Your Life's Purpose

Are you doing what you love?  Do you look forward to going to work every day?  Do you feel you are making a difference?  Do you feel appreciated?

I would love to hear from anyone who has found their life’s purpose along with the challenges and determination it took to get to where you wanted to be.

Recently a friend of mine completed her University Degree and whilst this was extremely hard and challenging for her, as a bystander, 4 years seemed to fly by.  I am astonished at how she put her mind to it and just did it and the short time it took in comparison to the rest of her life.  She has now secured her first job and I know she is looking forward now to the rest of her life with achievement and purpose with her every step of the way.  I not only envy her, but I am inspired by the trials and extreme challenges she had to go through to get where she wanted to be.

I find personally there is always an excuse that I find to prevent me from following what I believe to be my life’s purpose.  Mother to two children, a mortgage and bills keep me tied to a job that on a weekly basis provides me with enough just to get by.  I do love my current job but there is always that fight within me that wants to do more and a knowing that this is not what I was put here to do.

I think the fear of failure, lack of financial security and the fact that I am not only  just looking after myself and I have two other people to consider in the decisions I make, makes me less inclined to step out of what I refer to as the Safety Box. 

Do you struggle through knowing that you could be doing something totally different if only finances and circumstances would let you? Or have you been strong enough and thrown caution to the wind and jumped straight in without any knowledge of how it was going to happen and only the trust that you know it will come to fruition.

We all have dreams and of course I have learnt, that it is only us that can make our dreams a reality, so why do we put our life on hold until…..  Before you know it, 10 or 20 years have flown by and there is still that until….

Each and every one of us is given a special gift, something we enjoy or something we are just extremely good at, but how many of us actually use the gift we’ve been given.  If you have delved into yourself your life’s purpose usually can be found around the things you love to do or things that interest you.  I think that’s just a hint to let you know the direction to follow but getting to the actual destination is sometimes not so easy.

I am constantly inspired by people’s determination to make their dreams come true.  Many may be knocked down 3-4 times before they get it right but instead of stopping the first of second time it didn’t work, they just persisted and kept going. 

What steps have you taken to follow your dream? 

THE GLUTEN FREE OPTION

Wonderful Gluten Free Recipes

Check out this wonderful website!  It has the most fantastic recipes for those searching for some wonderful Gluten Free Food.  Yummmm !!!!

MOTHER'S DAY FOR A SINGLE MUM

Here in Australia it’s MOTHER’S DAY tomorrow.  So I just wanted to ask anyone who reads this to do me a little favour. That is to send a text, email or Facebook/Twitter message to any friends you know are Single Mums. 

Mother’s Day can be a very difficult day for some single mums as they most times don’t have the finances to splurge on themselves.  If they have little ones they often don’t have the spare change to give them to be able to buy that little something, which I know the children would love to do.  Most times family will step in and buy a little something from the children but there are certainly A LOT of single Mum’s out there that will go without the normal accolades that Mother’s Day would normally bring.

The gorgeous and unforgettable gifts that are normally made at school with the Teacher’s assistance, never go unnoticed or unappreciated, but if you can just send a little message to acknowledge that you are thinking of them, this would be enough it itself to make one single mum very happy on her special day.

I know many single Mum’s dread Mother’s Day as it most times it is just thwart with disappointment. Memories of how things used to be flood back and if they don’t have family around them it can be a very difficult and trying day especially if their children are extremely young.  Bear in mind that they too would love to be taken out for Breakfast, lunch or Dinner, showered with gifts, hugs and kisses but unfortunately this is not always the case.

To all those strong and super single Mum’s out there I would like to personally wish you a WONDERFUL MOTHERS DAY and send you all the love, support and encouragement you deserve.  You are doing an absolutely fantastic job! So HAPPY MOTHERS DAY and please know you are loved, appreciated and respected today and every day.

Love and care always

Girl E Business

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !!!!

"A single rose for a single Mum"

I AM "GR8FUL" FOR KIM SERAFINI

Let me tell you that we really do have angels here on earth.  One that I have been privileged and honoured to  know personally,  Kim Serafini.  Over the years I have read and listened to many, many, many books, CD’s and literature pertaining to the ways to get the most out of  this life we live and I can honestly say that no one has touched my heart more than this person and the beliefs that she shares. 

The things she speaks of seem to emanate from a soul that has been here long before any of us.  This inspiring, strong, supportive and, intelligent individual inspires others beyond belief on a daily basis . Some may tell her just how immense the effect of just being around her can be, some may not, and I have to admit I didn’t. 

Her unrelenting support is never centred around one certain person or group of people. In Kim’s world any sort of discrimination simply does not exist.  It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’ve been, what you’ve done and what you have or don’t have. To Kim, everyone and anyone is “ONE” and her life’s purpose is to ensure your life is as wonderful and as happy as is humanly possible during the time we spend here.

This blog is my acknowledgement to her and how she impacted on my life alone, but in writing this I really wanted to take this opportunity to share this unbelievable TRUTH  with you . 

The” iamgr8ful For Life” book, compiled by Kim could be considered “Little”,  but to say the impact it can have on your life is “Enormous” is an understatement.   Coupled with the “Iamgr8ful club” it can literally change your world.  I have included links to both the book and the site for you to see for yourself.

You can learn more about Kim by going to the “iamgr8ful” websites. (see links included)

Kim is literally testimony to the saying “If you truly believe you can do it, then you can!” Perseverance, trust, determination and above all, gratitude, can certainly ensure one very happy, rewarding  and joyous life.

I can only image what the world would be like if everyone knew all they had to do was just be gr8ful.

I am gr8ful For Life Book - http://iamgr8ful.com/iamgr8ful_book.html

I am gr8ful Club - http://iamgr8ful.com/iamgr8fulclub.html

SINGLE PARENT'S SYNDROME

Single Parent Syndrome.  Does it really exist?

I have been a single parent for many years now and I often wonder if Single Parent'sSyndrome really exists? Personally I think it does. I have many friends and have spoken with far too many single parents to believe otherwise.

This week I swear I have Single Parent’s Syndrome.  I’ve been too tired to sleep, too full of thoughts to focus, at times too hungry to eat and partly too worried to think. In all honesty,  I have found myself  in the place where you wonder when it will ever get easier and what is the purpose behind all of this?  Being a long time single parent every year doesn’t seem to get any easier it just changes from one thing to another.  Financially, trying to keep up with the demands of the age of your children can be extremely stressful .  It seems the older they get the more money you have to find so your needs get put on the backburner even more so to speak. 

I have wondered about this for many years and as I don’t have access to anyone’s medical records, I have one question for you.  Do all single parents suffer at one time or another with depression/anxiety or both?  I would really like to meet or hear from anyone who has been a single parent for over 2 years that doesn’t suffer from these overwhelming and sometimes unbearable feelings.  I may be sooooo wrong stepping out with this but I can honestly say that there is not one single parent that I know that doesn’t suffer from some sort of emotional effect that presents itself much more often than they would like.

I would love to hear from men especially that are single parents and see if they would agree.  Men handle their emotions so differently to women and maybe as a woman we could learn a thing or two from the way they deal with the challenges we all face.  I am in no way saying its easier for a single Father than a Mother but I find, only from personal experience alone, that  men very rarely show the signs of stress and emotional turmoil that us women do. I just want to know what their secret is.  I would sincerely be grateful for any men’s input on this blog.

There are so many things about being a single parent that contribute to our emotional wellbeing.  Let’s call them “Challenges”.  They are many and varied.  One thing I have found the hardest thing to deal with is the total responsibility you have in raising well mannered, considerate and caring individuals.  The responsibility is really yours, and yours alone, unless you have other adults living with you or very influential friends and of course an extremely supportive family.

One thing I have learnt along the way is that you can’t pass on what you don’t know.  So your own upbringing will have an extremely prevalent effect on your children whether you like it or not.  I also have learnt that you can only do the best you can and hope that somehow you manage to succeed. 

I have always put the children first and foremost.  Something I am now learning isn’t always the best thing as you suffer physically and mentally and in turn become a parent that cannot be 100% you to your children. This is nothing new, I know, as I have heard many specialists and single parents comment on this very issue but when you are actually in it on a day to day, week to week, month to month basis, reality is very different.     Working fulltime and with most weekends spent doing the housework and preparing for the next week I find it hard to make the “me” time a lot of people refer to. I find any free time I get I end up doing more housework that I wouldn’t normally get t.  If not doing this I am spending time renovating the house to try and make our home as comfortable as possible for the children but of course within an extremely limited budget.  My renovations may not be perfect but I figure any sort of improvement is an improvement!  My time is so limited and I find that if I do take time out I suffer for it the next week.  As a parent in general you would know that without any sort of organisation things can become very stressful and overwhelming very quickly.

I would love to hear from all of you with suggestions or improvements we can all make to our lives as single parents.

Without a sounding board, normally being the other parent or partner that would normally contribute to the decision making within the family, you are literally on your own with every decision you make. Not only in regard to the children, but also for yourself.  It really is a huge responsibility.  I take my hat off to all single parents out there as I know first- hand how hard it can be.

With the downsides also comes the good as we know, but when a lot of things happen at once the responsibility yet again becomes foremost in your mind.

Please comment with your suggestions.  Just one comment can help many.  I look forward to hearing from you and remember tomorrow is another day and is always so different from today.  Remember you can also comment on Girl E Business on Facebook.

Love and care always

Girl E Business.

DIVORCE & SEPARATION ADVICE

For anyone looking for further advice and support whilst going through Divorce or Separation, There is an absolutely fantastic website I have found called EXconnection.  Please follow the link to speak with other going through the same thing.  Check out the discussions section also as you may be able to offer advice to others also.  http://www.exconnection.com/home.  Love and care always Girl E Business.

DIVORCE

Some of us have been through it and maybe some of us haven't.  It’s never an easy time for anyone I don't think, or I'm just yet to find that couple that has actually breezed through it.  What advice would you give to someone, based on your experience, who is about to go through a separation/divorce with small children.  Their inner strength will always get them through but seriously what sort of advice would you give to help make this transition easier for them?

 One piece of advice I would give would be to prepare even before it happens. Prepare financially, legally, emotionally, mentally and physically.  (In all honesty something I never did – but certainly learnt my lesson for not doing so)  Remember this is imperative to both men and women.

Preparation is the key and it’s a really great thing to do even if a separation/divorce never transpires.  Find out everything you need to in order to know what is available to you and how to get it or information related to it.  By delving into your current situation you are able to really come to terms with who YOU are, and also who YOU would like to be in all sorts of ways.  You may through this process find out some things about yourself that you had forgotten or even something new about yourself you never knew existed.   It's a very good way to gain self- esteem and inspiration to get you where you need to be.   Being prepared gives you the feeling that you do have control every step of the way.

I remember when I divorced many years ago I was seriously shocked to find out that I didn’t even know what music I liked anymore and I certainly didn’t know what shows I like to watch or movies I’d even be interested in.  I realised at this time just how much I had put myself on the backburner, so to speak.  Today I know all of these things and soooooo much more about myself than ever before in my life.  It has certainly been a great journey of self awareness. The good, the bad, the ugly and the absolutely, positively  undoubtedly FANTASTIC.

By my own admission, in my ignorance and for many, many years I strongly believed that  there was a very fine line between misery and loneliness and that you just have to take steps to decide which of those you would like to encounter as they  weren’t  emotionally very far apart.   Now with a lot of experience and alot of  inner reflection I have, more recently, realised the line is actually even finer  between misery and happiness.  Challenges we face, the hills we have to climb and the pathways we choose in our life always guide us to learn new lessons (Which sometimes can take awhile before we actually get it!) and always guide us towards happiness of some sort shape or form in the long run.  As the saying goes “Out of Evil good will come”. 

I really think it is important that you comment here to help others and hopefully discuss your own experience, mistakes and fortunes to enhance someone else’s experience.  We are always there for each after all.

I have noticed differences in many married couples that I graciously and proudly call my friends.  Some of them live together as a form of habit really.  Not really in love anymore but let’s just say comfortable with the norm.  Yet others who have been married for many years still emit that spark.  One thing I have noticed about these couples is that throughout their marriage they have always retained time for themselves.  These couples made the effort to always put some time aside for themselves, without the children, be it a night out for dinner, a weekend away or just a romantic night at home.  I think this is the secret.  I know if you spoke to these people they would openly say it’s hasn’t been easy but as a bystander looking in I find that that seems to be the secret to a successful marriage, the time of togetherness.

Another secret I feel is also ironically time apart.  I think to have time to miss your partner rekindles your appreciation for them. It also allows you to retain your independence and do the things you like that inspire you and you alone.  It is very invigorating to step away from being the mother, the wife or the carer and to be kind to yourself at the same time, albeit if only for a short time.  Sometimes is always better than never.

 Your comments would be extremely appreciated.  Love and care always Girl E Business.xxx :)