Why do you blog?

I am rewriting this post because somehow, I managed to delete it accidentally when I was trying to attach the Google Adsense code to it

I write because I am a ✍️ writer at heart, and the blog gives me the incentive to write and express my creativity all the while honing my writing skills and giving me a presence and personality online.  Writing a blog is something that has become  second nature and part of my everyday routine.  I write of a morning 🌄 when I am at my most alert and productive . Writing a blog also inspires me in my other wrtings, i.e., my other books, God Bless Our Dogs and The Dance of the Emerald Dress 👗.  Writing a blog improves my writing skills and my motivation to write as it is just pure pleasure 🙏🏽. I am a creative person at heart, and writing is my main media of self-expression and creativity, and yes, it is definitely pure pleasure 🙏🏽.

When I want to relax, I sit or lie on the couch with Lily on my lap as I gently stroke her fur.  It is bliss 😊 and makes me relax quickly. It is amazing the feel of a much loved pet.

If you had to give up one word that you use regularly, what would it be?

A few weeks ago, we had to write a post about a word we feel is overused.  I chose “whatever.”  That would be the word that I would give up.  Instead of dismissing the person with a “whatever,” I would carefully choose my wirds and say what it is I really feel or choose to express.  Saying whatever ends the conversation and means you don’t say what you really feel.  I don’t like confrontation,  but Saying whatever is not the answer  creating more conflict than it solves.  I know I have a good vocabulary so I would carefully choose my words instead of saying whatever.

Are you holding a grudge? About?

I don’t believe in holding grudges.  The energy spent in holding a grudge can be better spent by being positive, caring, and optimistic in your own life.

We are all on different journeys in our life with our own lessons to learn.   If anything I have learned on this journey,  it is that karma exists. If you do around,  spreading negativity and bad behaviour  the universe will make sure that you get back that negativity in your own life threefold.  You don’t bring about good karma for yourself,  when you go around trying to make bad karma for another.   We must not interfere in someone elses karma. We are to let go and learn from our mistakes.  Trying to interfere in someone else’s karma only generates bad karma for yourself.

If someone in your life is mean or horrible to you, wish them well, let go of your bad feelings, and know that person will experience karma eventually.  Everything happens in Gods time, and it is only a matter of time that karma will catch up with those who have wronged us. Letting go and not holding a grudge is the best way to deal with those who are badly behaved. The universe will bring bad karma to those who do wrong. It is only a matter of time, and other people’s karma is not our business.

Share a story about the furthest you’ve ever traveled from home.

The furthest I have ever travelled was to Hong Kong, when I was working for the Richmond Fellowship Victoria,  now called Mind. Richmond Fellowship is a worldwide organisation that specialises in mental health care and every few years the organisation has a big conference where the organisations meet to talk and present what they do for those with mental health issues. At the time I was a Consumer consultant for them and the conference was a once in a lifetime thing. Myself and the other employees of Mind were treated fabulously well.

We were in Hong Kong 🇭🇰 ❤️ for a week and one day caught the train to mainland China to go shopping at Schenzeng.  It was amazing.  I had the pleasure of having a dress tailored fit me by one of the shops  in Schenzeng who delivered the dress to me 3 days later in Hong Kong 🇭🇰 😀.  On the last day, an expatriate took us shopping at discount outlets that the average person in Hong Kong 🇭🇰 😀 would shop at, not the tourists.  I bought a few bargains that day,  including a beautiful shirt 👕 for my mum that only cost me the equivalent of $3 Australian.  We had many adventures in Hong Kong 🇭🇰 😍 and I am still amazed and impressed by the work Mind do all over the world. They are probably the most significant organisation worldwide that helps  work with those with mental health issues and does so much work to end the stigma of mental illness.   I was privileged to work for them, and I have so many good memories of my time working in mental health.

What does your ideal home look like?

My ideal home would be a little old cottage, somewhere on the outskirts of Melbourne, perhaps in Romsey or Woodend, or maybe even Williamstown.   It does not have to be big, but it would be old and full of character.  I love old houses that are beautiful and historical.   I love the history associated with such homes and love surrounding myself with beautiful old things.

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What brings a tear of joy to your eye?

The thing that brings a tear of joy to my eye is the love of family and close friends 🧡, and of course, the love of Lily.

Given that I never had children of my own I love and value my niblings,  that is , my nephews and nieces.  I have delighted in watching them grow into wonderful young adults and seeing them happy and busy with their own lives brings a tear to my 👀 eyes.  When they go through challenging times I feel for them and pray 🙏🏽 that all will be well.

My friends also bring a tear to my eyes as they are wonderful, compassionate people who share the journey with me throughout life’s ups and downs.   I feel in particular for Kathryn, who recently has been dealing with her beautiful sons passing.  No parent should have to bury their children,  so Kathryn is someone I just want to keep in Gods loving embrace.  I can only imagine what she is going through. That certainly brings a tear to my eyes.

Lily obviously brings me many tears of joy.  She is my little best friend and my most loyal companion. Recently, there were some dog attacks in my area, and all my neighbours expressed concern and wanted me to keep Lily safe until the culprits were dealt with.   I started to think about how awful it would be to lose Lily in that way, and it just made me hug Lily a little closer and love ❤️ her for her innocence even more.  I know one day she won’t be around, and it just makes me cherish my time with her even more.

Being an empath, I feel for the people who make up my life and endeavour to be a positive person to the people I ❤️ Love.

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How are you feeling right now?

At the present time I am feeling really good.  I have just taken Lily for a good walk in the fresh, crisp morning 🌄 air and have just had a coffee, so I am feeling great.   I am at my most contented and productive at this time of day. Walking 🚶‍♂️ Lily makes me happy, and the morning air and the coffee make me my most alert and productive.  As I write ✍️ this, Lily is right by my side touching me, peaceful and contented.   Yes, the morning 🌄 is the loveliest time of day. Life is good 😄.

What daily habit do you do that improves your quality of life?

There are two daily habits that improve my quality of life.

The first is my morning 🌄 habit of practising mindfulness.  I do  this by slowly going through my morning routine and slowly eating breakfast,  savouring the taste .

The other thing I do that improves my quality of life is my morning 🌄 walk with Lily.  It is the best time of day to be outdoors, savouring the fresh crisp morning air and bonding with Lily.   It is her favourite time of day. I have already taken her this morning, so she is peaceful and contented.  It certainly improves the quality of life for both of us to get this exercise, and it makes me grateful and appreciative of where I live

It is the little everyday gestures that improve our quality of life and doing them becomes easy to fit into our lifestyle,  so common place that we do them automatically and instinctively.