I have a confession to make. Sometimes I cut my own hair. Yes I know this is not the best idea but once I decide that I need a haircut it’s like I can’t rest until it has been cut. This has led me into some interesting situations at questionable salons that just happen to… Continue reading Getting to know you
Category: Thoughts
Adventurous embarrassment
This week Lucy and I have embraced 'adventure' which is the word I selected for this year. Rooted by circumstances to spend most days in West Auckland, we have tried to make our own adventures, exploring new places and trying new things. The week has tested us both at times and has been tiring but… Continue reading Adventurous embarrassment
A new car
This week marked the end of an era as we said goodbye to the first car we bought when we arrived in Auckland almost 6 years ago. Demi the Demio drove us from east to west in those early days as we searched for a suburb in the city in which to make our home… Continue reading A new car
Forgive yourself
What is your biggest success and biggest failure? In a discussion around the nature of success with my Year 9 students, they asked me this question. After some consideration, I replied as honestly as I could that in essence my biggest success has also been the source of my biggest failure: my family. They were… Continue reading Forgive yourself
Today I am grateful for….
It is winter here now in Auckland and I woke up early this morning with a head cold to the sound of driving rain outside. I decided to get up and make myself coffee and then wrapped up in my lovely warm blanket I decided to do a gratitude diagram to fight against feeling blue.… Continue reading Today I am grateful for….
You are stronger than you think
Depression and mental illness have formed the backdrop to my life and I know I am not alone in this. This month marks two years since I ended up swimming in the darkness again and went to ask for help. It was when I had locked myself in the bathroom and couldn’t see the point… Continue reading You are stronger than you think
Four steps towards contentment
Consumer culture tells us that we always need more. What we have is not enough. Who we are is not enough. I spent a long time thinking that I could only start to really live my life and embrace it, once I improved myself to the point where I was 'acceptable'. I was unhappy and… Continue reading Four steps towards contentment
Reach for the Stars
When I was a teenager I tried to be cool and to like music that I perceived as cool. I listened to Radiohead and Pearl Jam and desperately tried to love it but all the while I yearned for the kind of pop music that just made me smile. It was the same with movies… Continue reading Reach for the Stars
A thought-provoking trip to the Museum
Yesterday was the first day of the school holidays and we woke up to torrential rain so we decided to go and visit the Museum. Auckland residents get a free pass to the Museum so we we have been on a few occasions before, but were particularly excited to see the visiting Anne Frank exhibition.… Continue reading A thought-provoking trip to the Museum
Simplification
Living a simple life. It sounds simple and surely it should be simple - but what does it actually mean? One of my recurring goals for at least the past 10 years has been to “simplify my life” but I am still not exactly sure what it is that I really want to achieve. Fourteen… Continue reading Simplification
Breadthoflife 