how to build a life doing what you love
doing a personal stock take + getting my citrus on!
This week there is no regular ‘my week of alchemy + hustle’ post.
‘Why’, you all ask in gasping shock and horror (i joke).
Because I realised I needed to do a little stock take of where I’m at, of what I’m doing to get where I need to go. Thats the beauty of committing to a weekly ‘check in’ after a few weeks you start to see if your moving or not, it forces you to evaluate if your on track, off track……..not even on the track. And I’m a bit of all three at the moment……a bit of all bloody three!
So I shouted ‘ENOUGH ALREADY’ things don’t feel right, I need to recalibrate. And I did a wee cleanse of my space and things – put things into ship shape order and burnt some mandarin oil. Yes I did.
The power of smell to refocus and clarify works a treat for me. And for countless others I might add.
So next week I’ll let you know how my stock take went. And I’ll share the deets on how you can do a stock take. How you can check if your on track to kicking some of your personal goals.
So until next week I shall be bathing in the glow of my mandarin oil haze + getting on down and dirty with ‘what I’m doing to make my dreams my reality’. You know, that small thing.
Love and light x
do you have a wee *hobby* + passion you’ve forgotten about?
This week an old love of mine snuck itself back into my line of sight. Photography, in particular – documentary photography.
It was while snooping through op shops and garage sales that I nabbed a Polaroid camera ($10) and two great Time books on documentary photography and light and film ($3 each). I love reusing objects that still have oodles of life, and getting a bargain is close to my heart at the moment. So it was win, win all round.
And it got me to thinking……why did this fabulous hobby and passion of mine (which brought me a lot of joy) ever leave my line of sight? How do we forget what we love, little pockets of hobbies – passions tucked away. Archived, but for what? A rainy day, for later, for when theres more time? Tucked away because they’re silly little frivolities, we run out of time, other things become more important?
I reckon the universe is full of people that have fallen out of love with their hobbies + passions. Full. Where are you at:
- You are totally in touch with your passion – hobby, and live it – its in your life and brings you joy!
- You’ve fallen apart from your hobby – passion – the thing you love to do. You know what it is, but you’ve fallen apart. You’d really like to get back together though.
- You are struggling to answer this because you can’t even remember if you used to love doing something. Please don’t panic, lot’s of people have passion amnesia.
- You remember vividly what you used to love to do, but it’s just been SOOO long it feels a little silly to bring it out and dust it off now.
To be honest I’ve spent ALOT of time hanging out at two, three and four. And am just starting to breathe in one. So take heart, all the stages are natural and normal and part of a lot of peoples experience.
So the questions is, did you love doing something when you were younger that you left behind? When you were a junior, teenager, young adult. What was it, how did it make you feel, how did it make you turn up to the world?
Oh and if you happen to have a wee voice that natters “don’t be so ridiculous, you were 12 the last time you sang in a choir, pirouetted, painted, baked, road a horse, jazz handed your way through a routine, ran across fields with a compass, collected stamps, listened to bird calls, played tennis etc. Don’t listen to it. Just don’t! That voice would be most happiest if you were locked in a dungeon with some cheese, crackers and water. It is not interested in you shining.
So take a trip down memory lane, ask old friends, family, look at old photos………..what were the things you used to love doing that brought you a big fat juicy smile. You don’t have to do anything straight away with what comes up – what you remember………..the first step is just connecting back in to what you love.
I’d love to hear whats in your archive of passions + hobbies.
my week of alchemy + hustle: 5:4:13
social + culture
Snooping around vintage, antique and junk stores. Easter Friday – lovely lunch at St Heliers with new peeps talking about exciting ideas. Easter Sunday – walk and breakfast with an old friend. Lots of mooching around eating with family. Mid week dinner at Andiamo’s - a restaurant I’ve always wanted to eat at…….talking big ideas with new people!
my business
The need for focus, routine and discipline has been at the forefront this week. Nailing this powerhouse of a trifecta has been on my mental wish-list for an AGE (truth be told, hitting my straps on this one would be cause for champagne).
I’m going to start with routine. I used to seriously dislike everything routine stood for, would literally find other words to use when referring to it. Could not be in the same room as it. On reflection it was all in the vein glory of ensuring my personal freedom was at large to do what it wanted. Little did I realise routine is not a dampener on personal freedom, the opposite in fact. Its the launching pad!
Routine plays a significantly large part of successful peoples day to day. Sarah Wilson writes a fair bit about it and I like this post on morning routines……..was a bit of a game changer in terms of my understanding of routines importance. Highly recommend you give it a read if you’re struggling with getting some routine and structure into your world. I read it an eon ago and am still skipping around the edges of its adoption.
creating
I’ve been creating little turrets in my energy pool, nothing else. I’m juggling a whole lot of things and my creative outlet and blog is suffering :-(. Im working on it!
wellness + balance
I think I must sound rather harpy, but the walking is working well for me. And its free – what a bonus! My eating on the other hand is not my greatest asset at the moment. Its gone to the dogs and I’m feeling it, big time. So that’s where I’m placing my focus going forward, to get me back to optimal.
Early morning starts of late have gifted me the most beautiful sun rises. Standing on the beach centring myself in this glory is the BEST way to start the day. I think.
my week of alchemy + hustle: 28:03:13
oopps, this regular weekly update post is flying out a day late – I’ve been rather busy! Though my lateness gives me a lovely opportunity to wish you a lush Easter weekend full of relaxing, family, friends and wonderful food. Or just doing nothing. On your own, with people……whatever floats your boat. Enjoy.
social + culture
A lovely walk with friends around Lake Pupuke + working out of the gorgeous new neighbourhood café ‘Little King’ + morning walks + skype calls to friends overseas. Oh and hanging out with family, that’s made up my social + culture quotient this past week.
my business
Theres been some jig jiggedy shifts this week in the little big world of my seedling of a business idea. I’ve been asked if I would be interested in doing some freelance blogging. Yes you heard right……how exciting! Its very early days, but just being asked is a great boost to my own business vision!
Building my business case has raised a barn fire of questions. Can I do this? Do I want to do this? Do I really want to do this? Will it make money? I cannot recommend enough writing a business case if your thinking of – going it alone, starting a business, launching a creative idea. It makes you REALLY feel into and think about every nut and bolt. Not in a squash the oxygen kind of way, more a ‘lets take this seriously, whats it going to take’ kind of way.
creating
Oh how I’ve wanted to create something this week. Starting my Zine recently got me all a ‘go’ on having fun and making things with my hands. And then my to do list got big and I’ve had to put me Zine on hold for a couple of weeks = boo hoo. Sometimes you have to prioritise (got that sounds so grown up and boring, but its true).
wellness + balance
Walking is still being an awesome tool for my wellness and balance. When I’ve felt a bit off (brain a little clouded and lacking positivity) I’ve found myself walking to clear it out. It helps enormously.
And the trump card this week has got to be the landscape I’m living in and the weather. I’m getting some good time healing and nurturing vibes from my surroundings, from the land. It’s one of my favourite places in the world and I’m just so blessed to be able to spend time in it everyday. Truly.
Oh and I started my self-programmed detox this week.
I’m still thinking about the incredible donut from Little Friday I had four days ago (my last day of treats). There’s a wee Mexican stand off taking place between me, and a future donut that wants to be eaten. I’ll keep you posted.
I highly recommend doing a weekly check in if your - changing something in your life / hitting goals / building a life you love. Set aside 15/30 minutes every week (on the same day if you can) and ‘check in’ with how your doing, how your moving your vision & goals forward. whats working, what needs re jigging. it’s powerful!
my week of alchemy + hustle: 20:03:13
Wow, what a difference a week makes.
social + culture
I caught up with an old friend Katy Wallace, we were thick as thieves back in design school days. It was great to hear the exciting design projects she has on the go, I particularly liked this one. We checked out an opening of Martino Gamper‘s work at a little place called everyday needs and then enjoyed a vino at The Commons. Catching up reminded me how important community and connection are when your building something outside of a nine to five work environment. When you don’t have a ready-made network to go to.
my business
For the last 3.5 months I’ve been slowly prising my writing and business idea out of my fear like grip at a slow and steady pace. Attentively managing my inertia and Achilles heels along the way. As a result it’s been the most productive, focussed and committed I’ve been to something for near on 15 years. My wee foibles make me slow on some things, but it’s been lightening pace in comparison to the past.
This week I’ve been looking at ways to turn my business dream into a reality – and now find myself writing a business case. And OH LORDY this one wee task has really shaken me up from what feels like a deep sleep. It’s made me drill down and review how I’m going to take my ideas and turn them into a sustainable and viable business. And I realised “shit, I’ve never taken my ideas seriously before”. I mean I’ve spoken about them, moaned about being unhappy working for the man in a soulless job. But that’s been it, I’ve never ventured beyond that part of the forest before. I’m in new terrain.
In the shake up my initial reaction was fear in the guise of a lot of questioning. I ran around scared for about 12 hours, quietly going “WTF was I thinking”. Then I went for a walk this morning and had a little chat that went something like “YOU CAN DO THIS MAREE, YOU CAN DO THIS”. “YOU ARE DOING THIS MAREE”. And that was that.
I also started creating a zine (a little self published booklet) for the alchemy of hustle. I’ve wanted to create one for ages, so it’s rather exciting to be finally making it happen. I have contributions from a craft maker, cook and photographer so far. I’ve really loved making something with my hands, drawing and writing. Oh and I started writing my first ever short story!
wellness + balance
Oh how the walking is paying dividends. Of late I have found myself getting up and going for a walk 4-5 mornings a week. It’s great for my body plus I get a meditation session of sorts, a time to ‘talk things out’ and get clear and focussed. It’s win win. And seeing the sunrise is a magical way to start your day.
Ma and I visited Love a Duck and I got SO much joy from a bowl of rice noodles and crispy pork for $9. It was a big bowl of ‘feel good’ which I needed. I just love the way food can make me feel so great.
Oh and I’ve decided to go on a self-programmed detox for four weeks, starting in a couple of days. Well starting after I finish the slice of lemon and coconut cake in the kitchen that super food god Anton made (It is SO good). The last three to four months have seen foods that I’m intolerant too slip back in, I wrote about my intolerances here. My eating habits are sliding and a short sharp burst of recalibration is needed before I hit the abyss that’s SO hard to get out of. You know it.
I highly recommend doing a weekly check in if your - changing something in your life / hitting goals / building a life you love. Set aside 15/30 minutes every week (on the same day if you can) and ‘check in’ with how your doing, how your moving your vision & goals forward. whats working, what needs re jigging. it’s powerful!
Find something you love to do…..
“Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life”
- Harvey MacKay
wanderlust: los angeles – 30 days in america
This post introduces ‘Wanderlust’ as a regular feature. And this story on Los Angeles launches a series on my 30 days in America, which I introduced here.
Before I pulled out of the parking lot I did my little mantra that would accompany me on the next three weeks of driving through the states of California and Nevada. It went something like “remember Maree, your driving on the right hand side of the road, the right hand side (at this point my right hand would go up in the air to cement the statement). When you turn right it’s a hard right, when you turn left its going across the traffic.” I did this pretty much every time I got in the car. Seriously.
My safety drill over I then turned the radio up loud to some gangsta rap (I did) and headed off into the Los Angeles morning traffic. It was my first time in LA, actually my first time in America. And there’s nothing quite like driving in a new city straight after a 14.5 hour flight to remind you your alive.
I spent my two and a half days in LA –
- Driving. A lot.
- Strolling Santa Monica
- Being in awe at the incredible works at the LACMA – the Giacometti collection literally stopped me in my tracks and made me gasp out loud – and cry a little. It was so beautiful.
- Attending a LACMA artist talk with some LA locals I’d just met that night
- Indulgent people watching and glorious food at Rays Stark Bar
- Looking at the moon through a super telescope on the lawn of the Griffith Observatory. God it was beautiful.
- Seeing LA at its best – up high at night from the Griffith Observatory balcony. A sea of sparkling jewels as wide as the eye can see = glorious.
- Driving Sunset Boulevard
- Getting frustrated a hell of a lot – missed turn offs, driving aimlessly without finding anything interesting, getting lost and stuck in traffic
- Loving the gorgeous weather – hot dry heat all the way (I visited end September)
I can honestly say I have never ever been to a city like Los Angeles. Never. And I’ve been to some of China’s monolith cities, and still LA is in a league of its own.
Its urban sprawl, insane amount of roads and motorways and the abject poverty sidled up against dripping with diamonds excess is an assault on the senses (and I’m not a delicate wee flower). Oh, and the slew of old run down buildings lining the super wide roads pretty much everywhere (expect in the neighbourhoods of the super rich) was SO not what I was expecting.
I was disoriented, unable to find its heart. When I travel to new places my small town routes seeks the heart of a place so I can position myself, a compass of sorts to ground me and guide me into the unfamiliar. I couldn’t do that in LA. New York, Beijing – yes, but not in LA.
That’s the beauty of travel though, being outside of your comfort zone and submerged in difference, and on these counts LA delivered in spades. In retrospect I’m pleased I spent a few days there, it shattered the myth and gave me an entry handle on a part of America so often sensationalised.
It’s the kind of place you need to know where to go – a local’s knowledge would be gold dust. It’s not a take a wander and stumble upon a gem, kind of city. No siree.
I’m not jumping to go back, but then I can’t dismiss this city because I never got the chance to see a lot of it’s beauty revealed. I was there for a blink of time and was totally naive and un-prepared. I had grand visions of checking out some of the incredible modernist architecture but late starts to my day (time zone difference) and getting lost and the copious amounts of driving meant that didn’t happen. I’d say I’ll land on its shores again and will do a truckload of research before hitting the tarmac.
My recommendations and tips
- Watch Crash (one of my favourite movies) it shows LA rawly and beautifully in all its shades of grey.
- Hire a car. Hire a car. Hire a car. Do not do LA without a car.
- Research the shiz out of the city before you get there and plan. Know where you want to go and what you want to see. LA is not the city to have a light and loose agenda, it will gobble you up and spit you out.
- Get access to insider knowledge if you can, if you have a friend there hit them up for info. If a friends visited before ask them what they did, how they found it.
- Check out Santa Monica’s glorious town, beach and boardwalk, it’s a welcome contrast to the concrete jungle. Think laid back beach culture.
- Do a little drive by through Beverly Hills houses.
- You must visit Griffith observatory. You must!
- If you love your art the LACMA is a non negotiable.
- If I went back again I would definitely do a day bus tour. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I would.
my week of alchemy + hustle: 13:03:13
introducing ‘my week of alchemy + hustle’ a new wednesday weekly feature where I collate and share what I’ve been up to during the previous week. what I’ve been doing to build a life doing what i love…..whats working, how I’m inching forward. there’s nothing like a ‘weekly check in’ to keep your vision burning bright.
cause celebre
after a lot of hard work i kicked a goal – relaunched the blog = best feeling ever.
social + culture
I checked out the pacifica festival
a celebration of ten pacific cultures – food, music, dancing, crafts = vivid colour and love
I got in touch with my maori heritage with a little fake moko + a selfie fun photo shoot
taking stock and setting course
I did a little stock take of sorts:
3.5 months in nz – creative routine starting to take hold = YEEHA
empty bank account = time to get some work
I wrote and set new goals which will enable my vision = empowering thing to do
what’s working
a clear mind. walking. task lists. the odd morning swim in the sea.
needing some attention
better eating. gluten and other foods I’m intolerant too are slipping in = body says NO
I highly recommend doing a weekly check in if your - changing something in your life / hitting goals / building a life you love. Set aside 15/30 minutes every week (on the same day if you can) and ‘check in’ with how your doing, how your moving your vision & goals forward. whats working, what needs re jigging. it’s powerful!
do you wake up in the morning happy to go to work?
“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like – ‘If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right’.
It made an impression on me… and since then, for the past 33 years I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself – ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I’m about to do today’. And whenever the answer has been, ‘no’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything: all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure… these things just fall away in the face of death… leaving only what is truly important.
Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked; there is no reason not to follow your heart”
steve jobs, stanford university graduation speech, june 12, 2005
I’m sure you’ve seen this quote before, but I thought it was worth posting. When I first read it, it striked my malaise of work unhappiness right between the eyes. It got me thinking differently.
So…..do you get up in the morning jumping with joy for your working day ahead?
When was the last time you felt most alive and in your joy?
If your interested in doing more of what you love in your life this is a great question to ask, a great starting point – especially if your struggling to connect to your passion. I will be writing a whole series on ‘connecting to your passion’ in the future, but for now this is a great place to start.
Trust me there’s a lot of power in taking the time to ask yourself this. In getting quiet and really listening to your answer, or the brain blank that follows……or the fact you can’t say you’ve every felt really alive and in your joy. Don’t judge your response, what ever comes up is gold dust for your future. Oh and keep an eye out for your internal chatter which may want to poo poo your response……“Your joking right? Baking with grandma, thats your answer? That can’t be it, what about when you………” . Watch out for that voice.
I have the privilege of my last most alive and joyful moment being captured on film, by me! It was nine long years ago in 2004 and I was on the back of a motorbike in Vietnam. Ho (my awesome Easy Rider) and I were part way through a four day trek from Ho Chi Minh city to the Mekong Delta. We were hurtling along a road in the middle of nowhere, the sun was setting. I think I was in week four of my six weeks in Vietnam after having travelled through China for 7.5 weeks. Solo. Thailand was up next.
I remember standing up on the back of the bike, hurtling past rice fields taking this photo. Of looking around and thinking ‘remember this moment’ remember this feeling. I was SO alive and so very happy. Inside my helmet was an uncontrollable grin that had formed all by itself (you know the kind). It makes me smile now thinking about it. I felt SO good and joyful. I was in total adventure mode, in total unfamiliarity. I was absolutely free and I loved it. Loved it to death.
Everybody will have a personal definition of what ‘most alive’ and ‘joyful’ means for them. For me ‘alive’ was being totally in the moment, transfixed by my love affair with what I was doing. My body so open to the experience, so light, happy. And ‘joyful’ was the grin on my face, it was the feeling I got from being so alive.
Freedom + adventure + unfamiliarity + great food* = a very alive, joyful maree
Whats the equation that works for you? Heres a few pointers to get you started……
- Make some time, remove distractions and get comfortable. Have a wee pen and paper at the ready.
- Close your eyes if it feels right, keep them open if not…..if you need music play it, you get my drift.
- Ask yourself – when has been a time I’ve been my most alive, in my joy? (note: they maybe two separate questions for you)
- Listen to your response, what came up? – a time, an experience, memory, feeling, smell, a person, a blank…..nada, nothing?
- Write it down. Write down if nothing came up, if you drew a blank, if you think the questions is ridiculous. write that down too.
- Now take your answer and colour in the scene, what was going on in your life at the time? – how old were you, where were you living, what was your job / study, how did you feel about yourself at the time, were you in a relationship……you get the drill.
- Describe how it made you feel and in particular what you loved about it.
- If nothing came up thats okay, it just means theres room in your future to have that experience. If you want too.
You don’t have to do anything revolutionary with your findings right now. The power is in starting the dialogue and listening to your response. Its a first step in exploring what brings you joy on the road to building a life doing what you love. A little food for thought, to get you warmed up.
It’s not lost on me that nine years has past since I last grinned uncontrollably like a cheshire cat. I got pretty close last year when rolling around in Sonoma, but that moment on the back of the bike and my time in asia stands out. It has become the bench mark that I’m building my future around.
So what was your answer, what came up for you? When were you most alive? I would love to hear.
*The food in Vietnam was a continual source of absolute exquisite delight. Im a foodie so I was in heaven.