ticked off FIVE, yes FIVE of my ‘Items on my List’ (haha…what a way to ‘officially’ kick off my Bucket List!), but I now have brought my BIGGEST Life Dream to reality..and I cant begin to try to explain just how much it has meant to me, to experience this…well, ok, I will try to explain it lol…So…August 2011, I ticked off: (all of these had been in my mind, to do in my life, before my Bucket List was ‘officially born’ in June 2011)

No 38. Go on a Womens’ Personal Development Retreat (Like Chocolate for Women Mooloolaba ‘Sweet Retreat’)

Kim & Fleur from “Like Chocolate for Women”, two of the most gorgeous, caring women, who brought us the most deliciously luxurious, pampering Retreat

This inaugural ‘Mooloolaba Sweet Retreat’ was the most indulgent, pampering, empowering experience as a woman. Kim & Fleur from Like Chocolate for Women are very passionate about getting the message out about ‘self-care’ – not only through their ‘health, beauty and wellbeing’ range of products – but their whole philosophy on life is to honour yourself, by taking care of your self, from the inside, and on the out. ‘Like Chocolate for Women’ is an experience every woman should have – whether through a Retreat, through a ‘Sparkle’ experience (bringing their products to you, in party form), or by simply interacting with KIm & Fleur, the ‘Choccie Girls’.

Kims husband, ex-international NZ cricketer Danny Morrison, has recently started a section of the business, for men – aptly titled “Like Sport for Men”.

I have since been asked to be on the Support Team for the 2012 LCFW Retreat – it was SUCH an honour to be asked by the girls, to help support this special Retreat – it is also my way of ‘giving back’, not only to Kim & Fleur, but also to other women who are there to celebrate being a woman, and develop new ways of self-care for themselves.

No 61. Be a tourist in my local area, staying in a local hotel (Mooloolaba) on my own and enjoying ‘being away from home’

Mantra Mooloolaba…BEAUTIFUL hotel! My ‘home away from home’ for a few days

I decided to get into the whole ‘Retreat’ feel by staying at the Hotel attached to where the Like Chocolate for Women Retreat was being held. I had never checked in, and stayed in a hotel on my own before…while this may seem like not a ‘big deal’ to some…given where I was in my life at that time, still feeling ‘lost’ but determined to face new challenges, and having to organise my luggage etc to be carried myself (without having family/support person with me etc) this was a HUGE deal to me.

I drove to the Hotel, feeling SO nervous, and scolding myself thinking ‘come on Tania, this is Mooloolaba, you know the place inside-out!’ – (looking back on this, almost a year later *April 2012*, this makes me realise just how MUCH I have grown, doing this would not worry me now, not in the slightest) – wondering how I was going to manage my luggage, and check in, all on my own. But as I found out, it was a very easy process. Staff at the Hotel (and which has been my experience since, at other hotels Ive stayed at on my own) were only too willing to assist me, with anything I needed support with. I checked into the Hotel, feeling SO proud of myself for doing it, not just staying at home and driving to the Retreat every day.After exploring my Room, checking out the bathroom, the luxurious bed, the views from the balcony etc….I headed to the LCFW Retreat….for the most wonderful 2.5 days of self-discovery. After the last session ended on the last day of the Retreat, I was enjoying myself so much, being ‘away’, that I decided to stay at the Hotel for another night….I hadnt spent a lot of time in my hotel room as we were at Retreat for the full days….so going back to the Hotel on the last evening, and knowing that I needn’t rush home, was such a luxurious feeling! THIS is the feeling that I was after, on this particular ‘Tick’. On a lunchbreak on one of the Retreat days…I happened to come across this cute beast, while strolling down Mooloolaba Esplanade….

Nina the Llama…she was SO cute!! ..and such a poser haha…she had many people taking her photo!!

No 49. Stay in a hotel in the city, on my own, when I travelled towards my Life Dream

So then comes the start of the most EXCITING, mindblowing and lifechanging part of August (and my LIFE!) – heading to Brisbane, to stay overnight in the city, before heading to Ipswich the next morning, to bring my #1 Life Dream to reality. I stayed at the Holiday Inn, Brisbane. I could not have chosen a better Hotel at that time, to add to the whole experience of bringing this Dream to life. This Hotel was just amazing. Ahmed the Concierge was absolutely outstanding, his service, his sense of humour, his ability to make you feel that he was your ‘own personal assistant’ was just incredible – this made my quest to do this for the very first time (travel to the CBD and stay in a Hotel in the city on my own, for the first time), SO much easier – and what made it even better was, as I needed a Disabled room for my wheelchair, (they have two Disabled rooms) – the one I ended up staying in, was the size of one of their Suites. So I paid for a ‘regular’ room….and got a ‘Suite’. Nice!

If I could have…I would have taken a RUNNING leap and jumped onto this bed when I first checked in, I was SO excited…haha….

No 30. Solo train journey (changing my long-term train fear) – Ive actually done several train journeys now – but the first ‘solo’ was a major *TICK* off of my List….confronting a deepseated fear and taking me RIGHT out of my comfort zone)

For my V8 Racing Life Dream to happen, I was going to have to get myself to Ipswich somehow – so I decided to, at last, face my fear of being on a train, absolutely head-on. I thought ‘well Tania…you WANT your V8 Dream this badly, you are GOING to face your train fear, no matter what. So, with the (very patient and wonderful) support of my social worker, we slowly but surely worked through my fears associated with riding on a train. It was such a wonderful feeling to at last, get on a train, and not feel those fears build up, that had prevented my world from opening up to this mode of transport. Facing this fear has now opened up my world even more, not just for the ‘travel’ aspect….but facing this fear has made me no longer ‘fear my fears’.

Any fears that come up for me now, are Challenges to me….and anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE a Challenge!! Facing this fear, (and this incredible month), was a turning point in my life, in this way that I have been able to turn fears ‘around’ to no longer be afraid of them.

So, now that I had faced this fear..it was time to bring my #1 Life Dream to Reality!!

No 1. Go for a ‘Hot Lap’ drive around the a race track, in a Ford Supercar, with a Ford driver of course! WOW!! What a moment (or 3-and-a-bit-minutes of life-changing INSANE fun!!), that was!! Haha…

I had the absolute priviledge of not only meeting ‘The Team’ – Jim Beam Racing/DJR, and the Legend himself, Dick Johnson, but I had the awesome opportunity to meet and sit next to Steve Johnson (Dicks son), and race around the track at Qld Raceway, in his mind-blowingly AWESOME #17 Jim Beam Ford V8 Supercar BEAST!! 240km/hr at top speed, feeling the massive grunt and power, while listening to, and feeling, the roar of that engine….WOWZERS!!! It was INSANE!!..We were lucky enough to have a half-wet track, so of course, Steve slid the car around the corners a little for me…haha…BRILLIANT…

Steve Johnson’s #17 Ford V8 Supercar…What a BEAST!!

it was most definitely a case of….

“Get in, Sit down, Strap in, and HANG ON!!!”…haha…INSANE!!

I will never forget this day for as long as I live.

I was born into the motor racing industry, but because of my disability I was unable to join in with the family in the sport, I was always on the sidelines, watching it from a distance. It has always been in my heart and spirit to race, but I was simply unable to join in – I had ALWAYS felt a huge hole in my heart, from missing out.

Not only did my Life Dream come true on that track I , but the entire Team at Jim Beam Racing/DJR are very genuine people who were absolutely fantastic with me, they really are the ‘good guys’ of the sport, who obviously love what they do. (PS..that #17 Beast…wow…WHAT a Beast..I want it!! Haha)…getting back into my Ford a couple of days later and driving a ‘boring 60km/hr’ (almost Pit Lane speed!!), was…errr…interesting…haha..

August 2011 – A HUGE month of pushing my limits, facing my fears, bringing my ultimate Life Dream to Reality, meeting beautiful people and being reminded yet again of the true spirit of humanity, and of what Life is REALLY about!

The next Adventure…BRING IT ON!!!

ANYTHING really IS Possible!!

**Chase your Dreams – it is SO worth it!!**

Chasing my Dreams…One Step at a time…

My Chasing my Dreams Journey initially started just with the first 3 Dreams…but once I raced around Qld Raceway in the #17 Beast, my mindset changed in the most incredible way, in those 3-and-a-bit minutes of insane speed and fun!

I have since decided to add more things to my ‘List’ – these are things that, I now think, you know what…maybe I CAN do these things, after all. Who knows, they may just end up happening! If I strive for them, and they just end up being ‘out of reach’ physically….hey, at least I know that I’ve given them a RED HOT GO!! Having lived my whole life with mobility issues, and the last 18 yrs getting through life in a wheelchair (which I love by the way….my wheelchair is a LOT faster than struggling along on crutches, like I used to do – my wheelchair allows me to keep up with myself lol) – these 3 things ARE going to be hard work…but ‘nothing worth doing is ever easy’, right?

1. Slowdancing, standing up, arm in arm with my dance partner

2. Walking down the beach, hand in hand with ‘a guy/my guy’ (or even a guy friend, if just to experience the ‘moment’ of walking along the beach with someone), just like I see couples do all the time. Being a ‘beach girl’ at heart…this would mean something special to me

3. Climb a mountain – LOL..Im not thinking, Mt Kilimanjaro or anything of that nature..something out in nature, that I can work on getting to the top of..?!?!?! (no idea where…any ideas??)

Late 2011, I very carefully and slowly, stood up on my crutches for the first time in 18 years….that day was Step One, in my endeavour to get myself towards ticking these 3 massive Goals off. Its going to be one hell of a lot of hard work, but I now have the confidence to at least be able to strive towards them!!

Update…Jan 22, 2012 – there has been an EXCITING development in baby-stepping my way towards these 3 Goals…OMG….wont reveal all just yet, have to wait till its ‘set in stone’…..

Hmmm….my mind is ticking over…maybe I can use my #3. Climb a Mountain (or something out in nature), as some sort of fundraising, for charity. Knowing of so many people out there who are undertaking epic adventures for charity…maybe I can do similar?? UPDATE!!….There is now a Fundraising Event planned for mid/late 2012, to combine my 3 Fitness Goals listed above, and raising funds for charity – stay tuned!

Jan 28 – 2012 – Ive now decided on my ‘Mountain to Climb’….!! 

This may look ‘easy’ to others, especially those who are ablebodied and able to walk without difficulty..but to me – this is a ‘Mountain’ – and the view from the top of this, is going to be such SWEET victory, when I get there, under my own steam, walking….not in my chair!!

Coolum Boardwalk – my ‘Mountain to Climb’

I have decided, as this is going to be a longterm journey, and one which is going to be physically and emotionally challenging, that I would start a seperate Blog, to share my journey and my progress towards these three Fitness Goals…please feel free to go over to this page and read my progress so far….
Stepping Towards my Dreams

The Unfolding of another Dream…

29. Interacting with marine life in their natural environment, (the ocean), from a kayak or similar vessel

As someone who has a love of the ocean, its creatures, and nature itself – when I thought of this Dream, I immediately smiled and visualised this coming true for me. It would be an absolutely AMAZING feeling to be sitting out on the ocean, and to be in close view of a marine creature, whatever this may be ♥

Little did I know that (and yes, its happened again – when you ‘put it out there’ it is amazing the doors that open for you, the opportunities that unfold, and the people who cross your path) a chance ‘crossing path’ with a local Sunshine Coaster last year, would one day lead to this Dream unfolding for me. Ive now realised that its going to take a lot longer than I first thought, its not just a matter of ‘getting into a kayak and going out to where the marine creatures are, hopeful for an interaction’ – with my mobility/health issues, its going to take alittle bit of time, baby steps, to get me there, but its starting to unfold – Bring it on!! And not to mention, theres no guarantee that when you head out on the kayak, that the marine life will even be there where you are….but, thats the exciting part, knowing that, the one time that you DO go out, may be the one time that it DOES happen…WOW!

So…a meeting has been lined up, to discuss bringing this into my reality – the first step has been taken – YAYZ!! This person has a lot of experience with kayaking, and has told me of close interactions he himself has had with marine life – amazing to visualise, when he tells me how they came about…! It seems that I have strolled across the ideal person, who will step me towards this Dream!! Thank you..this means the world to me (you know who you are)

Put it out there..and Magic Happens!!

Stay tuned…

Update: 4th February 2012 – After meeting up with this man who has kindly offered to baby-step me towards this particular amazing Dream, sitting in the kayak on land, and talking about my mobility and other issues…I now have a ‘trial run’ in the boat lined up for TOMORROW!! Wow..7.30am, I will be meeting up with him, and getting out onto the water, in the kayak – AWESOME…cannot WAIT!! I hope I can sleep tonight, as its going to be an early start in the morning….lol….

Update:5th February, 2012 – Well, I DID IT!! I took my first step towards bringing this Dream to reality – I sat in the kayak (in a double kayak, with Tony in the seat behind me) and went for an amazing, but very serene paddle around the waters at Kawana – in the very quiet marina/boat ramp area – Tony Jennings (Sunshine Coast Kayaking), ‘teased’ me by taking me near the edge to where the channel meets the open ocean….I could SEE it, I could almost touch it, we were SO close..I WANTED to go out there..and Tony knew it…haha. One day!! I KNOW Im going to be able to do this now. Surprisingly, my balance wasn’t much of a problem at all, like I thought it was going to be. Being out on that water, which is part of my Spirit, I felt so at ‘home’ out there, it was awesome….

My first time in a kayak…AMAZING feeling!

Thank you SO much to Tony Jennings from Sunshine Coast Kayaking for taking this first step with me, towards making this Dream come true!