Month: May 2018

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The lost art of laziness

In much of our culture, laziness is frowned upon. Calling someone lazy is meant to mean they don’t do enough and are flawed in some way. I’d like to change this. For me, I’m putting laziness on my weekly goal list. And I’m even doing this without feeling guilty!

Being truly proactively lazy is a lost art, in an era of rushing around, being busy and working on being productive. But for me, being busy makes me tired and stressed. Don’t get me wrong. I love being on the go. Except to be proactive and healthy, laziness is a must.

In Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, the seventh habit says that self care is important to being proactive and is pivotal on whether someone can be effective in keeping to the other habits. Covey calls this seventh habit, “Sharpening the saw.” I’d like to give a shorter title – laziness!

So, my goal list now sports a new task. I’m aiming on keeping one day every weekend free for being seriously lazy. On this day, changing out of pyjamas is optional. I can turn off the phone, listen to my fave radio show, talk with my neighbour (the one who keeps me alive with homemade jam drops and cups of tea), and when ugg boots in Winter are mandatory.

I’ve done this because I am busy. And because I’d like to continue to be busy and be relaxed at the same time. I’m aware that being too busy can disconnect me from my values, and from those who mean the most to me. In order to achieve all that is important and to keep participating in life in a way that is meaningful, one lazy day a week is not wasted time. It’s as equally important to my being busy on all the other days.

So, put on your pyjamas, and if it’s cold weather, your uggies. Make yourself a cup of hot chocolate and park yourself in your favourite chair. Read that book you’ve been putting off, turn on the telly, and chill-ax. Start being lazy right now, and get some practice in for your lazy day.

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I live in a Democracy and I know how to use it

In Australia, we are lucky enough to live in a Democracy, and we have it good.

Okay, so there are still people who live hand to mouth with affording to pay their bills, but look at it this way. In most other countries, there is no pension, or Social Security at all.

And yet, people still complain about Australia and Australian politics. They say that the Government needs to take more responsibility and make better decisions. But how many of the people complaining actually send a letter to their local Member of Parliament, and voice their opinions to the one person who can possible act on them.

The other week, I took the liberty to write to my own Member of Parliament. I sent off an email, thanking him for his role in making my life in Australia what it is – full of freedom, with the ability to voice my own opinion without fear, for providing Social Security to those who need it, and education to the younger generations.

And you know what?

He sent back a lovely self signed letter thanking me for acknowledging what the Government is doing for the Australian people.

So, next time you’re at the Pub or having dinner out, wishing to complain that life isn’t what you’d like and blaming our Pollies, think about writing a civilised letter to your local MP, and tell them.

How can our MPs make decisions for the people, when ordinary Australians keep them in the dark, while the lobby groups with agendas against our principles spend lots of money and time in bending the ear of these valuable decision makers.

I urge you to take up pen and paper, or email, and let the politicians know what you like and dislike about this great country.

Be polite, and let them see a balanced perspective. Tell them what they’re doing right and wrong.

Use your voice, use your privilege of living in a country that believes in Freedom of Speech, and let them know your thoughts, your dreams, and your fears.

And just maybe, you’ll be taking part in creating a better world for all.

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Happiness Ingredients

I have a new philosophy on life. It’s nothing too far fetched or out there, but it is revolutionary, in its own right.

Hearing people complain that their life isn’t what they’d like it to be, got me thinking. Because, in truth, we all become disillusioned at some point, and need some reality coming back at us.

So, here is my new philosophy.

Identify what makes you happy and do more of it!

It’s not ground breaking and makes perfect sense in a way that’s kind of obvious, but we all get off track and lose ourselves along the way.

So, how am I personally going to achieve this?

Well, firstly, it involves being real about who I’d like in my Life. The first person on my list is my Fur Baby, Milo. He’s definitely my fave person. Followed by my Family, especially my Mum, and my closest friends.

For those I’d like to spend quality time with this means that for Milo. I will endeavour to spend quality time with him, by taking him to the park each week, for a run and a sniff. I can even read a book while I watch him make friends. Another resolution is to spend one day a week with Mum and whatever other Family Member wants in. This isn’t easy as everyone is super busy, but it’s a goal close to my heart, so I’ll make the effort to fit them in.

Secondly, I would choose activities that talk to my heart. Funnily enough, it’s my writing that needs the most love at this point in time. And so it is my writing that I’ll give my attention to. Writing is kind of like owning a pot plant. You have to give it the correct conditions, with the correct amount of love and neglect to keep it flowering and looking its best. Well, my writing has had enough neglect. And so it’s going to be watered!

And, of course, my garden. I’ll endeavour to spend an hour a day in it, watering, weeding and talking to it, so that it too will sustain me spiritually and with enough to eat each week.

Lastly, to do more for my Happy, I’ll get enough sleep, and rest, and eat proper foods so that my whole body rejoices for me and with me.

So, spending time with my loved ones, writing, gardening, and looking after my own general well being, are the ingredients for my Happiness Recipe.

What are yours?

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Meatless Mondays

Surfing the internet, the other day, I came across a brilliant idea!

The idea was to start to have Meatless Mondays as part of a strategy to cut down on the cost of groceries.

Well, for me, that makes perfect sense! This is for several reasons, and some of them are rather obvious for those who know me. You see, I’m Vegetarian, and will be celebrating my 20th year as someone who doesn’t eat meat by 2020.

But I’d like to confirm that eating Vegetarian does save heaps of money. My monthly budget for food is around the $50 to $60 mark. This is partly because I know how to cook, and make a point of never throwing out food. My left overs are always cooked into something else the following night.

Now, I get the idea that Vegetarianism isn’t for everyone. But I thought to add my voice to those who already endorse going Vegetarian from time to time, to cut costs. And that’s not even taking into account that it’s actually a very healthy alternative to meat.

So, here are some ideas about eating Vegetarian.

If concerned you’ll be hungry after cutting out the meat, drink water. It’ll fill the crevices nicely, and you’ll be saving money and weight at the same time.

If soaking beans sounds like too much trouble, just think of it like pulling the steak out of the freezer the night before. Except that instead of defrosting meat on the bench/in the fridge, you’re boiling the kettle and pouring hot water over beans in a bowl/container instead, and leaving them to soak. Failing this, there are always the tinned variety.

And thirdly, here’s a recipe I love. I’m including it because it’s the Vegetarian version of bolognese.

Ingredients (serves 4 – 6)

1 ¼ cup brown lentils, pre-soaked

Salt and black pepper

1 – 2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 onion, chopped

Left over vegies/tin of corn

400g tin tomatoes

1 tablespoon tomato puree

Basil or any Italian herbs

Method

  1. Simmer lentils until they can be mashed with a fork. Discard water.

  2. Heat oil in frying pan and fry onion and garlic

  3. Add vegies/corn and continue frying

  4. Add lentils, tomatoes and puree

  5. Add the salt, pepper and herbs, to taste.

  6. Simmer until sauce is thick.

This recipe can be turned into spaghetti bolognese, lasagne, served on toast, made into a meatless loaf, or anything else that the meat variety can be used. It’s also significantly cheaper, with lentils costing very little in comparison to mince.

Try it and give me feedback!