I, like many others seem to, love a good list! Y’know like the ones you see in the newspaper at the end of the year.
I was inspired to create one for myself having seen a friend’s list on Facebook this week. With so much drama, fear-mongering and negativity about, I think it’s really important to take time to reflect on and appreciate things that make us happy.
Without further ado, and in no particular order here’s my list of 17 things I’ve loved in 2017
Jane Goodall’s visit to Sumner School
To have the privilege of being in the presence of one of your childhood inspirations, someone who has lived her life with passion on a road less travelled in dedication to what she really believes in. What can I say but wow. She held everyone in the room in the palm of her hand and her positive, forward-looking environmental messages were empowering and hopeful for both children and adults. A highlight of my year.
Libraries
I could express my gratitude for libraries every year, that’s how much I have loved them all my life. I still marvel that there are places you can go where everyone is welcome, it’s safe and provides access to a seemingly infinite array of FREE educational and entertainment resources. You could learn about anything or follow your curiosity anywhere.
Strengths Profile
One of the tools I have love, love, loved using with my clients this year is the Strengths Profile. Developed by the Centre for Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) in the UK, it gives people a window into not only what they’re naturally good at, but also what energises them and what they’re actually using. You might have energising strengths that you’re not the slightest bit aware of – how incredible it is to unearth and tap into those! On the personal side, it’s an amazing tool for self-awareness, wellbeing, energy and confidence. In organisations it enhances relationships and communication as well as improving performance and engagement. Fun to do, enlightening and powerful.
Environmental awareness
Something that I’ve been excited about this year is noticing a growing awareness of, more conversations about and more actions taken to reduce our impact on the environment. Inspired by one of my friends, I took the plastic bag-free July challenge and just decided to keep going now that I have a simple bagging system. Really, all it takes is awareness and then just doing something. Part of me despairs that it takes “stick” such as Countdown and New World banning the bag to make people make change (and why do we need a year’s notice?!) the other part of me is heartened by others being more “carrot” in their approach by reducing their impact. Committing to buy less, eat less meat – there’s so much we can do.
More green shoots in Christchurch
It’s certainly been a long time coming, but as they say in the Mainland cheese ads “good things take time”. Little High, The Origin café, The Monday Room – just a few of my new fave eating places. I’ve been loving the street art that just keeps popping up all over the city. Colour, quirk, vibrancy and hope.
Tim Ferriss’s podcasts
How to learn even faster? Benefit from the wisdom of others. Tim interviews a really diverse mixture of high performers and quizzes them to find out their habits and key success messages. I really enjoy his casual and irreverent style and some of the podcasts are gold. No such thing as a dull commute when you can enjoy TrafficU!
Wildlife and Nature TV shows
Planet Earth, Blue Planet and Human Planet. Our family’s Sunday night ritual. Awe-inspiring filming and commentary to give us a glimpse of our beautiful earth. And there’s something so soothing, wise and timeless about David Attenborough’s voice.
Colabs
Where would I be without my professional network?! I’m so grateful for the many people I get to share ideas with and learn from. For me 1 + 1 is potentially infinite and it’s one of the things I live and breathe for. Among other things I’m hatching for 2018 – a career-coaching meets personal coaching workbook for 16-22 year olds collaboration with a well-known Christchurch-based artist. Can’t wait to bring this to life!
Great books
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert made a big impression on me in 2017. Not surprisingly, I read a lot of personal development books, many filled with fluff, so it takes a lot to impress me now and both of these have become embedded in my thinking and actions. Daring Greatly deals with overcoming shame and embracing your vulnerability to be more authentically who you are, and in the process creating better connections with others too. Big Magic is all about creativity and taking the breaks off perfectionism and doubt to express what is in you. Highly recommended.
Reconnecting with friends
I was fortunate to get back to my old hood in Sydney in November for the first time in 4 years. Fantastic to catch up with so many great people in one of my most favourite places! Priceless experiences.
Creatives
It really brings so much to my life to see what other people put out into the world. Art of any kind, music, beautiful food, a smart new product that enhances our world. Things to help make our human experience better, brighter and more beautiful. I so appreciate it.
Seeing my kids focus and develop
Although I am an incredibly proud mum, it’s not my style to post too much about my kids’ achievements on social media. What particularly makes me proud is when they go for something and work hard for it. As my 12 year old son has taken to saying: “do the mahi (work) get the treats”. They don’t always get the result or the accolade, but I know that it’s getting in the habit of going for it that will stand them in great stead as they grow up and head out into the world. And some of the most powerful learning opportunities occur when they don’t get the result.
Watching people step up
Throughout my whole life this has been something that inspires me more than almost anything else. Right here right now I’m talking about my clients. When someone is open and vulnerable enough to admit that their career/life/relationships/organisation isn’t perfect and that they’re prepared to do something about it. Wow. I am inspired everyday by my clients who embrace their doubt (and maybe even their fear) take new actions and in so doing create new, better outcomes for themselves. They also more positively impact others. Humbling.
Setting a big goal and achieving it
After nearly abandoning completing my Master Practitioner of Coaching qualification this time last year, it took a friend to tell me to get over myself and just get the hell on with completing it. I’m so glad I listened and just did it. It took planning (not one of my strengths) organisation, sacrifice, swearing at the computer and truckloads of focus and work, but at the end of May, I got there. It’s not so much about attaining the goal, it’s about the learning and growth along the away and the sense of personal satisfaction you gain from completion.
Prioritising wellbeing
For me, wellbeing means simply feeling good and functioning well. After completing my intense study phase, I needed to put my wellbeing back on its rightful pedestal – after all if I, as a coach, am not thriving, how can I assist others to? I took an Animal Flow strengthening class and then joined a gym for the first time in years. Yoga, pilates, surfing, skiing, standup paddle-boarding. They all contribute to my physical and mental wellbeing. But there’s way more to it than that. Click here to see the formula I use to create my wellbeing.
Whittakers chocolate, especially Marlborough sea salt and caramel brittle
Words cannot do this chocolate justice.
Women standing up and saying enough is enough
From the #metoo social media blitz, A Mighty Girl Facebook page, Hidden Figures and Wonderwoman movies and The Gutsy Girl Film Festival, Selma Hayek and so many other women in Hollywood calling time on Harvey Weinstein’s sexual abuse, it feels like a force is gathering. There’s power in standing up and standing together to help create large-scale positive change that will benefit all of us – women and men.
