No. 33 – Go to a concert I’ve never been to before

Crossed off 2 February, 2013.

Last Saturday afternoon, I (impulsively) jumped on a plane to Sydney to go to see Swedish House Mafia’s One Last Tour show at Olympic Park. Yeah I did…

Fuelled by an insane and overwhelming desire to feel like a free-spirited solo traveller again (if only for 24 hours), I grabbed a pair of Havis, my sunnies, a change of clothes, my ticket and jumped on a flight, not really thinking about anything other than the sweet feeling of freedom…In hindsight, I probably should have checked the weather beforehand, as Sydney was actually quite chilly and rainy (and I was severely under-prepared for such weather in my singlet and mini shorts…) Anyhoo, the weather did nothing to dampen my spirits, as I surfed the Sydney rail system like a boss to arrive at Homebush, pumped and ready to get my rave on…

Feeling tremors of excitement radiating through my whole body, I ran through the tunnel of the Olympic Stadium and burst out on to the arena floor, just as the SHM lads opened up with thumping track ‘Greyhound’ and the crowd erupted into wild cheers and some killer dance moves. I pushed my way through the massive crowd to get as close as I could and spent the next 2 hours jumping up and down, laughing, singing, screaming, raving, and generally having the time of my life. Raving in the rain on a sweet summer’s night…gah!!! And I did it all without the assistance of any mood-altering substances (I didn’t even have a drink), and without an ounce of anxiety or worry (take that, old panic attacks!)

Opening the show in style…

Not only was Swedish House Mafia simply AH-mazing (seriously, if you haven’t already downloaded their Until Now album, do yourself a favour and jump on it…like, right now), giving a fantastic performance, playing incredible music, and pumping the crowd up to next-level awesomeness, the night was made even better by my own sense of pride, because – wait for it – I did this. All. On. My. Own.

Yup. You heard right – I went to a gigantic concert, in Sydney, all on my own, and danced the night away in my own little world. And I wasn’t even bothered by it at all…

Although many people were quite shocked to hear this – “What? It’s just you? So, you flew down to Sydney to go to a concert ALONE?!? Where’s all your friends?!?” – I  was actually quite proud to explain that I wasn’t going to let a small detail like being a solo sista’ stop me from doing something I truly wanted to do…even if it meant being the lone raver in the pack.

“Miami 2 Ibiza”

It’s a part of who I am now; I’m the girl who isn’t afraid to stand alone…of trying new things or going to places on her own…of having marvellous little solo adventures, just because she can…I’m the girl who has learnt to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. And although it would have been wonderful to share the night with someone – to dance and laugh and sing together – I am so incredibly stoked that I went and had such an amazing time…BOOM!

We came…we raved…we loved

As Sebastian, Axwell, and Steve – the SHM boys themselves – would say: “Don’t you worry, don’t you worry, child…see, heaven’s got a plan for you…”

Pinned from here

 

Lyrical Love: How a post-it note and Alicia Keys changed my life…

A couple of weeks ago, I received an incredible package of gorgeous goodies from my beautiful bloggy BFF in Ireland, Jenn from Positivity Pimp. I was lucky enough to win a giveaway on Jenn’s blog at Christmas time (talk about making my Christmas extra merry!) and all of the prizes were simply divine…hello, Argania Hair Oil, how my tresses love thee! 

With love from Ireland x

One of goodies included was Alicia Keys’ new album Girl on Fire. On the inside of the CD, I found a little handwritten note from Jenn, dedicating tracks 2, 4 & 6 to me and my journey. Curious, I slid the CD, skipped to track 2, hit play…and suddenly felt myself weeping tears of gratitude and understanding, as I listened to Brand New Me.

It was as if Alicia knew everything I had been through, every emotion I had felt in the last six months; every realisation I had discovered during my travels, in reflection of my journey, and had crafted this exquisite musical memoir in my honour. All of it perfectly laid out in a melody that captured my heart, and sung with a soul-stirring conviction and power that took my breath away…as only she can do. I’ve NEVER had a song speak to me in such volumes or resonate so deeply within my spirit. I finally had the answers to all those questions about myself I had been carrying in my heart, and it felt. So. Dayam. Good.

It freed me. It validated me. It empowered me.

I don’t need your opinion

I’m not waiting for your ok

I’ll never be perfect

But at least now I’m brave

Now, my heart is open

I can finally breathe

Don’t be mad, it’s just the brand new kind of me…

Talk about a WOAH moment…

So powerful is her message, so inspiring is her performance, that I felt compelled to share it with you all. So please, do yourselves a favour, and check out this incredible song of self-realisation and empowerment…and believe the words with all your heart. I know I do. And a MASSIVE, heartfelt thank you to the gorgeous girl herself, Jenn, for sending me this dedication and for changing my life with just one post-it note…

A Luminous Life: Spreading the joy of fellow dream-chasers and inspiration-junkies…

Ta-Dah! Welcome to the first Luminous Life instalment for 2013! Yewin’…

Today’s cracka-lackin’ profile of magic and bloggy goodness comes from the gorgeous Monika Berry, creator of the amazing slice of the interweb known as MB Captured. Monika is like a breath of fresh air to the blogosphere; her addiction to mind-blowingly beautiful photography, design, and livin’ a big ol’ joyful life is infectious (like, in a totally good way)….

I could go on and on about her fabulousness (it’s easy to do!), but I think I’ll let her do the talkin’ instead…

Thanks for stopping by, Mon! Tell us a little about yourself… I’m Monika, the creative producer behind MB Captured. I have come from a life with a travelling mum, life was always one big adventure, which also meant I lost count of how many schools I attended. These days, I have settled into a Northern Victorian Country Town (for now) with my husband, 2 dogs and baby bump (due in May).

By day I work in an office as an Executive Assistant and by night I am a graphic design student and novice photographer. Most weekends you will find me at a local café with my husband or sitting in the park with a book. I have an obsession with cute stationery and dreamy décor (for the home and parties). I wish I could be a green thumb, but fail every time. My husband says I’m a dreamer and he’s the realistic one that keeps me grounded, he’s pretty spot on.

Why did you start blogging? I started just over a year ago, wanting a space to share my photography, beautiful design and styling and general doses of positivity on living a big beautiful life.

I actually started MB Captured without any direction or vision about what I wanted from it, merely just a place to put all this ‘stuff’. I didn’t want to produce income or be commercialised, but perhaps be a foundation or support to something down the track. Today, I can honestly say it is now a part of me and it even inspires me. I have met so many amazing women who I now call friends and maybe even realised a new future career path. I have grown and developed so much with MB Captured.

 What does 2013 hold for you? Apart from becoming a first time mum in May, this year will see me graduate with qualifications in graphic design, a much bigger photography portfolio, my own stationery line and maybe even a business launch… Yep, this year is a big one and I am positive I won’t be the same person on the other side, in a very good way.

What drives you most to live a big beautiful life? I want our life to be an adventure, even more so with children of our own. Creating new opportunities for myself, so I don’t have to choose a career over being a mum. There is a saying I try to live by, the only regrets you have are the things you didn’t do. Using that philosophy, without leaving my integrity behind, opens many doors.

 What are three songs that are always on rotation on your iPod?

 + Bon Iver – Perth

+ Mumford & Sons – Hopeless Wanderer

+ Silversun Pickups – Catch & Release

If you were getting a tattoo of your favourite quote, what would it be? Spend each day in some happy way. (Inspired from a little plaque mum bought me at a market when I was a kid).

I currently have one tattoo of an abstract elephant head, which I got in a shack in the middle of the Northern Thailand jungle after doing some volunteer work with Elephants. Working with the elephants was such a beautiful experience, I wanted to make it part of me.

What are 5 goals/dreams/random shenanigans you would add to your own list?

1. Live overseas with my husband and kids, maybe even somewhere like Thailand
2. Experience breathtaking moments with Wildlife around the world
3. Move back to the beach and own a paddleboard
4. Become a freelance designer and photographer
5. Never lose my sense of adventure

Finish this sentence: “The key to happiness is….” I don’t think there is one special ingredient to this as our lives have so many influencing factors.

Be true to who you are, always keep your integrity and honesty. Then, you will naturally flow onto your destined path and surround yourself with like-minded people.

Be a student in this big wide world. There is so much to learn and discover, don’t stop chasing it.

Simply chose to be happy, a simple mind shift has some pretty impressive power.

This is my favourite photo of me because it captures… A time when we had a lot less, we had just entered our 20’s, bought a house and got our first fluffy kid. Little did we know how many amazing life changing experiences were just around the corner. My greatest memories are in this time. Life won’t wait for you, don’t waste it.

No. 142 – Cross one thing off this list each month in 2012 (at least)

My vision for the wonderful year that was 2012 kinda went something like this…

I wanted to set my INTENTIONS for the year and watch them blossom…

I wanted to be held ACCOUNTABLE for my successes and  life choices (a.k.a. choosing joy and happiness)…

I wanted to CHALLENGE myself to achieve something in each of the 12 months of a new, exciting, and oh-so-full-of-possibilites year…

I wanted to COMMIT to something important to me and follow it through to the end…

I wanted to DEVELOP, LEARN, GROW and EVOLVE through my experiences…

So I did…simple, really…

Looking back now, it’s funny to see how it started out: small, easy, localised goals; then gained some momentum; and then exploded into a non-stop whirlwind of goal-achieving, life-changing, fire-in-the-belly goodness! Seriously, it took on a life of its own…

Here’s the easy steps I took to achieve these goals:

+ Set your intentions – Like, right now…

+ Use POWERFUL words – Hit the thesaurus if you need, read other people’s blogs for ideas, or just sit in silence and ask the Universe for the words to describe what you need most…they will come, I promise.

+ Put them out there on show – Dress ’em up, pimp ’em out, make them fabulous, and share them with the whole world…

+ Seek opportunities to achieve – I believe in the simple ‘YES’ philosophy: when an opportunity presents itself, just respond with ‘YES’…trust me, this works!

+ Get those good ol’ positive, ‘can-do’ vibes coursing through your veins – Achieving goals is like the ultimate mood-lifter…

+ Celebrate your awesomeness – Reflect upon your achievement, appreciate it, cherish it…and write it down so you always have a snapshot of how you felt in that moment. It makes such a wonderful memento of your journey!

Pinned from here

So, how did I go with my month-by-month goal-achieving goodness for 2012? See for yourself…

No. 103 – Picnic at the beach with Muggy

No. 25 – Reflect…

 No. 11 – Meditate

No. 62 – Get a tan

No. 67 – Learn to ride a bike

( Pinned from here)

No. 40 – Run and play in the rain

No. 53 – Follow my dreams, not someone else’s…

No. 14 – Study abroad

No. 147 – Drink beer from a traditional beer stein in Germany

No. 21 – Laugh for no reason…

 No. 55 – Forgive him

 No. 39 – Have my photo taken in Paris near the Eiffel Tower

 No. 136 – Wander the halls of the Louvre

 No. 143 – See and touch snow for the first time

No. 138 – Swim in the Mediterranean Sea

No. 137 – Eat gelato on the Spanish Steps in Rome

No. 139 – Marvel at the Sistine Chapel

No. 135 – Pay my respects at a former Nazi concentration camp

No. 2 – Travel around Europe

No. 149 – Eat a traditional foot-long hotdog

No. 150 – Go to a live baseball game in the USA

No. 102 – Hold hands…

An Aussie in Antigonish: My life in Canada – Week 1, Week 2, Week 3.

No. 127 – Make a wish…

No. 157 – Celebrate Thanksgiving

No. 151 – Scream my lungs out at an ice hockey match

No. 148 – Celebrate Halloween

An Aussie in Antigonish: My life in Canada – Weeks 4, 5, 6

No. 50 – Be kind to myself

An Aussie in Antigonish: My life in Canada –Weeks 7-9, Weeks 10-12

Special: A letter to my 15-year old self…

No. 146 – Try ice skating

No. 117 – Have a White Christmas

No. 72 – See a show on Broadway…

No. 144 – See the bright lights of Times Square.

No. 158 – Have breakfast at Tiffany’s

No.76 – Have an adventure…

An Aussie in Antigonish: My life in Canada – Weeks 13-15

Special: An Aussie in Antigonish Saying Goodbye – An open love letter to my friends at StFX…

Pinned from here

What about yourself? Did you achieve some MAJOR goals in 2012? How did you achieve them? Do you have some big, exciting, breathtaking, out-of-this-world goals for 2013? Share them here, I’d love to know…

No.76 – Have an adventure… (otherwise known as ‘My Beautiful Life: 2012 in Retrospect…’)

Crossed off the list 31st December, 2012

Pinned from here

Wow.

Like, seriously…WOW.

What an action-packed, wildly adventurous, jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring, non-stop rollercoaster, whirlwind of a year this was – phew! 2012 was, without a doubt, the BEST year of my life, thus far…no joke. This was my year of adventure, self-discovery, solo world travelling, soul searching, broken heart-mending, spirit quenching, magical ah-ha! moments, fuelled by non-stop, massive, dreamscomingtrue-goodness!

Pinned from here

As I look back on my incredible journey through the last 365 days of blessings, I am transported back to this exact day a year ago – my first New Year’s Eve alone after the collapse of my marriage – and to this memory:

I was sitting at my computer, reading my friend Rach’s yearly review of 2011, which was jam-packed with all her marvelous accomplishments, each word oozing joy and love and energy…and I was sobbing huge, body-wracking tears. As I read my friend’s beautiful words, I felt a massive ache in my heart and soul as I realised that my life was devoid of such joy, such spirit, such adventure….such self-love. I distinctly remember feeling a deep-seeded, desperate yearning to live a big, bright, bold, beautiful life like she did. And in that moment, I made a promise to myself to make it all happen in 2012: to usher as much love, light, joy, adventure, magic, and spirit into my world, so that I would never again feel so empty inside…

And guess what?

I did.

Pinned from here

2012 was my adventure. It was the year I truly began to live. It was the year I found myself. It was the year that I began to love myself. It was the year that, quite literally, changed my entire life.

I chased my dreams, literally, around the world. I achieved amazing goals. I pushed my boundaries and limits – physically, mentally, and emotionally. I dared to take risks. I plunged ahead into the unknown, heart pounding and wide-eyed. I opened my heart, my mind, my eyes, my soul, and my spirit to the magic in this world and learned infinitely from all my experiences…the good, the bad, and everything in between. I forged my own path, even when that meant leaving others behind and losing what I used to consider some of my most important relationships. I created new bonds, new friendships, and new connections with amazing souls across the globe. I lived alone in a foreign country. I finally freed myself of the crippling depression and anxiety that plagued my life and robbed me of my luster for almost a decade. I wept in gratitude, I shook in terror, I laughed in joy, I fell to my knees in forgiveness, I sat in silence. I surrendered my old views of myself – the person I once was and the past that came with it – and embraced the new, vibrant, confident, self-assured, brave adventurer I became. I reclaimed my spirit. I became whole again.

In short, 2012 was the year of ME.

What a marvellous adventure it was…

Pinned from here

And now as it draws to a close, I am humbled by the extraordinary gifts and blessings that have been bestowed upon me. I am amazed, quite frankly, that the girl in those photos, in those blog posts, in those situations and experiences, is me. That I have done things that I never dared to dream of because I thought they were impossible, or that I was not worthy, or that I was too old/tired/sad/weak to try.  That the bubbly, bright, beautiful soul that I now see in the mirror has come so far from where she started a year ago – and what a wonderful sight she is…

Pinned from here

I realised something important today.  Even though my passport and backpack will be put away for the next year while I finish my final year of University, my journey of self-discovery will continue. In fact, it will never end. I started this year full of doubt, panic, uncertainty, fear, and false pretenses. I’m so proud to say I am ending this year brimming with confidence, contentedness, clarity, and courage (and yes, I am aware of the alliteration there)

May 2013 bring you all the love, light, joy, magic, and never-ending adventure that you deserve.

Shanny xxx

Pinned from here

The New York City Edition…No. 72, No. 144, & No. 158…

Crossed off the list 22nd, 23rd & 24th December, 2012

Wow! What an amazing city…The Big Apple is truly one of the most energetic, magnetic, eclectic, and all-out FANTASTIC cities I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting (and I’ve been to some pretty amazing places this year!). The frenetic pace of the city and the people who inhabit this crazy, condensed, and magnificent island called Manhattan is both mind-blowing and addictive at the same time. To say I didn’t want to leave is an understatement…I had to force myself to get on the train at Grand Central to leave, a monumental effort on my behalf!

Empire state Building…View from the top…

During my epic 48 hours in NYC, I was able to tick off some pretty amazing experiences off my list (see details below!), as well as some other pretty amazing little extras, such as…

+ Going to the top of the Empire State Building (the view is, quite simply, breathtaking)

+ Surfing the subway system like a pro

Subway surfing selfies…

+ Paying my respects at the World Trade Centre memorial site (I wept tears of sorrow and offered up my deepest prayers for the victims of this terrible atrocity against mankind)

The new towers at the WTC site

+ Walked the famous streets of Broadway, Madison Avenue, 5^th Avenue, Wall Street, and Park Avenue, swooning over the gorgeous displays of the world’s greatest designes (ahhh, Prada, how I love thee…)

+ Wandered the adorable Christmas markets on Columbus Circle on the outskirts of Central Park (a happy coincidence, as I had no idea they were there until I emerged from a subway station right into the middle of them)

Central Park at dusk

+ Indulged in some NYC specialties: cannoli, coffee, hotdogs, macaroons, and of course, the quintessential NY slice (since I am such a sucker when it comes to pizza)

Best. Pizza. EVER!

+ Made friends with the manager at the Billabong/Element store in Times Square and scored a 40% staff discount (once a part of the Billabong family, always a part of the Billabong family, no matter where you are in this world, apparently!)

+ Caught up with my darling former GC housemate, Dave, who just happened to be in NYC that day (he’d been on exchange in Florida this semester), which was wonderful

GC housemate love in NYC

+ Meandering through Central Park, taking a gazillion photos of the magic scenery and stopping to play with squirrels…

+ Unintentionally caught the wrong subway and ended up in Brooklyn…which was quite an experience, let me assure you! 

+ Felt my wandering adventurer spirit soar for the first time in months, which made me feel like a million bucks…

 

No. 72 – See a show on Broadway…

 Mamma Mia! Great show. Great music. Great theatre. A lifelong dream come true…made me miss being on stage so much…

No. 144 – See the bright lights of Times Square.

Bright lights in the Big City…

In a word: WOW. A total oh-my-God-this-is-simply-one-of-the-most-amazing-sights-I’ve-ever-seen-in-my-life kinda experience. I felt myself being literally pulled towards the bright lights, feet eagerly pounding the pavement in a near run, mouth hanging open in awe, eyes darting everywhere, trying in vain to see everything at once, overwhelmed by the sheer magnificence of what is actually quite a small space (just keep looking up: like all the best things in this world, everything is up…).

For two nights in a row, I sat, mesmerized, in the middle of Times Square, looking all around me, trying in vain to keep up with the madness all around me, drinking in the sights, sounds, and smells of one of the coolest places on the planet I’ve ever been. It was like I was grooving on the vibe of the city and all the energy of the people in it. If you want to feel energized, alive, and enthralled by the spirit of NYC, then Times Square at midnight is the place for you! It took all my willpower to pull myself away at 1am every night and walk back to my hotel…seriously, I could have stayed there all night.

No. 158 – Have breakfast at Tiffany’s:

 Ok, let me clarify a few things:

 1. There is no actual food at Tiffany & Co.

2. I was aware of this fact before I added this to my list, as I have read Truman Capote’s book and seen the Audrey Hepburn movie (duh).

3.I didn’t wear a long, black, Givenchy evening gown, gloves, and a tiara like Audrey did (sorry, must have left that in my other backpack). I did, however, wear my big black sunnies in salute to Audrey’s style…the best I could do with my limited means (and besides, in my mind, I was dressed in Givenchy with a tiara…this was my fantasy, afterall!)

4. This was more of a metaphorical goal – I wanted to have my own iconic NYC moment, drawing inspiration from one of my favourite movies of all time…I wasn’t expecting to walk into Tiffany’s and order breakfast, as some people have suggested (once again, I must add a ‘duh’ here).

On Monday morning, after picking up a croissant and spiced chai latte (and maybe a sneaky raspberry macaroon) from one of the best cafes on 5^th Avenue, I made a beeline down the street to the flagship Tiffany & Co store, the site of one of the most iconic scenes in film history. Standing outside the opulent and classically-styled storefront, gazing at the gorgeous window displays, and doing my best Holly Golightly impersonation, was one of the most frivolously fun things I’ve ever done on this list, and brought me such joy that I actually giggled out loud – I mean, c’mon, how many people can say they got to recreate their girlhood dream scene in New York City? And on 5^th Ave, no less? This was a moment just for me, for that inner ‘Audrey’ inside of me who is always polished, elegant, and optimistic…and in that moment, I ceased to be a poor, back-packing uni student and felt like I was an icon of beauty, grace, and style (even in mittens, jeans, and winter boots).

Channeling my inner Audrey…

Well, that sums up my New York experience – it certainly was a magical way to top off my travels around the world this year! I only wish I could have had more time in this gorgeous city – 48 hours just wasn’t enough for this girl! – but I know that I will be back to explore its amazing streets and boroughs very soon.

 I Heart NYC, forever xxx

Pinned from here

 

No. 117 – Have a White Christmas

Crossed off the list 25th December, 2012

I was lucky enough to spend this Christmas abroad in New Hampshire, USA, with my friends, the Ferrari family (yes, that is their real name, just like the car…cool, huh?!). I was even luckier to wake up on Christmas morning to find a fine dusting of snow covering everything! My wish had come true – I finally got to have a White Christmas! Talk about walking in a Winter Wonderland…

Although there wasn’t enough snow to go sledding or make a snowman (I had more snow in Canada, actually), it was still a magical sight to behold, especially when you consider I’m a born and bred Gold Coast girl who is more familiar with seeing sun, surf, and sand on Christmas Day.

 Even though I missed my family and friends back home and wished I could be with them, I am so grateful to Tom, Dott, Angie, Steve, and Gina for making my day special – they spolied me with love, warmth, and a gorgeous bracelet from Tiffany & Co! Talk about bringing tears to my eyes…

I hope that this is just the first of many White Christmases to come for me…

An Aussie in Antigonish Saying Goodbye: An open love letter to my friends at StFX…

Pinned from here

To my dearest Canadian friends,

I truly don’t know how to start this letter.  Even as I write this, I am still in denial and disbelief that my time here with you has come to an end…I mean, it feels like I only just got here! But the reality is that four months have indeed passed and it is time for me to go home. Although I am excited to be reunited with my friends and family in Australia, I also leave you with a heavy heart and a deep sadness, because you have all, quite by accident and with no explicit intention, become my family here in Canada. It wasn’t until this moment, on the cusp of my departure, that I realised what an amazing little life I had manifested for myself here in this small, rural (and at times, crazy) town, and the impact that the wonderful and colourful characters that I call my friends and loved ones have had on me.

When I first arrived here at the end of August, I was unconvinced that this was the right place for me; in fact, in all my travels around the world, I had never felt so different, so isolated, and so out of place as I did here during that first week or so. I began to worry that I had made the biggest mistake of my life. Seriously, I even remember scheming and dreaming of ways to escape, to pack my bags, cash in my scholarship money, and run like hell back to Europe…

But then, a small miracle happened: I met you.

From the first day at orientation when you took me under your wing, guiding me through the registration process, exchanging friendly greetings and warm wishes of welcome, showing me around the campus, easing my anxiety, and making me feel less like an outsider; followed by our day at Crystal Cliffs, where I was blown away by the endless energy, infectious enthusiasm, and diverse personalities of these new people I would soon be calling my peers. By the end of the night at Curriculum Colours, I knew I had met some of the most interesting, fun, eclectic, and entertaining people of my life. All of a sudden, I wasn’t so worried…

Over the weeks, my life here just got better and better: classes, coffee catch-ups, house parties, dates, socials, football/rugby/hockey/basketball games, birthdays, road trips, conferences, movie nights, Wednesday Wing Night at Piper’s, Homecoming, Thanksgiving, Halloween, X-Ring…the experiences you all gave me were amazing and have provided me with countless memories I will treasure forever. Whether it was teaching me new Canadian words and terms (I find myself adding that little ‘eh’ to the end of my sentences now), or introducing me to your culture, customs, food, music (I’m so happy to be going home to Australia with my copy of Stan Roger’s ‘Barrett’s Privateers’), and games (Beer Pong, anyone?), you made my life here bigger and brighter than I could have ever imagined. And you all became so important to me and I’d like to take this time to thank you.

To my dearest friend, and Canadian ‘sister’, Evelyn…I send you my deepest and sincerest love and gratitude for your un-ending support, fierce loyalty, and incredible friendship. From easing my anxiety, to showing me around campus; giving me advice in my darkest moments, to doing my hair; sitting by my bedside and nursing me at my sickest all through the night, to inviting me home for Thanksgiving…this woman has been my personal angel. Impromptu road trips, sing-alongs, endless hours of thought-provoking and soul-searching conversations, roll on the floor laughter, Friday night dinner dates, Sunday morning breakfasts, girly weekends away, a never-ending supply of hugs and words of encouragement …wow, I’m so lucky to have her as a friend! I’m serious when I say that my life has forever changed because of Ev’s glowing presence and I will miss her every day until we are reunited. I will always love you, my darling.

To the guy who first captured my attention at Crystal Cliffs in his sunnies and bandana, berating me for forgetting how to ‘penguin walk’…whose quiet cool and subtle confidence intrigued me…who held my hand when he walked me home…gave me great advice and broad shoulders to cry on…taught me how to two-step…who told me I had “eyes that melt the world”: KJ. I’m so thankful for the time we had together and for the wonderful moments we shared. You brought so much joy to my life here and I only wish that things had ended better for us. To me, you always will be the guy with the gorgeous smile who gave me butterflies when you kissed me and made me feel like I was walking on clouds…you will always have a place in my heart.

To Neil, my Canadian ‘brother’ – thanks for always being there to take me to hockey games, buy me Burt Reynolds shots at the pub, spin me around the dance floor, give me a hug when I need it, and for teaching me how to play ‘slap shots’…you are a true character, m’dear, and I will miss you terribly. I want to see you in Australia very soon!

To Kayla, Josh, Adri, Chelsie, and everyone living on the Seed who welcomed me into their home to stay for my last week, and made sure I had a blast every moment I was living there – THANK YOU! You guys are amazing…my deepest love and thanks to you always.

To all the girls – thank you for your unwavering friendship and support. You made me feel like a part of something special and always made my days brighter. You are incredible women who will go on to have wonderful lives filled with love, success, and wonderment. I hope you all keep in touch.

To the boys – thank you for endless shenanigans, never-ending entertainment, and for teaching me the art of ‘chirping’…you guys will always be my mates and I’ll always think of you whenever I hear dogs barking…haha.

All of you played a part in my journey, whether you realised it or not, and I am eternally grateful for the gifts of extraordinary experience you all gave me. Every smile, every kind word, every comment about my blog, every intellectual exchange in class, every cheers over a beer, every hug, every laugh, every kiss…they all mean more to me than words can say, and without them, I would have never made it through. You will always be my friends and I will miss you every day. You all have a place to stay if you ever choose to make the journey to Australia, whether that be in a year or ten.

I know that to most of you I will always just be the Aussie exchange student who passed through town for a semester, just a small part of your final chapter at university; but to me, you were, you are, and always will be, my whole story…

All my love, always.

Shanny, your ‘lil Aussie mate

No. 146 – Try ice skating

Crossed off the list 16/12/2012

Look at me – no hands!!!

Take one Aussie girl with some athletic ability, balance, and grace; add in a pair of hockey skates and an icy rink; mix in some great friends with an abundance of encouragement, and what do you get? My first time ice skating!

At first, I was a tad worried – after all, I’ve never been on ice before; my experience with skating did not extend beyond a short obsession with rollerblading back in the mid 90’s; and I was pretty sure that my travel insurance would not cover injuries sustained through acts of over-confidence and stupidity (I was already picturing myself falling and laying in a pool of blood on the ice)…however, trying ice skating was on my list, and I’m not one to shy away from a challenge, regardless of how much I may suck at it…

But I totally didn’t! In fact, I kinda rocked it (cue for cheering, applause, and exploding confetti canons…well, in my head at least), and the only people more surprised than me were my Canadian mates, Josh and Chelsie, who were the masterminds behind this little outing. I held on to the railing around the rink for the first two laps, gaining speed, confidence, and getting the hang of the skating technique…then after that I was out on my own! Gliding across the ice, feeling my legs propel me across the smooth surface, leaning in to the corners, waving my hands in rhythm with the movement of my skates, and giggling my head off…oh, it was simply wonderful! I was giddy with excitement and felt the tremendous joy and sense of pride that comes with successfully learning a new skill. I was surprised at my natural ability and the speed at which I adapted to the unfamiliar surface and setting (although my nose was running like crazy!) and I absolutely loved each second I was out on that ice…

This experience showed me that when I carry myself with confidence, have faith in my ability to learn and adapt, and trust in my adventurous spirit and willingness to try new, challenging things, anything is possible and I can achieve all that I set my mind to. This was seriously one of the funnest (yeah, you heard me, I said ‘funnest’) things I have done in all my time in Canada and in my travels around the world. The feeling of gliding across the icy surface was simply magical and I will never forget it.

I’m also incredibly grateful to my dear friends, Josh and Chelsie, for arranging this special treat for me so I could have this experience before I left Canada, and to Lauren for lending me her skates (which she believes contains the magic that enabled me to skate so wonderfully, so I’ll let her have that one…) These wonderful people gave up their precious time to take me skating and the fact that they made such an effort to help make one of my dreams come true is a testament to the incredibly thoughtful souls they are. I’m so lucky to have met them both, and I’ll always be grateful for their unwavering kindness and friendship.

Skating with my mates, Chelsie and Josh

‘An Aussie in Antigonish’ – My life in Canada…

Weeks 13, 14 & 15

Ooooohhhh, we are on the countdown now! Only 1 more week left here in Canada before I head back to the USA for Christmas (and an awesome quick trip to New York City – stay tuned for more!), and then make my way back home to Australia….wow, how quickly my time here in Antigonish has flown by! It really has been an incredible experience, and I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to live, study, teach, and grow as a person here in Canada – truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life! So, what’s been happening in my world? Let’s have a look…

+ Teaching Grade 2

My prac school

Ok, I’ll admit it – I’ve kinda fallen in love with my students! They are simply adorable and have been wonderful to teach. Don’t get me wrong, there are days when I want to pull my hair out (they are 7 years old, after all), but seeing the smiles on their faces when they learn something new, or when I say something funny, or even just as they come inside after playing out in the snow totally brightens my day and makes all the effort worth it.

First snowy day at school!

Teaching these kids has given me a new perspective on children and has given me a deeper appreciation for the gifts and advantages I have been awarded in my life, simply because of my parents, socioeconomic status, and where I was born. Some of these children come from very low socioeconomic backgrounds and face very different obstacles to the kids back home on the Gold Coast, but this does not stop them from dreaming big and trying their hardest, day in and day out.

Aussie flags made by my Canadian students

I started a pen-pal system with my Grade 1 students in Australia, and the joy on the children’s faces when they received their first letters was priceless – for some of them, it was the first time they had ever received a letter from someone in another country, let alone a kid on the other side of the world! They were so excited and keen to reply, and to share their world with others. It just goes to show that classrooms do not have to stay confined within the four walls of a building; a classroom can be transformed into an global platform for learning, connecting, and sharing with just a click of the mouse (and little bit of effort outside of school hours to make up for the 15-hour time difference!). Since I can’t bring these kids to Australia, I have simply brought a little bit of Australia to Canada…and the results have been heart-warming! Stay tuned for more updates on our up-coming classroom Christmas shenanigans!

Oh, and I nailed both of my teaching evaluations from the University with perfect feedback and results…just sayin’, is all…

+ X-Ring celebrations

All dressed up for X-Ring!

Ok, it is too hard and complicated to delve deeply into the story behind this event (just check out the link here to get more info), but basically it goes like this: Every year on December 3rd, students who are graduating that year receive their X Ring – a gold college ring that costs a small fortune. It is meant to be a widely-recogised symbol of achievement and belonging to the StFX community. I say it is an excuse to buy some jewellery and have a big party…

And my, what a party it is! For a small rural town, they sure know how to throw a decent shindig for X-Ring! 3 whole levels of the Sub Building were transformed into a party wonderland, with DJs, live bands, decorations, and a whole lotta’ pumped up (and intoxicated) seniors showing off their fancy new bling. A huge thanks to the wonderful Josh who bought me a ticket and took me as his date so that I could experience this ‘un-missable’ StFX event, and for helping me to dance the night (and all my troubles) away…you are an absolute gem, m’dear!

My dear friends getting their X-Ring – Chelsie, Adri, Neil & Kayla

P.S: Word of advice –DO NOT go to X-Ring, party until 2am, then go and teach Grade 2 after only 3 hours sleep…painful does not even begin to describe it…

+ Walking in a Winter Wonderland…

My favourite place in town just keeps on changing with the seasons…

My beautiful campus coated in snowy goodness…

Catching snowflakes on my tongue…the crunching sound under my boots…the crisp Arctic wind flushing my face red…having impromptu snowball fights with friends…watching the snow fall gently from the sky…seriously, it is like living in a snow globe! To say I’m in love with snow is an understatement, and finally seeing it fall was a true highlight of my last few weeks here as this is one of the big reasons why I chose to go on an exchange in Canada, and not in Florida or Arizona in the USA. Small gifts and moments in life like these make it all worthwhile…

+ One last trip to Cape Breton…

Goodbye, Cape Breton

Saying goodbye is often the hardest thing to do as a traveller…and this particular goodbye was no exception. Bidding adieu to my adopted Canadian family in Cape Breton proved to be just as sad and difficult as any other I have experienced. The Gotell family – Blair, Louise, Evelyn (my bestie), and Adele – welcomed me into their home, and their hearts, right from the second I stepped foot into their house on Thanksgiving weekend. Back then, I was just the stray Australian exchange student who needed a place to stay over the holiday weekend, but within mere minutes, I was a part of this amazing, joyful, generous and loving family. Since then, we have shared many special moments together and they have truly given me a home here in Canada. My eternal gratitude and love goes out to them all for accepting me as their ‘adopted Aussie daughter/sister’ and for giving me an overwhelming sense of belonging when I needed it most. I will miss you all dearly…(*still wiping away tears)

Driving selfies on our last CB road trip together!

+ Some other little tidbits of joy that have brightened my world in the last few weeks:

Skyping with Mum & Muggy – my favourite part of the week!

+ Celebrating birthdays from afar (again, happy birthday to my Mum, Manaii, Viv, Erin, Mick, Rochelle, and Imogen!!!) + meditating every morning + Instagram + cappuccinos & homemade carrot cake @ Tall & Small + words of wisdom and inspiration from the gorgeous Rach @ In Spaces Between + moments of joy with my bestie, Evelyn + adventures + laughter with friends + spontaneous road trips + hot coffee on cold, Canadian mornings + porridge + statement necklaces with blazers and jeans + solitude + growth + music, the never-ending soundtrack to my life + blogging + green tea + planning my upcoming NYC trip + dreaming & scheming + Skype dates with my Mum & Muggy in Australia + the smiles on my students’ faces + Caramelo Koalas to remind me of home + reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower – this generation’s answer to Catcher in the Rye + catching snowflakes on my tongue + planning for the big, bright, beautiful year that will be 2013 + offers of help from home + connecting with new souls over the Internet + the knowledge that I will be home in Australia and reunited with my loved ones in 3 very short weeks after 6 months of travelling abroad…and gingerbread men (addicted!!!)

Pinned from here

Most importantly, a massive, heart-felt, ginormous THANK YOU to all of the beautiful souls out there who have supported and encouraged me with their incredibly touching feedback on my last post – No. 50 – Be Kind to Myself. Knowing that so many of you felt the same way, or had some kind words of advice/feedback to offer, totally made my day and gave me an overwhelming feeling of acceptance, love, and gratitude. All of your thoughts and wishes helped to ease any backlash I may have experienced as a result of this, and I am eternally grateful for your support. My deepest gratitude to you always, my darlings!

Pinned from here

So, now you know what has been putting the shebang-a-bang and sparkle into my world lately– what about you? What’s happening in your own magical life? Please leave your comments in the bubble at the top of the post and fill me in – I’d love to hear from everyone! Let’s spread that joy a little further around this beautiful world of ours…

Until next time, lots of love + joy + gratitude from Antigonish xo

No. 50 – Be kind to myself

Crossed off the list 26/11/2012

Pinned from here

I’ve recently had a HUGE self-realisation: I spend more energy, kindness, and love on others than I do on myself. Fact.

This is not a good thing.

So, how did I come to this oh-my-goodness-what-a-huge-awakening moment? Well, it all started when I broke up with my Canadian boyfriend 2 weeks ago; sad, I know, but it had to be done – I just decided it was time to end it before things went seriously downhill. I thought we ended our relationship on good terms, with promises from both parties to remain mates. A few days passed, radio silence commenced, texts were ignored/unanswered, and the loneliness and doubt started to creep in. One night, I was sitting alone in my room having a big teary, wondering how/where/when/why everything went sideways, and feeling very isolated and sad (you know the scene, we’ve all been there at some point, but it is even harder when you are alone and away from home on the other side of the world). In my teary state, I asked the Universe why it is that I have so much kindness and love to give, but no one to accept, respect, nurture, and return it to me? And you know what I heard in response?

“How about you try giving all that love/energy/gratitude/joy/energy to yourself? What if you loved yourself with that much intensity and passion? What if you showered yourself with such overwhelming kindness – would you appreciate it? Would you feel satisfied? Content? Wanted? Loved? Deserving? Hmmmm…maybe you’re the person you’re searching for…”

Wow.

Talk about a revelation….

In that moment, I knew it in my heart to be true – I’d become so busy looking for someone to give my ‘everything’ to that I had forgotten about the most important person in my life: ME. What if I started consciously practicing self-love every day? What if I made ‘me’ the centre and source of my happiness? What if I focused on building myself up to be the very best ‘Shanny’ I can be, and give myself all the love, energy, and kindness that I usually reserve for others? Maybe then I will feel like there is someone who appreciates and accepts all that I have to offer – big smiles, quirks, chubby thighs, and all…After I made that decision and set my intention to invest in some much-needed self-love, the tears dried up instantly and the biggest smile spread across my face – the relief was immediate and overwhelming.

Pinned from here

Since that momentous ta-dah! moment, I have never felt better – seriously. I wake up every morning at 5:30am, pumped and ready to go for the day (for those of you who know me well, you’ll know how much I usually hate early mornings and love a good sleep in – my, how things can change!). I start off with with at least 15-20 minutes of soft breathing, meditation, and offering up my gratitude; I then bounce around my room to my new ‘Wake Up, Sunshine!’ playlist on iTunes, chock full of up-beat, kick-butt, fun tunes – nothing like a rocking 6am dance party to start your day! A yummy breakfast of Greek yogurt, granola and fresh blueberries follows while I get ready for school, and on the long drives to my prac school in the mornings, I gaze out the window, watch the sun light up the Canadian landscape, listen to my favourite tracks, and smile non-stop at the beauty I see.

After my day at school ends, I make sure to eat a healthy, early dinner (before 6pm); go to the gym to make myself feel strong and happy (and I’m also trying to lose the weight I’ve put on here, because I have to go home to summer a.k.a. bikini season – yikes!); drink as many cups of raspberry green tea I can manage; soak in warm bubble baths; read new books; watch my favourite movies in bed; relax; stretch; write; meditate some more; and cuddle Muggy Jnr in bed, falling asleep at a respectable hour. I am being kind to myself every day – in my actions, my thoughts, my practices, my nourishment, and my very essence.

Pinned from here

It’s not only my daily routine that’s changed though – it is also my attitude and my spirit. Seriously, you can’t wipe the smile off my face. I laugh a lot more, even when I’m on my own. I do what I want, when I want – even if that means saying no to social invites or parties. I forgive myself more easily. I’m more confident. I give myself permission to be me – weirdness and all. I am taking charge of my life. I am responsible for my happiness. I show myself kindness every day, in as many ways possible. I am becoming more and more comfortable with being on my own – in fact, I’m starting to really dig it…

It’s also about self-empowerement. Example: I’ve always wanted something from Victoria’s Secret. So, instead of waiting for a man to buy it for me (which I knew wasn’t going to happen any time soon), I bought myself a lovely VS silk negligee during my girl’s weekend away in Halifax, with the intention that I would just wear it for myself. Every night I slip into it after my bath/shower, spray myself with my nicest perfume, and proceed to strut around my room like I’m Miranda Kerr, channeling my inner-VS Angel, feeling super sexy and confident. Another example: I took myself out for a date on Friday night, just because I wanted to (I got dressed up and everything!). And again on Saturday night – I went out on my own, and was not afraid to sit in a bar/restaurant all by myself,  just enjoying my own company. And you know what? It. Felt. Great. (word).

Pinned from here

I have also decided to let up on myself a bit; instead of always trying to make things ‘perfect’, I’m going to start accepting them for what they are, as they come…and that goes for ‘me’ too. Just because something isn’t exactly as I envisioned it, doesn’t mean that it is any less worthwhile or important. This blog and my list is a perfect example – there are so many goals on my list that I have technically achieved/experienced, but I’m afraid to actually cross them off and blog about them because they weren’t exactly perfect, or as I described/pictured, or because I couldn’t get the perfect snapshot of the moment…silly, pointless, self-sabotaging reasons, really. So I’m making the promise to myself to stop worrying about looking for the ‘perfection’ I’m striving for, and to start accepting and relishing the different, slightly-skewed, and sometimes unconventional moments and experiences that come my way. So if you see some new additions to the blog that may seem a bit dated, just accept that this is me living up to my promise to be kind to myself and to be proud of my accomplishments, even if they slightly varied from the original plan.

Pinned from here

So anyways, that’s what I’ve come to realise. I can’t expect anyone else to fall head-over-heeels in love with me, if I don’t fall madlytrulydeeply in love with myself first. And how will I know what real, authentic, honest, and beautiful love looks like if I can’t identify it? Look inside yourself first, then the rest will come in good time. Practicing self-love rocks. Ease up. Be your big, bright, beautiful self. Awesomeness is addictive. Kindness is the key that unlocks you from your inner prison.

Be kind to yourself x

‘An Aussie in Antigonish’ – My life in Canada…

Weeks 10, 11 & 12

Greetings from the Nish!

Sweet greetings to you all from chilly Antigonish! I hope you’ve all had a fantastic last few weeks – I know I sure have! Here’s what’s been happening in my world…

+ Final exams & end of classes

Pinned from here

I can’t believe my official ‘university class’ time has come to an end – I feel like I have only just arrived here! But alas, I have finished, and I sat my final exams and submitted all my final assessment pieces all on time and with great success. It has been a challenge to learn all about the Atlantic Canadian Curriculum – it is different from the Australian Curriculum I have spent the last 3 years studying, understanding, and applying – as well as overcoming cultural/linguistic differences, but I feel like I was able to do so with substantial success. I have enjoyed my classes at StFX and my professors have all been incredibly supportive – I am lucky to have been given the chance to learn from them, and I send them all my greatest and deepest gratitude.

+ Day trip to Cape Breton

Road trippin’ to Cape Breton

I was lucky enough to go back to my adopted Canadian family’s house in Cape Breton for a day. My best friend here, Evelyn, has been kind enough to share her family and beautiful home with me, and coming back to visit for the first time since Thanksgiving to see her wonderful parents, Blair and Louise, was the highlight of my week (when we came in the door, Louise beamed with happiness and declared “My girls are home!”). This wonderful, amazing, and kind family has always openly welcomed me into their home, and receiving a giant ‘Mum-like’ hug from Louise brought tears to my eyes (she is such a gorgeous soul, just like my Mum back home in Australia).

Louise’s amazing home-made Pavlova!

Louise also had a wonderful surprise waiting for me: she had remembered that I had told her how much I love and miss my favourite Aussie desert – pavlova – during my last visit, and in a bid to ease my homesickness and bring a little slice of home to me, she found a recipe and made me a delicious pavlova for desert! Oh, talk about a meltmyheartandmakemecry moment! The fact that this wonderful woman took the time to make me something so special had me absolutely overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude (in fact, I started jumping up and down in the kitchen, laughing and squealing with delight). Once again, these beautiful people made me feel like I had a home and family of my own over here, when I’m so clearly far away from Australia – they are truly amazing, and I send them my deepest thanks, love, and gratitude.

+ Mid-semester break

Party time!

Nothing too exciting to report here – just a week of well-earned relaxing, much-needed downtime, and some pretty fun party nights thrown in for good measure! Since this was the last time we would get time off before embarking on our teaching practicums for 5 weeks, my mates in the Nish and I made good use of the freedom and had some great nights out, as well as catching up for hockey games, dinner at the pub, random house parties, and some good laughs. It was a great way to celebrate the end of the semester and our awesome efforts during finals – whoop whoop!

+ Girly weekend away in Halifax

Heading into Halifax

This was just what this girl needed, I tell you! Evelyn and her twin sister, Adele, whisked me away for a spontaneous, fun, ‘girls only’, weekend in Halifax. Friday night was spent checking out the city’s casino (Cowboys at the casino? Really?!? You don’t see that at Jupiter’s on the Goldy…); Saturday was a whirlwind of shopping, eating, and great conversations; and Sunday capped off an amazing weekend with more shopping, eating, driving around the city, and, for me, a quick coffee catch-up with my English backpacker mate, Paul, who I met in the hostel I stayed in when I first arrived in Canada.

Road trips, French Toast for breakfast, Victoria’s Secret, makeup tests at Sephora, dinner at a Mexican restaurant, giggles, brutal honesty (“Do you think this suits me?”….”No”.), sing-alongs in the car to bad break-up tunes, a new statement necklace, coffee, deep conversations, bright lights, beautiful scenery…it was the best weekend away with the best mates a girl could ask for! Love you girls forever xoxo

Halifax by the water + Mic Mac Mall at Christmas time + Victoria’s Secret goodies + Fall in the City

+ Starting prac

My bright and beautiful classroom!

I am teaching a class of gorgeous little Grade Two’s at a small school located 45 minutes away from Antigonish, in the town of Stellarton. My supervising teacher, Tina, is just amazing – incredibly supportive and encouraging, letting me teach as much as I want, and welcoming of all my ideas and implementations. The kids themselves are adorable: they love my accent and they love asking lots of questions about Australia and where I come from (and yes, they know all about Muggy and have seen lots of pictures!).

They also enjoy teaching me all about Canada, what winter here is like, how they celebrate Christmas, how to make a snowman, etc. I have also joined forces with the school’s music teacher to teach them the Aussie version of ‘Jingle Bells’ – complete with references to boogie boards, bindi eye, and the beach (which they think is hilarious!) – to sing at their upcoming Christmas concert in December! I can’t wait to see the looks on the parents’ faces when they start singing that one…I’m also starting up an email pen-pal system with my Grade One’s from my last prac in Australia, and the kids are so excited to write to kids on the other side of the world and share their lives, school, and culture with them. Stay tuned for more updates!

All in all, I’m so happy to be teaching this class – the fact that I will get to play a part in the education of these amazing little people in another country just makes me beam with joy. My goal for this prac experience is to connect with the kids, learn about each others’ cultures, have fun, and feel the pure joy of teaching. I am already off to an awesome start (I aced my first evaluation yesterday – yay!), and I now that when I leave in 4 weeks, there are going to be some MAJOR tears (and I’m talking about me, not the kids…)

Pinned from here

+ Some other little tidbits of joy that have brightened my world in the last few weeks:

+ Early  morning meditation + dancing the night away + Marie Forleo’s MarieTV + watching the Canadian landscape light up in the early morning sun + early Christmas gifts from my amazing supervising teacher + constant inspiration + Friday Skype dates with Mum and Muggy + The Daily Love + new statement necklace + kind words from beautiful souls + teaching + hot cups of tea on chilly nights + bubble baths + practicing self-love.

Pinned from here

So, now you know what has been putting the glow into my world lately– what about you? What’s happening in your own magical life? Please leave your comments in the bubble at the top of the post and fill me in – I’d love to hear from everyone! Let’s spread that joy a little further, eh?

Until next time, lots of love + joy + gratitude from Antigonish xo

A letter to my 15-year old self…

I’m taking a leaf out of my dear blogger friend’s book here (Jenn @ Positivity Pimp, I’m looking your way, babe) and sharing with you all a letter I wrote to my 15-year old self….

Pinned from here

Dear 15-year old Shanny,

If I could sit next to you right now, I would give you a big hug, wipe away your tears, and tell you that you, m’dear, are going to live a big, bright, beautiful life one day. You may feel that this is impossible to imagine right now, and I know that life is hard for you, trying to figure out where you fit in and always thinking that you aren’t good enough, but I want to set the record straight and tell you that you are an amazing little gem of a person and that one day you will find your place in this world….I promise.

You will spend your teenage years wondering why you aren’t part of the ‘popular’ crowd, why people laugh at you behind your back, why they poke fun of your bright and bubbly personality, when all you want to do is be liked and be a part of something that gives you comfort and a sense of belonging. Don’t worry so much about what people think – there will come a time in your life when you finally shed this insecurity and you will find comfort and solace in yourself, your own uniqueness and magic, and there will be people who love you for it. High school will be some of the hardest years of your life, but you WILL overcome it, I assure you. It will take you many years and lots of hard lessons will be learned, but you will get there. You will encounter some very tough times in these years, and you will hurt with such intensity that you will feel like there is no way out and you will look for anything to take the pain away. As much as I’d like to tell you not to do these things, I know that you need to experience them to help you become the person you will be – just don’t let yourself be defined by your circumstances. Learn to roll with the punches, let the insults slide off you like drops of water, and develop your resilience. Keep striving and dreaming for a better life – it is coming your way…

Just before your 18^th birthday, you will meet who you think is the love of your life. He will sweep into your existence with such charisma and magic, just like a modern day Prince Charming, and you will fall madly, truly, deeply in love with him. He will open your eyes up to another world, the one you’ve been so desperately been seeking, and he will encourage you, support you, give you a sense of security, and love you very much. You will marry this man and it will make your heart soar with love and promise of a glittering future together. You will cultivate a beautiful life together, laughing endlessly, sharing openly, and basking in each other’s love. However, you will also have to face your demons during this time and it will manifest in a terrible and crippling condition of anxiety that will rob you of your joy and luster. You will feel like you are going crazy and that you have no control over your mind, your body, and your life. It is going to be a tough slog (I won’t sugarcoat it) but I promise, you will triumph and overcome it eventually – it will take years, and much hardship and heartache, but you will be cured one day.

You will also finally wake up and follow your true calling in life, and you will give up your corporate job and all the amazing financial perks that come with it to pursue your dream of becoming a teacher. Even though you will feel like you are going backwards in some way, you will actually be propelling yourself forward in ways that you never dreamed. You will love university and the new life that awaits you as a student, and you will excel and finally find a place in this world where your intellect and feistiness will be a merit, not a liability.

Unfortunately, though, my darling young one, you will not get the happily ever after you had planned on and dreamed of. You will be betrayed by your love in the cruelest and most horrendous way imaginable; you will lose everything you ever worked for – your marriage, your house, your financial security, your future together – and it will leave you devoid, broken, and lost. You will spend months and years mourning the loss of this love, the future children you will no longer have together, and the death of the life you had planned for. Your identity will be stolen; you will not know who you are because all you did for decade was build yourself around him, and when all this is stripped away from you, you will be left a broken, empty, and confused mess. I won’t lie; these will be the most excruciatingly painful and bleakest months of your entire life; you will feel trapped in a war not of your own making. You will feel like your heart is breaking all over again every morning when you wake up, and you will move through the days like a zombie, searching for anything that will give you peace and leave you numb. You will cry yourself to sleep every night, praying and begging for the pain to end…

But in these moments, the darkest of your life, you will still triumph. You will overcome. You will re-build yourself and discover who you truly are and what you want from your life. You will experience amazing opportunities that you never dreamed possible: you will travel the world alone, marveling at the beauty and grandeur of cities like Paris, Rome, Budapest, Prague, Berlin and London. You will be challenged, and you will overcome these experiences with grace, bravery, and dignity. You will weep with gratitude and forgiveness as you stand before the Eiffel Tower; you will pray under the roof of the Sistine Chapel and marvel at its beauty; you will stand before the relics of history and bow your head in respect and reverence; and you will laugh and dance and feel more alive and freer than you ever have in your entire life.

This journey of self-discovery will take you to places you never imagined. Shanny, you will be empowered and independent for the first time in your life; your dream of studying abroad will come true, and you will move to the other side of the world and meet some of the most amazing and interesting people of your life. You will fit in within this crazy piece of the world, and it will feel like home, even though you are so far away from where it all began. You will find solace and peace within yourself and you will rejoice in this understanding, as you will finally know who you are and love yourself for it. You will be grateful for the tragedies that have befallen you, because without them, you would have missed out on this breathtakingly beautiful and wonderful life that you now lead, and you know you wouldn’t change that for the world. You will blossom.

If I can give you any final words of advice, my darling little me, it would be these:

Live your life with intention, not in imitation. Be proud, be bold, be brave. Never let your inner sparkle be tarnished by the cruelty of the world. Smile, even when it hurts. Lift your head up high and hold it there. Learn from every experience – the good, the bad, and everything in between; this will help you to recognise the signs next time they come along. Be kind to others, but most importantly be kind to yourself; you are so precious and amazing. Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you or makes you happy. When you get knocked down, stand up, dust yourself off and ask: what can I learn from this? Be the heroine of your own story. Smile. Laugh. Pull faces for no reason. Take a chance – you never know what is coming next. Kiss the boy. Make it happen. Today is a new start: live it like a boss.

All my love, light, joy, and gratitude to you always, my precious soul…

From 29-year old Shanny xo

Pinned from here

‘An Aussie in Antigonish’ – My life in Canada…

Weeks 7, 8 & 9

Pinned from here

Happy November, everyone! Wow, I can’t believe we are already in the second-to-last month of 2012…where did the year go? <insert incredulous tone of voice and stunned facial expressions here>

The last few weeks here in Antigonish have been a whirlwind of shenanigans, adventures, lessons, opportunities, moments of beauty, and plenty of self-realisations and personal conquests. In short, it’s been full-on. Whew! I’ve been thinking a lot about the Universe and how it presents us with an abundance of opportunities every day; whether or not we throw caution into the wind and take those opportunities, no matter how vague or impromptu they may be, is our choice. I feel like we spend so much of our time deliberating the pros and cons of doing things, trying to decide whether to pursue opportunities or not, deciding on their value or worth, worrying what others may think of us, that we miss out on the true joy of just being, living right there in the moment. That’s why I’m totally loving this quote right now:

“We’re so engaged in doing things to achieve purposes of outer value that we forget that the inner value – the rapture that is associated with being alive –  is what it is all about.”

~ Joseph Campbell ~

See, isn’t it just awesome?!? So that’s the way I’ve been living my life recently – just saying a big, enthusiastic, resounding “YES!” to every opportunity that presents itself to me, in any shape or form, and living in the moment 100%. Want to work on a project together? YES! Want to jump in the car, go for a drive, and see where we end up? YES! Want to try this new food/drink/game? YES! Want to jump on a bus in 2 hours time and go to the very bottom of Nova Scotia for a Phys Ed teacher conference (even though you are not a PE teacher, not from Nova Scotia, and have no accommodation booked) with all your mates, for free? YES, YES, YES!!!

Pinned from here

Living with an open mind and open heart is proving to be good for me. I have been focusing on my Spirit Plan, which is a set of rules I wrote out for myself, advocating that I embrace the positives in my life and steer myself in the direction I choose. This means starting each day with meditation and offering up my gratitude to the Universe for the amazing life I am blessed to live; eating healthy and delicious foods (I’m hooked on fruit at the moment, can’t get enough of the stuff); reading the inspiring/uplifting quotes and affirmations I have written in my journal every morning when I wake up (great booster for the day); going to the gym to empower myself; writing when I need to; allowing myself to be alone and to enjoy and become comfortable with the concept; being happy; and telling myself to look for the beauty and joy in every day and jump at all the opportunities that come my way…hmmm, something tells me that this is working…

Source: Striking Truths

So, what else has been happening in my world since we last spoke? Here’s a quick round-up of some of the awesome things I have been up to in the last few weeks here in Canada…

+ Falling in love with Fall

Seriously, have you ever seen such beautiful colours in nature?!? It is like living in a picture book here. I am constantly snapping away at the gorgeous scenery around town and on campus…and lots and lots of leaves (I’m addicted). Add in some warm Fall fashion, hot cups of coffee, chilly fresh air, bowls of soup, cuddles, and afternoons filled with blogging while curled up on the couch at my favourite coffee shop in town, and you have yourself the perfect setting to fall in love with Fall…ahhh!

+ My first ice hockey game

Exciting. Breathtaking. Fast. Brutal. Addictive. Read more here.

+ TAPHE (PE Teacher) Conference in Yarmouth

Does it look like I’m having a good time here? Um, yeah I am!

You know how I was talking about taking chances and opportunities when they pop up expectedly? Well, this is the perfect example of that concept in action. Last Thursday was just another ordinary day, until I happened, by accident, to bump into a professor in the education faculty who told me there had been a last minute cancellation from a student who was supposed to be going to a conference for Physical Education teachers (which my boyfriend and all my mates just happened to be going to as well), and would I like to take her place? The bus was leaving at 3pm (it was now 12:30pm) and if I wanted a free trip to Yarmouth, then all I had to do was pack a bag and jump on….hmmmm, so what do you think I did? Hey, when the Universe throws you an opportunity like this, you just go with it…

7 hour bus ride = non-stop shenanigans!

The 7 hour trip to Yarmouth (which is at the very bottom of Nova Scotia) with my ‘zedder’ mates was a full-on party filled with sing-alongs, dancing in the seats, chair-surfing, guitar sessions, pit stops, glow sticks, junk food, back of the bus shenanigans, and laughter…non-stop laughter. Seriously, it was one of the most fun experiences of my travels…these people are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

Upon arriving in Yarmouth, we headed out to the conference social and proceeded to dance up a storm, then followed up that effort with an intense competition between KJ and I at the local pool hall afterwards (I’m sorry to say that I lost, 2-1). After being locked out of my room at 3am and not being able to access any of my belongings, the staff at the hotel were kind enough to give me a free room of my own (see, its amazing what happens to me at 3am, even in tiny towns in the middle of nowhere…I always seem to end up in some sort of random situation!)

The conference the next day was fantastic, and I got the chance to take a dance class, try my hand at slack-lining (which is like indoor tightrope walking, but harder), and attended great information sessions. To be honest, I was considering changing my major to PE teaching after this day, that’s how much I enjoyed myself. Then it was back on the bus for another 7 hour trip home to Antigonish (which after 2 massive days with only 4 hours sleep I was quite looking forward to), but true to form, my crazy Canadian mates refused to chill on the way home, so the party re-commenced…with gusto. At least I was lucky enough to see some truly breathtakingly beautiful scenery along the way; I have to give it to Nova Scotia – it is one exquisite little province.

A massive shout-out and huge thank you to Dan Robinson for inviting me on this trip and to all my awesome ‘zedder’ mates who gave me the time of my life…you are all incredible and I will NEVER forget this trip! Big gratitude and love to you all xxx

+ Halloween

Read all about my spook-tacular shenanigans here.

+ Some other little tidbits of joy that have brightened my world in the last few weeks:

+ Spur of the moment afternoon drives in the country with my boy + kicking some academic butt (I got a 14.5/15 for a maths assignment!) + sushi and movie nights in + my $10 ballet flats from Walmart + blueberry & pomegranate white tea + Triple J’s Like a Version #8 (especially Josh Pyke’s cover of Endless Summer…epic) + giggles + ‘Beach Music’ (new read, can’t put it down) + random photo moments + walks along the water with my Canadian bestie, Evelyn + meditating in the morning light + granola, greek yoghurt & blueberries + Skyping with my Mum back home + following my Spirit Plan + having the time of my life!

Pinned from here

So, that’s what’s been putting the shebang into my world lately– what about you? What’s happening in your magical life? Please leave your comments in the bubble at the top of the post and fill me in – I’d love to hear from everyone! Let’s spread that joy a little further, eh?

Until next week, lots of love, joy, and gratitude from Antigonish xo

No. 148 – Celebrate Halloween

Crossed off Wednesday, 31/10/2012

I must preface this post by admitting a hardcore truth to you all: I have partied with people from all around the world, and I had ranked the Czechs, Germans, and British as some of the best people to party with and thought that no one could top their efforts…but, as I have recently discovered, I was wrong. NONE of these peeps can even compare to Canadians. Fact.

Canadians (or at least, my friends here in Antigonish) are full-on. They are hardcore. They are the crème de la crème of the people you want to have fun with. They are enthusiastic, dedicated, and fervent party people who jump at any chance to dress up in fabulous costumes, dance the night away, and generally make life in a small town so much more exciting. In short, they are the coolest people on the planet (besides us Aussies, of course).

So you can imagine the kind of frenzy a ‘holiday’ such as Halloween would incite in the hearts (and indeed, the livers) of my darling Canadian mates. Houses were decked out, vast quantities of candy purchased for would-be trick or treaters, costumes creatively constructed out of all sorts of materials (some of them were serious works of art, I’m not going to lie), and preparations for a massive night of fun and festivities was planned. As this was my first time celebrating Halloween, my mates took delight in my amazement and excitement (in truth, I was acting like a ten year old, I was so ramped up by the decorations, costumes, and free lollies everywhere…) and gave me the most incredible experience by including me in so many shenanigans….gotta love ’em!

So, in reflection, I have  come up with the top 3 things I learnt about Halloween based on my experience, and I wanted to share them with you:

1. The costume is the key. This is some serious stuff we’re talking about here, people. It is ALL about the costume and who can come up with the most creative, inventive, hilarious, off-the-wall costume. If dressing up in costumes was an Olympic sport, I think my friends here in the Nish would have taken the gold for sure…amazing. (*Note: I went as the devil, in a bid to be the antithesis of KJ, who went as Jesus…yeah, he did)

2. Sugar is rife (and free). I’m not kidding, candy can be found everywhere – stores, desks, houses, classrooms, on the side of the road…they just love to give the stuff away. It’s enough to put anyone into a diabetic coma…

3. Halloween is the best excuse for a party. Seriously. And it doesn’t matter if it is on a Wednesday night in the middle of the semester and you have a 10am class in the morning – you still party. Legit.

To be honest though, I think the best part of my first Halloween was the fact that I got to spend it with my best mates here in the Nish who have all embraced this ‘little Aussie’ and welcomed her with open arms into their lives. I have truly found some wonderful people here in Canada, and I am so grateful to all of them for playing a part in my journey and giving me amazing experiences to tick off my list. Last night was filled with non-stop laughter, dancing, singing, big smiles, hugs and kisses, and an all-round awesome atmosphere of fun and frivolity. It was truly one of the best experiences I’ve had in my travels around the world, and I know that I’ll be bringing the Halloween spirit back to Australia – watch out, next October 31st!