Wild Grass by Kevin Dooley

The winds of life often blow us around… and I’ve certainly had my fair share of that lately. Thought I’d do one of those quick update posts about all the bits and pieces.

Where I’ve been when I’ve not been here

You can still find me around the web, even when I’m not here at The Clearing Space (and yeah, I’m very aware I haven’t been here much):

Join me at Twitter (the newest way to watch time fly by) I’m enjoying meeting wonderful new folk and learning something every day!

At The Calm Space (which does take up the bulk of my time these days, as new and exciting things are cooking on the stove…) – this month you’ll find our incredibly wise contributors (and me) writing about Kindness.

At Joyful Jubilant Learning – where my latest article about my journey post-employment and being kind to myself – A time to consolidate, A time to be kind -  has attracted an amazing array of comment conversation! I’m so honoured to be a part of that community of wise, warm and witty learners.

What else has been happening – off-line

We’ve bought a block of land – big enough for horses – and we’re planning our new home! Please throw me any hints and tips on how to handle the stress of building a house, and selling the current one. We’ve never built before… and have been in this home over 15 years!

One of the reasons for my absence lately was a glorious trip, just hubby and I, to Palau last month. Hubby went diving and I learned how to relax! Yes, I was twitchy for the first few days, and there were moments when I panicked at the thought of running out of books to read (I found no book shops on the island) – but we had a fantastic time with the six other Aussies on our trip.

I snorkelled for the first time ever – in a lake full of jellyfish! Here’s the photographic proof. Those things all around me & in the separate photo are the jellyfish…

So, that’s me all caught up. What’s been happening with you?

No matter what you call it, a conversation is one of the best ways to connect with people you care about, and even with those you don’t.

Rosa would call it ‘Talking Story” and we agree!

Hand the talking stick around and let’s get this party started!

Sit Down by Saxon on Flickr

In one of my favourite books, Gift from the SeaAnne Morrow Lindberg said: “Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after.”

We don’t want to keep you up too late, but we do want you to join in the conversations we’re having at The Calm Space throughout April.  There is too much in the issue for me to waffle on about here – so just go, have a look at the line-up and jump right in.

While you’re visiting with us, please pop by the Challenge Space where we’ve got a little competition going and join in – we’ve already some thought provoking entries!

Don’t forget to visit the Breathing Space and download your April desktop featuring the amazing photography of Amy Palko and the digital wizardry of Leah Maclean. It will bring a smile to your face whenever you’re at your computer.

I wish you a happy, relaxing, conversation-filled Easter, full of loving family and good friends all ready for a bit of a blather…

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place

but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment
- Dorothy Neville

image from quotablecards.com

Dance. Love. Sing. Live… what more is there than this?

Vicki Baum said “There are short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.”

On the days when we’re feeling a little blah there is nothing like stirring up the blood with a little foot stomping or hip wiggling or shimmy shaking to lift our spirits (preferably with great music, played loud).

I believe you cannot do a good twist or jive without a smile on your face… so we’re sharing all those happy dancing hormones with you as we dance through February at The Calm Space.

Join us?

There’s plenty more for you this month – in fact a whole month full of dancing and loving over at The Calm Space (and way too much for me to go on about here)… We’d love for you to join in the dance – come on over and kick off your shoes… and please leave a comment or two – we’ll be certain to respond.

www.thecalmspace.com

The Calm Space celebrates it’s first birthday this month with a huge lineup of prizes, and wonderful articles, ideas and celebrations on the theme of Adventuring.

Happy 1st Birthday Calm Space and a huge thank you to all our wonderful contributors!

Joyful, Jubilant Learning (or JJL as it’s affectionately known) also celebrates with two years of wonderful writing, learning and conversation! I am a proud contributor to JJL, and you can find some of my recent articles here. Take a look at the wonderful conversations that happen there in the comments, they really warm my heart.

Happy 2nd Birthday JJL!

Spring is all about new growth, renewal, flinging off the layers and getting outside.

Already I am feeling much more inclined to clear out cupboards and sort through papers… it’s curious how different that is to even a week ago, but I am not complaining – it sorely needs doing. I’ve been on the reinvention path for a while now, and the sorting, purging and organising is one of those critical must-do’s in order for me to fully walk into my new life as an ex-employee.

And on the subject of reinvention - we’re talking much more about it over at The Calm Space in our September edition. I share some tips I found valuable on my own path of reinvention, and there is lots of wonderful wisdom, tips, encouragement and fun from our wonderful team of contributors! Take a bow Annie, Amy, Angela, Chris, Grant, Joanna, Joanne, Leah, Marc, and Marj!

Go on! What are you waiting for? The time is ripe and the wind is blowing the right way…

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction.

~E.F. Schumacker

I don’t profess to be a genius, and I know that I often tend to complicate matters when I think I am simplifying them, but this quote resounded with me. It does take a lot of courage to move against the flow… and to move against expectations and the pressure to conform.

It seems to me that we get to a certain point in our lives – and for each of us, it’s a different point, caused by different circumstances and influences – and we feel the need for simplicity. We long for order, calm and a simple life – free of the pressures, demands and chaos we’re incessantly bombarded with.

For me, it was a disillusionment with the corporate world, coupled with the realisation of the need to feel grounded and reconnect with nature.

Simplifying my life has meant going within, seeking beauty and joy, and looking less for happiness from external sources. It will be a life long process.

This month at The Calm Space we’re talking about Simplicity. Each of our expanding team of contributors talks about simplicity as it relates to their own particular genius, and I feel blessed to read their inspiring words, and see their beautiful photography. We’d love to have you join the conversation.

(And for the Aussies, nope, not that sort of SOB.)

This sort of SOB:

It stands for Successful and Outstanding Blogger. And it’s very much a badge of honour.

Thank you Liz - you’ve included me with some pretty amazing people, which makes it doubly special!

If you’ve followed over here from Liz’s place, welcome! There’s lots to see and do, the kettle’s always just boiled and if the kids haven’t invaded, there should be some home-made biscuits in the jar.

You’re welcome to browse around as much as you like… there are no locked doors or barred windows here.

And once you’ve had your fill of The Clearing Space, I’d love you to step on over to the hot-off-the-press June issue of The Calm Space.

This month, the gorgeous (oh, and handsome, now – can’t forget our guys: ) contributors have all shared their unique talents and skills on the theme of FREEDOM.

It’s a hefty topic, and there are some great, thought-provoking posts, some good reads, a beautiful Breathing Space (once again using Amy Palko‘s gorgeous photography) and lots more besides…

[And for those of you who are curious about me, the person, you'll be interested to meet our newest contributor at The Calm Space, writing The Money Space. That's all I'm going to say... you have to go over there to find out more. Hint: check out my editorial here for the goss.]

PS I’ve been travelling and resting and recharging the last couple of weeks… lots to tell, lots and lots of photos to show you… as soon as I’ve had a chance to catch my breath I hope to find time to share some of it with you. Until then, keep well and be free.

Let me see if I can explain.

I love this thing called blogging. And I love the connections that the internet brings my way, that allow me to make friends in far off places. If you’d told me 10 years ago that I’d know two wonderful women in Scotland, I might not have laughed in your face, but I certainly would have been sceptical, no matter how shiny your crystal ball.

But wonder of wonder, the crystal ball would have been correct. I have met (virtually) and got to know Joanna Young, who is now a good friend and a valued contributor to The Calm Space. Through Joanna, I met Amy Palko, and her beautiful photography graced this month’s Breathing Space.

Ever since hubby and I spent time driving through Scotland in our just-married and childless years we have loved the place. It doesn’t hurt that I married a Wallace – and that my father-in-law’s name is William! We both can trace our roots back to that small, cold, so-picturesque country on the other side of the world.

I have often said I want to go backand have Christmas in Scotland in a castle … coldness and open fires and woolly jumpers and mulled wine and snow balls and all that magical, fairy-tale stuff that a hot summer Christmas in Australia just isn’t conducive to.

Um… so what does this have to do with the title of this post?

Well… the Scots, you see, they have their own language. Yes, they speak ‘English’ but they have another, beautifully rich and evocative language that is uniquely theirs. And sometimes they talk about things, and I have no idea what they are talking about.

Recently Joanna went to Chicago for SOBCon08 and gave Brad Shorr a book of Scottish words and phrases. Brad gleefully shared some intriguing words from the book. One of them was Thunderplump.

Say it out loud. Thunderplump. mmmm…

I read his post (thanks to a pointer from Rosa - another magical connection) right after a thunderplump had passed through here on Saturday.

Here’s a couple of the photos I took (as inspired by Amy, I’m learning to see things through a lens…)

Typical sub-tropical storm – came in from the west and down it poured. The gutters just cannot cope…

The storm retreats over the mountains to the north…

The beauty of a rainbow to the east… taken from my front door. Hope remains.

Yes, a thunderplump is a thunderstorm… don’t you love it? Can’t you just hear the word, rolling around the mouth before exploding out in a barrage of scottishness?

What magical things have exploded in your world lately?

You know, the kind who walks the high-wire (where’s the net?) while simultaneously juggling delicate crystal goblets, flaming fire-sticks and your best china?

I know mine does!

Sometimes our life seems a hair-breadth from total catastrophe. But somehow, we keep going. The balancing act never ends, the show is on an eternally playing loop.

It seems to be a common feeling… life is so busy, so demanding and so always on.

This month, over at The Calm Space, the contributors share their personal takes on the issue of balance and that high-wire act. Whilst all the writers share their own perspective and speciality on the whole balance issue, there seems to be a common thread through all the articles.

Balance is an inside job. We wont find ‘the solution’ out there somewhere. There is no magical net waiting to catch us when we lean too far off kilter… it’s up to you to find your own equilibrium.

THE CALM SPACE IS GROWING!

The Calm Space has a new contributor, writing for The Sustainability Space, Marc Lehmann. Marc is a naturalist and a minimalist with a passion for sustainability and his first article really made me stop and think.

We also welcome the beautiful photography of Amy Palko to The Breathing Space. Amy chose this amazing image for us this month because, in her own words,

“I’ve spent quite a lot of time thinking about balance and what it means to me, and also where I find it. For me, I find it when I’m out on a walk, away from the demands of housework, writing deadlines and technological distraction. So, to that end, I’ve chosen a photograph that I took on one of my walks.”

Don’t forget to download to your desktop the very special wallpaper for the month of May, created from Amy’s photo by Leah Maclean. It truly is an oasis of calm!

OK, that’s enough from me – why not pop on over and check out The Calm Space May edition for yourself?

Marc and Amy join contributors Joanna Young, Leah Maclean, Chris Owen, Angela Esnouf, Annie Hutton, Marjorie Lim (and yours truly: ). We all write for The Calm Space, an online magazine that’s like a virtual day-spa for your senses…

Passion is our theme for April at The Calm Space.

I’ve had a couple of funny looks from people when I mention it. Passion? Calm Space? It doesn’t really ‘go‘ does it?

Here’s why it does…

We’re all passionate women who write for The Calm Space (soon to be men too!). And I believe passion is what gives you energy, it is what gets you out of bed each morning.

A passionate life is a life full of energy, movement, light and colour. That is living.

Being calm isn’t about being dull or lifeless. And it’s definitely not about sitting in a trance all day long.

Being calm is about remaining at peace with our life, no matter the busyness and chaos that surrounds us. It’s about not getting so caught up in all we have to do, chores, goals and to-do lists, that we forget to live. It’s about being happy, most of the time. It’s about coping – or doing even better than ‘coping’.

And passion, glorious passion, is one of the ways in which we can make our life worth living. It adds spice, it fills our tank, it makes us more attractive and good to be around.

Do you think passion fits at The Calm Space?

Send us your answers: one line (50 words max), a photo, a link to a move clip or a piece of music…

Or leave us a comment at The Challenge Space (or both).

Are you in?