September 2012 Dreams/August Review

Me expressing my joy towards the top of Mauna Kea to watch the sun set

My September dreams post was slightly delayed by a detour to Hawaii.

When my mum suggested, on a Sunday night, that I get on a plane on Tuesday night, I froze. I thought of all the things I had scheduled, the other doggie we were to look after, whether I deserved to go on a last-minute family holiday. I felt guilty that I was lucky enough to be in this position. Funny huh?

But when opportunities like these present themselves - you need to jump. I was letting things that I could change and handle stop me. I checked with The Man if it would be okay (after all, this decision effected him too!) and then said yes. I got over myself and the buts. I scrambled to re-organised and rearranged the meetings and work I had planned and ensured I packed work with me. After all, I want to be creating a portable business and this was an opportunity to have that.

I ended up not quite having the internet access and time by the pool I thought I would while I was away, but I got to create some precious memories with my sister and mum (while doing a little bit of work in McDonalds and Starbucks for internet!).

Unfortunately not all my August dreams were able to come to fruition, but the rest of September will make up for it! Plus the Hawaii experience helped me disconnect from the regular distractions and gave me awesome inspiration for some new long term goals that are starting to seed themselves!

SEPTEMBER DREAMS

1. Celebrate 3 year anniversary together with The Man
2. Progress SSS redesign with Carly from Moozoo Designs
3. Help celebrate friend's book launch
4. Help celebrate Ms C & Mr M's Permanent Residency Party
5. Attend cousin's wedding
6. Clear up paperwork that is currently all over the place
7. Get back into a regular yoga practice
8. Craft new health goal
9. Reconnect with my journal
10. Catch up with Perth Bestie coming to town
11. Launch the new professional focussed me
12. Get clear on biz direction and timeframe
13. Create logo for new biz
14. Revamp editorial calendar
15. Implement new insight into my life
16. New website progress
17. Web copy draft
18. Finish $100 Start Up as below

AUGUST REVIEW

1. Catch up with girlfriend up from Melbourne - Attempted - we showed up but the ferry queues didn't allow for actual connection
2. Catch up with US based BFF and her little family who are visiting - Done (even though the little man was sick and it delayed their arrival in Sydney so we had 20mins at the airport!)
3. Have a house repairs day - Done (well, I made the list and The Man did them...)
4. Write draft of new biz idea with The Man - more deets to come! - Postponed
5. Write website copy - Postponed
6. Website development - Postponed
7. Start Health Challenge - postponed by a few days due to lingering cold - Postponed
8. Knit Scarf - Done - it was really crocheted and I don't think anyone is getting the wonky thing
9. Start Granny Square challenge - I bought all the bits but didn't end up creating a single square
10. Online monthly meeting with great women around the world - (I missed it as it was the night before leaving for Hawaii and I was frantically running around and had rearranged meetings)
11. Wedding dress viewing with girlfriends - Done - awesome - approved
12. Finish reading $100 Start Up by Chris Guillebeau- Postponed
13. Announce Thirty Days Of Thanks - Postponed
14. Finish incompletes - there are a bunch of emails and promised items that are keeping me awake at night. It doesn't sit well with me. - Done
15. Catch up with 'long-lost' friends I've not seen in ages - Done - caught up with one and had to postpone the other

What is one of your September goals Savvies?

Make it as you wish SSSs!

  

Week In Review: 8 - 14 September: Alohas, Puppies and Reality

Sunset at Waikiki Beach

Some of you may know that I had an amazing last minute opportunity to go to Hawaii to spend some time with my mum and sister - which is why I'v not been too active on the site the last couple of weeks - but more on that later!

I've been back one week now...In some ways productive and in others pining for the warmth, sea and carefree holiday feel the islands gave me. Sigh...

Arienne's Week In Review

• Travelled back on Hawaiian Airways and watched many Hawaii 5-0 episodes
• Face to face business coaching session
• Watched X-factor episodes (yes I love it)
• Bucket-loads of laundry
• Happily putting away my beautiful shopping finds - I've got my whole summer wardrobe on the cheap (thanks Labour Day sales - Macy's, Factory Outlets and Victoria's Secret!)
• Happy doggy walks with Zander and his girlfriend Maddie
• Girlie time with Miss J who is staying at the moment
• Aussie time with Mum (though more Hawaii time together would have been slightly preferable)
• 10thousandgirl website work...hackers...why?
• Phone catch up with friends near and far
• Hot-water drama in investment property
• Lots of home cooking - bolognaise, chicken curry & tacos
• Re-organising work timeframes and to-dos
• Logo work
• Project planning
• Runs, push-ups and sit ups during doggy walks
• Reading fun switch off novels

I have so much to share about my upcoming plans - I'm excited to let you all know what they are but need a little more time to put them in place before I shout them out :)

What was a highlight of you week Savvy Shes?

Make it as you wish SSS,

A Glimpse Into A Possibility Of How Life Can Be

Photo Credit

This may seem simplistic. When I wrote it out I wondered if it was as amazing as it actually feels. There can be such a difference between hearing a theory that resonates with you and actually implementing it in your life...

Ever had that experience? For example, where you know that forgiveness is freeing, it sounds simple, but that actually doing it is sooooo hard? But when you do - when you forgive and let go, that 'free-ness' is amazing.

Or, one that is close to my heart, that when you allow the fear you feel in and sit with it you can get through it. You get more empowered and the fear diminishes. Yeah. Not an easy one but when you actually do it, it is true and liberating.

So the other day I had an insight into how life could be for me.

What if I just stop putting needless pressure on myself and design my day the way I really want it to go - so I can enjoy it and look forward to it?

Simple? Sounds like it should be - so why have I not allowed myself this before? I've come so far in making significant changes in my life so I can live a life that is more mine. Now that I am here why am I allowing myself to not enjoy the things I have chosen??? I'm ridiculous aren't I??

We all put shoulds, musts and have-tos into our lives that drain so much of the fun and enjoyment out of our everydays. What if we were able to remove this needless pressure and go about doing stuff in a way that gives us joy, bliss and laughter? Plus how about ensuring we work in some obviously pleasurable things?

What if we could change our perspectives on some of those less fun tasks and see how they fit into our bigger picture and therefore do them with more delight? If they have to be done, why can't we choose to do them with more pleasure and enjoy the necessity?

My **SPARKLY** (I emphasise that because she does sprinkle sparkle wherever she goes with her tiara and awesome self) friend Denise over at Concert Chick wrote a fabulous related post about being Peacefully Productive.

I find that because I'm looking at all the things that need to be done that I am not doing I think I need to make more time for them so I don't schedule the fun stuff - catching up with friends, going for a lovely walk.

So now...
I am choosing to stop putting that needless pressure on myself. I choose to enjoy my days a whole lot more! I choose to view my shoulds/musts/have-tos with more understanding and have more fun with them. This is all done with the view of peaceful productivity, gleefully working towards my awesome goals and joyfully waking up and looking forward to my day.

Sounds good, right?! Here we go!

How do you want to feel everyday? How will you make that happen?
 
Make it as you wish SSSs!