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I see it regularly. People aiming to live a life of positivity and in the process, exuding a mass of beautiful, happy, loving energy to the world. It’s so wonderful to witness! But as soon as something crosses their experience that they perceive to be wrong, unfair, mean, evil or <insert any other negative attribute>, they are up in arms about how screwed up everything is in the world. They will feel hard done by, as though the world has given them a kick in the teeth - “where is the justice in me being such a happy, positive person and then having to deal with this!?”. They may have even watched or read “The Secret” and decided that it just doesn’t work, because after all that positive thinking, “I’m not getting what I want”! And I am here to say, there is a catch if you want to live a life of constant peace, with an abundance of joyful moments. You have to learn how to think positively, or at the very least see the alternative perspective, no matter what situation you are presented with in reality.

Being like this will take practise, and its going to feel strange at first because so many of us have been conditioned to construct the support from our friends by “rallying the troops” when we feel wronged by someone or something. Take an honest look at the communications you have with those around you - are you bitching and moaning about something that has happened in order to gain sympathy or support from others? How do you think this aligns with living a life of positivity? True empowerment comes from taking ownership of your actions AND reactions, and understanding that no matter what, you can choose to see things from a different angle and therefore, choose the reaction you have to any external situation.

Mahatma Gandi said it best:

“Be the change you wish to see in the world”

If you want a world where people respect each other, show loving kindness and generosity to one another, and can co-exist on this planet in harmony, then you are in the very powerful position to start creating that world by being that change you want to see. If someone does you “wrong”, then choose to find the angle of the situation that allows you the peace of mind so you can react in a loving, kind way. Faced with a life circumstance that just seems overwhelmingly unfair, then remind yourself that in every great crisis comes the greatest opportunity and look for that opportunity. Can’t see it? Then trust that the opportunity will present itself at the perfect time and work through the current situation with the inner-awareness and mindfulness of owning your reactions.

You may be saying to yourself right now “but Mandie, so and so <insert name of person who is clearly wrong in their behaviour> is just so wrong, they just shouldn’t be behaving like this” or “but Mandie, it’s just not right that I haven’t been promoted or that I’ve been retrenched when so and so <insert name of person that shouldn’t have been promoted or lost their job instead>”. And I would say: it doesn’t matter what so and so is or isn’t doing, even if it involves you. What matters is what’s happening inside of you. Are you helping create the world you want to see by reacting in the way you ultimately want others to be behaving, or have you slipped into victim mode? The power of your practise in this will fundamental change your experience in the world. I promise. The beautiful part of this practise is the more you emanate positive energy in ALL circumstances, the more circumstances that will be drawn to you that confirm your newfound positive view of the world.

Have fun exploring this new dimension of your power in the world and realise your amazing potential to help create the world exactly as you would like it to be, by BEING that change!

If you think I live differently than most, then you need to meet my sister! She permanently lives in her own world, and usually only surfaces into our world when she needs or wants something. Ange has Down Syndrome. It is something some people are born with, through no fault of anybody or anything. She apparently also has Asperger Syndrome, which makes her extremely introverted and overly insensitive to others. I think she’s a hoot, and manage to see the humour in most of her antics.

This photo was not taken on her wedding day. She hasn’t had one, and it’s more than likely she  never will. She loves weddings though, and has been imaginatively married on many occasions. Mum is a good sport and regularly makes her veils and adjusts Ange’s “wedding dresses” for the photo shoots. Ange even staged her own exchange of vows on my wedding day at the front, stealing the show as she kissed her imaginary new husband and twirled around merrily.

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It seems rather remiss of me to have not officially introduced you to the wonderful forest I currently call home. I love it here. I wind up a dirt driveway that takes about six minutes from turning off the main road. It’s like entering a different world. A world where peak hour traffic means the one neighbour that lives further along than me drives to work in the morning, and comes home in the evening. A place where the sounds of birds, and cows, and dogs, echo across the valley during the day and the bats and possums come alive at night. Where the brightness of stars in the evening, outshine the candlelight from inside. A place that has forced me to confront my fear of snakes, by presenting me with majestic over-two-metre long versions slithering around the forest floor.

It’s also a place where nature is firmly in charge and the human residents are forced to abide by it’s rules.

Swollen creek levels after one storm

When it rains for more than a day, the creek at the bottom of the property swells to breaking point. Through the wild storms last month, I was stranded on my forest island for two nights until flooding subsided enough to cross the bridge out. When we could finally drive out, we had the hurdle of a fallen tree. Thankfully, we were able to drive under it as it had conveniently wedged itself on tree on the other side. Lucky!

The latest exciting development this week here has been a landslip of part of the driveway. When it first occurred, those of us living on the other side of it, risked driving across to get out. There was no getting back though, particularly as more of it slides away each day. So for the moment, I get to enjoy a 10 minute walk through The Forest to my car. It was particularly thrilling last night, as I trekked back late at night. Marvelling at the milky way shining down upon me, and enjoying the difference of walking through the towering trees in darkness. Until I remembered the wild dogs I have heard about residing on this property with us. I suddenly found myself quickening my pace and chuckling at myself for being such a whimp

Fallen tree after storms	Part of our driveway slips away!

A torch is essential around my place at night. With minimal electricity by way of a failing solar energy system, you need a torch to weave your way through the darkness once the sun has bid its final farewell for the day. I bought a heavy duty torch when I first came to The Forest. The ”heavy duty” batteries lasted about a month. So for the past four or five weeks I’ve been getting around by the light of one of those tiny torches that attach to a key ring.

Today I had the thought that I must take my big torch into town and finally get a replacement large battery for it. About a half-hour after that thought crossed my mind, Steph, my visitor who stayed over last night, called to let me know that she had accidentally kept my small (working) torch in her pocket when she left this morning. Ah-ha! It immediately made sense as to why I had suddenly decided that today must be the day to get a battery for my large torch. Pretty cool eh?

I believe we each have an all-knowing, ever-present, part of ourselves that guides us lovingly through our days and our lives. It could be known as our Higher Self, or our Soul, or just simply our gut instinct or intuition. Either way, it’s pretty amazing to realise we have an aspect of ourselves that is so infinitely intelligent! This part sees the bigger picture of our lives, the world and the connection between All That Is. The trick is to be attentive to what it’s saying, and take action when necessary rather than dismissing it.

What’s your soul trying to tell you that you need to listen to lately?

It might surprise you to learn, that despite my pretty sporadic posting on this site, I actually think of things to write, share and humour you with all the time. I seem to have a little issue with motivation in actually getting them from thought to web. However, now I’m discovering there are people other than my mother reading this site, my momentum for sharing is building.

This post goes out especially for Andy and Sue in Michigan. I got an email from Sue today, saying that she keeps track of what I’m up to via this site, and particularly likes hearing about mum and Paul on the farm, given they visited them when they last came to Oz. It reminded me that I took this video of one of our many picnic outings to my parent’s farm in NSW, Australia when I was home last in March.

You also get introduced to the two women who are closest to me in life - my mum, Bev, and my sister, Ange. We were a trio for much of my teenage years. We tend to amuse ourselves pretty well when we are together, and perhaps seeing this video, you might get a little insight into what my upbringing was like. There is one spot where all three of us are talking over each other. Ahhh, yes, sometimes it does feel like we are operating on three different airwaves, but we’re family, and we love each other, and that’s the main thing

My porridge masterpiece

My friend Alex surely didn’t know what she started when she served me some porridge when I slept over at her place a couple of months ago. From a simple bowl of porridge, a creative expression of all that can be good for us in a breakfast has been born. At last count, there are now 17 ingredients in my morning bowl of porridge. I kid you not. This is the hearty of hearty bowls of porridge you could ever imagine, and something I indulge in each morning. It’s most definitely something to jump out of bed for when I wake up!

Here’s the list of what made it into this morning’s porridge:

Oats, soy milk, water, pinch of salt, chopped apple, walnuts, linseed, sunflower seeds, pepitas, grounded linseed-soy-almond mix (LSA), shredded coconut, handful of sultanas, a couple of dates, protein powder, fresh mint, a good slathering of honey and a half a kiwi fruit on top (obviously, photo included in this post was taken a few weeks ago when I first thought of informing you all of my morning ritual, hence the lack of kiwi fruit).

Mmmm-Mmmm!

“The world would be a better place if more people just randomly broke out in song and dance” ~ Jeffre Arguello

Seems a whole lot of people are doing a whole lot of dancing around the planet. Despite our supposed economic meltdown, and risk of catching foreign viruses in a sneeze, it looks to me that we are able to smile and laugh and dance no matter whats going on in the world!

From the Sound of Music bursting out in a Belgium station, to Londoners having a boogie at Liverpool tube station, spontaneous bouts of choreographed cheer is spreading. I don’t care whether these have been done as publicity stunts or to further commercial interests, what matters is the affect these breaks in routine are having on those who happen to be in the area when they occur and on all of us who watch through the magic of YouTube. The simple truth is, we can’t help but smile and feel uplifted when we see so many of us having a great time. And isn’t that what we need more of nowadays? To be shocked out of unconsciousness living and reminded of the fun we can have on earth.

Don’t think this is anything new either. Surprising people in public places with random activities is something that Flashmob have been doing for years. One of my favourite Flashmob acts hands down is the Food Court Musical - I love the look of absolute disbelief on the faces of the people who were in that Los Angeles food court that day.

To help continue the epidemic of laughter and happiness through dance, I’d like to share the song of the moment in my life that has me putting on my dancing shoes. Triple J, my beloved favourite radio station, has been featuring the new album, Manners by US-based band, Passion Pit. Their song, Little Secrets, makes me want to jump up and wave my hands in the air and do a little jig of joy. So ignore the fact the video below doesn’t have any animation, turn the volume up on your computer, get off out of your chair and shake those hips of yours. Trust me, you’ll feel better for it

Synchronicity. n. Coincidence of events that seem to be meaningfully related.

One thing I love about living in the Byron Shire (more on my new home soon I promise) is how many hitchhikers there are in the area. It seems people in this area haven’t been touched by the media-created mass hysteria on the dangers of strangers. Having experienced a multitude of cars driving by and not stopping during my hitching adventures last year, I have committed to helping out a hitchhiker whenever possible.

One day a couple of weeks ago, I had just dropped off a young couple on the outskirts of Byron Bay and came across a woman, standing beside the road with a suitcase that matched the flaming red strands on her head. I pulled over, knowing it was likely she was trying to get the short distance into town. I was right. She was heading into work. I didn’t think to ask whether she normally hitched her way into work. Perhaps she was environmentally conscious and liked the idea of pooling our resources together to keep fewer cars on the road. I know that is one reason I’d like to see hitching make a comeback.

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A global movement has been building over the past couple of years, where once a year people all over the planet have the chance to show their commitment to support our precious environment.

Started in Sydney in 2007 (go Aussies!), Earth Hour involves the simple act of switching off your lights for one hour. Proclaimed this year as the global vote between “earth” and “global warming”, we’re all being urged to make our choice and take action by flicking a simple switch.

No matter where you are in the world, just turn your lights off on your Saturday night, 28 March at 8.30pm and cast your vote! 

Want to get an idea of how far reaching this campagin has become? Watch the video below: