Goals and Dreams

At the beginning of the year I sat down with my Mr B and wrote a list of goals and dreams, some I 'knew' I would achieve, others I was 'certain' I would achieve . . . None I 'doubted' I would'nt achieve.

Things have changed . . . Hurdles in the name of injuries 

As I work through aspects of sadness and disappointment, I watch my heart deal with anger and frustration, quietly bleeding. 

We are all just living our stories, and some things have to happen to put us on the right path again, with a kindly reminder to ‘dream a little bigger darling’ or in my case look at what I have achieved rather than what I haven't.

Out of the 11 goals and dreams I have already achieved 4; next week I will achieve a further 2 and by the end of the year another 2.  

I need to give myself an opportunity to notice this place I am at, and find a starting point for a new journey, with new goals and dreams. 

I am sitting here wondering how to make the next steps happen, some of my answers are simple but yet at the same time complicated; letting go and trusting, is something I struggle to do, but yet the past six months have taught me to do.

Taking deep breaths , enchanted by some gentle encouragement from family, friends and professionals. I go outside to sit, read a trashy magazine and watch the sky for a while, as the clouds shift to reveal blue and let the sun shine through I think about later this week and the journey it will bring and 2 more of my goals and dreams will be ticked off.

I have been impatient and anxious for spring to arrive, and now it’s here with all it’s hope and promises.  Spring is rewarding my resilience with slow signs of progress, and reminding me summer will be here soon enough; meanwhile it’s time to appreciate where I am and what I have achieved.  

To live in the moment, enjoy the potential and notice new opportunities blossoming. 

And that was May

Waiting: Around at airports and train stations 
Playing: I spy and I'm thinking about

Wearing: PJ's for night flights AND back into the summer clothes
Needing: Sleep 

Deciding: The cherry blossom is just as beautiful as the cherry itself

Liking: Cherries

Watching: My daughter take in the wonder of it all

Marvelling: At the traditions which continue

Smelling: Korean BBQ and street food

Cooking : Silkworm pupae 

Wanting: to experience it all

Noticing: Barbed wire everywhere

Thinking: about North Korea and South Korea

Feeling: Sad for the people

Hoping: Unification comes during my lifetime

Knowing: these days are going far to fast

Loving: Family, meeting my nieces, spending time with my brother and sister in law

Giggling: At how alike our children are 

Wishing: we lived in the same country

Looking: For coffee

Buying: Coffee

Drinking : Coffee as it comes, iced or hot I do not care

Writing:  Instructions on how to get us from A to B using Google Maps and Coffee

Making : Memories

Feeling: Proud 

Admiring: Their individual strengths and personalities 

Enjoying: The sights and sounds of Korea and HongKong . . . Cities and countryside

Reading: Signs translated into English

Laughing: At signs translated into English

Wondering: About apartment living 

Imagining: What our home suburb will look like once apartment living starts

You can get a list from Meet Me At Mikes

Week 20 of 52

Wonju - South Korea

P - FAMILY - The biggest reason for this holiday was to see family .. .. .. you totally loved your cousins.  You loved shopping with your Aunty as much as she loved shopping with you!  A day spent visiting your cousins school and watching her perform followed by lunch and department store shopping where Aunty brought you high heels and lace top socks, was completed with traditional market shopping where Mama brought you the Korean costume you had been eyeing since Namwon.  My beautiful girl oh how I loved seeing you spend this quality time with your cousins.  This has been such a special time and I pray we all spend time together again very soon.

Z - At the Wonju Herb gardens you ran around enjoying the water.  Water has always been a source of entertainment for you.  Jumping over the stones to bring your Mama a flower .. .. .. You totally warmed my heart the way you spent time doing jig saw puzzles with your youngest cousin.  Just like your Uncle was the only boy amongst a sister and girl cousins, you too were the only boy.  

I have been in awe of you this trip, embracing the cuisine and trying foods that Mama wouldn't try (Kimchi), however, you did draw the line at silkworm pupae .. .. ..

At the airport you questioned if my tears were the same as P's when you were on school camp and she missed you.  Smiling I explained yes, however, school camp was one week and Mama's brother left NZ for South Korea 7 years ago honey.

Week 19 of 52

Korea 

Z - After an evening in Seoul we hopped onto the fast train to Namwon where we were met at the train station by Dongmin and his family.  How very exciting for us all to see each other again.  You loved our time with 'your Korean students' and threw yourself into the culture wholeheartedly.  I loved watching you take it all in and try all the new experiences.

P - You loved the tea drinking culture of Korea and the costumes . . . (more on that next week) . . . Both Mamas (NZ & Korea) loved watching our daughters interact where language was no barrier when it came to art.  

I love the way you both are embracing this experience.