Category: Inspiration

Divorce… No! But murder…. Yes??!!

Posted on Categories Inspiration, Life skills, Power of Language, work-life balance, Working mum

At their 50th wedding anniversary, the minister asked: “Did you ever consider divorce? No, they answered, but murder!!”. It may be a Danish myth. It rings true though. An elderly couple shared with me recently how they had had a couple of tough months, not understanding each other, feeling lonely. It’s fascinating, isn’t it? No matter how much we try, it’s an everlasting journey to understand each other. When was the last time you said something (SO clearly), and the other party totally didn’t get it??!! It drives you mad, right? Especially in relationships, we fall in love with this amazing human, opposite to ourselves in many ways. The yin to the yang. We fall in love with the stretch, the things we want to become. So instead of thinking how you CANNOT do another day of this, decide to shift. Not your partner, but your mindset. To what you originally was fascinated by. To how you yourself want to talk, think and act. NOT how you would like the other to talk, think and act (arghhh….. bummer!). Start changing yourself, and you will see the ripples. I’m teaching behavioural profiles at the moment – your DISC, Myers Briggs and … More Divorce… No! But murder…. Yes??!! »

‘Cuse me – is that lipstick on your teeth!??!

Posted on Categories Health, Inspiration, Life skills, Power of Language, work-life balance, Working mum

Is it just me seeing the bit of food on your nose or the lipstick on your front tooth? I know I’m definitely one of the few ones to point it out! Why don’t people say it? Yes, it’s a bit awkward. Having to pause the other person. Looking at them until they are sure it’s gone. Is it because you fear the ultimate – that it was NOT food but a permanent skin problem?? Or that the lipstick is one of those permanent ones, so that it becomes a 10 minute struggle to get it off? Whatever the reason is, get over yourself! If YOU think it is embarrassing pointing it out, then think of THEM two hours later, looking themselves in the mirror and realising they have spoken to dozens of people over the last hours with whipped CREAM on their nose??!! THAT is embarrassing! So be the trusted one. Dare to help others, even – or especially – when risking to make a fool of yourself. The shared fight of eating finger food gracefully in public, while making conversation and holding a glass. That’s what you can have a laugh about together, the dropped meat ball is … More ‘Cuse me – is that lipstick on your teeth!??! »

50 Shades of Green (!?)

Posted on Categories Health, Inspiration, Life skills, work-life balance, Working mum

I have not read the books or watched to movie! What does that say about me? Don’t know, don’t care. But I know that on my weekend bush run, getting all thoughts filtered, enjoying nature, watching a butterfly for 5 minutes and talking to a wallaby, I sharpen my senses. When I get to my halfway point, a stone bench with a beautiful view, I see everything much clearer!!! Every shade of green in the leaves. The way the light reflects, the way the leaves move, the way the colours change intensity. I see every shade – and many more than 50! Thank you nature. Why all the fuss about so many shades of Grey, when you can enjoy hundreds of shades of Green right at your doorstep – with pure pleasure. What if sensuality, sensing and having an acute awareness of the things around you, the textures and colours, the light and the shade, would bring you hours of joy? And imagine to share that experience, like a good book, when you describe it to someone else, when you frame that picture in your mind – or when you bring a friend along for your bush walk next time. … More 50 Shades of Green (!?) »

FUN – is that really necessary??!?

Posted on Categories Health, Inspiration, Life skills, Power of Language, work-life balance, Working mum

Making a mess. Not doing what you were supposed to do today. Goofing around. That would have been IMPOSSIBLE for me just years ago. Diligent, driven, serious, orderly, reliable. That was me. That still IS me – now with fun added on top. Either you’re the joker, the “no worries, mate” type that don’t get around to anything you promised yourself or anyone else. Or you’re the perfectionist, delivering on time, double-checking every possible thing that could go wrong. How come so many of us jump in one of these camps? What if we could deliver, be accountable AND do it with the attitude of the nonchalant hedonist???!!! How good would that be? So join me on this mission: take your responsibilities seriously. Do what you promise yourself and others. And do it with a smile. With ease and lightness. Add some fun and laughter. Your worries, tight shoulders, shallow breathing (or nearly no breathing), stressed expression and walk-as-if-you-are-already-late-for-everything-today. Have a guess: do they IMPROVE your chances of doing a great job or DETRACT? Play with me this week: all the same stresses and triggers will hit you, exactly like they did last week and the week before. The difference … More FUN – is that really necessary??!? »

What’s worst: lying to others or to yourself??

Posted on Categories Health, Inspiration, Life skills, Power of Language, work-life balance, Working mum

We have a quote from my father-in-law: you can lie to others, but not to yourself (in Danish ‘Man kan lyve for alle andre, men ikke for sig selv’). It made me wonder, what’s worst: lying to others or to yourself? Or lying full stop? My family upbringing was more around total honesty and not lying to anyone at all – but with life experience I realise that we do lie. Small white lies to not upset people, and for some people they live their life on big lies. Others are very aware of being honest and prudent to others – but lie to their true self by not listening and standing up for themselves and what is important to them. I guess the meaning of his quote is that we deep down know what’s right for us, and that we get hints when we’re not living to our own values and purpose. The other side of the coin of honesty versus lies is that when we are honest, we can hurt people as well, so is that actually better than lying??? I have given more than my fair share of hurt through being honest and not being able to … More What’s worst: lying to others or to yourself?? »

Throwing away that old coat – off you go!

Posted on Categories Health, Inspiration, Life skills, work-life balance, Working mum

When was the last time you decluttered? Had a GOOD look at all the stuff you have gathered? And then ACTIONED??? Well, we decluttered under the house yesterday, and except for a lower back reaction (forgot that it’s bad style bending over boxes all day), it was liberating. Making decisions, loving the great memories and still letting go of some of it. Niiiiice. What are you ready to let go of? The change of season is a good reason to go through your clothes. What haven’t you used since last year (or the year before… or they year before that… or…. you get the point)? You probably do like me and most others: use the same 20% of your wardrobe week in and out. Why hang on to the 80%? And what about that old, worn coat that you love so dearly, but where the cuffs are dingy and not really suited for the public eye anymore????? How come we hold on so dearly, when we KNOW that the best before date has been passed….. ages ago…? Do you have any self-beliefs that are like that (good?) old coat? Where you know you are ready to move on and start … More Throwing away that old coat – off you go! »

Me – masculine??!!! That wasn’t the goal…

Posted on Categories Health, Inspiration, Life skills, work-life balance, Working mum

What’s YOUR percentage split of masculine versus feminine energy? Because we DO have both, you know? John Gray did the world a lot of good with his “Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus”, it does explain a LOT around how to understand each other better and live together in a more fruitful way. So if you haven’t already, read it. Just like anyone working or living with Greeks should watch “My big fat Greek wedding”… Anyway, side note. When we go to next level and see behind our “labels”, there is a delicate balance of masculine AND feminine energies in us all, not gender specific. It is very helpful to know your dominant energy – and be aware of where you have some learning to do still. The good old “How opposite forces are complementary”…?!! The more you can pull out and use from BOTH energy sides of yourself, the more balanced you will be, the more success you will find, and the more results you will create with ALL types of humans (probably animals as well, who knows?!). For many years I treasured my drive, my freedom, my letting go, my independence, my power and all … More Me – masculine??!!! That wasn’t the goal… »

The Pose of the Pizza

Posted on Categories Health, Inspiration, Life skills, Power of Language, work-life balance, Working mum

I’ve been so tired the last few days. Exhausted really, heavy like an elephant. Luckily it tipped over into laughter and crazy stuff Friday night, because I just kept looking at the whole situation with curiosity and a hint of craziness. Which let to The pose of the Pizza, which will forever live in our family consciousness…. My daughter and I have done yoga over the last 5 months or so, I still mix up the names of the poses, while thoroughly enjoying actually doing them. Sometimes my brain simply picks a word from a wrong drawer. And great humour for me often comes from mixing and mashing stuff that does NOT fit together at all – which led to this delicate pose with a pizza box balancing on the back of my head. Health pose versus Junk food. Gracious. Not. Funny. YES. Tears running down our cheeks, hick ups and smudged mascara all over the place. THAT cured my heaviness. So: with the words of Richard Carlson “Don’t sweat the small stuff – and it’s all small stuff”. When it all looks too hard, have a laugh with yourself (especially if no-one else is around, even more reason to … More The Pose of the Pizza »

Show me your standards (my what??!!)

Posted on Categories Health, Inspiration, Life skills, work-life balance, Working mum

Show me your goals and I’ll know your dreams. Show me your standards and I’ll know your success. That sounds serious, ooooh, standards, do I really need them?? Well up to you. If you want results in your life – set your standards. What you will repeatedly do. Today I treasure my morning jog and the weekend run into the bush. 10 years ago I was the one looking at the joggers with disbelief. Then a colleague challenged a group of us to sign up for a 21K run. Never having jogged before, I needed a plan. Started with 1 minute of walking, 1 minute jogging, 1 minute of walking… Around the block. After a few months, I decided to not do the 21K, signed up for the 5K instead – and I have never stopped jogging since! Thank you colleague! In which one area of your life are you ready to set a new standard, start a new ritual? Knowing that a little change today, carried out sustainably, will result in a fantastic change over a year, 5 years, 10 years and become one of your loved rituals. Choose a tiny one to start off with, please make it … More Show me your standards (my what??!!) »

Who says carrots are not a meal??

Posted on Categories Health, Inspiration, Life skills, work-life balance, Working mum

One of our daughters is at a Steiner school with lovely kids, teachers and parents, and as we were helping out with props and sewing today for the upcoming musical, I found myself out of my league during the lunch break. Homemade lentil soups, salads and talk about foods I don’t even know the existence of, and there I was with my (alufoil wrapped – oh noooooo) sandwich with cheese and vacuum packed ham, drinking water out of a reused PET bottle. Hahaaaaaa – they may not even have noticed, but I suddenly got another benchmark for living a life with healthy food. A year ago, I would have had been even further out of league – but luckily, I found “Hellofresh” last year, and our (eating) life has never been the same since. Beautiful fresh ingredients in exact amounts, recipe steps to follow and therefore a fully risk free dive into cooking healthy, awesome looking, culturally diverse dinners with the family. The kids take turns on the cooking team, chopping away all the exotic vegetables we couldn’t have recognised if it wasn’t for the pictures on the recipes – and those not on the cooking roster automatically clean up … More Who says carrots are not a meal?? »