Adventure time...

I had quite the weekend bloggers, I accompanied 28 children from my schools (ages 9-10) on an adventure weekend. The children loved it and it was so good to see then all work together and push themselves out of their comfort zone. 

However, it was not just the kids who pushed themselves. I also pushed myself to the limit and way out of my comfort zone. I decided to just go for it with the activities and spurred on by the support of the kids I took part in all activities. 

It is amazing the way adrenaline affects your body. Personally, I would never say I'm scared of heights but put me in a harness and ask me to jump off something high I kinda freeze. I went on the zip wire and couldn't believe the way my body reacted. From the beginning of deciding I would do it, my body started to protest. I began to find breathing slightly harder and my body would not settle. Pacing is the word which would've described me best. As I got fastened into my harness I began to feel the need to talk lots and look at where I was about throw myself off. I then had to make my way up the inside of the tower which was another test as I had to ascend grate stairs. By the time I reached the top I was physically shaking. The only thing which calmed me down was to comfort and support a child who had been overcome and would not do the zip wire. 

Then I stepped up to the top and couldn't look. With coaxing from the instructor I slowly edged towards the end - backwards. I had decided that backwards would be a lot less frightening. As it were it was still pretty scary. But, when I fell/walked off I loved it. I felt so exhilarated, I could have zipped around all day. I absolutely loved it. Above all I felt like I had achieved something. Did I overcome a fear? No, but I did push myself to the up most limit from my zone. I also participated in a number of other 'extreme' activities which gave me that same feeling.

I managed to leave not only having had a great time but feeling like I'd achieved something in myself. Obviously we supported the children but there was also staff bonding to be had. My colleagues are great people and I definitely had fun. It was just the kinda weekend I needed.

Have you ever pushed yourself to do something which quite frankly pushed you to your limit?

Quote of the day Monday...

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”

Marilyn Monroe

Missy Twitter

So I began to write...

Lately I have sat down numerous times to try writing a post with some idea I had and I have never been able to finish it. I have saved drafts, thoughts in my head but no posts. I began to worry... of course this is not how I wanted to end up. A long blog block! Then last night I felt like writing in my journal and I did just that...wrote and wrote and then...wrote some more. It then occurred to me, that's what I should do here. I have always wrote what was on my mind and how I felt but that seems to have been forgotten. 

So I have sat down, ready to write for you all. 

I had a mini freak out last night because guess what - we're nearly half way through the year. Yep folks, it's coming up to June. Can you believe it? I  am truly shocked to feel like my life has just passed me by in a blur since New Year.

If you're a reader, then you know that New Year is not my favourite time and I don't make resolutions. That aside, I felt like this year was going to be good. Don't ask why, I just felt it. Well that didn't happen. Since January I have had a huge, life changing moment. As you know my brother was diagnosed with cancer. This has been a pretty hard pill to swallow. Never did I think my world would be turned upside down like this. I always thought I was a strong person but this was different, I have had to dig so deep to find strength some days. I have felt that I wasn't deserving of being happy because surely that's not fair when he is suffering? To say everything has passed so fast since finding this out until now is an understatement. I have suddenly came back into life and I've lost a good few months. I am now feeling hardened to the word cancer and dealing with things in a much more logical manner. My brother is progressing well and hopefully we shall get some good news in July to allow his to keep the same chemo treatment. If not then that bridge will be crossed when needed.

Last year, I discussed the idea of past being in the past and I decided to leave the past right there. Why is this important now? Well, this did not last, I didn't encounter my past in the way I thought I may have, but I did indeed end up back in contact. Since then things have been strange I guess. When someone from the past comes back inevitably you expect them to be the same but this person wasn't. I was very cautious and still am. As of late this person seemed to go through a phase which I didn't appreciate. I felt like I was giving and getting little back. Maybe last year or the year before that I'd have allowed this but this time I didn't. I did what I have always been unable to do and that was set some boundaries. I had a moment of feeling so proud of how I handled the situation and the response was that of respect and things have changed. It's left me thinking that I wish I'd found this back then. This change has been coming since I went away alone last year and is slowly developing. With other factors in my life as well as this, I am changing into a much stronger version of myself. 

As much as I feel this year has flown by in a blur, I feel thankful for the way it has shaped me. I am the same as I always have been but with a strength I never knew I had. What could be bad about that?

Summertime Adventure plans...

I have had a lot to think about the past few months (thank you for being a crappy year so far 2012) and one of my main thoughts is what it would feel like to regret not visiting the world. Due to my job as a teacher, I am somewhat restricted to when I can go on holiday to new places. However, when I am on a break, I am very lucky to have a lot of time. In the Summer, I have 6 weeks free...I know, teachers ey?

Last summer, if you remember, I did a tour and travelled around the East coast and into Canada and I loved every minute of it. It had been the first time I'd done something like that and I also did it all by myself. It was definitely one of the best experiences I have ever encountered, not only for travel but also for my own self discovery. It is amazing what endless hours on a coach and an array of different cities can do for you. 

This year, I was planning to meet a friend from Australia (who I met last year travelling) in the States for a bit of a journey but due to work restrictions was unable to get full time off. So, she offered me to  go stay with her in Australia and use hers a base to travel round East and South coast of Australia. Yep, you heard right, Australia!! Not only Australia....no, how about a MONTH in Australia!

G'day OZ...Nice to meet you

I don't know why but I had to think about it a little bit as I love America and the thought I wouldn't see new places there in the Summer made me a bit unsure. I thought carefully about things and thought why not. I not only get to see a (hopefully) fantastic country but I get to see one of my best friends. Surely there is no downside to that?

As I am dealing with the illness of my brother and whether chemotherapy is going to have it's intended effect, I have been doing lots of searching into myself. That I will leave for another day, I will say though that it is making me so much more aware of the chances all around me which are there to be taken. You never know when you could be sitting, being forced to look back over your life and evaluate. I want to look back and maybe think certain choices were bad/good but never look back and think what if. 

I will be updating you guys soon on my plans for while I'm there, for which there's many. I also have so many thoughts on life which I will be sharing very soon.

Do you have any exciting plans for your summer?