confusing to the max!

i recently i had an epiphany about words and language

it seems we all carry round our own dictionary, a personal vocabulary we use to interact with the world at large.

for example when i use the word 'loyalty' and have the accompanying feelings, it may well mean be different to what it signifies for you.

we use words to map our lives. they are personal interpretations of OUR internal dialogue, and the world we create around us reflects this.

if you're working in a corporate environment, the word 'honour' must mean something quite different to someone working with disadvantaged kids. if you're in public relations, your experiential understanding of the word 'trust' or 'friendship' may be shaped by your chosen field.

accepting this logic helps us to understand our and others, responses. it's full-on out there - we're all jumbled up coming from so many different worlds, bumping into each other - it's confusing to the max!

how many times have you heard someone being described as "overly sensitive"? or you've walked away from a conversation thinking "we were on totally different wave-lengths"? or "what the f**k was THAT all about!?" - cause they probably were and you are and that's because we all have such variations in language interpretation.

i hope this helps you to not take things as personally. i hope it helps you to step back and gain a broader perspective of the world of interaction and communication. it's helped me.

shine brightly, one and all

just sharing the view from our balcony!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Marianne Williamson - A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

divine intervention

are you waiting for life to happen?

when i look like this i'll feel better, when i get that i'll be happy, when i move to the country or meet a new love. endless waiting around for a better life, waiting for perfection to happen.

but it's here all the time - it surrounds you.
when you look up into blue sky, or dive into ice-cold water. when you meet a smile with a smile at a stranger on the street. divine life appears.

smell the next flower you see, pause, close your eyes and draw in sunshine. snuggle a baby, join in laughter, fill your home with music that makes you wiggle and sing.

have faith, whatever tradition you wish to pursue. have faith that your life is perfect just the way it is. divinely beautiful in a myriad of ways.

FATTY BOOMBAH!!!!!!

David Jones have been a long-standing client in the 25 years i've been working as a model. I've been popping up in their catalogues and television commercials for decades. well this week i found out i was too fat to work for DJs.

this is how it went down: a couple of weeks back DJ's were casting 'classic' models (mature women, aged 35+) for their festive catalogue. at some castings models are asked to try on some of the clothing for the shoot. i did and "quell horreur" most of the pieces didn't fit.

never-the-less the dear art director liked my look and felt i was right for the job, even put me 'on hold' (modelling term for penciled in).

my girlfriend who is a make-up artist worked on the shoot. at some point through the day my name came up in conversation when the art director was saying "she would have loved to have booked kate bell but unfortunately she didn't fit the samples supplied". the conversation was about how clients are always going on about how they want 'real women' advertising their product but buyers and designers supply size 8 samples for 35+ women.

interestingly my 12 year old nieghbour wears a size 8. at the height of my modeling life i was a size 10 and could passably squeeze into an Aussie 8. these days my bottom half is (just) still a 10, but i'm broader through the shoulders and back and fit more comfortably into a size 12 on top.

i'm 43 and totally happy with my bod. it's the only thing i truely own and i take care of it. i've worked hard to achieve a harmonious balance - what goes in = energy expended (what goes out). i eat mainly organic, i don't drink, i love being in the water, walking with friends, i do truckloads of yoga.

but i'm too big to work for david Jones.