Melbourne

We decided we had viewed enough of the Vancouver like city so we took the train down to Geelong. The train system in the state of Victoria from what we have seen is extensive! A relaxing one-hour dip down the coastline and we were there. In Geelong we walked along the water, touched the sand, ate fish and chips at the wharf, walked through the mall, and viewed the cultural district architectural buildings.  The performing arts building front was designed as a curtain opening for the face! Quite spectacular to view.

Back in Melbourne for the night Tash picked us up and took us to Hecho En Mexico for Tacos and Mexican eats. Absolutely delicious. Thank you, Tash, for dinner. 😉  After dinner we went for a nice drive over the big bridge and down to St. Kilda for Gelato on the beach. I am normally not a Gelato fan but that was yummy.

https://hechoenmexico.com.au/

Melbourne Official Day 1

We did a walking tour with my friend Tash. We started off heading to the East from our hotel over to Flinder's station. The architecture of the buildings is amazing. Rounded accents, angled walls, curved buildings and lots of places in town with large concrete pieces sticking out on an angle from the ground like a piece of artwork.

From Flinders station we crossed the roadway and walked along the Yarra River.  It was Labour day long weekend here so there was a festival named, Moomba, happening all along both sides of the river. The festival included food trucks, rides, and entertainment. While on the other side of the river we were able to take in an international wakeboarding competition, I have never seen anything like that before.  The female athletes we watched would attach a rope to their leg and complete one pass of tricks spinning on their board behind the boat, along with front flips and back flips!

From there we headed North to the Museum. Inside the museum was a dinosaur exhibit with in depth explanations through interactive screens and movies about fossils and archeology. We were also able to see insect skins, live spiders in enclosures and a replica of a forest ecosystem in an atrium space at the center of the museum. Fabulous job creating a good, interesting experience.

   

Melbourne is home to a large indoor market where you can purchase fresh produce, meats, and artisans. Due to the public holiday, it was closed. On a side note, due to the public holiday there is a surcharge at each restaurant to eat take-out food…. And if you order a Starbucks, you are most certainly a tourist.

We experienced an indoor mall with six stories! At the top of the mall was a cinema and at the bottom of the mall in the ground was a grocery store and in between all the levels were retail shops and food stops.

After dinner we walked North to see some different sights and find an ice cream shop. Stumbling upon the University grounds we toured the growing Melbourne University campus before making our way for dessert then onto the room for a sleep.

Travel Part 2

 New Zealand to Melbourne 

The airport was nice. We had to go through a bag check/security in order to proceed into the the airport. In line was a flight directory that said Relax next to our flight to Melbourne  

Desperate for a cup of Java we walked around the little airport looking for coffee. Apparently New Zealanders don’t drink drip coffee. They enjoy Espressos, long or short. 

Unsure what either of those options were I asked the nice couple behind me. We had a lovely conversation about Traveling and settled on a long espresso.

Coffee was so delicious we had a second cup!

This Air New Zealand plane was bigger and seats were even comfier! But it is daytime and I have slept enough for an evening. I pre-paid for our seats where I had no-one in front of me so I could stretch my legs out which made a huge difference. 

Although this flight was only 3.5 hours I felt like I was driving through the prairies in Canada. Long, straight, and boring. I would add draining to the description as well. 

In Melbourne we went through 2 security checks as my 11 year old son was not allowed to go through express. The border lady made me feel awkward as she kept scanning my sons passport and looking at him. But in the end she gave us the ok!

Tash was waiting for us on arrivals and took us to the car park to start our journey into Melbourne. 

Travel

 Day 1 - Travel Day

Zero sleep. WOW how little sleep I get when my mind goes.

10am we headed to the airport to hurry and up and wait... sometimes being at the airport can be a terrible experience.  You want to be in the know but no-one shares the information.

After an hour of waiting the APP updates and the flight is delayed. Now what do you do? I profusely click update to see if the delay time changes.

In the end we found out the weather was causing the planes to not land with the ceiling being too low and the pilots were unable to see to land in Kelowna. The planes were circling the sky waiting for the clouds to break.

Finally, a nice Gentleman next to me showed me his phone with a live tracking of our plane, FlightAware, and we could see the plane taking a decent and coming in for landing.

HOORAY 

From our 12:30 scheduled flight to actually boarding at 1:30 I was feeling to sick to my stomach that I was not going to make it to Vancouver for the connecting flight to New Zealand.

But I made it Vancouver for 2:30 found our Gate and settled in for a comfy rest before the Long Haul to New Zealand.

Fourteen hours in the air but we left at 7:15pm from Vancouver so it was dark once we got on the place and dark the entire flight so it seemed natural to have dinner and then watch a movie and doze of for a sleep. The plane was nice, new, clean seats, great food, excellent staff, and free Wi-fi! 

Nervous about the long flight I contact my doctor prior to departure and requested a prescription of Ativan for the flight.

After a little dinner, I popped an Ativan, sorted my belongings, tucked myself in with the nice airplane blanket, and fell asleep.

Completely passed out on the plane, my father attempted to wake me up and request an Ativan from me along with my son attempting to wake me up to go to the bathroom, but I slept.  I believe in total I slept seven hours. I feel great. Thank you medication. 

Lights came on, and breakfast was served, we were on the final trek to landing.

I did it! We did it!

Bring on the Holiday.

Wait, wait, wait...

We have another flight to catch... New Zealand to Melbourne... I'll keep you posted.

 

The Power of Humility: Why It's Important in Life

Humility is a quality that has been celebrated by philosophers, spiritual leaders, and successful people throughout history. It is a key component of emotional intelligence and an important trait for personal and professional success. But what exactly is humility, and why is it so important? Let's take a closer look.

What is Humility?

At its core, humility is a state of mind that involves a deep understanding of oneself and one's place in the world. It involves acknowledging one's own strengths and weaknesses, recognizing the contributions of others, and being open to learning and growth. Humility is not the same as self-deprecation or low self-esteem, but rather a healthy sense of perspective and awareness.

Why is Humility Important?

There are many reasons why humility is an important trait to cultivate in our lives. Here are just a few:

1. It fosters healthy relationships. When we approach others with humility, we demonstrate that we value their input and perspectives. This can lead to more productive and fulfilling relationships, as well as a sense of community and belonging.

2. It promotes growth and learning. Humility allows us to approach challenges with a sense of curiosity and a willingness to learn. It allows us to accept feedback and constructive criticism, which can help us to grow and develop both personally and professionally.

3. It enhances our decision-making. When we approach decision-making with a humble mindset, we are able to consider all the options and weigh them objectively. This can lead to more thoughtful and effective decision-making.

4. It fosters a sense of gratitude. Humility allows us to appreciate the contributions of others and recognize that we are not solely responsible for our own success. This can foster a sense of gratitude and a desire to give back to others.

5. It promotes a sense of purpose. When we approach life with humility, we are more likely to stay grounded and focused on our true purpose. This can help us to make decisions that align with our values and contribute to the greater good.

How to Cultivate Humility

Cultivating humility can be a lifelong journey, but there are a few strategies that can help. Here are some tips to get started:

1. Practice active listening. When someone is speaking to you, give them your full attention and really listen to what they have to say. Avoid interrupting or thinking about your response before they have finished speaking.

2. Accept constructive criticism. When someone offers feedback or criticism, try to receive it with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Remember that feedback can help you to grow and improve.

3. Express gratitude. Take time each day to express gratitude for the people and things in your life. This can help you to stay grounded and appreciate the contributions of others.

4. Reflect on your biases and assumptions. Humility involves being aware of your own biases and assumptions, and being open to challenging them. Take time to reflect on your thoughts and beliefs, and consider other perspectives.

In conclusion, humility is a powerful trait that can enhance our relationships, promote growth and learning, and help us to lead a more purposeful life. By cultivating humility in our lives, we can develop greater self-awareness and a deeper understanding of ourselves and others. So why not take some time today to reflect on your own level of humility, and consider how you can continue to develop this important trait?

 Happiness

Imagine a life of happiness centered around ease - achieving success and enjoying our daily lives without conflict, obstacles and challenges. The irony is that true happiness can only be discovered when we accept the reality that happiness requires some amount of unhappiness. People find life's greatest meaning when faced with hardships.

What does happiness mean to you?

Artificial intelligence states that happiness is found in positive relationships, meaningful work, positive mindset, personal growth and giving back.

Who knew AI could find human happiness?

Did you know you could trick your brain into feeling happy?

Place a pen or pencil in your mouth and bite down on it in a smile shape, engaging your upper cheek muscles for 90 seconds and Voila you'll feel better.

Your heart rate will slow and your body will release stress.

So why not engage in this everyday that you are not feeling well. It will give you a new spin on the day!

How about color, color signifies happiness as well.  Yellow is associated with happiness, optimism, positivity and intellect.

The sun is yellow and makes us feel happy along with the benefits of Vitamin D!

What if you could change your whole focus for the year?

What would you focus on?

My focus this year will be on Strength; Strength to stand up for people who cannot stand up for themselves and the Strength to stand up for myself given a situation.

The first statement is easy for me, I am always standing up for others.

The latter is something I need to work on. In my attempt to conjure the Strength daily to stand up for myself I have added a picture to my lock screen on my phone of a man pushing a boulder up the hill.

 

    Although the boulder is large, the perseverance to push through the struggle is the most important.

For the month of January Strength showed up for me in so many ways!

I am proud to share my reflection on Strength

              1. Have the strength to try your best and keep going no matter the result.

It is okay to fail or get a low mark, self-reflect on what happened, and keep trying

              2. In the face of defeat, keep pursuing your dreams and make them a reality.

Have the Strength to keep working on yourself so opportunities become Success.

              3. Simple acts of kindness go a long way.

The Strength to buy someone a Starbucks may be act of kindness that get someone through their day.

Now if you were to choose a Focus for the year what would you choose and how would that show up for year each day?

A small action can change your perspective or inspire others to greatness. The World needs you and your abilities. Have the Strength to step out of your Comfort Zone and step into what you are made of.