This month we’re tuning in…
August 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Welcome to August!
Everyone I have been speaking to in the last week has said the same thing - where did July go?? I’m certainly feeling that way. It only seems like a couple of days ago I was here welcoming you to our July edition of The Calm Space. (It was, wasn’t it?)
This month the eyes of the world focus on China.
We’ll watch as athletes compete - not only against each other but against themselves, seeking that personal best. We’ll see dreams come true, we’ll see triumph and victory. We’ll also see hopes shattered and dreams lost. We’ll see the pain of defeat and the despair of injury. And unfailingly, we will see moments of blinding brightness where the human spirit once again triumphs against all odds.
To our athletes from around the globe - you are already a winner. Simply by making it to China to compete in these games, you’re one-in-a-million. We’ll be looking at you. Praying for you. No matter whether you stand on a dais or not, you are a winner.
And whilst the television sets of the world tune in to incredible feats of physical endurance, strength, skill and speed, here at The Calm Space we’re also Tuning In.
We’re really thrilled and proud to announce two new spaces this month!
The Sound Space will profile a different musician each month and bring you wonderful calming, soothing music to lull your senses into a state of rest, or to put a pep in your step and a wiggle in your hips. We’ve got some terrific independent artists lined up to entertain you over the next few months (and would love to hear from you if you have any recommendations!) Please, pop on over and download your complimentary songs from our first musician of the month!
I’d also like you to give a warm welcome to Joanne Costello who will be bringing us The Spa Space. Joanne’s background in the beauty and organic skin care industry will provide her with the knowledge and inspiration to bring a spa like atmostphere to our magazine.
You’ll find our wonderful team of contributors have put together a very eclectic mix of articles on our theme, Tuning In, this month. Everything from writing love letters to listening to your stuff. From brilliant reads to reading your soul. From becoming conscious to listening to what your words are saying.
Thanks for joining us, I wish you a wonderful August - enjoy the Olympics!
Namaste
Káren x
We’re talking about Simplicity
July 1, 2008 | 2 Comments
Welcome to the July 2008 edition of The Calm Space. We’re thrilled you’ve dropped by. If you’re here in the southern hemisphere with us, we’ve popped the kettle on - and there’s a nice bottle of red wine breathing over there if it’s that time of day when you’re reading this. There is nothing nicer than something to warm the cockles of your heart in the midst of a cold winter!
And for our friends in the northern hemisphere, I take it you’d rather something cool and refreshing from the fridge… please help yourself and pop your feet up for a little while.
Wherever you are, and whatever the temperature, we’re sure you’ll find just that snippet of inspiration or calm you’re looking for here in the pages of our magazine.
This month, we’re talking about Simplicity.
As I’ve watched the articles arrive, I’ve noticed two themes emerge - both totally unplanned! Three of us used the number 5 - we each gave you five tips to keeping things simple in your writing, in technology and in life. There seems to be something very simple and balancing about five.
Then there are books! Not only do we have a diverse and interesting selection of books in the Reading Space this month, we also have an inspirational set of books on relationships and a simple (naturally) recommendation in the Spiritual Space.
Of course, there are other wonderful inspirations as well - a short and sweet jolt about ‘just baggage enough’ in Organising Space and the second in the series on financial freedom - this time looking at simplicity - in the Money Space. And don’t forget our beautiful Breathing Space, where the photographic talents of Amy Palko combine with the graphic wizardry of Leah Maclean to bring you a stunning downloadable desktop wallpaper.
Our growth continues! As you know, we endeavour to bring you contributors, inspirations and resources to bring a little calm, a little serenity to your day. And what better way to soothe than with music?
Our new Sound Space will bring you a musician and their music each month - with a free download as our gift to you! This month, we feature a bright, talented young man with a big future ahead of him. [update: we've had some technical difficulties which should be resolved in time for our August issue - apologies for the delay.]
I’m sure you’ll enjoy our Simplicity edition… and our contributors will welcome your thoughts.
Namaste
Káren x
It’s all about Freedom
June 2, 2008 | 2 Comments
It’s June already! And for us in the southern hemisphere, that means winter is upon us. Here in Brisbane it has been feeling like winter for a month now. For our friends in the north, I’m sure you’re gleefully welcoming the warmth of the summer sun.
For June, we’re talking about Freedom. And whilst it might be nice to think of escaping winters worst by fleeing north, that doesn’t seem to be the freedom we’re talking about in our Spaces this month.
Firstly, I’d like you to give a very warm welcome to our new contributor, Grant Wallace. Grant is an accountant, financial adviser and terrific business coach. He will be sharing his wisdom with us at The Money Space each month and you’ll find more about him on our About page. Please make him feel welcome.
For those of you curious about the connection, and in the interests of full disclosure… Grant is my husband and I am so proud and thrilled to have him agree to share his knowledge with you at The Calm Space. (We’ve been talking about this for a long time now: )
Once again, we welcome the beautiful photography of Amy Palko in The Breathing Space - we think you’ll be seeing a lot more of Amy! (And don’t forget to download your copy of this month’s desktop wallpaper - beautiful as always, thanks Leah!)
We welcome back our regular contributors - who all have something unique, insightful and thought-provoking to share with us on the theme of Freedom. Please take the time throughout the month to pay a visit to each Space… the articles will be up all month and waiting for you whenever you have a free moment or two.
When you do visit, we’d love you to leave a quick comment and let us know what you’re thinking… the contributors will all be more than happy to engage in conversation with you!
Wishing you freedom unbounded in June and always…
Namaste
Káren x
We’re talking about Balance
May 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Welcome to the May edition of The Calm Space. This month, we’re exploring Balance and what it means to each of us.
I am passionate about nature, and am conscious that the decisions I make in my life, in my shopping, in my business, and in living, all have an affect in some way on the environment. This is one of the main reasons The Calm Space is published online. However, I am a total novice when it comes to the mechanics and thought processes behind sustainability (I still haven’t got a handle on the whole carbon credit thing: ). And so I have long searched for someone with the knowledge and the passion for this beautiful planet of ours to share their wisdom with us.
I am thrilled to say I found someone who surpassed my expectations!
I’d like to introduce you to our newest contributor - Marc Lehmann. Marc will be writing The Sustainability Space whenever he can fit it into his busy, busy life. Welcome, Marc and thank you for joining us!
Take time to read Marc’s first article, very thought-provoking indeed, and please make him welcome!
I’d also like to warmly welcome Amy Palko - you can find her beautiful photography at The Breathing Space. I look forward to bringing you more from this wonderfully talented woman in future editions!
Of course, you’ll also find all our regular contributors with what I think are their best ever articles!
You may notice that we have split my contribution to our monthly theme over to The Serenity Space (instead of directly below this editorial, where you previously found it). It’s just to give me more room here to gab on about the wonderful things in each edition 
Congratulations to our three winners of the really cute notebooks from our April prize draw. Remember to sign up for each draw here if you haven’t already - the prize this month is terrific for anyone feeling the need of a little more balance in their relationship or their life!
Whatever balance means to you, I wish you dollops of it. May your swing soar, your technology have an off-button, your dinghy float, your words enlighten and your elephants all balance on a piece of string. [And yes, you need to go read this month's articles to understand all that].
Namaste
Káren x
What are you Passionate about?
April 1, 2008 | 2 Comments
Welcome to our April edition. It’s hard to believe Easter is over for another year, isn’t it? We had a lovely long weekend, filled with family birthdays and lots of gardening. In April there are a few less family birthdays than there were in March - but since one of them is my youngest son turning 10 I’m guessing we’re still in for a busy month (especially when you add in school holidays).
Here at The Calm Space, we’re all passionate about what we do. I can even say we’re all passionate women - since we are yet to welcome our first male contributor to our pages (but will be, in the very near future!)
So it stands to reason that as passionate women, we’ve got a lot of passion to share around. And that is exactly what we’re doing this month. Sharing the passion…
We don’t expect you to read our magazine in one sitting. In fact, you’d probably be on overload if you did. The Calm Space is designed for you to dip into, any time you’re in need of a break, some inspiration, or a dose of passion. We’re here all month, and most of our Spaces update at the start of each month. So you’ve plenty of time to come back and read at your leisure, leave a comment and get involved in the conversation. Don’t forget to bookmark, or subscribe by RSS or email, so you can easily pop on over when you have a few minutes.
Grab a cuppa, and enjoy the wonderful, passionate content we have for you this month! We’re so glad you’re here.
Káren x
P.S. This month, we’re inviting all our readers to join us by sharing what you’re passionate about. Check out The Challenge Space for more details - we’d love to have your contribution.
Would you describe yourself as passionate?
Would those who love you?
You may be surprised!
To have passion, to have a dream, to have a purpose in life. And there are three components to that purpose, one is to find out who you really are, to discover God, the second is to serve other human beings, because we are here to do that and the third is to express your unique talents and when you are expressing your unique talents you lose track of time.
~ Deepak Chopra
The Need for Passion
People say that calm, joy and peace are what they get most from this online magazine, and from me. And that is great - because that’s the aim (we didn’t call it The Calm Space for nothing:)
But that calm and peaceful nature doesn’t preclude passion. Far from it.
Passion is what gets me out of bed each morning.
Our passion for life is what gives life its colour. It turns a grey day into a technicolour dreamcoat…
Being passionate about your life, and what you do every day, can make all the difference to your satisfaction, fulfillment and happiness. Let’s look at a few ways passion can help you throw off those covers and start your day well…
What gets you out of bed every day?
Do you jump out of bed, gleeful and eager for what the day has in store for you? Would you like to do that every day?
Whilst a good night’s sleep is obviously a prerequisite, it isn’t only about feeling tired versus refreshed. It’s about how we perceive what is going to happen today.
When you’re passionate about the work you do, about the contribution you make to the lives of others, your need for sleep drops dramatically.
When you’re newly in love, life takes on a wonderful glow and getting up each day is effortless.
When exercise or meditation is the way you start your day - getting out of bed just happens.
When you have a loving relationship with your spouse, children, family and good friends, your life is filled with colour, movement and light.
If where you live is a place you love, it’s that much easier to get up right in the morning.
If you live without fear, and always have something to be thankful for - this certainly helps to toss the doona back and jump out of bed.
Passion is energy. It is what energises us and powers our days. It is necessary fuel for a healthy mind just as good food, clean water and exercise are vital for the health of our body. We think of the heart when we think of being passionate, but it takes our head and heart, our body and soul to drive our passions.
When our lust for life wanes, things lose their lustre - the shine of life pales and all blends to grey. Working is a chore, rather than a pleasure. Time drags.
What turns you on?
Are you one of those lucky people that loves what you do? You cannot wait to get up and get into your ‘work’ each day, because you’re energised and invigorated by what you do? That’s passion.
When I spend time with my girlfriends, I come away brim full of new ideas, motivated to get in and get something done. They fire me up! Do you have friends like that? That’s passion.
When you lose track of time, lost in the pleasure of doing something you love. That’s passion.
Have you watched a young child lately? See how they spring out of bed each morning, eager to learn and grow and experience all the wonders of life (much to our horror at 5am!) - notice how they get out of bed with a smile on their face? That’s passion.
Do you think about the love of your life when you’re not with him? Do you really feel alive every moment you spend together? That’s passion.
Flat Battery?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could plug ourselves in and recharge our batteries like we recharge our mobile phones?
Or attach a little solar panel to the top of our heads and fill up with fire and passion as we take a walk in the sunshine…
It isn’t quite that easy, but as our innate nature is to be fully charged and springing out of bed just like those little children (definitely not like teenagers), there is hope for us all.
Grab a notebook or open up a new file on your computer. Write a heading that tantalises you. Something like What turns me on, or What gets me out of bed in the morning… or even Passionate Plug-ins (ok, maybe not that last one…) It can be as corny or risky as you like - you’re the only one who is going to see it.
Now, make a list of what recharges you. They can be little, petty things - like having a clean desk. They can be huge, like working to solve world hunger. And there will be all the things in between.
A long, steamy bubble bath. Pruning the rose bushes. Walking along the seashore. Baking a delicious batch of banana and butterscotch muffins. Visiting an art gallery or antique store. Playing Beethoven or Queen or AC/DC - loud. Shopping for new shoes. Learning italian. Playing fetch with the dog. Hiking the Kokoda Trail. A night in with a good book. A night out with the girls. A good movie. Tango. Sailing around the world. Writing glorious words to inspire, heal or amuse. Entertaining good friends. A nice pen and a beautiful notebook. Gratitude. Lust. Fingerpainting. Reading to your children or someone else’s. Love.
Hold onto your list, add to it often.
Use it as a resource when your batteries feel a little low.
Top up regularly and you need never go flat.
What’s keeping your batteries full? Come share with us! This month, we’re sharing our passions, secret or otherwise. What is it that really fires you up? Pop on over to The Challenge Space to find out how you can get involved!
We’re talking about Dreams
March 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Welcome to The Calm Space. This month we’re talking about Dreams. Each of our contributors has taken the theme and made it their own. I truly love the diversity of real people sharing their own unique perspective on our theme each month. It brings so many wonderful ideas and thoughts to the table, doesn’t it?
Leah’s dreaming of free technology, and I am looking forward to trying out some of her recommendations. Marjorie recommends reading to help your dreams of health, wealth and love. Joanna asks us what our writing dreams are (something close to my own heart); and Chris asks us about sharing our dreams with our beloved. Angela helps us to dream big; and Annie shows us that dreams are meant to come true. For a bit of fun, we look at songs, albums and movies about dreams in The Music Space.
And once you’ve explored our magazine a little this month, don’t forget to take a moment to just breathe and dream at The Breathing Space - it will be there for you all month long!
Also this month, a little excitement as we launch two new Spaces…
The Happening Space will bring you hints, tips, resources, ideas and news throughout the month - so don’t forget to pop in regularly or subscribe so you don’t miss out.
The Challenge Space will provide you with small, do-able challenges on a regular basis - our first challenge to you is up and we’d love to see your response!
From me and the team here at The Calm Space, we wish you a happy, dream-filled Easter. It’s a time of rebirth and what better time to dream those huge, outrageous dreams?
May all your fondest dreams come true - you deserve it!
Káren
PS Don’t forget to register to win one of two beautiful Dream journals this month - just perfect for writing and drawing your fondest desires…
Dreams of Joy
Dream as if you’ll live forever.
Live as if you’ll die today.
~James Dean
Do you remember when you were a child and you used to daydream about what your life was going to be like?
I used to like lying on the lawn in the warmth of the sun and watch the clouds drift through the blue sky over my head, wondering what it would be like to be lying up there on one of those clouds. [Take a look at the beautiful photo in The Breathing Space this month...]
My mind used to wander in all sorts of delectable directions - who I would be, how I would be. How I would fill the hours of my life.
I remember imagining myself making music for a living. Now I make music when I have a few spare moments… and those aren’t often enough!
Can you remember your daydreams as a child?
What happened to them?
Dream On.
It doesn’t matter how old you are, or your bank account balance. It doesn’t matter your current state of health. However and whoever you are right now, you can still dream. Your dreams are not limited by your current life circumstances.
Your dreams are full of possibilities and miracles. Your dreams can expand in any direction, totally unlimited by anything except your imagination.
And you can, at any stage, change direction, move, extend, open up, dare… in your dreams.
Dreams give you a power that is all your own.
We all have dreams, but sometimes it’s easy to say - “what’s the use?” - when you see the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
When thoughts like that sneak in, sometimes it’s hard to get out from under them and start dreaming again… like we did when we were young and carefree.
When dreaming is hard is precisely the time we need it the most. Dreaming helps us to lift our eyes up to the heavens, to see a brighter world.
Dreaming raises our spirits, and opens our mind to new possibilities. It increases our inner vibration or level of happiness to such an extent that we start to act like a magnet to attract wonderful things into our life.
Literally, by dreaming your dreams and believing in their power, you can start to make them come true.
Two special ways to help you dream your wonderful dreams, and start turning them into reality:
1. Write them down! There is nothing like getting the mind out of the way, having the pen flow on the page as you open your heart to the endless possibilities awaiting you. There are many stories of people writing lists of things they want to acheive, and putting that list away for a few years. When they come back to it - they discover most of the dreams have come true! Isn’t it worth a try?
2. Develop a dream list or vision board. There has been a lot of discussion around vision boards since The Secret was released. But don’t let that put you off trying it. A dream board can be as simple as a picture attached by a Garfield magnet to the front of your fridge! It doesn’t have to be fancy and beautiful.It can be a brochure for that car you’d love - that you keep by your bed and skim through each night before going to sleep. It can be your list of ‘big things’ you’ve written down in your diary, that you read through while waiting for the kids at the school gate.
It can be a cheque you write yourself - dated in the future - for the achievement of your biggest, wildest, most out-there dream.
It can be a bunch of pictures you turn into a screen saver (easy with Picasa, that Leah talks about over in The Digital Space this month) or a desktop background on your computer.
The more you keep your dreams warm and alive, the happier you will be!
Your dreams can help you, without exception, to transform your life with strength, power, peace, health and abundance.
With a song in our heart… we’re talking about love
February 1, 2008 | 6 Comments
Welcome to the February edition of Calm Space.
Here in Australia, it’s high summer and it’s the start of a new school year.
And in the middle of the heat, we celebrate Valentines Day. So, to cool things off a little, grab a long tall glass of something cool with ice, and sip while you browse around our spaces this month. We’ve turned on the airconditioning and are waiting for your visit. Every time you pop in, we do a little happy dance.
Alright, if that’s too twee for you, you’ll love the line-up we have for you this month. We haven’t gone overboard with red roses, or lingerie, or chocolates… although we were tempted by a nice glass of bubbly. What we have done is each of us put our own spin and our own heart into what we have written for you on the theme of Heartstrings. You’ll find spirit and love in each of the spaces this month, along with hefty doses of calm and inspiration. After all, that’s what we’re here for.
Please don’t forget to join in the conversation - your comments are encouraged and will always be responded to!
Also, remember to register for this month’s prize (if you haven’t already) - it is particularly wonderful if you’re bogged down with stuff and need a hand getting organised or clearing clutter as you prepare for the year ahead!
Wishing you a February full of love, may your heartstrings sing a song of joy all month long.
Káren
Heartstrings…
As I write this, I am sitting on the back verandah of the house we are renting at the beach. I am sitting with the man who stole won my heart 22 years ago this week, and our youngest son.
It is late afternoon and we’ve been chatting and watching the rain approach across the sea. It’s high tide, there is a stiff breeze that is making my notebook flap and my hair fly in my face, and the sea is the colour of milky coffee - churned up by the recent near-cyclonic low that battered Queensland and Northern NSW through the holiday season.
As I sit here, notebook and gorgeous fountain pen (that my husband gave me for my birthday last week) in my hand, I am thinking about love; about family; about ties that bind us and what it means to be able to sit here - together but each comfortably doing their own thing.
I’ve been looking forward at the next month. At the return to school rush next week. At the start of a year full of promise.
And here at The Calm Space, we’re looking at the month through the theme of Heartstrings. When we selected this theme, we were thinking (as I am sure you’ll have guessed) about Valentines Day, but even more we were thinking about Love.
February isn’t purely about Valentines Day (even if Hallmark and chocolate shops would have us think that).
And Valentines Day isn’t about who gets flowers delivered to them at the office and who doesn’t.
It seems to me that Valentines Day has become a competition to see who gets treated the best. And it has created an expectation that ‘if he truly loves me’ he will go all out and make the day the most romantic day of my life.
Long ago, when I worked in an office full of women, I forbade my husband from sending or buying me anything on Valentines Day. (The order still stands ; )
His love for me is not, ever, measured by whether he sends me a dozen red roses or not.
Love is not a one-day of the year event. It needs to be expressed all year round. A happy relationship thrives when every day is a day for love.
As I sit here, surrounded by family, I am so clearly reminded that heart and love is an always thing.
Growing up, I was very impressed by the parents of my best friend. They may not have been wealthy in the monetary sense (none of us were), but they were certainly rich in love. Every month, on the same date, they celebrated their anniversary of the day they met. They gave each other a token gift, a block of favourite chocolate, a hand-written love letter, or cooked a special meal. Just a little something personal and special to celebrate ‘their day’.
It struck me that this was a couple who not only loved each other, they had made a special monthly ritual of reminding each other how much they cared.
How much nicer was this ever-so-personal and intimate celebration than today’s over-commercialised Valentines Day?
I am all for celebrating those we love - the romantic love, family love and the deep bonds of friendship - as often as possible.
Let’s not wait for a special day to show someone we care. Who knows what tomorrow may bring?
Send those flowers. Write that letter. Give that hug. Post that card. Pick up that phone.
Today.
Tomorrow.
Often.
I appreciate you, dear reader. Thank you for taking the time to visit. Come visit again soon.
From my heart to yours - with love.
Káren
Opportunity and possibility… the promise of 2008
January 1, 2008 | 2 Comments
Happy New Year from all of us here at The Calm Space. We hope the promise of 2008 is fresh and alive in your heart throughout the year, and wish you a year of miracles and magic.
Endings and beginnings… As one year ends, another dawns - fresh and crisp and full of opportunity! I love how the new year gives us a real sense of a new beginning, with boundless opportunities waiting for us.
As we step out into the freshly dawned 2008, can we take the time to engage with those opportunities, to notice them so that we make the most of every moment ahead of us. Our contributors all offer different ways to do just that this month.
This month our special prize is simply divine - don’t forget to register to be in the draw to win this gorgeous jewellery courtesy of Anne Maybus of Beauty Banquet.
Happy New Year!
Káren ♥
A purse full of gifts to take with you into 2008
See that door?
It’s the door of opportunity.
Your door.
All you need do is step up, grasp the handle and open.
Are you ready?
See that door?
What lies on the other side is the rest of your life.
The possibilities of your life from this moment on.
Beyond lie the endless opportunities that are yours for the taking.
If we consider the vast number of options available to us, we’d freeze in overwhelm.
Luckily, all we need is to take one step. Make one decision. Put one foot in front of the other. Choose a path and see where it leads.
As you choose your path, remember the immortal words of Robert Frost…
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference
~Robert Frost
See that door?
Beyond it is your path. Your first step of the rest of your life.
Only you can open the door.
Now, before you go rushing off to open the door and start running down that yellow brick road on the other side, I’ve a little something I’d like to give you.
Call it my New Year gift to you.
It’s a small gift, but it comes straight from my heart to yours. Something to make your steps a little lighter. A gift to make your choices clearer.
Your gift is a little ‘travel pack’ to take with you. Just a few bits and pieces I have put together for you to help chart your course - small enough to pop in your pocket.
In this gorgeous black velvet purse you’ll find:
A packet of possibilities. Tied up with a beautiful satin ribbon you’ll find all those wonderful things you could do, be and have in 2008.
A cup of hope. You’ll know a sense of optimism and faith that all will be well in your world.
A spray bottle of action. To use in measured doses, punctuated by periods of rest. Without action, possibilities will not turn into realities.
A tube of courage. Enough to fill your heart and make the right decisions - for taking action when you must.
A tin of curiosity. Open up for the ability to ask ‘why?’. And to ask ‘why not?’
A spoonful of challenge. A small dose of tension and darkness to overcome, so that you may better appreciate and recognise the good times.
A crystal decanter of love. Fill your soul to overflowing anytime you need it with love, laughter and joy - life is for living.
See that door?
Go.
Open.
Explore.
Relish the opportunity to create your new year, just how you like it…
I wish you a safe and wondrous journey through 2008. May your path be strewn with rainbows and your pocket full of opportunities.
Join us in Celebration!
December 2, 2007 | 2 Comments
Welcome to the December 2007 Edition of The Calm Space. Can you believe it is December already?
We’re marking this month with Celebration.
Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, or simply getting through the rest of 2007, we have something for you this month.
I am thrilled to introduce Joanna Young as our newest contributor - bring us the Writing Space. Welcome Joanna! This month, Joanna shares how the simple gift of words can help us celebrate and find the “magical blend of anticipation, excitement and gratitude“.
Also in this edition - get the ins and outs of buying a techo gift with Leah (I’ve been hankering after a digital photo frame, so the reviews and tips in the Digital Space are going to turn into hints to hubby). Find out the benefits of making a list - just like Santa - with Angela in the Organising Space. Look at the beauty and meaning in celebration with Annie at the Spiritual Space. Join Chris as she celebrates something a little less festive, but eminently close to her heart at the Relationship Space. Check in with Marj as she shares her picks to help you celebrate in the Reading Space. Then pop on over to the Music Space and share your picks for music to uplift and soothe our souls.
Please take your time. Read. Explore. Leave a comment. Start a conversation.
From all of us here at The Calm Space we wish you a joyous festive celebration - filled with love, laughter and happy times.
The Power of Celebration
The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.
~Oprah Winfrey
We chose our theme of Celebration this month as a way of marking and honouring the end of a year, and the hope that comes with the dawn of a new year. I am encouraging you to see celebration as a way of life - not something we do when we have time, but something that comes naturally and easily, and often.
I feel that celebration is all about honour - and indeed, my dictionary definition for Celebrate agrees with me - “to honour”. We honour the spirit of the season, and we honour those we cherish by showing them how much we care. Despite the commercialism and expectations that are heaped upon us at this time of year, we can each leave our mark by observing this special time of year with ceremony and festivity.
When you put December and Celebration together, most of us think of Christmas. Of tinsel and toys, gifts and games, turkey and trees, pudding and paper, bon bons and egg nog, summer holidays and Christmas parties. And these are all wonderful and joyous. I’m a huge fan of Christmas.
Mark the passing of the year with ceremony and festivity and honour yourself and your loved ones, either quietly or with a burst of fireworks (depending, perhaps, on the type of year you’ve lived through).
Even more than Christmas, however, I’d like to talk about celebrating life. Christmas isn’t the only time of year we can show our love to those we care about. Don’t save it all for special occasions - make every day a special occasion!
As the amazing Oprah so eloquently put it in that quote above, the more we celebrate the more there is to celebrate. The little things are as worthy of celebration as the big. No matter what 2007 delivered to your door - this month we can:
- celebrate our friends and family
- celebrate our joys and accomplishments
- celebrate we have made it through another year safe and healthy
- celebrate how we’ve made a difference in the lives of others this year
- celebrate with joy and thanks for all we are and all we have
- spread the joy and peace of the festive season through the rest of the year
Will you join with me in celebration of being alive! It’s time to envision possibilities and, as Joanna says in the Writing Space, it’s time to celebrate the magical blend of anticipation, excitement and gratitude.
How will you celebrate?
- use the good china because you feel like it
- dance to the joy of being alive
- raise a glass and toast to you
- turn off the TV and play games with your family
- feel the joy at the receiving of gifts and compliments
- relish the giving of gifts with thought and ceremony
- wave your magic wand
- write down what you are grateful for, often
- sing out loud
You’ll find that the more you celebrate, the more you’ll have to celebrate about… and I’ll be here dancing and singing with you during December and right throughout 2008.
Finally, I’d like to celebrate you. I celebrate you for who you are. I celebrate and am grateful for you reading The Calm Space. I celebrate the possibilities opening up for you in 2008.
Merry Christmas from my heart to yours.
We’re Talking about Friendship
November 1, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Welcome to the second edition of The Calm Space. We are all thrilled you have dropped by and would like to thank you for your warm congratulations last month as we launched the beautiful magazine! Your uplifting comments and excited wishes made it all seem so much more special and real to us.
It seems appropriate that this edition we are talking about friendship. I am proud to call each of the contributors to The Calm Space my friend, and believe that is one of the strengths of our team here.
Angela talks about making time for our friends; Marj highlights three very different books about friends and friendship; Annie discusses becoming a friend to yourself first, and the magic in a smile; Chris wonders what friends are for; and Leah keeps in touch the digital way.
This month, we have the excitement of announcing our first ever winner of the monthly prize draw - congratulations to our winner - your copy of Inspired! by Jamie Durie is on it’s way!
Please don’t forget to sign up (if you haven’t already) to be in the draw for our two fabulous prizes this month (designed specifically to bring you some stress relief as Christmas draws closer)!
Thinking about Friendship and Friends
As I was preparing to write this - and with the theme of friendship firmly front of mind - I attended my daughter’s graduation celebration as she finishes middle school and heads into senior school for her last three years.
As it is an all-girl school, the ceremony was very emotional, and very strongly based on the theme of friendship. (And very different to any ceremony I have attended for my son over the years).
Each girl was given a lovely flower, tied with ribbon as well as their certificate and new pale blue tie. And talking to the girls afterward, the flower (a brightly coloured gerbera) was a very special part of the night - along with all the flowers and hugs they gave their teachers in thanks.
The slide shows each class had put together to celebrate their last three years together showed photos of girls being friends, caring for one another, bonding and growing together.
In her closing remarks, the head girl said “Friends are the bacon bits in the salad of life“.
It brought the house down…
As parents, we know that friendships are vital to our children. We know that how they feel about school and their family and life in general is all seen through the window of their friends. Without friends, life is colourless and drab.
As we grow into adulthood, we get busier and busier. Our relationships, our family and our work commitments start to take over. Until one day we realise that we haven’t made time for our friends in a while. And that somehow, even with everything else that fills our life (all that striving, and working, and loving, and caring…) we need our friends.
Girlfriends are:
- Our benchmark that we’re not going crazy
- Our safety valve to vent without repercussions
- Our mentors to show us the way
- Our shoulder to cry on
- Our cheer squad
- Our rock of understanding
- Our inspiration by the lives they live
- Our motivation that there is a better way
- Our belief that we, too, can get through this
- Our reality check when things get out of hand
- Our light when we don’t know which way is up
- Our mirror that reflects our soul back at us, with feeling
With secure, happy friendships, we become strong and able to go out and face whatever the world throws at us - knowing that someone has our back and someone loves and believes in us.
The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it’s the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Girlfriends help us work out who we are. And help us to stand tall and look life in the eye.
What would you think if I sang out of tune,
Would you stand up and walk out on me.
Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song,
And I’ll try not to sing out of key.
I get by with a little help from my friends,
I get high with a little help from my friends,
Going to try with a little help from my friends.
~ The Beatles
This month, as we head into the busyness that is the festive season, let’s make time for our friends and remember how very important they are to us - individually and collectively!
Kristine Carlson puts it so well in Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Women: “Friendships, especially with your girlfriends, are to be cherished. … cut your friends some slack, and (don’t) hold them to impossible expectations and standards, especially when they are having a bad day. Sometimes we get so close to our friends that it’s easy to forget that they are just human - like we are.”
How will you show your friends how much they mean to you? Can you cut them some slack. Appreciate them. Honour and cherish them. Offer to take their turn at the car pool. Drop a simple dinner around. Bake a cake. Remember their birthday. Ask how they are and then wait for the answer.
Friendship is a living thing that lasts only as long as it is nourished with kindness, empathy and understanding. (anon)
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