Surfin' in Byron Bay

Yes, some girls really do surf in string bikinis!

The most glorious beach

Snapbacks and re-entries! Yo dude!

Moi, overlooking The Pass

This is why I love Byron Bay and why I love surfing: when you are in the water, riding waves, there is only that moment - pure and exquisite. It doesn't matter how much you money you did or not make that day, how big your butt is, or how your web stats are doing; when you're in the surf, you're in bliss. You realise that living is now -right here, right now, in this very moment.

Surfin' - it teaches you livin'. Love it!

What do you do for fun?

A surfer gets ready to tackle the surf at Camel Rock, Bermagui, on New Year's Day, 2008

When I start work with a client, one of the first things we do is focus on fun. This comes even before sorting out goals, aspirations, visions, and wish lists. I find that if you take someone who is already a keenly motivated individual and start talking about re-designing their life and lifestyle, they want to tackle it like they would any other project. Living a great life just becomes one more 'to do' on the task list.

And you know as well as I do that if you take the energy of 'hard work' and 'must achieve' to even something as delightful as creating a brilliant life, then that's what you'll get - creating a life you love that is full of hard work. Ugh. I personally am over the 'hard work', nose-to-the-grindstone, approach to living life, and prefer instead the energy of 'grooviness, peace, flow, and FUN!'

So to cut through this Type A personality, must-achieve mentality, we go right to heart of the matter: first, have some fun. This ramps up the vibe straight away and makes all other lifestyle re-design 'work' an adventure and an exploration instead of a chore.

In fact, one of the best things I learned recently from Eva Gregory, one of the super coaches I interviewed for Law of Attraction Superhighway, is her motto is, "Fun is number one." Now that's a motto worth adopting!

In a recent conversation with coaching client 'Susan', this notion of fun was met with confusion and blank looks. "Fun? I don't have time for fun. I don't remember the last time I had fun, just for fun's sake. How do you have fun again?"

Susan had been so busy being a grown-up, parent, a bread-winner, an ex-wife, a manager that she'd denied herself the simple pleasure of goofing off. After all, she had serious responsibilities - for her children, her step-children, her house, her staff. Life is serious.

Or so Susan believed, at least until she worked out being serious all the time was sapping her life force. Life, in being so serious, was simply passing her by.

Not so now! Susan re-discovered the art of fun. She started slowly - a haircut, a manicure, lunch with a friend, reading a book. Once she eased in to the flow of that feel-good vibe, she started to get a little more adventurous: cooking classes, dance lessons, and heavens forbid - even going out on a date. Good for you Susan.

And so I dedicate 2008 to the Year of Fun, and all those who wish to embrace fun as a way of being, not just a way of recovering.

Want some ideas for fun? Here are some snaps from my Christmas holiday down at the beach - fun central.

Rob catching a wave with his new Manta X Pro 44 inch boogie board.

Rob between sets in the massive New Year's surf.

Me hitting the perfect putt after a great hole on the course - two hits in to the bunker (not so good!) and then sand wedge on to the green followed by this lovely putt that sank like gem in water.

No better way to have fun than simply goof off! This is me hamming it up for the camera in the ever-fashionable and oh-so comfortable Crocs.

Charlie - looking hip in sunnies and cap, has much fun kicking a plastic ball and eating dirt. Ahhh - the simple pleasures of youth.

What's your favourite goof off activity? Drop a comment and let us know. I'm always looking for more goof off ideas!

Spring at the Arctic Circle

My friend Jay went on a spring fishing trip to the shore of Hudson Bay, near Arviat, in Canada and sent me a few photos. Jay and I worked together at Camp Stephens summer camp for many years. When he was Camp Director and I was Wilderness Coordinator (organising canoe trips), we had two great summers of laughs and outrageous shenanigans (instigated by Jay, larrikin extraordinaire).

Jay, beside an 'inukshuk', used to create landmarks to navigate across the wide snowy landscape.

Jay could also win the prize for most creative and inspiring theatrics for staff and camper parties. He once had the YMCA emblem (upside down triangle) floating on a dock in the bay lit by flaming arrows shot from the roof of the nearby lodge roof, while spellbound campers looked on. It was not the safest exercise, nor did it always work, but the funnest part was anticipating which emblem-lighting scheme Jay would come up with next. Having a staff member ride a bike off the dock through the burning triangle into the water was one stunt that did not go repeated! Just a few risk management issues to contend with there.

Jay now teaches Inuit kids up in northern Canada. Jay takes his love of life with him and I am assured there are plenty of opportunities for pranks and laughs up there!

The ice will not melt until July (i.e. middle of summer in the rest of the country) and there is now 24 hours of light. The ice is still six feet deep, though there are seal breathing holes and milions of geese, cranes, and swans returning for the summer.

I love these photos as they remind me that there are many paths to happiness. Finding beauty and an expanded perspective in your surroundings is one of them.


6 foot ice auger used to drill an ice fishing hole, during a spring fishing trip



A traditional drum dance ceremony.


















Jay and friend/fishing host, Frank

Easter and the Canberra Marathon

This is Rob going for the tube as the wave closes out.

Easter in Australia is a lovely time of year: not so hot, and the currents are still warm enough for surfing and swimming in the sea. We had a delightful holiday down at Bermagui with Rob's family. I even attempted the game of golf. You can read my insight on the game a.k.a. torture here.


The Canberra Marathon

On April 15th over 1000 runners lined up to take part in the Canberra Marathon. For the first time since 2001, apart form 2005 when I was diagnosed with cancer, I was not one of them. This year Rob and I decided to take it easy and volunteered instead. We gave out refreshments at the 5km line and then assisted very wobbly runners at the end.

You know what was interesting in being able to see all the finishers - from the elite through to the plodders, is that all the runners who finished after four hours were among the happiest and most social. they were quite simply elated to be finishing - happy with themselves, their effort, and being alive after 42.2km (26 miles). The runners who came in between 3 and 3 and half hours were the most serious - they had been pushing hard and for many of them it was all about the time. They did not seem to be having much fun to me.

Another group that was definitely the happiest of all were a visiting group of Taiwanese runners. many of them even ran the 50km race. They were all smiling ear to ear, full of encouragement and smiles and good humour. They were awesome. For them it was definitely all about the journey and not the finish line.

As for me, it gave me the bug again...I am dreaming of which marathon next - Sydney? New York? Canberra again? I definitely have another one in me! I look forward to it already.

Happy trails.

Zoe

Getting the drinks ready at the 5km station. That's me at the end in the blue vest.

This is the lead group at the 5km mark. Notice how few feet are actually touching the ground!

Byron Bay holiday

Me and Rob - lovin' it in Byron Bay at the Lighthouse.

Ahhhhh. Byron Bay. Long known as the beach destination for all trendy hippy types, Byron Bay has evolved. There is a lot less hippy elements and a lot more upmarket, classy retreats, restaurants, and shops. The beach, however, remains every beautiful, warm, and completely lovely.

Surfie kid. How do they do that??

The Pass at Byron. The surf was small this day (otherwise I'd be out in it!)

We had 12 days of pure bliss - lovely sunny weather during the day, rain at night, and great surf. we had the boogie boards out twice a day. Loved every moment of it.

Rob on the right, asserting his 'authorite' on the wave.

Rob and Roger doing their best "Blue Steel" look, a la Zoolander.