"Let's expect more from February..."

Hi everyone!

I want to announce the winners for last week’s giveaway at the end of this blog post, but for now…just look at what I found on my bush walk this week. Beautiful!

January was a busy month for me — lots of change, big resolutions, a return to healthy eating after the holidays, a re-commitment to moving my body more. I’m trying to learn to switch from chocolate and coffee to a walk or some meditation when I’m stressed.

Honestly, that’s hard for me.

It’s made me wonder — how are your resolutions going for you? Do you set any? Do you have some goals for 2019?

This week, Austin Kleon (an artist I love thanks to my American friend, Victoria from Being Me Movement) quoted a friend who said “We expect too much from January and not enough from February.”

It’s true, isn’t it?

We expect so much from January and so much from ourselves. But we have time: another eleven months to find our way and do the things we want to do in 2019.

Austin also shared his art and the words are beautiful:

Deep breath: we have more time. February is here and we can start again.

How?

Make a simple list. Jot down the things you want to achieve this year. Remind yourself that you have eleven months and today is the best day to start. Remember a gentler truth: you’ll accomplish so much more when you treat yourself with love. (Coffee? Chocolate? Or a bush walk? Try to make a good choice if you can, a choice that supports your own well being.) I heard some advice once and I think it’s true: when you feel awful, treat yourself how you’d treat a tired, overwhelmed toddler….with rest, good food, love.

So today, I’m sending you a fresh start and cheering you on from Down Under, where the bush walks are spectacular, even in the city parks.

Love Catherine x

Winners of last week’s giveaway!

The lucky winners are…

• Leslie B. from Canada, I’m posting you Love Lie Repeat! Congrats!

• And Sharon O. from America, I’m posting you my favourite (emerald) ring. Thanks to everyone who entered. (Rafflecopter chose random winners).

• You can watch me open my box of books here — Penguin sent me my author copies and the books are SO PRETTY. If you want to order, visit your local Aussie bookshop or order here for free delivery overseas. 30 days until release date!

Hilarious, But True...

Welcome to everyone new this week!

I'm dying to show you my favourite photo of my (now) teenage son. He walked up to me, age two, and said, "DO YOU LIKE MY BAND-AID?"

Can you see it in his hair?

I laughed until I cried but also ... ouch!

I keep this photo on my office wall to remind myself of so many things. That kids are unafraid. That they love what they love. That they live in the moment and are just not fussed about whether something is a good idea or not.

They go for what they want.

Freedom.

Dreams.

(Sneaky band-aids! Applied everywhere!)

But we're adults and we get so caught up in all the shouldn'ts, don't we? We live ahead of ourselves or -- maybe more often -- we live behind. And we forget that all our joy is in the now.

So today, for you, here's an invitation...can we live with a little more YES and a little less SHOULD? A little more abandon? A little more chasing of what we love?

Please say you will.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone, and -- as always -- be fun to live with!

Love Catherine x

How To Have The Best Birthday

Another trip around the sun for me!

I celebrated my birthday this week and, for the first time ever, I shared it with everyone. My sweet friend, Victoria Buda at Being Me Movement podcast has this incredible tradition. Every year during her birthday month, she tells people My birthday is going to be awesome. So I did the same and it was. I mean, look at me! Dog and cake. Friends. Family. It doesn't get better.

Will you try it? Are you willing to let people show you how much they love you this year? 

Then I gave myself the best $7 gift: No Lights No Lycra.

I love to dance (kitchen dance!) and I've been meaning to try this for ages. Two Aussie women started No Lights No Lycra as a community dance movement and it's completely amazing, of course. The heart of the movement is the belief that everyone can dance. I went for the first time in Manly the night before my birthday. Imagine it -- one hour of incredible music in this gorgeous old community hall with dozens of women and all the lights off, everyone doing her own thing. No heels. All ages. High vibe. Complete freedom.

Magic! 

Want to see if there's one near you? If it's not in your city yet, anyone can be an ambassador. It would be a fun weekly side hustle / easy business AND it provides an awesome benefit to your community. Learn how to start one up!

And one last bit of goodness! I can't wait to show you Jacaranda Snow, my growth mindset / flow hardcover picture book published by Wombat Books. Jacaranda Snow hits the shelves in September. I wish I could share Helene's brilliant illustrations, but not yet. Let me just say that the book is so pretty I cried! If you want to pre-order, you can buy it here. Sneak peek of a detail:

And most important of all, for all the new people this week, welcome! I appreciate you! Thank you, truly, for joining us. If a friend sent you this email, you can get your own here. A weekly dose of happiness from Sydney!

Enjoy your weekend. And, as always, have some fun...and be fun to live with!

Catherine x