Mt Everest ‘Think Big’ Trek 2010

  
“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”
Edmund Hillary

Next month I am off on what will be one of the biggest life changing experiences I may ever have!  

I’m hoping to completely overhaul my mind, the way I see life and business, develop my creativity, create new opportunities and contacts plus become even more passionate about all aspects of my business, my clients businesses and the importance of a balanced life style. 

I am now appealing to my valued clients for support and sponsorship of my huge task being the climb to Base Camp Mt Everest, a 21 day hike in what I would consider quite exceptionally different conditions to what I am accustomed to. 

If you would like to sponsor my trek any support would be most graciously appreciated …. Please click here for more interesting information about the trek and see how you can help and promote your business.

Gokyo Lakes Associate Sponsors

$ 250 – $ 900 (to date)

       www.jobsmart.net.au                      www.accountingnorth.com.au
          more info here                                         more info here

Now you know why I have been doing so much walking of late!

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

I’ve never really supported the Fraser Coast “Pub Crawl” ….  I just don’t see the logic in using tax payer funded government grants to promote and encourage binge drinking to get into the Guiness Book of Records.
Alcohol causes so much distruction and damages so many people lives yet our Fraser Coast Council actively promotes and supports this behaviour on what I assume is tax payer funded website!

All our local Police will be attending the event plus more are coming from surrounding areas and Brisbane including a riot squad … who covers this cost?? The Tax Payer?

Gee Anne how RESPONSIBLE!!!
 “It is good news from an operational point of view… this ensures publicans are able to serve as fast as they can.”

Is this the only event in Australia that is still allowed to sell full strength alcohol?

MID-STRENGTH alcohol restrictions and mandatory water breaks no longer apply to this year’s World’s Greatest Pub Fest…. Liquor Licensing when it decided on Friday not to impose alcohol restrictions to Maryborough’s world-renowned event….. “It is good news from an operational point of view… this ensures publicans are able to serve as fast as they can.” pub fest committee chair and Fraser Coast councillor Anne Nioa said. Read more here.

I tend to agree with Father Kelly, the local Maryborough Catholic Priest on this one:

“I am not getting at the pubs but after observing part of the pub crawl last year I truly fear for the safety of people…..The change of name and various additions over the years, such as more water, suggestions of lower strength alcohol, a charitable ‘cause’, etc, really are just trying to minimise the basic nature of the thing as a pub crawl, with all its negative connotations……This community does not need what is really still a pub crawl in spite of the council dressing it up as a festival and adding charities and church water stations.”

… Father Kelly’s full article here

What I do support is the  Wide Bay Sexual Assault Association and the remarkable work the councillors do in putting lives back together due to the abuse and adverse effects of alcohol. 
I think the Fraser Coast Council should more appropriately use tax payer funds for a free website for the Wide Bay Sexual Assault Association so that those who are abused mentally, physically or sexually by alcohol related incidents can seek help and know there is support and recovery systems within our community and know what to do if they become a victim.

Wide Bay Sexual Assault Support Services are getting the message out there this weekend with the use of their display stand created by Design House – “Drink Spike Alert ahead of Pub Crawl!”

IT CAN happen in an instant but lead to a lifetime of pain.

Drink-spiking is common and women attending the World’s Greatest Pub Fest on Sunday are urged to beware and take care so the crawl remains a safe and happy experience.

Counsellors from the Wide Bay Sexual Assault Support Service visited every participating crawl pub this week to distribute coasters, brochures and wrist bands warning of the dangers and advising people how to stay safe. … click here to learn more (image & info from The Fraser Coast Chronicle).

What to do if you think your drink has been spiked.
It is important to tell someone you can trust, a friend, security staff, the police and go to a doctor or hospital. Your doctor or a medical practitioner can test for the presence of traces of certain drugs through urine or blood tests within 24 hours.

Report the Crime 000 – Seek Medical HELP!
Statewide Sexual Assault Helpline  1800 010 120
Wide Bay Sexual Assault Service   07 4121 5999

I’ve learned that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.
I’ve learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back.
I’ve learned that it takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it.
I’ve learned that it’s not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.
I’ve learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you’d better know something.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t compare yourself to the best others can do, but to the best you can do.
I’ve learned that it’s not what happens to people, It’s what they do about it.
I’ve learned that no matter how thin you slide it, there are always two sides.
I’ve learned that you should always have loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you’ll see them.
I’ve learned that you can keep going long after you think you can’t.

I’ve learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done When it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I’ve learned that there are people who love you dearly, but just don’t know how to show it.
I’ve learned that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.
I’ve learned that true friendship continues to grow even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.
I’ve learned that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I’ve learned that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I’ve learned that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I’ve learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
I’ve learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I’ve learned that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.
And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I’ve learned that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of their actions.
I’ve learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I’ve learned that no matter the consequences, those who are honest with themselves go farther in life.
I’ve learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.
I’ve learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I’ve learned that writing, as well as talking, can ease emotional pains.
I’ve learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon.
I’ve learned that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings and standing up for what you believe.
I’ve learned to love
and be loved.
I’ve learned…

by Omer B. Washington

“When you change the way you look at something, what you are looking at will change.” – Deepak Chopra

Last night I went to listen to Deepak Chopra at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). What an intelligent, amusing and insightful man with a profound understanding of the universe. (Deepak Chopra is one of Oprah’s spiritual mentors)

Here are a few things I learned:
-       Our body’s our subconscious mind
-       The mind is in all cells of the body not the brain
-       Your body is in your mind which is a larger field of consciousness
-       The human body is not a structure it’s a process
-       In one year all atoms in our body are replaced – therefore the Deepac talking to me was not the same Deepac who visited Australia a year ago
-       The physical body is the recycling of earth, water and air
-       Our experience of the world is based on vibration
-       All thoughts are either choices or interpretations of past or future
-       Why can’t you be found in your body? Because you are not there, you are not in it. The body is in you.
-       Everything is a vibration.
-       Void is infinite possibilities, immeasurable potential

-       The Science of happiness; find happiness first then you will have happiness in relationships, finance, health etc. … don’t look for these things to make you happy.

-       Happiness Formula; H = S + C + V
Happiness equals Self Point in the brain plus Conditions of Living plus Voluntary Actions.

SELF POINT is determined in childhood; the first 3 year of our life. This is 50% of our happiness experience. You can change your self point through meditation.
CONDITION OF LIVING is what’s happening around you. 10%
VOLUNTARY ACTIONS, what we do every day. 40%

-       Are our choices for ourselves or do they make others happy?
-       Love is the ultimate truth. Love is God. Love awakens the soul.
-       There is no difference between you and the whole of the universe
-       The world is as we are
-       Have all the time in the world!

-       Our brain:
Right Hemisphere – works in the present moment, right here, right now. Looks, tastes, smells, sounds and feels.
Left Hemisphere – works in the past and future. Thinks in language, ongoing brain chatter.

-       Short daily MEDITATION (start with 10mins)

1. Put your attention to the heart and say to yourself, “Who am I?”and see what comes up, if you drift away just come back to the question, “Who am I?”. Now ask yourself ‘What do I want?”
2. Gratitude – Now be thankful for all the good in your life
3. Now repeat, ‘I AM” to yourself for as long as you like (10 mins minimum)
   Put your attention on your body, feeling each body part, cell and atom to be light, white and sparkling

-       TOTAL WELL BEING

1. SOCIAL; our moods, emotions, energy and information is contagious!
2. PHYSICAL; sleep, yoga, exercise
3. COMMUNITY; Share a cause
4. CAREER; Use your strengths
5. FINANCIAL: Don’t buy things to impress people. Spend money on experience & happy memories. The more you give the more you have.

Take the VOW – for well being!

This experience with Deepak has me on such a high! There is so much to learn and hearing his concepts makes me even more excited about the infinite possibilities in all aspects of my life!!!! I have so many new ideas and concepts to practise and put in place.

Monday night it was off with the girls for my second attempt at donating blood. You can read about my first amusing experience here. Both myself and my friend Emma were far more successful donating 440ml each and not doing the full bag of 470ml as the staff cut us short and told us we were too skinny …..Helloooooo I’ll take that as a compliment!

Kirsty another friend of mine came along too for her first go and went really well with no problems. She even had the Dalai Lama giving her guidance with his autobiography sitting on her lap!

Well done ladies, see you in 3 months time with hopefully some more recruits!

To find out more about the opportunity to donate blood and help others, please click here.

Please enjoy some words from my meditation and spiritual guidance teacher – Choeying Dolma (Resident Teacher| Buddhist Nun). We are very blessed to have Choeying on the Fraser Coast!

I received the news that the cancer in my mouth that I had over twenty years earlier had resurfaced for the second time. After having surgery and another biopsy I was told that the cancer had spread and they recommended I have more surgery along with radiation treatment. 

After surviving the ordeal of treatment for the second time I later found another lump.

Things were not looking good for me being able to enjoy a long life. My partner looked at me with so much love and compassion in his eyes as he asked, “Where would like to go or what you would like to do before you die . . .I will do whatever and go wherever you like? 

I was so touched by his loving kindness and replied, “I am very happy where I am at the moment but I would like to hold the hands of His Holiness the Dalai Lama before I die!” 

I later decided to go to India on a spiritual pilgrimage and become ordained as a Buddhist nun. On my return I had the great fortune of attending the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama while in Sydney. 

I could not believe my luck when I found myself staying in the same hotel as His Holiness and having the good fortune to meet him in the lobby. 

It was the most surreal moment of my life when he greeted me by lovingly placing my hands between his. . . making my dying wish come true.  I was spellbound being in the presence of such a holy man. I was awe struck by the tangible power of his compassion. 

In this profound moment I realised how compassion was SO much more powerful then anger and war. I tasted the possibility of compassion being the solution to all wars and could see clearly how His Holiness can stay resolute in choosing compassion over war with the Chinese Government. I pray the Chinese Government have the good karma to be in his presence to feel this powerful compassion to be able to let go of their fears enough to at least sit down and engage in peace talks with His Holiness.

At the time his hands embraced mine I remember thinking, “Now I truly can die happily!” 

It seems, up until this moment at least I still have the good karma to still be enjoying this precious life I have been given. I couldn’t have had this life in the first place without my parents and I am so grateful to them for giving birth to me. 

Facing death is a true blessing as it helps us to deeply understand how important it is to live and love well. It helps us to see clearly that this precious life can be taken from us without any notice. In fact most deaths are like that. 

 My journey helped me to understand on a very deep level many things that on reflection I only understood intellectually when teaching on impermanence for many years.

I am so grateful for getting cancer as it taught me to not take life for granted.

But it is, “Meditation” that keeps this memory alive in me and shows me ways to enhance my life in ways I never imagined. 

I would like to share with others just a few of the many insights meditation has shown me.

This life [that could be so short] needs to be lived mindfully, in the present moment, in order to be called a well lived life. 

That every moment we are not mindful by dwelling in the past or the future is the very moment we are robbed of truly living our life. 

How we constantly live in the past and the future and miss the present.

How in the present moment there are miracles all around us that we cannot see because we are not there. 

Cancer woke me up to how short and precious this life is and how important it is to not miss it.

Meditation clearly shows me how stress causes dis-ease and how meditation can cure mental and physical illnesses. It helps me to not to forget and lose this great gift I was given of being able to practice being present.  It reminds me how important it is to have peace and calm in my life Meditation has shown me that, “Pain is inevitable – Suffering is optional?” 

I am truly blessed and am ever grateful to my teachers who have so generously shared with me the precious gift of knowing how to meditate in a way that has bought me so much happiness and peace in my life and allowed me to see the many miracles that are all around me if I can just stay in the present moment – If I can just learn to sit and be with myself and dwell in the bliss of simply sitting with myself.

But most of all it reminds me how grateful I am to have such a wonderful tool in my life to help me stay calm, peaceful and free of suffering. 

I am so blessed to be able to share this precious gift with others by facilitating Calm Abiding Meditation Courses and Weekend Retreats at the Oddiyana Dharma Sanctuary

Now my dying wish is… 

“May all beings find the gift of meditation to find true happiness and be free from suffering!” 

Choeying Dolma
(resident teacher) 

For more information on finding peace and calm in your life plus learning meditation please contact Choeying at THE ODDIYANA DHARMA SANCTUARY – 4125 5530 or 0408 257 071.

Or register ONLINE for the next meditation course starting at the end of February:
 www.oddiyanadharmasanctuary.org

Well I can already tell this is going to be a very long month!

It’s nearly the end of day 3 without an alcoholic beverage and I’m quite surprised I haven’t got the shakes yet.
It’s strange, when you can’t have a beer at the end of the day; you tend to think about beer all day!!
I’m certainly craving a Pure Blonde! 

What is Feb Fast?
Participating in a Booze Free February!!!

What’s in it for me?
Lose weight, save money, gain more energy and raise money for charity!!  All very positive outcomes! 

I’ve finally got my registration in order so; if you would like to make a donation to support me on what I consider to be a huge challenge please click here to make a donation that goes straight to charity.

Proceeds raised through registration and fundraising go towards the Australian Drug Foundation, YSAS (the Youth Substance Abuse Service in Victoria), Mater Hospital’s Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Service (Queensland), The Ted Noffs Foundation (NSW and ACT) and FebFast’s grants program for smaller grass-roots organisations.

On the weekend a friend asked me what I though the definition of ‘Love’ was, to which I found I was not able to articulate a very informative answer. I said the best definition I had heard so far was from Choeying my Buddhist Nun friend so I decided to email Choeying and seek her wisdom on this matter……..

Hi Jeanette

Lovely to hear from you. 

This is a very big question that takes more than five minutes to answer so I have borrowed concepts from Thich Nhat Hahn who I believe is the world’s expert on love. Okay, Love has many parts and levels. 

However ,when trying to understand love we also need to contemplate what is NOT love. Most love we experience is clouded in attachment especially when our minds are obstructed by our delusions mostly, in this case our desire, passion etc. When we “fall in love” as they commonly say it is mostly due to our karmic connection with the other person and the delusions of desire and passion. We  deludedly think this passion will sustain our love forever and are devastated when it doesn’t. We don’t see that love is like a a beautiful garden – it only stays  vibrant and alive and beautiful with tender loving care,  nourishment and the understanding of the needs of the soil, plants etc. 

I have attached the rest as it is easier then typing on email. (download pdf here) Of course as always these are just intellectual concepts and are not very useful unless one meditates Firstly find self love and then the ability to love others. If we cannot love ourselves how can we possibly love anyone else. We will continually expect the “other’ to fill this loveless barron self and this is a recipe for destoying self love – we become a barron dessert thirsty for love  destined to a life of looking for love, “in all the wrong faces in all the wrong places” as the song goes! 

I hope you both benefit from this and may you meditate to find “self love” so abundant that you have no choice but to share this abudnace of love with others.

Love and prayers

Choeying
www.oddiyanadharmasanctuary.org

These days, ‘working your way to the top’ is almost unheard of, but not for chartered accountant, Toni McCulloch, who has just celebrated her 15th year with a Local accountancy firm … Accounting North ….

PLUS had been an awesome business mentor & best friend to me for 19 years…. (I wonder which has been the hardest job!)

To learn more about this inspiring & motivated business woman and her remarkable achievements please click here and read her Profile Magazine editorial.

I’ve decided to finally wind down from the festive season and have decided February is the month to do it, so today is the start of Feb Fast for me, one month without alcohol!!!

What is FebFast?

FebFast is a charity that is now in its third year of operation.

We work to reduce the impact of alcohol and other drugs on young Australians by raising funds to support organisations working in research, prevention and service delivery concerning alcohol and other drugs use by young people.

We conduct a national education, awareness and fundraising campaign that invites people to sacrifice their alcohol consumption during February, and at the same time raise funds to support youth alcohol and other drug services.

Over the past two years we have seen more than 3,500 people take up the FebFast challenge to give up the grog for amonth. Collectively these people have raised more than $700,000 to support our cause

This is going to be hard work, so lucky for me I’m very good at achieving anything that is hard work + you can always buy a ‘Time Out’ (phew takes the pressure off a little)!!

Buy a Time Out; You don’t have to miss out on a special event! You can purchase a $25 date stamped Time Out Certificate to have a guilt-free day off from your FebFast.

“I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure.

I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle.

But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.”

— Marilyn Monroe

(My thoughts exactly!!!!)

That’s my New Years Resolution!

And unfortunately it’s not a 6 pack of Pure Blonde BEER, it’s to do with my stomach muscles!!!! OMG

Today’s training 12km bike ride, 1500 stairs, 200 sit ups + 80 push ups! TICK!

Bring it on, HOOYAH!

I decided this week’s new challenge would be ‘Giving Blood’. I’ve never done this before but have wanted to for ages. Therefore with a best mate of mine Emma in town, who is an experienced blood donor I ceized the opportunity and asked her if she may like to take me for my first experience! 

We had a big lunch, drank heaps of water and headed to the Hervey Bay Blood Bank. After filling in our forms we had our blood pressure taken, followed by a finger prick test to read if our Haemoglobin levels were within a healthy range and were then taken into the blood taking room. 

As Emma was quicker than me with the paperwork being a regular donor you can imagine my surprise when walking in and finding her nearly upside down, legs in the air, ice pack on her arm and damp cloth on her forward!!! I just thought OMG what am I in for deciding whether it would be rude or not to giggle at Emma!!!! Poor Emma’s experience didn’t go as well as usual this time (even though she still had a smile on her face!), but being such a great mate I busted her in this amusing position saying to the nurses “quick, quick get me right before Jeanette comes in and sees” (not wanting me to freak out!) then saying, “see I told you she would take a photo!”

Next it was my turn. I was a little nervous before I had even seen Emma  and had already gone to the toilet 3 times as you have to drink heaps of water, 2L is recommended! I was fine with the needle, everything was going well, the nurse asked me how I was feeling and I said maybe a little light headed but that could be due to nerves. I then mentioned that my hands were starting to sweat, she decided that was enough for my first time. They took 270ml out which I thought was not too bad for my first go. 

1 in 3 Australians will need blood products.
1 in 30 Australians give blood.

Donating blood – Giving blood takes just 5-10 minutes but you should allow about an hour from arrival to departure, which includes time for your interview and refreshments. You’ll feel a small pinch as the needle goes in, but it feels no worse than a pinch on the inside of your elbow. If you’re nervous about donating blood, let our staff know.

Safety – All equipment is sterile; needles are used only once and then discarded. In the great majority of individuals, a donation of 470mL is less than 10% of your total body volume and may be given safely every 12 weeks. Your body keeps on discarding and replenishing blood all the time whether you give blood or not, so this amount is quickly replenished.

Click here to learn more

Not the best odds, so get involved!

The Law of Attraction says people’s thoughts (both conscious and unconscious) dictate the reality of their lives, whether or not they’re aware of it. Essentially “if you really want something and truly believe it’s possible, you’ll get it”,… click here to learn more.

The Secret teaches us that we create our lives, with every thought every minute of every day…. click here to learn more.

I am a huge believer in this theory and see the effects of it in my live on a very regular basis. What you put out to the universe is what you will recieve. Only you have the choice of whether you attract good or bad into your life.

This Tuesday when our Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was in town on Melbourne Cup day for talks re our health system I put it out there to have a photo with him on my facebook profile stating, “The PM is in Hervey Bay today, hope I see him to get a snapshot!!!”

The following day we both made the front page of the local newspaper!!!! (I am the small picture top right ha ha!)

Unfortunately on this occasion I made a slight flaw forgetting to put it out there to meet and be photographed together in person, not at different events!  

Ok time to put it out there again, see how I go this time….

“Dear Jeanette, thank you so much for visiting me in New York, I am so thrilled we finally have had a photo taken together. I would love to pay for your trip! “…. lol your mate forever Donald Trump

[Some info & images via Wikipedia, The Secret & Donald Trump websites]

Today at 10.30am I went to Changes Gym in Hervey Bay for my first ever ZUMBA class.

Ricky Salomao our Instructor is from Rio in Brazil and certainly put us through a FUN & High energy workout!

Ricky was extremely funny as he instructed us how to do our Latin fitness moves to the pumped up Latin music.

The Zumba® program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. Our goal is simple: We want you to want to work out, to love working out, to get hooked.

….. click here to learn more.

Ricky also mentioned to me he would be training people to take over to tackle the Kokoda Trail plus doing adventure & training days on Fraser Island. I’m in!!!!

I can’t wait till he returns from vacation in January so I can start attending regular ZUMBA classes!

As I love learning new things last week I went to see a kinesiologist due to the recommendation from a best friend; not really know much about the practice of Kinesiology at all.

It was explained that kinesiology is a way of identifying imbalances in the body including buried or suppressed issues and releases the emotion attached to a memory.
We don’t forget past issues but realise the emotions of attachment so we can objectively recognise the lesson without distortion.

After reading the energy coming from my body she explained I had disconnected from my earth node (crikey!) and then rectified this for me.

She explained an issue out of my control that had caused me pain over the past few years had also happened in a past life making the process of putting it behind me far harder than usual.

I explained I felt sorry for the people who cause me hurt and she explained this is Sympathy;

‘Sympathy – harmony of or agreement in feeling, as between persons or on the part of one person with respect to another.’ 

This is not appropriate as there is no harmony or respect from the other persons. It also stimulates a poor me attitude, allowing those persons to still have control. I should instead look upon the situation with Empathy;

‘Empathy – Identification with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings, and motives.’  

I can forgive the people as they are deluded, I will not forget but I have moved on, it is in the past. My mind will continue to remain empowered to stand in my own strength. Therefore I can clearly see the situations as they are and am appreciative for the opportunity these people have given me to learn more about myself plus the development of new life changing knowledge and skills. They have taught me about the sort of person I don’t want to be.

Now when I think of people or thoughts that used to instantly make me angry my mind does not change from its calm level and my emotion remains the same. This I feel is new, excellent and very exciting!

An interesting saying I once read, goes something like this….. “Imagine if everyone threw their problems into a hat, would you pick a new one out or prefer to keep your own!!!”

I felt extremely relaxed and tingling sensations as I felt the energy moving within my body as we worked on healing the different energies and issues that arise on their own. I felt light as a feather afterwards! What a wonderful practice to experience, extremely interesting and I learnt so much! May have to go again for the fun of it!

This is the name our teacher gave to the Calm Abiding Meditation Course | Retreat I have just completed on Sunday taught by Choeying a very wise Buddhist nun who has studied Buddhism for 20+ years. By the end of the course it sure felt like Bootcamp, I was physically and mentally exhausted! 

What I was I looking for in deciding to learn meditation?

I guess less anger and stress plus more knowledge and skills to become a better person. 

What did I learn? Where does one start!!!!

1. Well the same principles as any Bootcamp apply – No Pain No Gain!
2. We all consist of 2 things; our mind and body.
3. The course is about ‘Letting go”
4. We are all deluded!!!
5. Let your thoughts come in, be with it, let it go!
6. Nothing will bring you happiness if you don’t fix your mind.
7. Our mind determines whether our life is good or bad.
8. Alertness & mindfulness are the 2 things we want as a meditator.
9. Our enemy is our teacher; they have a message for us. They are our mirror what do we need to learn?
10.  The better your posture the better your meditation.
11. Don’t avoid pain, understand why it is there, then let it go.
12. Pain is temporary.
13. See pain as your teacher.
14. The pain in our body during meditation is years of blocked emotion that needs to be released.
15. Everything is impermanent.
16. A lifelong tool and skill to handle any situation.
17. You really have to come along to experience it, it is so deep.

Choeying has taught extensively in many parts of the world and has now started her own Sanctuary on the Fraser Coast. We are very blessed to have the opportunity to learn from her. This was officially the first Calm Abiding Meditation Course taught at The Oddiyana Dharma Sanctuary and a huge honour to be a part of such an enlightening experience.

Are you seeking a challenge | life altering experience, plus the tools | skills to control your mind and the opportunity to meet likeminded people? Then please contact Choeying for information on the next course 07 4124 5530 or choeying.dolma@gmail.com

Quote of the course from Peter’s homework diary; “Why am I listening to this woman who believes she is going to come back in another life and be able to fly!”

Today after seven months from my initial test I decided to test My Real Age again, which you can do here;
Click here, What’s your Real Age?

I’m very happy with my new result, now being -2.4 years younger than my real age!
Bootcamp must be working!
NO Pain, NO Gain!

What is Your Real Age?
Are you happy or is it time to do something about it!!!

[Related Story here]

This year I have felt the urge to learn to meditate and in March I was fortunate to meet Choeying Dolma who I feel will be perfect for the job! “When the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear” (related story here). Choeying is soon to start her latest Calm Abiding Meditation course…. I think this one may clash with my current schedule but the next one I may be able to finally start my learning…..please read on to see if this course might be just what you need in your life right now! 

• Do you suffer from stress and not sleeping?
  Would you like to learn positive ways to have a stress free life? 
• Do you suffer from anger, depression, anxiety, grief or other negative states of mind?
  Would you like to improve your mental health? 
• Do you have trouble finding forgiveness for self and others?
  Would you like to find forgiveness and free yourself from suffering?
• Do you suffer from chronic pain?
  Would you like to be able to free yourself of pain? 

Calm Abiding meditation has a proven record for dealing with whatever difficulties, whether mental or physical, that we experience in life . . . all we need is the willingness to learn new skills to help us make gentle but significant changes in our lives. 

Choeying Dolma would like to extend a warm welcome for you to join her next Calm Abiding Meditation Course.
Yoga classes at the beginning of each meditation class by qualified teacher / practitioner Nicole Martin. 

Dates are as follows:
Starting Sunday 23rd August from 9.00am – 2.00pm
Thursday 27th August from 6.30pm – 9.00pm
Sunday 30th August from 9.00am – 2.00pm
Thursday 3rd September from 6.30pm – 9.00pm
Followed by a weekend retreat on:
Saturday 5th September from 7am – 6.30pm
Sunday 6th September from 7am – 6.30pm

Retreats are an essential ingredient to establishing a firm practice of meditation. Everyone says that it was the retreat that really made the changes in their life to begin to manifest.

Please phone The Meditation Room on 4125 5530 to make a booking as seats are limited.
Course fee                            $60
Pensioners                           $50
Please bring a plate to share for lunch on Sundays and the retreat weekend. Tea/Coffee provided.
Address: 14 Layde Court, Urangan, Hervey Bay.