It's a Classical Life

  There are a number of things that I find inspiring about this quote. First of all, it reminds us that being patient and being able to waiting are learnt skills. We are not all born with infinite patience, and I know sometimes that I compare myself to other, more patient people and become frustrated. This reminds me that all patience is a process. We need to work on it and we need to recognise the need to learn how to be patient. Secondly, it highlights the need to relax when dealing with an issue or a stressful problem. How many times have become more and more worked up trying to figure out the best way to deal with a problem? More times than you can count? Me too! Last week, I was particularly stressed about an assignment I was doing for my accounting course. I couldn't figure it out. I rose early and instead of worrying about it, I meditated. I prayed. I went about my normal business, even spending some time outside. Then when I went to my class that afternoon I...

  Did you try the Jane Austen word search last month? If so, how did you like it? If not, perhaps you would like to give it a try - you can find it here . Today, I'm sharing with you another word search, this one based around the classic novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It's getting very wintery here and Little Women is one of my favourite books to read in winter. For those of you heading into summer, this is still a fun, free past-time to while away those long summer days. I hope you enjoy this month's word search! Remember, you can either click on the image above or you can download the PDF through the Google link below. Happy searching! Little Women Word Search

  Have you heard of the Japanese art form called Kintsugi ? It's a traditional art form that sees the repair of broken ceramics with gold paint. Imagine your favourite antique tea cup is dropped and the handle comes off. Instead of throwing it away (or throwing a tantrum!), kintsugi sees the handle being glued back on with a gold paint/glue mixture. Your favourite tea cup now has a golden vein around the handle, showing the strength of rebuilding after being broken. It is a very powerful metaphor for self-development and I'm not sure whether writer Ernest Hemingway was referring to Kintsugi when he made this quote, but it made me think of it as soon as I read it.  To me, it is a wonderful way to think about scars, our flaws and the parts of us that have been broken, and to love them and appreciate them for the journey that they have taken us on. It also reminds me not to toss something away simply because it is broken. Being broken in a way that does not impact its useful...

We are deep into autumn and winter is knocking on the door. We've had the gamut of weather lately - beautiful sunny autumn days, freezing cold nights with frost, blustery winds and grey drizzly days. Last Monday as I drove to work I saw that there was snow on the mountains! I wasn't really surprised because Sunday had been freezing and wet. Autumn is absolutely, hands-down my favourite season and it inspired me to get creative. Earlier, when summer was weighing us down with her heat, I did a bit clear out of things and went for a whole "minimalist" look. I always think I like this look, but quickly learn I like it better in pictures than in my own home! I thought I would share with you some autumn shots from what's been happening around our home lately. So, grab a cuppa and come enjoy some autumn goodness. The lounge room got a bit of colour injected into it! I bought out all the things I had packed away over summer - the deep navies and ruby...

From The Burghers of Calais ~ A. Rodin Recently, my husband and I visited the National Gallery of Australia. There were some renovation works being done, but there was still a lot to see and enjoy. It's been a while since I had visited a gallery and I had forgotten how they make me feel. The creativity and scope of design on show is always inspiring and awesome. Viewing art really speaks to my desire to connect with other humans, past and present. To find connections with those who have come before us, and to realise that I am not alone in how I feel and my experience of life. I know a lot of people like to cling to a feeling of individualism; they like to think that no-one understands them and their feelings are unique and incomprehensible to others. I, on the other hand, love the feeling that the breadth of human experience and emotion is a collective experience, something we can share with others and find connection. This connection is only one joyful consequence of experie...

I have something fun and exciting to share with you all today. I love word games, puzzles and riddles and I especially love word searches and crosswords. I thought you might like them too, so I have started creating classic themed word searches for you to download on the first Friday of every month (perfect for the weekend - perhaps whilst watching the Coronation!) The first one is the characters of Jane Austen's novels. Each word search is made with large print and includes a floral picture, hand-painted by me. I love water painting and I love word searches - a match made in heaven! You can either copy the image above, or you can download the PDF from the google drive here.   Jane Austen Word Search I have also made an answer sheet. If you would like one, please email me and I will send it to you. I don't think the puzzles are too hard, but if enough people email then next month I will add the link to the answers in the post. If you have any ideas for word searches that you wo...

  I think that if anyone should know much about persistence and not giving up, it must be Canadian born actress Mary Pickford. Born at the end of the 19th century, she worked on stage and on screen for five decades. She was also a renowned producer and one of the founding members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. A woman achieving success in such a competitive, male-dominated industry and time is inspiring.  Many times can we see failure as a fall, a misstep, a roadblock to the dreams we have for ourselves and our lives. And often it is easiest to give up. Then, true failure has occurred. It is not the missteps or the roadblocks that are our failures. They are simply learning tools on a journey to success. Much of culture tells that our success needs to be achieved swiftly and whilst we are young. Otherwise we are "over the hill", "past it" or some other less than flattering judgement. However, when we are young we are lacking these wise i...