Stay in your own pocket.
Don’t make eye contact (damn it, I made eye contact.)
Are you attempting to start a conversation with your fellow commuter? Eugh. Let me keep reading
Breathe. With every step as you feel the carpet shift underfoot.
Light. Breaks through the stained glass windows filling the cavernous space.
Open. The awareness of cultural sensitivities and respect to learn about something different to what you know.
Intricate. The particularities of the architecture, the marble tiles and the Arabic versus that wrap around the walls.
Speechless. Stepping in to the sacred space that is the Auburn Gallipoli Mosque seemed to clear the mind of all worries.
In those moments I was absorbed by its beauty.
Whether a professional athlete, an artist (of any art form) or pursuing any other non-traditional career path, you can probably relate to the hesitation, family-resistance and courage that comes with turning your passion into a career. Don’t stop there!
Do you remember the first TED Talk you ever watched? Do you still marinate the ideas that were proposed? Do you follow the speaker’s work? Is any of this necessary? Don’t stop there!
If you had the window seat you could easily be forgiven for not wanting the plane to land. On the clearest of days flying into Queenstown on New Zealand’s south island is nothing short of stunning. On the horizon line between Australia and New Zealand the sky touches the sea, but seems to continue forever. After you leave Australia behind, land is not visible again until the clouds give way to the snow-capped mountains of the south island. Is this why we call it the ditch; the in between space of two neighbouring countries? Don’t stop there!
Untitled (I shop therefore I am), Barbara Kruger
Change is a marathon not a sprint.
Now imagine me sitting on my bedroom floor reminding myself of this occaisionly as I wrap appreciation gifts. It has been a big year. I want to make sure that those who have been alongside the journey know how much I appreciate their support. This festive season instead of DIY gifts I decided to source ethical gifts, where my purchase saw proceeds being donated to various causes and projects around the world. I enjoy hand making gifts, but I have forgotten what I have made for whom in past years (sound off: who has the hand painted tea pots versus water jugs? Handmade necklaces versus bangles?) Don’t Stop There!
A provocateur – that’s how I have been described. As someone who asks the questions that don’t necessarily have a straight answer. I am more than okay with this. Just because there aren’t straight answers doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be having the conversations. In fact, all the more reason to make sure we keep talking. Don’t stop there!
I used to love films about natural disasters – Volcano, Twister, Dante’s Peak – natural phenomena that I have never experienced, but I have seen the films more times than I can count. The reality is hundred of thousands of people across the world live in natural disaster-prone areas. Even more pressing is that hundreds of thousands more haven’t survived them.
How do we make the most pressing issues of our time digestible for all citizens? Don’t stop there!
My commute home from “the big smoke” transitions from tall buildings to scaffolding, before they give way to the trees of suburbia standing their ground against development. On the train home one Friday night I missed the usual view for the words I held in my hand. ‘From Despair to Hope’ by Professor James Arvanatikis (2016) stabilised the quivering flame inside of me. We all have these moments from time to time, but sometimes it lingers longer than we would desire.
Don’t stop there!
A force has been unleashed on Western Sydney. This force comes in the form of seventeen young people who are united by their determination to leave the world in a better place than when they entered it. What I love dearly about this group is their willingness to learn and to grow into the best versions of themselves for their community. Seventeen young people backed by the School for Social Entrepreneurs. Imagine the countless others across Western Sydney who do amazing things everyday that could benefit from an opportunity like this. Don’t stop there
