Next instalment to catch you up to where I am now.
In February earlier this year my children put on a belated 60th birthday celebration for me and called it '21st + 40', being by now I was already 13 months older. We all had the best time and all those that I knew and met over the last 6 decades and meant a lot to me were invited. The celebration was held at a friends cafe bar in the courtyard with my favourite trio of musicians playing the best of the best. There was even a roast at my expense, which had us all in stitches. Ending with a traditional Latvian birthday chair toss with my daughter sitting in for me. I didn't want to risk falling and breaking a hip after all that I had been through. What I has unaware of was my daughter asked people who wanted to give a gift to do so in cash and gathered it all together so I could get more sessions with the professional, as my progress slowed down dramatically without her, as well as some other things if possible. I was presented with the most generous gift with many many cards to combine enough for me to be able to get the carport finished as well as other much needed medical things done and some aside to fly to Western Australia with my Mum's ashes one day soon. I was lost for words and that does not happen very often.
I put aside enough for 8 more sessions and set about getting that carport finished and done with.
At this stage I was finding some delightful items, but some made more impact than others.
I found, still intact and not damaged thankfully, was a sketch by an old friend from long ago, Phil, that was sketched while sitting at an afternoon party going on around us.
Here is what I shared on 5 May after one of those sessions.
Another find from last Monday. Sketched by a friend, Philip Barnes, back in 1979/80. Was so sad to be told last year Phil had passed away in 2015, which makes this even more precious to me. He sketched this at one of the many gatherings and get together's. On this particular day I was very hungover. He got it all, including my eyes.
Dusi saldi Phil. Will never forget our wonderful conversations.
Dusi saldi Phil. Will never forget our wonderful conversations.
Second of Anna Meares Australia's Olympic cycling champion."
Only a small thing, but means a lot to me. I cannot express how incredibly sad I was to learn that Phil had passed away in 2015.
At this time another friend decided to come and regularly help me as well. Such a huge effort on her behalf and we only do so much and then we stop to do some more every so many weeks as time and health allowed. Each hour done meant I was inching ever so closely to the carport being knocked off.
In between, these sessions I would sit at night in front of the TV and sort through the mountains of papers that belonged to my Mum and some of my papers I had kept from the various jobs I had held. Course notes and so forth. Much has been tossed into recycling.
Here is one of my finds in my Mum's papers:-
Finding many treasures while sorting my Mum's massive quantities of paperwork, letters and notes, and am finding all sorts of family information. It really is like discovering another side to her. Found this piece of prose just today that she had taken time to note down and keep. Her writing was very beautiful and flowed with ease. Sheer poetry in motion itself. She must have really liked this piece to bother writing it down. Some pieces should be shared. Not sure who the author originally was, but Mum dated when she wrote this as 18 February, 1981. In the past, I have been accused of being 'too nice', as if it was a bad thing to be. I still find that astonishing. Looks like Mum taught me well, as I still prefer to 'be nice'. I don't see 'being nice' as a bad thing and never will.
In speaking of another's faults
Pray don't forget your own
Remember those in houses of glass
Should never throw a stone.
Pray don't forget your own
Remember those in houses of glass
Should never throw a stone.
If we have nothing else to do
But talk of those who sin
Tis better we commence at home
And from that point begin.
But talk of those who sin
Tis better we commence at home
And from that point begin.
We have no right to judge a man
Till he is fairly tried
Should we not like his company
We know the world is wide.
Till he is fairly tried
Should we not like his company
We know the world is wide.
Some have their faults and who does not
The old as well as young
We may perhaps for aught we know
Have fifty to his one.
The old as well as young
We may perhaps for aught we know
Have fifty to his one.
I'll tell you of a better plan
And find it works real well
Just try our own defects to cure
Before of others tell.
And find it works real well
Just try our own defects to cure
Before of others tell.
And though I sometimes hope to be
No worse than some I know
My own shortcoming bid me let
The faults of others go.
No worse than some I know
My own shortcoming bid me let
The faults of others go.
It's nice to be important, but
Much more important to be nice.
Much more important to be nice.
However, did a google search to find the author of said above prose to find this one, which is the same till the fourth stanza...
Be Careful What You Say
by Joseph Kronthal
by Joseph Kronthal
In speaking of a person's faults,
Pray don't forget your own;
Remember those with homes of glass
Should seldom throw a stone.
Pray don't forget your own;
Remember those with homes of glass
Should seldom throw a stone.
If we have nothing else to do
But talk of those who sin,
'Tis better we commence at home,
And from that point begin.
But talk of those who sin,
'Tis better we commence at home,
And from that point begin.
We have no right to judge a man
Until he's fairly tried;
Should we not like his company,
We know the world is wide.
Until he's fairly tried;
Should we not like his company,
We know the world is wide.
Some may have faults — and who has not?
The old as well as young;
Perhaps we may, for aught we know
Have fifty to their one.
The old as well as young;
Perhaps we may, for aught we know
Have fifty to their one.
Then let us all, when we begin
To slander friend or foe,
Think of the harm one word may do
To those we little know.
To slander friend or foe,
Think of the harm one word may do
To those we little know.
Remember curses sometimes like
Our chickens " roost at home " ;
Don't speak of others' faults until
We have none of our own.
Our chickens " roost at home " ;
Don't speak of others' faults until
We have none of our own.
... not sure which is the original, but I must say I prefer my Mum's version she kept.
Due to looking through all this, I have gone on a journey through time. When I am done with the sorting, I will have a life time of interesting items, stories, photos, newspaper pieces and oh so much more documented.
I have kept only the most interesting items and will share more later on. Tomorrow I work on the other side under the carport. Am hoping only one more sessions to knock it all off. Then a skip and then outside under the carport will once again be just a carport and not a 'steptoe and son storage area'. I will be so glad when that happens. Inside will be easier to deal with as I wont have to deal with horrid weather, wind and rain, along with the ants nests, red backs and all the other spiders and creepy crawlies. Thank goodness."
A real treasure and insight into what was important to my Mum.
By this stage I was ever so close to the carport being finished. A skip was being organised so all the big items left that needed to be tossed could go there and then and not have to wait till September for the next council hard rubbish.
I was so close to finishing this leg of the journey that I could smell it.
At this stage I was not travelling so well. Most everything was getting me down. All who have a long hard slog would understand and that is most of us at one stage of our lives. Just that some slogs just go on for far too long is all.
I posted this 18 May as it reminded me to find the stillness:-
CONTEMPLATING MY NAVEL ON "IMPERFECTION"
Have been sorting through more paperwork and other various wares and tares and found this little 'more recent' gem that I printed from an education website.
Cannot locate the piece now via said website, so am typing out to share with you all, as I really like the message and feel it is a timely reminder to us all that we don't have to be absolutely perfect in all that we must do.
******
THE VALUE IN TAKING INSPIRED, IMPERFECT ACTION
Source: au.educationhq.com - printed 16 February 2016
Source: au.educationhq.com - printed 16 February 2016
I was listening to a Yoga Summit the other night and a teacher on there (Laura Cornell) outlined five steps to "move in the direction of your desires" and one of these steps has stayed with me ~ a refrain that I have since repeated internally and even out loud in my team meeting this week.
The step was this: "Take inspired, imperfect action".
Our team had decided that a norm for our meeting should be "make decisions efficiently" and I piped up and said "we can take inspired, imperfect action" ~ they loved it ~ it is debilitating.
And as I said to my Year 4 student last year as she rubbed out her artwork for the 10th time "perfection is the enemy of done" (I didn't make that up, though I wish I had).
We don't try anything new, we don't speak up, we hesitate in our decisions and we don't back ourselves in case what we try, say and decide is not "perfect". We feel too vulnerable. This step is profoundly applicable to teachers and their students in realising their desires/dreams/learning goals.
You won't get closer to achieving anything unless you start. You won't find out the best pedagogy for your students unless you experiment. You won't know if your idea will work unless you test it out. Give me imperfect action over inaction any day.
We just need to accept imperfection ~ one inspired action at a time! Inspired action sounds lofty, but as Wayne Dyer always said, "inspired" means "in spirit" ~ to live in a way that sees us connected to that deep space where spirit resides. The place that has been obscured by years of stress or disenchantment or sadness or distractions. The place that we have lost touch with in the busy-ness of daily life.
In my experience, to live from this place of spirit we must cultivate stillness ... and that doesn't have to be done perfectly either. Stop and do one minute of abdominal breathing as you wash up ~ you don't need to buy the perfect meditation cushion, incense, crystals or download an app ~ these are all distractions.
Just be silent and still with that monkey mind chattering in the background ~ no perfection required. So this month make a pact to release the ideal of perfect action or a perfect outcome and create stillness in your life on a daily basis to take inspired imperfect action to achieve what it is you desire in your classroom and in your life.
Postscript: As I type this my five year old daughter is watching a fairy DVD where for five minutes they've sung a song about "Princess Perfect" ... oh, the irony! Gee, I wonder why we all feel we have to be perfect?! Time to eject the DVD (or fake a black out)!!!
Author: Unknown
******
Perfection versus Imperfection. I know what I wont worry about any longer.
That and find the stillness of each day."
Of which I am still working towards. That and long deep steady breathes to find my inner calm.
It was on 7 June, fittingly my Mum's birthday, that we went through the last of the boxes under the carport.
This is what I posted back then:-
"7 June ·
DECLUTTER UPDATE!
Broken the camels back.
Got it done and dusted.
Got to the top of that mountain.
Better late than never.
All these and more come to mind as I have been a busy beaver for the last few months sorting what's under the carport. I just wanted it done.
Finally, today, which just so happens to be my Mums birthday, I sorted through the very last box.
The LAST BOX!
WOW.
The sun was shining and the heavens smiling at this monumental milestone. Has only taken 9 years to get there or here.
Skip in 2 weeks to throw all the large items left under the carport and out the back and the carport will be back to what it's original intended function was for. To park cars only.
Oh what a feeling.
These last 9 years have been hard work and this last few months made possible from birthday gifts by many of my friends. This is the result. All I can say is one massive THANK YOU.
Will share more photos later of the end result after the skip is removed by mid to late June, but here is what is left.
Thanks to all who helped me physically along the way to get to this stage along with the following to name a few in no particular order.
I thanked many, but will not mention here so those can remain incognito but they know who they are along with several organisations who were instrumental near the end being Partners in Recovery, SalvoCare, Vision Australia and Wendy from Skeletons In The Closet.
Over the last 9 years some helped long ago and others many times over and much appreciated from the bottom of my heart along with the birthday gifts that helped me cross this finish line all that much sooner.
Jumping for joy.
Mexican wave.
Celebrations coming up.
Singing the song "Oh Happy Days"!"
The relief I felt was immense. Yet the anticipation of getting the skip done kept me from enjoying this most monumental moment in time.
We finished at this point at which point I needed to place some items in the shed and the remaining larger items in the skip that was yet to come.
My reaction and Wendy's knowing we were about to go through the last box!
How I suddenly felt.
My focus now is moments.
No more of this any longer.
Still a work in progress.
This certainly is still a work in progress.
Vital ingredient. To believe.
And never stop no matter how many stops you make along the way.
Then I posted the following on 20 June about the last of what was under the carport into the skip that had finally arrived. I had a few hands on deck to come and as plans can fall through it ended up being only myself and my son to get everything broken down and into a 6 cubic skip. It took us 2 days with some help from our neighbour at one stage with the fridge as that was just too much for me to cope with and after a few beer breaks we got the job done and the carport cleaned up and fresh for the first time in almost 10 years. Ah, the neighbours will be happy at long last. Must say, my neighbours have been absolute gems with their infinite patience and understanding. For that I am grateful.
Here are some of the photos I shared at that time.
I called it STAGE ONE IS OVER!
Good feeling to have the carport back to being just a carport once again.
I finally have got to the summit of my mountain and was savouring the moment before tackling the second stage of this epic journey.
Again, I will reiterate, while going through your own journey, be kind to yourself. This decluttering stuff of stuff doesn't happen overnight and without sweat and tears.
Just remember to breathe and to keep your humour close by and as many kind willing helpful hands.
Must say I have been enjoying the view ever since and everyone's reaction when they see it finished.
Oh, what a feeling!
Cheers for now
Anita
(NB. only one or two more catch up to go then back to normal once more.)
No comments:
Post a Comment