New Year thoughts and BEST recipe!

New habits for a New Year?
It doesn’t have to be a new year, but it can be a good time to adjust your course, get rid of a few habits or clutter, and add what you need or want.  I’ve been spending the first 2 weeks of 2010 at my childhood home, my parents farm, sleeping in my old bedroom, and cooking up a storm (well almost) in my mothers kitchen.  She’s having a love/hate relationship with the results – it’s gluten-free, which suits us both, but she thinks she’s putting on weight while I’m here.  I think it’s a Christmas/New Year concern.  I’ll be back at the gym next week, so I’m not concerned, but one of the recipes is a must-share, and one that I’ll be taking into the year with me as it’s SO easy, and healthy too!
Actually, when it comes to cooking – “easy” is the priority for me.  So the winner is…
from the book “4 Ingredients GLUTEN FREE”
Date Loaf
(a recipe from Mrs Frasier, Raceview QLD)
375g packet of dates
2 tsp instant coffee in 1 Cup boiling water
1 Cup GF self-raising flour
Preheat oven to 160. mix coffee & water, pour over dates and soak overnight. stir in GF flour. pour mixture into a baking paper lined loaf tin, sprinkle with flaked almonds (I used shredded coconut when I ran out of almonds) and bake for 45 mins.
Optional (and I recommend…) serve warm spread with butter.

And while your making the most of the new year, it doesn’t hurt to reflect on the old one – what gems are you bringing with you from 2009? I spent some time going through the questions in my previous blog – and I must say!  I ask some good – and challenging questions!  It took me a few days, but my journal is loaded with insights, and some great ideas I have to implement at the right time.  That’s something else I noticed – I have some great goals, but not the best sense of timing.  I want to do everything NOW, but do see the sense in pacing myself, as well as listening to my husband who has an amazing innate sense of timing.  More insights for another blog – go and try this recipe!  I love that it’s 2 minutes effort after dinner, and about 5 minutes in the morning!

Have a great week!

Love Kerrie

A different perspective on Celebrating…

…when you’re dealing with disappointment when everyone else is celebrating.

Sometimes the year finishes all too soon, with goals incomplete, and disappointments scattered around you like the gift-wrapping after Christmas lunch.

If you’re familiar with my writing or speaking, you know I’m passionate about celebrating.  Reflecting on accomplishments and celebrating learning is incredibly valuable. It’s not always easy, and even more important at these times. I know many people who are completing 2009 with a sense of “Thank God this year is over! I don’t want to think about it again.”

It may have been a really, really tough year, so let’s have a look at what there is to celebrate… come with me on a journey of discovery. (It’s been a tough year for me, but the outcomes are amazing!)

Did you do something for the first time this year?
Did you meet someone new who opened your eyes to new ideas or opportunities?
Did you step outside your comfort zone?  What do you now do, or know, that was once outside of your reach?
Did you set a goal that scared you because it was ‘bigger than ever’?  How did you go?  Whether you reached it yet or not, what did you learn?
What do you now have, or what do you know as a result of tackling this goal?
How did you handle the challenges that came up this year?  (Never mind if it wasn’t as well as you would’ve liked, but did you handle things better than a previous time)

What would the most encouraging, sincere friend be saying to you if you discussed the above with them?

It’s so important to find opportunities to give yourself a pat on the back.  It increases your awareness, expands your creativity and your confidence, and can even increase your energy – how useful is that at this time of year!
If you keep noticing the things you aren’t so proud of, acknowledge them and put them aside… you might need to remind yourself that it’s time to silence the inner critic and see what else is there that the critic has been ignoring.

Personally, I’m really looking forward to a week to reflect on this year, which feels a bit of a haze at the moment as I’m more fatigued than I’ve been for a long time, so I’m going to start by going through my calendar month by month, noting the events.
I know I will realise that I’ve traveled extensively, met amazing people each time that I am grateful to have connected with. Some have been dear friends for a long time, some are new connections.
I know I will find many new experiences, and moments where I jumped out of the comfort zone which resulted in great learning and more opportunities.
I know I’ll find moments where I surprised myself, and insights that will jump off the pages and excite and inspire me.
I know I’ll be grateful for each coaching journey I’ve taken with clients and in awe of the difference it’s made for them.  Actually reading their testimonials speaks volumes to me…

Are you seeing how this could look for you?

What will you do to celebrate your accomplishments – and the fact that you’ve arrived at the end of this year? See yourself crossing the finish line… You made it!!! Well done! Start with the simple things – pen and paper – and go for it!!!

Now go and have a real celebration, no need to put a smile on – the happiness and confidence will come from the inside out!

Cheering you on,
Kerrie

PS.  Please leave a comment with your thoughts, especially if you’d like to be notified when I actually do my list (I know it’s going to take a while!) – I’m happy to share some of it with anyone who would find it useful to see an example.

100 Days of Gratitude – Day 47

So grateful today for some very exciting mail… especially for the sender!  Julie Woods, That Blind Woman, from New Zealand, launched her book recently, and popped a couple in the mail to me.  How exciting! The book covers Julie’s first 10 years of blindness, and explores her learning along the way.

Julie has featured in our newsletter a few times – so this book will come as no surprise to many of my readers.  I’m grateful to Julie for not only sharing the journey of the book with me, as her coach, and now her friend, but I’m grateful that Julie is who she is.  One page will have you laughing hysterically, the next will smack you in the face with profound insights that could just change your life.  One of the key ways Julie has impacted my life is by her incredibly creative approach to problem-solving, and the way she explores the learning in everything she does.  She’s one incredibly inspiring woman with a story worth sharing!

Love Kerrie

Focus on Flourishing

When I hear people talking about how businesses are struggling at the moment, especially when it’s an “all-too-hard” tone of conversation, I just want to say, “STOP!  It’s not all doom and gloom.   I know of businesses that are really flourishing” – so I want to highlight one of them here.

I’ve recently connected with Ellen Bathgate, a very lovely, business savvy, 25 year old, who inspires me in the way she runs her business.  She’s a very practical thinker and creates and follows systems so that she can look after her clients exceptionally well.  She makes her clients feel really valued and makes it so easy for people to do business with her.  What Ellen has learned previously, as an employee in a different industry, she applies in her own business, Rouge Beauty. There’s a valuable point to note right there – success secrets work just about anywhere! (And they’re not really a secret…)

Another thing that makes Ellen successful is that she doesn’t stop learning! We all know that you don’t stop learning when you leave school – although that may have been what you’d hoped – it’s only the beginning! Learning doesn’t have to be as challenging as it may have been at school, it can be an adventure!  (Think of it as discovering useful things, if the word ‘learning’ sends a shudder down your spine.)  Keep making discoveries that help you grow and move forward!

Step outside of your business for a moment, ask for feedback from others, see it from some different angles, and always keep focused on the outcomes you want, not the negativity that is all around.  Look at what’s working, for yourself or others.  What do you do best?  Focus on that and get support from others for the areas you’re not strong in.  Focus on flourishing.

If you are looking for possibilities, you’ll find them.  Be inspired by other people’s success stories and keep believing in your dreams.  As Eleanor Roosevelt stated, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”.

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iphone launch

iphone mania captured me too, I must confess.  I was down at the Network Communications store before 9am to pick up the first of only three allocated to the store… it amazes me that there was such a shortage – maybe someone didn’t realise that there were people like me who suddenly appreciate the best technology. (well, it came to the fore on 3 June – see post “my new mac”)

I watched the iphone guided tour last night in anticipation – it is a really lovely piece of technology… I can’t wait to take some time over the weekend to play.

Here’s a snapshot of the long-awaited moment – Tracie & Nathan have been so helpful!

International Happiness Day

International Happiness Day is today, World Gratitude Day is coming soon… we celebrate Mothers Day, Father’s Day, Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, the list goes on… it’s great that we have these reminders to focus on various themes and appreciate certain people, but we can choose our focus everyday.  

What does International Happiness Day mean for you?  What are the little things you can do to lift your spirits and those around you?  What will you choose to focus on?

Our focus dictates where we go…  this is evident in so many life circumstances, and I’ve seen it illustrated recently in practical areas such as dancing and bike riding… a dear friend fell off her bike this week, and said that she was watching the bumpy spots on the track and suddenly got a close up look at them – with bruises to show for it.  Another friend who dances realised that she was struggling with her turns because she was focusing on her feet.  When she lifted her head and looked up where she’s meant to, her turns became smooth again.

I love that learning – lift your vision and dance beautifully.

Happy International Happiness Day!