Hi there.
‘Palm trees and margaritas’, the newsletter, is about life, the universe and what really matters. If we were to seek to categorise it, ‘Palm trees and margaritas’ is about work/life balance. 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.
If you want some more tips - or have some to share - in between newsletters, check out the ‘palm trees’ blog at http://blog.palmtreesandmargaritas.com
The plan for this newsletter is to give you five minutes of reflection time on the last Friday of each month. And so it is. How was your October? Was there time for 'palm trees and margaritas'?
I love to hear (and publish) your stories of how you are living your life. Please get in touch and share yours.
If you live in Melbourne, or want to fly in for the occasion!, and would like to be sent an invitation to the launch of my book ‘Palm Trees and Margaritas’ later in the year, please send your name, email and postal address to us here.
Watch this space for details of the book and see the reminder about Christmas shopping below!
All the best
Karen Morath
karen@mpowercct.com
www.palmtreesandmargaritas.com
October 2007
* Life can’t be all palm trees and margaritas, but there are worse game plans.
TIPS
1. If you store your photos on your computer, print some favourites and put them up around your house or office. They are guaranteed smile-makers. Just inside my front door at home, I have a framed pic of my kids standing in torrential rain, drenched and grinning. I just love how it makes me feel when I go in and out my front door.
2. “Any day we wish, we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish, we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish, we can start a new activity. Any day we wish, we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.” Jim Rohn
3. If you haven’t started Christmas shopping yet……55 shopping days to go. (see reader story below!)
TO ENJOY LIST
Here are some things readers have recommended for others ‘to enjoy’.
1. The Melbourne Age’s new travel section – on Saturdays.
2. The Sideshow, Saturday nights on ABC TV. Did anyone see Eddie Perfect’s song that positioned Kevin Rudd as John Howard 2.0?
3. www.strawberrynet.com (for cosmetics)
4. The Flinders Ranges
5. Hairspray – the movie
6. The cello
Please send your tips for things for others ‘to enjoy’ to me here.
STORIES
1. Reader Leah has a great idea for gift giving.
“This year I’ve started using the internet to buy friends and family a different kind of Christmas gift. Last year my niece got 10 Bratz dolls for Christmas (several were ones that she already had). This year we’re giving her a donation in her name to Australia Zoo’s Tiger Conservation Project because she loves tigers. Charity donations are the ideal gift for the person who has everything or is hard to buy for and gets back to the true spirit of Christmas – giving, sharing and helping others. It's also the gift that keeps on giving as it saves the giver battling the shopping centre crowds and charity donations are a tax deduction.
You can visit your favourite charity’s website or these websites that I like:
At Rainforest Rescue you can buy gift cards from $20 to $1000 value to protect areas of the Daintree or the Choco-Andean Corridor Project in Ecuador or to plant a rainforest tree and they can send the gift cards directly to the recipient if you like.
For $45 Greenfleet will plant 17 native trees to offset a car’s carbon emissions for one year. The gift certificate can be sent directly to the recipient if you like.
At the Australia Zoo website you can adopt an animal from $50 or make a donation of any amount to the Australian Wildlife Hospital or wildlife conservation programs in Australia, Asia and Africa.”
2. I love this Japanese proverb I discovered recently. 'Fall down seven times, get up eight.' It is really what it is all about, isn’t it? Keep on keeping on. Maybe tomorrow. Somewhere over the rainbow.
The ‘Palm trees and margaritas’ philosophy isn’t just about lying on a beach drinking cocktails (not that there’s anything wrong with that!) or being grateful for a great life or seizing the day. All worthwhile pursuits however.
It’s about trying to live a big life and that doesn’t just happen by itself. It requires a decision to do it, focus and continued effort. Depending on our personality type, or the day or maybe just whether or not we’re a morning person, it can seem harder than it’s worth.
Who wants a big life, however you define it, when it’s easier just to get back on the couch?
Fall down seven times, get up eight indeed.
REFLECTIONS
1. Is it as relevant and useful to work out what you don’t want as it is to work out what you do want?
2. How old is too young to fancy a sherry?