My phone has died, and I have lost all my phone numbers. Strangely when I changed my SIM card into a borrowed phone it had a heap of numbers I haven’t seen in about 5 years, since I got my previous phone, ones from 2006. A lot of the names I didn’t recognize, or they seemed vaguely familiar but I couldn’t quite place who the people were.
At that time I was living in Tauranga, and I was the Stake YSA rep, so its quite possible that a lot of them were YSA who I don’t really remember anymore, most of whom I haven’t seen in years.
My late aunty and stepfather’s phone numbers were also on there, that made me sad. Goodness knows how many people I will have forgotten in another five years.
A couple of days ago I checked in two lovely ladies, whose names and faces looked very familiar, but I couldn’t quite place them. But they both had the same first name. I took a chance and asked them “Do you know Amanda*?”
They both looked at each other and looked at me again, “Yes we do.”
“Which one of you made her wedding dress?”
“I did.”
“And which one of you runs a Backpackers hostel?”
The other one put up her hand. I remember going with Amanda for one of her wedding dress fittings, I took a couple of pictures of her dress on my phone, and also one of a tiny rainbow that was on the wall, I’m thinking it was light streaming through the stained glass window that caused it.
Last night I had a dream with more than one person from my past, I think I must have been thinking about them just before I drifted off to sleep. It’s a bit bizarre though, how all these things are just coming back to me now. Maybe I need to make a better effort to record the things I’m doing now, so they won’t just end up as vague memories in the future.
* Name changed for privacy reasons
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Seek and maybe you'll find
I can’t believe I finally found the answer. And all that time it was right under my nose. Looking and looking, and finding erroneous results and all the time wondering what was going on, there must be something more to this.
Coming across people who “couldn’t see the forest for the trees” looking for one little detail and missing the whole complex context of nature that was there.
Granted, my search did bring me into contact with lovely people I would never have met otherwise, and I did pick up some wonderful pieces of information. But it was hard to pull it all into a congruent whole.
I was rereading an old journal entry I’d written about a year ago recently, where I'd had an epiphany and drawn a massive conclusion about my own wellbeing based on a few things that I had read in a book, things which were being contradicted at the same time by something else a friend had given me in another book. It was all very confusing and frustrating.
And now (finally) I have the answer in my hands, a recommendation from a friend. Its just so logical and yet hard to believe – and yet it must be true. I trust the author implicitly and I don’t even know him. But his refutation of other things I’ve read is absolutely brilliant.
And next time I will get to the point of what this is all about. (Once I finish reading his book).
Coming across people who “couldn’t see the forest for the trees” looking for one little detail and missing the whole complex context of nature that was there.
Granted, my search did bring me into contact with lovely people I would never have met otherwise, and I did pick up some wonderful pieces of information. But it was hard to pull it all into a congruent whole.
I was rereading an old journal entry I’d written about a year ago recently, where I'd had an epiphany and drawn a massive conclusion about my own wellbeing based on a few things that I had read in a book, things which were being contradicted at the same time by something else a friend had given me in another book. It was all very confusing and frustrating.
And now (finally) I have the answer in my hands, a recommendation from a friend. Its just so logical and yet hard to believe – and yet it must be true. I trust the author implicitly and I don’t even know him. But his refutation of other things I’ve read is absolutely brilliant.
And next time I will get to the point of what this is all about. (Once I finish reading his book).
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Small Miracles
Last week was stake conference. I went to the Saturday evening session and I took a lot of notes but I’m not sure how much I mentally absorbed. Only two things really stood out to me and that was from the final speaker Elder Neilson. He said fear is the opposite of faith, and we need to move forward with faith and not be too concerned with whats going on. Earthquakes and tsunamis are the Lords way of testifying that He is coming back.
But what really got me was a story that he shared and the experience I had both before and after conference. That morning my sister had wanted to go garage saleing and I ended up tagging along. I initially wasn’t too keen on the idea as I wanted to go to the Tamahere Farmers market, but I did end up getting some stuff I really liked, really cheap. As we were driving around looking for signs we saw one for a place called Derby St. I didn’t know where that was, but I saw this girl on the side of the road who I recognized from Institute even though I didn’t know her name. I asked her, but she didn’t know, so we kept going and found it in the end.
That night Elder Neilson shared a story about people who pray for others to receive help, even though they themselves could just offer the help that those people need eg a family leaving church discovering they have a flat tyre and need a jack, and someone else, instead of offering their jack, take them inside, pray about the situation, ring the bishop to come help them and then go outside and leave.
After church the girl I’d seen that morning came and said Hi and that she had just moved to Hamz and didn’t really know her way around yet. Then she went away outside to call her ride.
When I walked outside and saw her she had a puzzled upset look on her face, and I remembered the story and had this strong feeling like I should go check if she had a ride home. And guess what? She didn’t. Her ride was asleep and wasn’t answering her phone. And then it just seemed like everything had fallen into place, as though designed by some divine hand of providence that was looking out for her – the fact I’d run into her that morning, the fact they had shared that story and that she’d come up and met me after the conference.
What made it seem even better was that I was about to go visit my friend at her house and this girl lived on the way there. It just seemed so perfectly lined up that I was blown away. The stuff going on in Christchurch, Japan and issues in the middle east are just so dejecting and I find it hard to not focus on all the negativity, but when something good like that happens, a small miracle, it just picks me up and makes things seem more worthwhile.
But what really got me was a story that he shared and the experience I had both before and after conference. That morning my sister had wanted to go garage saleing and I ended up tagging along. I initially wasn’t too keen on the idea as I wanted to go to the Tamahere Farmers market, but I did end up getting some stuff I really liked, really cheap. As we were driving around looking for signs we saw one for a place called Derby St. I didn’t know where that was, but I saw this girl on the side of the road who I recognized from Institute even though I didn’t know her name. I asked her, but she didn’t know, so we kept going and found it in the end.
That night Elder Neilson shared a story about people who pray for others to receive help, even though they themselves could just offer the help that those people need eg a family leaving church discovering they have a flat tyre and need a jack, and someone else, instead of offering their jack, take them inside, pray about the situation, ring the bishop to come help them and then go outside and leave.
After church the girl I’d seen that morning came and said Hi and that she had just moved to Hamz and didn’t really know her way around yet. Then she went away outside to call her ride.
When I walked outside and saw her she had a puzzled upset look on her face, and I remembered the story and had this strong feeling like I should go check if she had a ride home. And guess what? She didn’t. Her ride was asleep and wasn’t answering her phone. And then it just seemed like everything had fallen into place, as though designed by some divine hand of providence that was looking out for her – the fact I’d run into her that morning, the fact they had shared that story and that she’d come up and met me after the conference.
What made it seem even better was that I was about to go visit my friend at her house and this girl lived on the way there. It just seemed so perfectly lined up that I was blown away. The stuff going on in Christchurch, Japan and issues in the middle east are just so dejecting and I find it hard to not focus on all the negativity, but when something good like that happens, a small miracle, it just picks me up and makes things seem more worthwhile.
Friday, February 25, 2011
What I need
On the phone to a friend overseas the other day and she was telling me about a counselling course she'd done over the weekend. It was very interesting. She called it an 'element based idealogy.' The human being made up of four parts, each connected with an element, mental-air, physical-earth, emotional-water, spiritual-fire (a transformative element).
She said if something is wrong with any of these it creates an imbalance in the body. To fix it you find out what each part needs. They had done an exercise where they sat on the ground (to centre themselves) took several deep breaths, cleared their minds and asked "What does my physical self need?" then drawn the first image that came to mind.
It sounded intriguing, so i got her to talk me through it. The first image that came to my mind was water rippling above my head, like i was lying on the floor of a pool looking up. It seemed so blurry and not understandable that at first i disregarded it, but then drew it anyway.
She said "Now ask what that is telling you that you need."
I thought about the rocking sensation of moving water and thought relaxation could be the answer. My next thought was of a bath. I told her that. She said well go give your body what it needs. She said if i did that exercise at any other time I would probably come up with a different answer.
I meant to also ask my mental, emotional and spiritual selves what they needed, but then I got reading this book instead.
Funny that a lot of the books I've been reading lately have been about people on spiritual journeys - Brida by Paulo Coelho, Dan Browns the Lost Symbol and one i came across at Whitcoulls the other day.
I subsequently discovered my local library had a copy - the Life Codes by Patty Harpenau. This latest one is amazing, it is blowing me away and i'm only halfway through it. I seriously think its one of the best inspirational books I've ever come across - and I've read a lot of motivational mumbo jumbo in my life time. No doubt future blog posts will be dedicated to the things I am reading in this book.
She said if something is wrong with any of these it creates an imbalance in the body. To fix it you find out what each part needs. They had done an exercise where they sat on the ground (to centre themselves) took several deep breaths, cleared their minds and asked "What does my physical self need?" then drawn the first image that came to mind.
It sounded intriguing, so i got her to talk me through it. The first image that came to my mind was water rippling above my head, like i was lying on the floor of a pool looking up. It seemed so blurry and not understandable that at first i disregarded it, but then drew it anyway.
She said "Now ask what that is telling you that you need."
I thought about the rocking sensation of moving water and thought relaxation could be the answer. My next thought was of a bath. I told her that. She said well go give your body what it needs. She said if i did that exercise at any other time I would probably come up with a different answer.
I meant to also ask my mental, emotional and spiritual selves what they needed, but then I got reading this book instead.
Funny that a lot of the books I've been reading lately have been about people on spiritual journeys - Brida by Paulo Coelho, Dan Browns the Lost Symbol and one i came across at Whitcoulls the other day.
I subsequently discovered my local library had a copy - the Life Codes by Patty Harpenau. This latest one is amazing, it is blowing me away and i'm only halfway through it. I seriously think its one of the best inspirational books I've ever come across - and I've read a lot of motivational mumbo jumbo in my life time. No doubt future blog posts will be dedicated to the things I am reading in this book.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Puzzling
For the past 3 weeks, a puzzle has completely enveloped all of my free time. Of all things, a puzzle. I have never been particularly interested in puzzles, except when somebody else is working on one. But this puzzle was different. There was a prize attached at the end of it.
At the end of last year for our Christmas presents, instead of giving us a glorious lounge pass like they have for the past 2 years, we were given a puzzle to complete. Once we have finished said puzzle, taken a photo and sent it in to the puzzle people, they will then send us out that glorious and much desired present – a VIP lounge pass to use sometime during the year.
At work some people worked on the puzzle together and photographed themselves and sent it in. I thought that was a great idea until I looked at my photo and hated the thought of sending it in, having, in my mind, cheated.
So I decided to finish it myself. I haven’t done a puzzle since I was a kid, so I figured this would give me a real sense of achievement like I’d actually accomplished something for once, instead of petering out part way through.
I finished 2 mornings ago. I was so proud of myself. The photo is taken and I just need to email it in and I will soon have a lovely lounge pass heading my way. I’m so proud
At the end of last year for our Christmas presents, instead of giving us a glorious lounge pass like they have for the past 2 years, we were given a puzzle to complete. Once we have finished said puzzle, taken a photo and sent it in to the puzzle people, they will then send us out that glorious and much desired present – a VIP lounge pass to use sometime during the year.
At work some people worked on the puzzle together and photographed themselves and sent it in. I thought that was a great idea until I looked at my photo and hated the thought of sending it in, having, in my mind, cheated.
So I decided to finish it myself. I haven’t done a puzzle since I was a kid, so I figured this would give me a real sense of achievement like I’d actually accomplished something for once, instead of petering out part way through.
I finished 2 mornings ago. I was so proud of myself. The photo is taken and I just need to email it in and I will soon have a lovely lounge pass heading my way. I’m so proud
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Travel Bug
So since I have leave this week and most of next week, i was originally planning to go somewhere awesome like Hong Kong, however, since I've been told that attempting standby staff travel to asia in January is a complete waste of time, I rearranged my planning to include a road trip around the north island. Along with my flatmate Tash. I really like that she's game to do anything. Also shes a school teacher, so she has the best holidays in the world.
We're starting our trip by heading off to Napier via Taupo, staying in Hawkes bay for a few days - go to Splash Planet, Te Mata Peak and the Rush Munro icecream gardens, then to Palmerston North to see what thats like, down to Wellington/Porirua for a few days - go see Te Papa, Zealandia and the Weta workshop in Miramar and catch up with our old flatmate. Then back up the north island stopping at Taupo, going to see the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, up to the beach and waterfalls of Tauranga, then heading home some time next week.
I'm really excited about it. I love planning trips and going on trips and looking for places to enjoy on the way.
We're starting our trip by heading off to Napier via Taupo, staying in Hawkes bay for a few days - go to Splash Planet, Te Mata Peak and the Rush Munro icecream gardens, then to Palmerston North to see what thats like, down to Wellington/Porirua for a few days - go see Te Papa, Zealandia and the Weta workshop in Miramar and catch up with our old flatmate. Then back up the north island stopping at Taupo, going to see the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, up to the beach and waterfalls of Tauranga, then heading home some time next week.
I'm really excited about it. I love planning trips and going on trips and looking for places to enjoy on the way.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Day 15
Yesterday I finished all my herbal capsules in the morning, and in the evening I started taking my probiotics. Apparently now my gut needs to be repopulated by hordes of good bacteria in order to destroy all the bad bacteria that may still be remaining.
I was hard out wanting some chocolate by evening time, so clearly the detox hasn't helped my cravings, but I resisted by telling myself i had to keep up the healthy food aspect until after I'd gotten my final weight and measurements.
So over the course of the last 2 weeks, I have lost an amazing 6kgs, as well as about 12 inches. I'm very pleased. I texted my sister, who is about to start her own detox, and she asked me to help her achieve the same. I think competition is a good motivator for me, but i don't know if its the same for her. All I know is, the longer i can avoid junk food and chocolate, the better off I will be.
I was hard out wanting some chocolate by evening time, so clearly the detox hasn't helped my cravings, but I resisted by telling myself i had to keep up the healthy food aspect until after I'd gotten my final weight and measurements.
So over the course of the last 2 weeks, I have lost an amazing 6kgs, as well as about 12 inches. I'm very pleased. I texted my sister, who is about to start her own detox, and she asked me to help her achieve the same. I think competition is a good motivator for me, but i don't know if its the same for her. All I know is, the longer i can avoid junk food and chocolate, the better off I will be.
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