Tuesday, 17 October 2006
The Outcome....
If you're wondering about the outcome of my discussion with my gym manager, it's coming I promise. I haven't forgotten about posting it, promise. I've just been quite busy at work. Stay tuned...
Monday, 9 October 2006
The Biggest Loser
This is one of my favourite TV shows! I just finished watching it tonight. I find it inspiring to see so many people make the decision to change their lives. I love following them on their journey through pain, tears, and plain, hard work! It would be so awesome to be a Biggest Loser Trainer one day!
Dream in the Making
It would probably help to know what my dream even is, huh?
I want to become a fitness instructor. Maybe even a personal trainer. Hey, one day I may even open my own gym, or a whole franchise of them! I'm a bit of an ideas woman, so trust me when I say that I have plenty of ideas swimming around in my head.
Why fitness?
I see a huge need for fitness professionals, especially in a country like Australia where obesity and related diseases such as heart problems and type II diabetes are increasing at alarming rates. I want to play a part in serving people in this area of need. People who know me today would say I'm fit and healthy. They know I enjoy my exercise and go to the gym regularly. They know that I'm an advocate of eating a healthy, balanced diet. But I remember myself as a teenager, being the "chubby girl". Secretly consuming sweet snacks because of the momentary good feeling I got as I ate them. Being told repeatedly by my parents that I need to exercise more, but not really knowing how to do this and not even knowing that I could actually do it. I want to show people that they can be fit and healthy ~ exercise is hard work but it's possible to enjoy hard work! Food does not have to control us, we can control it!
I remember when I first started going to aerobics classes. I was 18 years old and in my first year at university. I really enjoyed them and thought to myself, "wouldn't it be cool to be an aerobics instructor?" Of course like most thoughts we have, I dismissed this and continued pursuing my studies in an area that I thought I should be studying - Biomedical Science. I went on to complete this degree with honours, only to discover during my honours year that I passionately disliked the day-to-day job of scientific research.
Upon learning about what I want to do with my life, the initial reaction of many of my friends and family is typically, "that's SO different from what you do now!". Which just goes to show how much we define ourselves and one another by our jobs or careers. Many of my more recent friends and acquaintances do not even know that I was never formally trained in accounting and that I actually studied medical science, of all things!
But anyway, enough of the background stuff. I have some exciting news: tomorrow afternoon I meet with the manager of the gym that I am a member of. I spoke to him two weeks ago to ask about his professional opinion on the many training schools in Melbourne. He told me he's about to book some of his staff in for training and would be happy to book me in with them if this is something I am interested in.
Tomorrow we are going to talk more about this, but also about the prospect of employment for me with the gym. So I am truly excited.
I want to become a fitness instructor. Maybe even a personal trainer. Hey, one day I may even open my own gym, or a whole franchise of them! I'm a bit of an ideas woman, so trust me when I say that I have plenty of ideas swimming around in my head.
Why fitness?
I see a huge need for fitness professionals, especially in a country like Australia where obesity and related diseases such as heart problems and type II diabetes are increasing at alarming rates. I want to play a part in serving people in this area of need. People who know me today would say I'm fit and healthy. They know I enjoy my exercise and go to the gym regularly. They know that I'm an advocate of eating a healthy, balanced diet. But I remember myself as a teenager, being the "chubby girl". Secretly consuming sweet snacks because of the momentary good feeling I got as I ate them. Being told repeatedly by my parents that I need to exercise more, but not really knowing how to do this and not even knowing that I could actually do it. I want to show people that they can be fit and healthy ~ exercise is hard work but it's possible to enjoy hard work! Food does not have to control us, we can control it!
I remember when I first started going to aerobics classes. I was 18 years old and in my first year at university. I really enjoyed them and thought to myself, "wouldn't it be cool to be an aerobics instructor?" Of course like most thoughts we have, I dismissed this and continued pursuing my studies in an area that I thought I should be studying - Biomedical Science. I went on to complete this degree with honours, only to discover during my honours year that I passionately disliked the day-to-day job of scientific research.
Upon learning about what I want to do with my life, the initial reaction of many of my friends and family is typically, "that's SO different from what you do now!". Which just goes to show how much we define ourselves and one another by our jobs or careers. Many of my more recent friends and acquaintances do not even know that I was never formally trained in accounting and that I actually studied medical science, of all things!
But anyway, enough of the background stuff. I have some exciting news: tomorrow afternoon I meet with the manager of the gym that I am a member of. I spoke to him two weeks ago to ask about his professional opinion on the many training schools in Melbourne. He told me he's about to book some of his staff in for training and would be happy to book me in with them if this is something I am interested in.
Tomorrow we are going to talk more about this, but also about the prospect of employment for me with the gym. So I am truly excited.
Friday, 18 August 2006
Never too small...
"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito." -Betty Reese
I read this quote this morning and wanted to shared it with you. I hope you find encouragement in it, especially in times when you are down and your dream just seems too far away and unreachable to attain.
I read this quote this morning and wanted to shared it with you. I hope you find encouragement in it, especially in times when you are down and your dream just seems too far away and unreachable to attain.
Wednesday, 16 August 2006
My "Land of Familiar"
I work for my church full-time as an administrator. My main responsibilities include managing the church finances and payroll, bookkeeping, and administrating human resources for the missionary-sending branch of our church.
The job pays well and the work conditions are fantastic ~ great colleagues, friendly and loving work environment, flexible hours and freedom to be myself in a place that cares for me not just as an employee, but as a person.
Moreover, I am naturally gifted in the area of administration which is demonstrated by some of my personality traits: I like everything to have its place, I prefer to be invited to events in advance rather than a day (or less!) before, I am constantly looking for ways to do things more efficiently... and math was one of my favourite subjects in school so the bookkeeping and finance stuff comes easily.
But (!) I have learnt that just because I am employed in a job that I'm good at with ideal pay and work conditions, doesn't mean that I am living my dream. I might be living someone else's dream, but it's not necessarily the fulfillment of my own.
I originally took this job because the opportunity presented itself at an ideal time ~ I had just completed my University degree and needed a full-time job. I was about to get engaged and wanted to save up as much money as possible to financially prepare myself as best I could going into marriage. It was convenient. It was easy. It was helping me fulfill my goals at that time. I was good at it!
In the past few months, even though I know I have one of the best jobs around, I have found it difficult to get up in the morning to go to work. Some days I just want to stay in bed. I knew that something was wrong. At times the thought would cross my mind that maybe I should pass my job on top someone else and free myself to seek what my heart is really passionate for. But then "reality" would come crashing in to interrupt these thoughts: "But your job is so great!" "But you earn a good income and your family needs that income, you can't give it up!" "But this job is so stable and secure, why would purposely choose to do something that's not?
Friends, it is easy to allow these and many other thoughts to hold us captive in our own Lands of Familiar. Yes, Familiar is comfortable, it's easy, many times it's even really good. But it's not the best. If we choose to stay with the good at the cost of getting the best, then we could instead end up with a life full of regret for never "giving it a go".
If we want to seek our dreams, then we must be willing to step over our fears, out of our comfort zones and pack our bags, prepared to leave our Land of Familiar to go in search of our Promised Land.
Are your bags packed?
The job pays well and the work conditions are fantastic ~ great colleagues, friendly and loving work environment, flexible hours and freedom to be myself in a place that cares for me not just as an employee, but as a person.
Moreover, I am naturally gifted in the area of administration which is demonstrated by some of my personality traits: I like everything to have its place, I prefer to be invited to events in advance rather than a day (or less!) before, I am constantly looking for ways to do things more efficiently... and math was one of my favourite subjects in school so the bookkeeping and finance stuff comes easily.
But (!) I have learnt that just because I am employed in a job that I'm good at with ideal pay and work conditions, doesn't mean that I am living my dream. I might be living someone else's dream, but it's not necessarily the fulfillment of my own.
I originally took this job because the opportunity presented itself at an ideal time ~ I had just completed my University degree and needed a full-time job. I was about to get engaged and wanted to save up as much money as possible to financially prepare myself as best I could going into marriage. It was convenient. It was easy. It was helping me fulfill my goals at that time. I was good at it!
In the past few months, even though I know I have one of the best jobs around, I have found it difficult to get up in the morning to go to work. Some days I just want to stay in bed. I knew that something was wrong. At times the thought would cross my mind that maybe I should pass my job on top someone else and free myself to seek what my heart is really passionate for. But then "reality" would come crashing in to interrupt these thoughts: "But your job is so great!" "But you earn a good income and your family needs that income, you can't give it up!" "But this job is so stable and secure, why would purposely choose to do something that's not?
Friends, it is easy to allow these and many other thoughts to hold us captive in our own Lands of Familiar. Yes, Familiar is comfortable, it's easy, many times it's even really good. But it's not the best. If we choose to stay with the good at the cost of getting the best, then we could instead end up with a life full of regret for never "giving it a go".
If we want to seek our dreams, then we must be willing to step over our fears, out of our comfort zones and pack our bags, prepared to leave our Land of Familiar to go in search of our Promised Land.
Are your bags packed?
Saturday, 12 August 2006
Easily sidetracked
How time flies ~ it's been almost 2 months since my last post!
A common enemy of living out our dreams is "responsibility". It can cause years, even decades to go by before suddenly one day we wake up and wonder what we've been doing all our lives. Now I am not saying to stop being responsible. But I am saying that responsibilities should not be our excuse for living an unfulfilled life.
It is too easy for most of us to settle for the mediocre: a secure job, a steady income, a life where we can predict what tomorrow will bring. It is easier to settle for what we know and are familiar with rather than taking that step into unknown territory. It is easier to fill our lives with busy-ness and productivity so that we don't have to think about whether we really do enjoy what we are doing, or whether we will regret not "having a go" when we look back at the end of our lives.
Wilkinson addresses this very thing in his book ~ I can totally identify with the main character, Ordinary, living in my very own Land of Familiar. What is my Land of Familiar? Stay tuned for the next post!
A common enemy of living out our dreams is "responsibility". It can cause years, even decades to go by before suddenly one day we wake up and wonder what we've been doing all our lives. Now I am not saying to stop being responsible. But I am saying that responsibilities should not be our excuse for living an unfulfilled life.
It is too easy for most of us to settle for the mediocre: a secure job, a steady income, a life where we can predict what tomorrow will bring. It is easier to settle for what we know and are familiar with rather than taking that step into unknown territory. It is easier to fill our lives with busy-ness and productivity so that we don't have to think about whether we really do enjoy what we are doing, or whether we will regret not "having a go" when we look back at the end of our lives.
Wilkinson addresses this very thing in his book ~ I can totally identify with the main character, Ordinary, living in my very own Land of Familiar. What is my Land of Familiar? Stay tuned for the next post!
Friday, 16 June 2006
No more excuses
Bruce Wilkinson teaches that everyone has a dream. I believe him. His book is leading me to search inside myself and rediscover what my dream - or dreams - are.
For a long time, I thought I was one of those people who doesn't have a dream. But a realisation hit me last night. I have been unknowingly following a pattern set out for me by my parents. As I look at their lives right now, I believe neither of them are living their dreams. Probably their biggest excuse for this is that they are committed to putting family before themselves, whether that be raising and providing for their children or caring for their elderly parents. But just the other day my Dad shared with me that he isn't enjoying life right now - he is overworked and stressed, and I think he feels that there is nothing he can do to change his situation.
On the other side of the coin, I have a husband who is a huge dreamer! One of his biggest dreams is to be a major influence in Australian politics. Late last year he made the decision to go back to university, and this year he commenced part-time studies in a law degree on top of his full-time job.
I was so happy for James and yet at the same time so jealous. Happy because he was taking a pretty big step towards making his dream into a reality. Jealous because for years I had felt I had no dream, and when James started his law degree, I felt that it was my responsibility was to give up my own life and dreams (I thought I had none anyway!) and support him. After all, a law degree was a pretty big financial commitment so I have better keep working in my job to help support my husband.
Last night I realised that I was using James as my excuse, just like my parents, and probably my grandparents, have unknowingly used family as their excuse. I even secretly blamed James for my not having a dream, let alone pursuing one.
So no more excuses for me! I am ready to step out, to give it a go, to fail and to pick myself up again. To break through obstacles and opposition. If you want to dream and feel that you're the only one in your family, you are not alone! Partner with me and we'll encourage and spur one another on!
I am ready to live. Are you?
For a long time, I thought I was one of those people who doesn't have a dream. But a realisation hit me last night. I have been unknowingly following a pattern set out for me by my parents. As I look at their lives right now, I believe neither of them are living their dreams. Probably their biggest excuse for this is that they are committed to putting family before themselves, whether that be raising and providing for their children or caring for their elderly parents. But just the other day my Dad shared with me that he isn't enjoying life right now - he is overworked and stressed, and I think he feels that there is nothing he can do to change his situation.
On the other side of the coin, I have a husband who is a huge dreamer! One of his biggest dreams is to be a major influence in Australian politics. Late last year he made the decision to go back to university, and this year he commenced part-time studies in a law degree on top of his full-time job.
I was so happy for James and yet at the same time so jealous. Happy because he was taking a pretty big step towards making his dream into a reality. Jealous because for years I had felt I had no dream, and when James started his law degree, I felt that it was my responsibility was to give up my own life and dreams (I thought I had none anyway!) and support him. After all, a law degree was a pretty big financial commitment so I have better keep working in my job to help support my husband.
Last night I realised that I was using James as my excuse, just like my parents, and probably my grandparents, have unknowingly used family as their excuse. I even secretly blamed James for my not having a dream, let alone pursuing one.
So no more excuses for me! I am ready to step out, to give it a go, to fail and to pick myself up again. To break through obstacles and opposition. If you want to dream and feel that you're the only one in your family, you are not alone! Partner with me and we'll encourage and spur one another on!
I am ready to live. Are you?
Thursday, 15 June 2006
Introducing the Dreamer
My name is Fiona and I'm the dreamer.
I personally feel it's nice to be able to attach a face to a name and a blog, so here I am. :)
And so begins the journey...
I picked up this book yesterday at the local Christian book store. It's called The Dream Giver, written by Bruce Wilkinson.I read the first half of the book in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. This book is the inspiration for starting my own dream diary. I decided to write this diary online - right here - so that others can share in my journey and be inspired to also get out of their comfort zones, exit their "Land of Familiar" and begin their own journey towards the "Promised Land".
I can't promise my story will be the most exciting journey for you, my friend, because, like you, I have no idea what lies ahead. But I certainly hope that my story will inspire you to construct your own.
Let's dare to dream together.
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