Wednesday 19 February 2014

Reading and the Power of Words

The past week I have been a bit down on myself, not the happy chirpy person who annoyingly giggles at silly things.
Knowing the main reason behind this 'mood swing' is that I am lacking something to do, it starts out as boredom then progresses into a bizarre place where I lack all motivation for anything.

Today I decided to clean out my bookshelf, I came across a book I had completely forgotten I had bought. "What your Mother should have told you - Natalie Reilly"



The first section of the book is titled 'How to be Happy' - how fitting for the way I was feeling, as you progress further into the pages riddled in advice which contains a witty prose and funny relatable antidotes my mood completely shifted back into some what of a normal state.

Moral of the story, feeling down? Pick up a well written funny book and have a laugh. Reading transports you to a different world, removes you from feeling sorry for yourself and might just bring your icy attitude  back up to at least a luke warm temperature.


 

Sunday 2 February 2014

Filofax 'My Week' - January Edition

It has been a looong time since I blogged what my week looked like in my Filofax, so instead of boring you to death, I thought I would just show you how I've been using my kikki k pages, and decorating with some new washi I have acquired.

Love these post it notes, which were sent to me via the secret santa RAK on the AUS and NZ Filofax Group

This was by far the busiest week I have had in a long time. Can you tell how busy I was by looking at how messy it is?

Here you can see the colour coding tab scheme I sometimes work with - it really worked so well over summer school. I also love love love this washi tape..

Ahh the week before exams! I spent most of it freaking out.

Hellish exam week! Thank goodness it is over!!!

So that's about it, nothing overly exciting, but thought I would just document this while I have no uni work to do, and am spending my first day off holidays catching up on things.
 

Political thought in action


Political thought in action – or ramblings I think it should actually be called.  

The title of this blog post is ‘borrowed’ from a unit I am yet to sit at university, but it does sound intriguing in all dramatic senses right? Lol!

Over the past few months, as I have dragged myself through the torment of reading through countless articles, participated in many political debates via social media and with family and friends my political thoughts have changed to a certain degree, actually maybe evolve is a better word to describe it.

Today I thought I would touch on some of the subconscious underlying things that I believe drives people to political action or at least political thought.  

So how did this blog post come around? Through conversations, reactions, personal belief and experience with a political organisation.

As I am sure you are all aware, I am a member of a rather controversial idealist political party within Australia. In hindsight it is not surprising that they didn’t win a seat, or come close to it technically speaking. Without any real policies, its main candidate is  ‘trapped’ within an embassy overseas in London with a number of government organisations wishing he wasn’t alive. Some have also described it as a ploy to aid its founder out of the tricky situation he is in, but that is a whole other topic within itself.

Let’s go back to one of the key points I have taken away from this experience, that being idealistic is a great spark. What spark did it create? A movement in people. Now it is important to note that by movement, one would assume a huge rally of people, however a movement can actually  be on a personal level.

In my self-help reading book craze, I have come out with the idea that to truly change the world, you need to alter your perception before you have any impact. This leads me to believe that changing the world happens on a personal perception basis, if you can change YOUR view of the world, share this with others on the smallest level you will have an impact on their thoughts, which in turn will affect their lives, they will tell other people, who will tell others, which therefore changes the world.

Sure I would love to inspire people like leaders and public figures have inspired myself, is that always realistic? No.

Am I the next Bono? No. Am I going to be as radical as Julian Assange? I doubt it. Am I going to be the next Jack Mundey? Probably not.

As amazing I think the individuals listed above are, I have come to terms with the fact that I may or may not find myself in situations or have access to the platforms they have created for themselves. Maybe I am, dare I say it a little bit more conventional or even *deep breath* conservative.

No matter what I may be, I have to work with what I have. Which I have only really come to terms with that I can only play the cards I am dealt in life.

Now a lady never reveals her secrets, but in essence what cards do I have in my hand in the game of poker called life?

A critical mind (which is developing more and more each day), a keen sense of learning, a deep dislike for corruption, a belief that injustice in the world needs to rectified, some may say a deep sense of national pride, but above all I am no different to any other person in this world who has a questioning mind in a forever changing and developing world.

If you are reading this and made it through, well done! Gold Star for you.

Thoughts, comments, opinions, book deal offers?