Palm trees and margaritas
(empowered living)

Hi there.

Let there be no doubt about my love of palm trees and margaritas – the real and the virtual – but I also truly love all of the seasonal weather where I live in Melbourne, Australia. I love the beach in summer, the crispness of the air in autumn, rugging up in winter and the blue skies and the sense of starting anew of spring. Autumn is officially leaving us in a few days, making way for a few months of bliss. It’s cashmere season.

I love wearing cashmere so much I started a business selling it (http://www.pashbaby.com/) It is so light and soft and makes you – somehow magically – just as warm as you need to be. I drape myself in a pashmina for work outside of the office, for keeping me warm at my desk, sitting up in bed reading, lying on the couch watching TV.

I truly believe that the best, most luxurious things we own should be used everyday and enjoyed. If not for now, then when? If not for us, then who?

‘Palm trees and margaritas’, the newsletter, is about life, the universe and what really matters. None of us knows how our life will unfold so as much as we are in control, empowered living means making sure there is time in our lives for palm trees and margaritas*, however we define them.

It aims to give you five minutes of reflective reading time on the last Friday of each month.

How was your month?

 

 

Karen Morath
karen@mpowercct.com
www.palmtreesandmargaritas.com
May 2007

TIPS

  1. Buy the best you can afford of whatever you need and use it and enjoy it every day.
  2. There are only two sorts of problems – real ones and those money can fix.
  3. Streamline your personal luggage. Pack one handbag or brief case for the working week with only what you will need and repack it (or change bags) to meet the needs of the next week. Most of us cart around more stuff than we need and it gets in the way of the stuff we do actually need.
  4. Don’t use more than one diary – using the work electronic one, the kitchen calendar for family events and the pocket paper diary for personal appointments doesn’t work. You only have one life. Only use one diary.
  5. Buy one of the ‘1000 things to do/read/experience/see before you die’ books that matches your interests and make time with family or friends to cross them off as you do/read/experience/see them together.
  6. Ask yourself why you are doing what you are doing. What are you trying to make happen?

 

TO ENJOY LIST

 

There were quite a few suggestions from readers this month about things ‘to enjoy’ (there’s another tip – if you want something, ask for it). Thanks to everyone who responded and here is a selection of them and please keep them coming. More next issue.

Reader Carolyn recommends the humble board game. “On the weekend I played boardgames with adult friends. Haven’t done it for a long time except the odd game of snakes and ladders with a 6 year old who thinks I can’t count. Funny in its own way but not overly stimulating as far as the game goes. The time spent with the child however is an entirely different story – I love it.

My weekend though was great fun, big laughs, loads of animated 30 something people (we can all be so reserved can’t we?) and the oooohs in unison as a dice was thrown! It reminded me of being a kid, 5 hours literally disappeared and then we all made a dinner together.”

Reader Sheryl recommends the cooking classes at the Sydney fish markets.

Reader Sam agrees with my recommendation in a previous issue of Joan Didion’s book ‘The Year of Magical Thinking’ and I notice it is now a Broadway play. That would be something ‘to enjoy’ as well I am sure.

 

STORIES

 

1. I recently read Frances Mayes’ travel memoir ‘A Year in the World’ (Bantam, 2006). I was enchanted by her writing and her view of the world while I was still reading the preface that explains her decision to leave a tenured academic job to travel and write for a year.

“A series of events sharpened my sense of carpe diem, making me edgy to go. First a friend’s heart attack, then my mother’s death, then the stunning horror of breast cancer in nine, nine, of my closest friends. Two died. Other less drastic forces began to press. Teaching often swamped my writing. I longed for time. Unscheduled time, dream time, quiet time. Not just summers, when it took a month to recover from the exhausting academic year. Quit, I thought.”

2. I am truly blessed to be the mother of three spectacular young humans. They are all very funny and make me laugh daily while frustrating and/or challenging me every other day. It is a very noisy household and one where as my children get older and become so wise, I am conscious that the balance of power is delicate and that sometimes (often times?) it is not in my hands. I was going out to a speaking gig one night this month and said “bye darling” to my 14 year old son. “Own your speech, Mum. You’ll be great,” he replied.

 

READER STORIES

 

It was great to hear that reader Tom was inspired by reader Nadine’s story last issue that he decided to have a stopover in New York on his way home to Australia after business in the states. It was a matter of ‘getting to’ not ‘having to’ and he was glad he did.

In response to the tip last issue to change colognes or nail polish colours, reader Derek said - “When the cologne I had used for more than 20 years (Aramis 900)became unavailable in Australia, I spent several weeks in various stories trying all of the available colognes. I found one I liked and spent $400 on cologne, talc, shaving cream and so on. After the first day of using it, I arrived home late from work and collapsed into bed. Next morning my wife Joie exclaimed 'you're wearing a new cologne.' I said yes, and told her why. She replied 'after twenty years its like sleeping with another man!' When I got home that night, the entire $400 worth of new smells was in the garbage and on my desk was an online receipt for Aramis 900 that Joie had sourced in USA. It arrived two days later and I have been using it and reordering from USA ever since.”

 

REFLECTIONS

 

1. If we lose our identity or our sense of our self, where does it go? Perhaps more importantly, how do we get it back?

2. Have we ‘arrived’ as mothers if we see the Mothers’ Day ads on TV and think we would actually like new slippers as a gift or if we feel moved by the latest ‘Mum will love it’ CD? Or have our perspectives just changed with a little age?

 

 

 

Copyright 2007.  Karen Morath

Karen Morath is a consultant, speaker and writer.  Her company M Power works with individuals and organisations to devise empowering communication strategies.  Visit www.communicationempowers.com or there’s something to see at www.palmtreesandmargaritas.com

To book Karen to speak on ‘Life can’t be all palm trees and margaritas, but there are worse game plans’ at your next event, you can email her at karen@mpowercct.com or telephone in Australia 03 9817 4111.

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