A Handful of Happiness.

Dreaming of Adventure!

A Blessed Balcony.

So since my last post, my life has taken a massive turn! What I expected to be a "360 turn for the worst" actually became more like a "pirouette!" I guess I need to give you some background details for you to understand how this turn came about.

After arriving home from my trip in the USA, I had this uncontrollable and indescribable yearning for travel and adventure. Not the usual 'travel bug' that most people catch when spending time abroad- but more like a feeling of loss. The connection I had with the States was a very unexpected but incredible love affair- and I knew in my heart I had to get back there and ASAP! It was this feeling of restlessness that led me to the first turn... I broke up with my boyfriend of ten years. Not because I didn't love him anymore but because we were just in different places in our lives, wanting different things. I don't really want to go into it too much, but this massive decision that sparked my leap of faith was the start of my new beginning. 

Just after this, my life turned again and I moved out of the first house we had bought together and I moved into a cute and quaint LITTLE apartment with very little wardrobe space, a tiny living area but a balcony and view to die for. I truly believe that this balcony has changed my life! Not only was I exceptionally lucky to be given this rental, having no previous rental history and wanting to move in within days, but from this balcony my mindset was changed. Positivity is the only option. When my life had been turned upside down and I should have been miserable, I felt this sudden weight lift from my shoulders and endless sunshine. Everyone that comes to visit is taken away by the views overlooking the marina, dolphins playing below and breathtaking views to the ocean. It is from here that I'm writing this blog! 

I turned again, in changing my position at school from a regular classroom teacher of grade seven, to being the health and physical education coordinator- and I love it! It's demanding and challenging and requires 110% energy and enthusiasm everyday but it keeps me for, healthy and sane! I love my job completely and it makes me who I am. It is without a doubt one of the best things in my life.

And the final turn was just recently when I crashed my car. I went up the back of a 4WD who braked too suddenly. I smashed my knee, nose and hips and my car is a total write off. But- everything that happened was the best of what it could have been. People helped me move my car, swept up the bits on the road, called me a tow truck and mum and dad came to get me... Just a so happened that dad had the day off to go to the dentist! Got checked over by the odd an so have no real damage- nothing that ice and rest won't fix! How lucky am I to have everything go my way, even in these hard times?

I can't help but believe that everything happens for a reason. My strength and positivity is being tested at the moment- but in no way am I disheartened. In fact, it's fuel for me to lift and rise above. I am here, I am alive and I am destined for something bigger than what is at the moment.

So I guess I've done a full turn...a spin...a rotation... a pirouette, if you will, but not in the fact that I'm back to the start. I've done a full turn and ended up at the start of something new, something exciting and something completely mine. 

I know I'm not finished spinning just yet and I'm loving being caught up in this twister! 

A STANDING OVATION!

STAND UP EXPERIENCE.

The end of the year is coming around so quickly... where did 2013 go? 

Can you believe it's only 19 days until I go to the USA for a White Christmas? Road trip along Route 66? Fly over the Grand Canyon? Go skiing in Tahoe? Swim with the dolphins in Orlando? Finally go to Disneyland? Have a snowball fight and make a snowman? 

I am so super prepared for my holiday as I've been colour coding my ever growing bucket list! Pink highlighter is what I've already done (Climb the Eiffel Tower, Cruise in a Gondola in Venice, raise $10,000 for the Cancer Council etc) and yellow highlighter is what I am to cross off this year- all of what was mentioned earlier is on my list and I can't wait to finally highlight them in pink!

However, when reassessing my bucket list and what I have crossed off this year- I decided not to wait until I go away to start making more "pink" parts. Why let perfect opportunities pass me by?

Last weekend I went camping with good friends of mine where I crossed off: sleeping under the stars/ going 4WDing/ camping etc. 

This weekend, I crossed off Paddle boarding! 

A spontaneous text message from a new friend came at the perfect time- I had zero plans, the sun was shining and I was determined to make the weekend count. So Scott and I headed to the Marina to try out the new craze of Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP).

We hired two boards from the cutest and most caring couple from Mandurah Stand Up Paddle Hire! Never heard of it? Don't feel bad- neither had we- they've only been here for a week! Admittedly, I was feeling really nervous about trying something new, but our new friends made us feel so very welcome and safe, offering us so much useful advice and many tips on how to get the most out of our SUP experience. I was reassured that of all the people who have hired the boards, only 3 or 4 people had actually fallen off! That was good enough for me, how hard could it be?

After learning all the tricks of the trade and trying our new boards for size, Scott and I started off on our adventure. Did we stand? YEAH WE DID! We cruised around, finding our balance and trialling using the paddle to turn. This is where it went downhill! So... I was nearing the jetty, couldn't master the turn and yerp... FELL OFF, grazed my knee on the barnacles, laughed so hard I couldn't even pull myself up haha. I am part of the minority- lucky number 5 to have fallen in!

But, I got straight back onto the board and continued to love it! Scott was a total show off, zooming past me, circling me, challenging me to a race even! After telling our new friends about my fall, they offered even more coaching to help me master the turn. They were ever so patient and encouraging and made our first experience on the boards so unreal! 

Thanks Mandurah Stand Up Paddle Hire for making our afternoon so perfect! I would most certainly recommend everyone, of any age and of any fitness level, to come and try out stand up paddle boarding and what better way that with an unreal company who offer unlimited advice, friendly service, EFTPOS facilities, laughter and great memories (mine in the form of a scar on my knee- hehe)

Check them out at:

https://www.facebook.com/mandurahsup 

We are so glad that we came across your van and we look forward to many more adventures with you throughout the summer. 

(My mission is to make Scott fall in while I zoom by, making circles around him!)

Queen B.