We would’ve loved this when we were kids – we had silver beet and that was it. The coloured strains didn’t become available until later. We loved the exotic and would’ve been very excited to try. Unfortunately the colour doesn’t last very when cooked – raw is probably the best way to eat the colour.

Mum was the first person I ever saw really give the colour of vegetables a place in the garden. One year she grew African marigolds and beetroot the full length of the driveway – the rich orange marigolds throbbing in contrast with the purple beetroot on bright sunny days. More colour, more!

Manifesto
14. Every day the ordinary can be the extraordinary.
22. Every day refine, clarify and simplify.
30. Every day use all your senses. Touch. Smell. Taste. Hear. See.

My sister, Diana, and I were deep in conversation when one of her son’s, Mario, walked into the room. As an aside Diana has five sons plus a daughter and no, the daughter wasn’t number six she was number four!

It was Mario’s lunch hour so he decided to pop over to the hospital to see his mother.

Our Mario is a man of few words. He sat there smiling as his mother asked him one question after another because he wasn’t forthcoming with conversation. Reluctantly he would respond to her questions but he’d only provide enough information to satisfy his mother and no more.

After a while he muttered something very quietly. I was surprised by what I heard.

“Did you say you were getting a bravery award?” I asked.

Mario looked at me with his big eyes and his beautiful smile. His mother hadn’t heard what he’d said so she was now surprised as well.

“Yes” he replied.

After some prompting, and lots more questions, my nephew shared with us the information we wanted to know. He couldn’t understand what the big deal was and why we were making a fuss about him and his friend receiving a bravery award from the local Council. I kind of think pulling people from a car, performing CPR on one man and bringing him back to life is a pretty big deal.

According to the newspaper article this is what happened …

Adrenaline, quick-thinking and a good knowledge of CPR combined to save a man’s life after an early morning road crash at Piha.

Rescuer Bruce Simpson was bunking down at a mate’s place on Marine Pde when he heard a smash on the road outside around 2am.

The volunteer lifeguard rushed outside and found a vehicle in the creek.

The people-mover was upside down and under water when he reached it.

Bruce, 23, whipped off his shirt and jandals and dived in.

The doors were locked.

“I tried to pull them open and then kick the back window with my foot,” the Te Atatu South resident says.

“It was dark and I was right under the water.”

A passerby gave him a car jack which he used to smash the glass.

Bruce couldn’t see anything but reached inside where the car’s occupants grabbed at his hands. He managed to drag three to safety.

“They were screaming and crying, saying there’s still someone in there,” Bruce says.

“I told a guy on the bank to come in and hold my legs. I went under again but I was running out of breath.”

Bruce managed to get the fourth occupant out through a side window just as his friend, Mario Ozich from Swanson, joined him in the shoulder deep water.

“The guy was pretty much dead,” Mario says.

“We checked his airway and he wasn’t breathing. We put him up on top of the car which was the flattest place we could find to start CPR on him.”

The men were ecstatic when their patient started breathing again.

“He spewed up water and vomit but was still unconscious,” Mario, 22, says. “You could hear his breathing but it was really husky.”

The victim was lifted to the bank where an off-duty St John member took over.

The Westpac rescue helicopter arrived soon after and flew the man to Auckland Hospital in a critical condition.

Bruce received several injuries during his heroic rescue.

“I was bleeding everywhere from the cuts on my arms. I’ve got a big gash on the bottom of my foot.”

The pair are modest about their life-saving actions.

“It’s a bit surreal to think we saved people’s lives. It only kicks in when you talk about it,” Bruce says. “I’m just glad that we were there.”

Mario, who learned CPR at his construction job a year ago, knew one of the car’s passengers from his days at school.

“He Facebooked me and said how thankful he was. He also asked for Bruce’s number,” Mario says.
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The serious crash unit is investigating.

Source: Luke Parker (Friday 15 January 2010), CPR skills save a life, Western Leader, p.1

As I looked at my nephew asleep in the chair he seemed like an ordinary young man. Yet this man is far from ordinary – he did what he could to help someone in need. I’m so proud of him.

Manifesto
11. Every day do something for someone else.
14. Every day the ordinary can be the extraordinary.
28. Every day you will be tested.

Pity this broken angel – she stands in the Bolton Cemetery and looks longingly towards the south and the sea. She’s alone – there are no other angels poised waiting – but whenever I see her I think she’s entirely good for it. It’s quiet, you see, gives her the chance to reflect on the changing tides and hives of humanity in the city below.

Maybe that’s the secret for us then – to take the time to reflect on the day in the calm and quiet. We might become a little less broken along the way.

Manifesto
03. Every day is an opportunity to reflect on the past.
10. Every day connect with somebody.
13. Every day be better than you were the day before.

My sister, Diana, and her husband, Miro, wanted me to come up to Auckland to be with them when they got the pathology results following her surgery. So much depended on these results – the type of cancer, the stage, had it spread anywhere else in her body and a host of other factors would determine what happens next as Diana tries to rid her body of the endometrial cancer she has been diagnosed with.

When I arrived at the hospital this morning we discovered that the results were not going to be available until the following week – after I had returned home! Imagine our disappointment and worst of all Diana’s waiting had to continue.

I am very close to both my sisters so being able to be there for Diana was very important to me. Only 48 hours earlier Diana had undergone major surgery. She looked so fragile as I walked into her hospital room. As always she put on a brave face and gave me the most massive smile. She is doing amazingly well physically but she is really anxious about the pathology results and this unknown is creating havoc with her mind.

As I sat with my beautiful sister I marvelled at the wonders of modern medicine and the ability of our bodies (aided by our wonderful minds and souls) to move beyond the invasive procedures performed on them and begin functioning again even when vital organs have been removed. I love how our bodies compensate for loss by utilising other organs and body parts to perform similar tasks. Slowly but surely with time things begin to function again and some semblance of normality is created. It can never be exactly as it was before – then again in many circumstances this is for the better.

As my sister showed me her wound that was held together by staples, as we went through everything that had happened and everything that had been said to her by the surgeon I couldn’t take my eyes off the white stockings she was wearing.

“I know you have to wear these to prevent blood clots, but why are there holes at the soles of your feet?” I asked.

“I have no idea,” she replied.

We started to think of possible reasons … I thought maybe to get quick access to her toes or maybe it was a manufacturing requirement or maybe  … who knows?

Later in the day we discovered it was to prevent anyone wearing the stockings from slipping when they were up and walking.

There you go – you can always learn something new even if it just a piece of trivia like this.

Manifesto
28. Every day you will be tested.
39. Every day trust that there is a bigger picture. You are a part of it even if you may not know what it is.
40. Every day give things a chance to work out.

Far back, far back in our dark soul the horse prances … The horse, the horse! The symbol of surging potency and power of movement, of action … — D.H. Lawrence

Usual story – walk at lunch time. Nothing special, just a walk. Tweak the muscles, fresh air, defrag the brain ready for the afternoon… I suddenly spot – not the words – but the combination of the circle and the triangle. Humans have passed here. In the caves of our past we daubed or scratched simple symbols that have become essential marks of ourselves. Signatures of humanity. The circle. Triangle. And there at the end, the square. Add a spiral and wriggle line and that is pretty much the sum of the graphic core from humanity.

I thought the reference to the ghost horse was mysterious – I wondered what the motivation and meaning behind it was. I like the idea very much – I wonder what the previous and future story is. Somewhere, out there, there’s a ghost horse.

Manifesto
39. Every day trust that there is a bigger picture. You are a part of it even if you may not know what it is.
41. Every day use your mind. It is the greatest technology ever created.
46. Every day you can change your thoughts.

Sometimes I can be my own worst enemy, especially when I allow my inner critic to have a voice. During these times I have felt trapped by my body and my thoughts. It just happens. It creeps up on me. I’m aware of what is happening and I want to stop it so I can escape from the feelings that momentarily drag me down.

The worst thing about these situations is how they can alter my perspective. Instead of looking at what’s right about a situation it becomes easier to focus on what’s wrong even though I know this isn’t productive in the long run. Experience has taught me that the way we frame our thoughts has such a huge impact on what happens next.

This is what I started to think about when I noticed the hand coming out of the boot of the car in front of us today. It was an unusual sight so it drew my attention. I assume the owner of the car put this rubber hand in this particular position to make people laugh. I could see the humour only another message took hold. This message had to do with having options and the choices we make on a daily basis. I imagined being the person trapped inside this car boot who was desperately wanting to get out. What would I do? How would I handle this situation? In many ways this situation is familiar to us all even if the context is different.

Feeling trapped can be productive or unproductive depending on the decisions we make.

We can choose to feel overwhelmed by our life, our circumstances, our relationships, our jobs, our financial situation, global and local events, by whatever drama presents itself to us at any one point in time. We can become paralysed by all this and choose to do nothing in response. On the surface it can feel easier because it is at least familiar.

Or we can look at every situation as an opportunity to grow, learn and make the changes that will lead us to where we want to be. Looking through new eyes and discovering new perspective helps us to reframe our thinking and leads us to take the action required. If we can imagine where we are headed and what it will look like we feel greater confidence in taking the jump that will get us there. Its not the easier option but it is definitely more satisfying and rewarding.

I know which perspective I’d rather take, and in reality have taken over the years – except when those momentary lapses occur. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t chosen to focus on moving ahead and being prepared to change whatever needed to change.

Manifesto
37. Every day fight for what’s worth fighting for. Pick your battles.
38. Every day be brave and give things a go. Use fear to trigger you into action.
46. Every day you can change your thoughts.

Frequently over lunch I’ll take a wander along the waterfront. The water is clean enough to swim in – on a bright clear day in Summer you’ll see people take a quick dip before heading back to work. There’s even a diving board and a fresh water shower to add a tiny touch of luxury to the experience. And as for the boy in the bubble – your guess is as good as mine.

Manifesto
14. Every day the ordinary can be the extraordinary.
19. Every day make time for yourself.
24. Every day is a journey. Not a destination.

Surgeons must be very careful
When they take the knife!
Underneath their fine incisions
Stirs the Culprit – Life!
– Emily Dickinson

For 28 days my family has been counting down to today. This is the day my sister Diana is scheduled to have her surgery to remove the cancer that has invaded her body. My sister’s life is being placed in the hands of a skilled surgeon and his team. She is relying on them to do their job well and their ability to deal with whatever they find once they cut her open and look inside her precious body.

I can’t imagine what being a surgeon is like or what it must feel like to have to cut into another human being as a part of your day to day work. Being entrusted with a person’s wellbeing and future is an enormous responsibility. In the end though we have to trust our doctors – their knowledge, skills, experience, and humanity to help alleviate or even stop our pain and suffering. We have to believe they have our best interests at heart and that they will do their very best to care for us in our time of need.

So today we all waited for that call from my brother-in-law to say Diana has come through the surgery as well as could be expected and they didn’t find anything unexpected.

When that call came the tears started to flow. It was an overwhelming moment. Our trust was rewarded. The next phase of my sister’s journey to wellness has already begun. It’s not all over but this part is. One hurdle down and the next one is looming fast. Let the healing begin.

Manifesto
18. Every day express love. Some people need to hear it. Most people need to see it. Don’t take it for granted.
21. Every day seek the support of others. You are not alone.
48. Every day there are things you can’t change. You can change the way you think about them and deal with them.

Manifesto
03. Every day is an opportunity to reflect on the past.
09. Every day learn something new.
42. Every day celebrate. Who you are. What you have achieved. Things that matter to you.

Being able to park in tight spaces is something you have to learn when you live in Wellington. Our city is very hilly, has very narrow streets and parking spaces are far from generous.

I’ve never thought much about this until one day when we had gone into the centre of town and I had parallel parked the car in a very difficult situation. We were in a rush and it was the only park I could find so I was determined to make use of it. My family sat quietly as I eased the car into the available space. Our car ended up being cosily slotted between a van and another large car. As we all got out of the car one of the young men that was sitting on a bench near by shouted out to me.

“Heh lady, you’re an awesome parker,” he said. His friends were busy nodding and agreeing with him. They seemed so impressed. I hadn’t even been aware they were watching me.

“Don’t know how you did that,” continued the young man. “Awesome.”

“Thanks,” I responded while being surprised that I had managed to grab the attention of a group of young men by merely parking the car.

As my family and I walked away we were all smiling.

I thought about this when I saw this black car parked partly on the kerb today. Maybe the person who parked it was new to town. Although judging by the scratches on the car they have definitely not mastered the art of parking, or perhaps even driving. I suppose at the very least the person who parked this could say, “I did it my way”.

Manifesto
09. Every day learn something new.
26. Every day take action. Every small step counts.
38. Every day be brave and give things a go. Use fear to trigger you into action.

Your life will be no better than the plans you make, and the action you take. You are the architect and builder of your own life, fortune, and destiny. — Alfred Montapert

I think it must be one of the most amazing feelings to be able to step back from a magnificent building you’ve designed and see it standing there – this huge sculpture, a machine for living and/or working in. How much more so if we are considering ourselves. In the case of this building an individual person came up with the idea – I don’t care how much we like to believe there’s a team for everything, the reality is there’s always just one person who has an idea.

Pretty quickly thereafter someone else gets involved and the idea grows and is modified and grows again – everybody takes a view and makes their contribution – huge or humble – and soon the building is finished.

When we work on building ourselves the building of ourselves is not so quickly finished – it takes literally a lifetime. Somewhere by about the age of 10-12 the average person is pretty much set up, and from there it’s more about refinement or enhancement rather than an entirely new set of plans and a new building. It takes an exceptional person to be able to help a young person make good or even great choices. I believe it’s a lucky child who finds a ‘teacher’ (inside or outside of a school setting) who knows just how to give exactly the right firm but loving push on the right path.

And then it is, for the most part, over to the individual to do the planning and the building. I believe it’s rare for the ‘teacher’ to be around to see the triumphant end result – a person who has become a complete expression of their own positive potential. That’s a complete blessing for them both.

Manifesto
04. Every day is an opportunity to cultivate the promise of the future.
11. Every day do something for someone else.
43. Every day accept you will make mistakes. Learn from them. They are opportunities in disguise.

People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates.
– Thomas Szasz, “Personal Conduct,” The Second Sin, 1973

This past week I have been immersed in a creative process that has left me feeling different. It may sound trite to say I feel transformed yet in reality this is the best way I know of describing the experience I have been through.

As each day began and ended I had to deal with the self doubt within – the fear I couldn’t do the tasks set and the messages to myself that I wasn’t good enough. The emotional roller coaster I went through was interesting as the learning process pushed all my buttons – artistically, technically, psychologically, physically and emotionally. Tears were shed as self doubt took hold yet I was determined to deal to this inner critic once and for all.

And I did!

For our final photo shoot we were given the opportunity to do anything we wanted with the proviso that the photograph had to be of either someone else in the class or our self.

The thought of doing a self portrait really appealed. I have never taken a photo of myself before; in fact I normally try to avoid having photos taken of me. Far more importantly though was the desire to change my relationship with my self critic because all too often I allow it to overwhelm me and hold me back. The only problem was I had no idea how I was going to take a self portrait that would address this issue.

In my motel room, leaning against a mirror I began to experiment. I felt I was exposing myself in my photographs in a raw way and yet it felt the right thing to do. When I looked at the results on the computer the next day I was excited by what I had produced.

Creating these self portraits was the beginning of a new journey for me. I feel at long last like I’m headed in a direction that is true to my core being. It is as though the light has gone on and I’m allowing it to shine.

Being able to photograph people is such a priviledge and a huge responsibility. Getting to know oneself and creating oneself to be who we’re meant to be is also a big responsibility. Being authentic takes courage. This doesn’t always come easily or naturally.

I’ve seen the light as a result of this week’s experience. Now I have to get on and do what needs to be done.

Manifesto
06. Every day you make choices.
08. Every day choose to bring about change.
17. Every day look through a new lens.

We used to grow pawpaws at home when I was a kid. I think I liked the fragrance of the raw fruit more than the flavour, but I liked them stewed for dessert. The leaves were always good to draw – at once challenging and yet achievable.

I’d like to know what the active ingredients are in the leaves – it’s rare to see much in the way of insect damage and this suggests *active* ingredients. It wouldn’t surprise me if there weren’t some pharmaceutical benefits to be obtained from some explorations there.

Manifesto
14. Every day the ordinary can be the extraordinary.
30. Every day use all your senses. Touch. Smell. Taste. Hear. See.
42. Every day celebrate. Who you are. What you have achieved. Things that matter to you.

Seven days ago we arrived strangers.
After being challenged, photographing only each other and a lot of critiquing … something happened.
We discovered new perspectives of each other and ourselves through different eyes and hearts.
Many photos were taken.
After putting into practice all we learnt, these photos were reduced to what you see before you.
In this process we became connected.
We are strangers no more.
– Alison, Allan, Charlotte, Jacqui, Janet, Leonie, Marica, Ros, Sandy, Tracey, and Fleur (our tutor)

A lot happened today that was very profound for me.

To begin with I showed some photographs in an exhibition. This was a first for me and a wonderful experience. This exhibition, entitled Strangers No More, was the final part of the week long portrait photography course I have been on. During this week I learnt all about creating photographs of people that engage the viewer on an emotional level. These “new ” portraits are all about the creation of  an emotional connection between the photographer and the subject so that the final portrait depicts the subject in an authentic way.

Every day we took hundreds of photos of each other. By the end of each day we were expected to have chosen the two best photographs. By the end of the week our portfolio of 10 photographs was whittled down to only two photographs that we would exhibit. To do this we became immersed in an intensive editing process which involved a lot of critiquing, discussion, feedback and self reflection. This was no simple task. Along the way I  learnt about what makes a good photograph and what doesn’t, and I also learnt a lot more about myself and what makes me tick. Another change that occurred was that all of us participating in this class became closer. We definitely began the week as strangers; this was not the case today as we proudly shared our work as a collective to the public.

The second great thing that happened today was that I won a prize – the Summer School 2010 Fleur Wickes Challenge. On the first day of our course our tutor Fleur asked us how we wanted to handle the week. All of us said we wanted to go hard. Fleur’s challenge was to see how far we could push ourselves and she said she would award the person who had come the furthest over the week a prize. This prize was three hours one-on-one with Fleur.

At the exhibition Fleur announced the prize winner – ME! I was so overwhelmed. I was awarded this prize for my “commitment, guts, and straight-up native talent”.

This was a really big day for me and I loved it. If I hadn’t been prepared to take a risk and put myself in a situation where I felt really out of my comfort zone I would never have had this experience. I’m so glad I listened to my intuition and gave it a go.

Manifesto
42. Every day celebrate. Who you are. What you have achieved. Things that matter to you.
44. Every day remember how far you have come.
45. Every day you are a different person.

Last night I asked my father-in-law if he’d mind taking a look at the washer in the tap on the front of our house. I didn’t have the time to sort it out, and I didn’t want to call in a plumber for something as basic as a new washer. After a few minutes of discussion we were mutually satisfied that my father-in-law would be happy to do the job, and that there was no need to give him any money as he was sure he had some spare washers in his workshop.

Sitting in the car I can guess the story. He walks over to our home with a few tools. Turns off the water, dismantles the tap, it’s more than a replacement washer. Curses. He walks home, gets the car, goes to the hardware shop, buys tap (at exorbitant price), comes back, attempts to remove old tap, skins knuckles, curses, finally cuts old tap off, installs new tap, knuckles, curses, turns the water back on, creaks, groans, too old for this, curses, and goes home.

I hate it when I ask for help with with something I believe will be straightforward and the task suddenly (and beyond my control) spirals out of all proportion. I’m very grateful we now have a leak free tap, and for having a father-in-law who’s happy to help out.

Manifesto
06. Every day you make choices.
18. Every day express love. Some people need to hear it. Most people need to see it. Don’t take it for granted.
20. Every day say thank you.

Today we had an opportunity to get an insight into what other participants of the Wanganui Summer School of the Arts have been doing behind closed doors over this past week. We were able to walk around and see creations that had been completed and those that were still a work in progress.

Every day I would walk past classrooms where all sorts of interesting activities were going on. I would stop and peak through the glass windows to take a closer look at what was being produced. The hallways were often lined with creations that were hung out to dry. There were classes in painting, sculpture, felting, dressmaking, botanical drawing, jewellery making and cake decorating.

The handbags and gloves in today’s photo were created by the cake decorating class – aka the sugar art class. I wanted to pick up the black polka dot bag and take it home with me – it looked so cute.

I love this aspect of our learning experience – being able to share with others what we have produced.

Participants in my photography class were busy today getting ready for the exhibition we are holding tomorrow afternoon which will be open to the public. I am finding this whole process incredibly exciting although getting to the point of being able to select just two photographs to exhibit out of the hundreds I’ve taken this week is not so easy.

Day Six is almost over and I have to admit I am already feeling sad. Where has the week gone? This has been an incredible experience for me. I have never taken time out like this to be able to focus on only one thing that I am really passionate about and completely immerse myself in learning all I can about it. My concern as this week comes to an end is whether or not I will be able to sustain this creative flow when I return to my real world? Time will tell …

Manifesto
09. Every day learn something new.
13. Every day be better than you were the day before.
19. Every day make time for yourself.

Brad, barely able to walk after the traumatic encounter with the deformed bicycle seat, tore the backpack seams as he flexed his muscles. “This always makes me look like RanXerox, I must work on my biceps more…”

“Quickly, my helicopter can only touch and go, there are spies and paparazzi everywhere!”

Just another sunny afternoon on the waterfront…

Manifesto
14. Every day the ordinary can be the extraordinary.
17. Every day look through a new lens.
32. Every day have a laugh.

The Oxford Dictionary describes smitten as being strongly attracted to someone or something. In my case I am smitten with the town of Wanganui. After years of visiting this town regularly – but never staying more than a weekend – I have gained a whole new perspective of my husband’s hometown.

I have been here for almost a week now and I have discovered many things about Wanganui that I never  appreciated before … it’s beauty (the main street is stunning with all its hanging baskets and beautiful old buildings) … there’s no such thing as a rush hour so that you can get from one end of town to the other in 5 minutes even at the “wrong” time of day … nothing appears to open before 9am apart from some cafes … everything seems to be closed by 5pm (the shops in the main street definitely are) … people have figured out what work/life balance is all about … it is amazingly well serviced with all sorts of cultural, educational and sporting facilities … they have a beautiful Opera House and it gets used (we went to the opera last night) … when you go to a restaurant for a meal on a week night you feel as though the place has been booked for only you because it is virtually empty (how they make a living I do not know) … you can walk on the road in the main street after 9pm because there are hardly any cars around … the people are friendly … there is so much to see and do … the new river walkway is fantastic … and most importantly they host Summer School of the Arts every January!

No doubt there are loads of things I have forgotten to list but I’m sure you get my drift -  I think this place is worth visiting and for more than a night. I know there are so many things I didn’t even see or experience.

I have loved being here in Wanganui this week. It is the perfect place to learn, to be challenged and be inspired.

I wonder if Lynsey will consider moving back here? I spotted a wonderful old brick building down by the river that took my fancy.

Isn’t it interesting how when you look with different eyes how the familiar can be so new and different?

Manifesto
26. Every day take action. Every small step counts.
22. Every day refine, clarify and simplify.
46. Every day you can change your thoughts.

I’m a desk-based worker these days. You don’t raise much of a sweat working at a desk. No drops of water forming on your forehead as you go through the daily grind. Droplets of blood, yes. Venom, perhaps, spat from your friendly spitting cobras/colleagues*. I’m on my way to work. I see these guys forming droplets of water on the old Town Hall, and probably on their foreheads as well. I’m thinking, “How cool is that?”

Unfortunately I was garbed up for office work, but I would’ve liked to have had a blast at cleaning one of those ornamental works. The old Town Hall always looks starched and well pressed, and I assume it is due to the efforts of these guys. I think it must be pretty satisfying to clean off a few months/years of pigeon poop, dirt, and dust to reveal the beautiful detailing underneath. Up there, next to god.

* please note, my colleagues are not spitting cobras at all. Any similarities are purely coincidental.

Manifesto
03. Every day is an opportunity to reflect on the past.
14. Every day the ordinary can be the extraordinary.
33. Every day try something new.

“Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion,” philosopher G. W. F. Hegel once said. Passion is not always fun. Like anything worthwhile, pursuing your passion often involves great courage, commitment, hard work and sacrifice. People following their dreams are prepared to take risks, tackle new challenges and cope with setbacks to live a more passionate life.
– Cassandra Gaisford, Following Passion Bears Fruit, The New Zealand Herald, 13 January 2010

Seeing my daughter Zofia’s face smiling back at me from a newspaper page was an unusual experience. I looked at the image, read the article and felt an overwhelming sense of pride.

“This is my daughter,” I heard myself saying without actually speaking the words out loud. “Her perserverance and persistence has paid off. Go Zofia!”

At the same time I felt a deep sadness because the writer of the newspaper article was able to spend face-to-face quality time with Zofia (now based in London) while I couldn’t. I miss my daughter a great deal even though we communicate almost every day – actually I miss both my daughters every day.

When you give birth to a child you don’t think about what it will be like when they leave home – this event seems to happen far too quickly. From my perspective something special is lost forever when your child spreads their wings and flies away to create their life, their future. Don’t get me wrong, this is how it should be. This is what I wanted for my children. I have encouraged them since they were little to follow their passion and be who they wanted to be. Yet, for me when they left I felt an unimaginable grief that even surprised me.

Reading the article in the newspaper today I wanted Zofia right there beside me. Not just in spirit but also in a physical sense. I wanted to hold her, to hear her voice and just be with her – you know, like those times when no words are adequate or needed, when you just relish the moment and be together. This wasn’t possible today so I had to compensate by imagining how that would have felt.

For almost three years now we have been providing encouragement and all the at-distance support we could to Zofia as she has travelled to the other side of the world in pursuit of living her passion. Her dream to work in the art world has led to lots of hardship for her. Nothing has come easy and every day still presents lots of challenges to her. Yet through all this she is doing what she loves and is managing to make a life for herself at the same time. I admire her so much and how she hasn’t given up.

Imagine how I felt when I read her words …

“I was lucky enough to get a very low-level job in one of the biggest auction houses in the world, Christies. For a long time I lived on virtually no money and sometimes struggled to pay the rent. But people there soon saw how passionate I was about art, and how willing I was to take whatever came along. I kept applying for jobs both inside and outside Christies because I really wanted to get some employment security. There were times when it was so tough – both financially and because of homesickness – but I vowed to give myself six months and if it didn’t work out I’d give up my dream.”

“The sacrifice was worth it. I have been able to see and experience so much more in the art world in London where there is more of it than in New Zealand. I have a job where I get to meet people I never imagined meeting and get up close to art and artifacts that you can’t even get that close to in a museum! It also enabled me to discover more about myself and what career path I really wanted to pursue.”

“Money’s still tight and sometimes I miss my family so much I just want to go home, but then I pinch myself and say, ‘Hey I’m living my dream! The other day Christies sold a Rembrandt for £18 million ($39 million), making it the fourth most expensive Old Master painting ever sold at auction. I was in the room that night they sold it and at the end of the sale we sold a beautiful drawing by Raphael for £29 million. This is the most expensive work on paper ever sold. It was amazing to bear witness to that event.”

What can I say … today, and every day, I am so honoured to have had the chance to be involved in growing my three children and helping them to become the wonderful adults they are today. Zofia, Damian and Mira, I love you more than words or actions could ever express.

Today I was reminded of the importance of chasing your dreams. I am more inspired than ever to keep chasing my own. I can make them come true just as my children have done.

Manifesto
24. Every day is a journey. Not a destination.
26. Every day take action. Every small step counts.
34. Every day focus on your dreams.