Category: GRATITUDE
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DAY #1,500 DONE & DUSTED
Sunday 29 August 2021 – Tuesday 07 October 2025 #smilingontheinside – 11 October 2025 I was going to make a big deal about it. But didn’t. I was going to walk Mt Tauhara in Taupo to landmark the day – something monumental. But didn’t. I’ve been-there-done-that (with Mt Tauhara) back in the day – it…
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ANNUAL MID-YEAR IN-LAW GET-TOGETHER
In-law family get-togethers, walking at sunrise, letting dreams go to create space for others and getting creative with my photos on frosty blue sky mornings in Stratford, NZ.
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First Dry Step Climbing Since Forever + No Makeup Required
Yesterday was one of those learn to dance on a moving magic carpet type of days. After delayed meetings and timing challenges, I finally climbed my steps – without a raincoat for the first time in forever! Two thousand steps climbed this week, exploring perspective vs comparison and showing up without masks.
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Foggy-Tea-Strainer-For-Coffee-Monday
Alan’s fog-bound delay reminded me what matters most – safe arrivals home. Between tea-strainer coffee mornings and interval walks to disco music, ordinary days still hold their own rhythm. Still pondering gym choices for upper body strength while wrestling with French Press quirks and celebrating 6kph walking pace achievements. #smilingontheinside
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New Machines and Old Friends
Never say never! My new Nespresso Essenza Mini arrived for van adventures, complete with the learning curve of proper initialization. Between figuring out coffee temperatures and catching up with a special friend over lunch, it’s the small moments that keep me #smilingontheinside.
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THE VOICE THAT WON’T LET UP
That inner voice that pushes for perfection won’t let up, even when I’ve given myself permission to take it easy. Yesterday’s step-climbing session turned into a battle between intention and expectation, while dramatic events unfolded in our neighbourhood and Alan’s shopping skills remained questionable.
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SAVING SOMETHING IN THE TANK
Today’s reflection is all about musing on finding the balance between pushing limits and saving energy for what matters most.
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WEEKEND WEATHER WARNINGS
Houston! We Have A Problem! Water! Water! Everywhere! #smilingontheinside – Friday 04 July 2025 We were loading up the van (motorhome) this afternoon – rushing to get everything stowed before the heavy rain and thunderstorms, forecast, arrived. We almost made it and were patting ourselves on the back until we turned around and saw water…
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SUPERMARKET FIBBING…?
Passionfruit are not in season… are they…? Our passionfruit vine is bare #smilingontheinside – Wednesday 02 July 2025 I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that passionfruit is selling for $59.99/kg – in other words – sixty dollars – yesterday. Sixty Dollars!! The label here states “in season now”. Really? Our vines are completely…
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Couple-Time Disrupted: Navigating Work-Life Balance
2025 is A Chocolate-Free Year We all make a difference #smilingontheinside – Tuesday 01 July 2025 I read in the NZ Herald that RJs – the manufacturer of Jaffas – the orange flavoured chocolate balls – is stopping manufacture. How sad is that! I bet there’ll be spike in sales now. I wonder whether me…
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How Marbles Help Me Track My Step Counts
Marbles moved from pocket to pocket How do you count flights when there are so many steps…? #smilingontheinside – Monday 30 June 2025 Keeping track of a few flights of steps is easy… but remembering where I’m up to when I’ve climbed hundreds and hundreds of steps is a bit more challenging. To start with,…
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SUNDAY IS FARMER’S MARKET DAY
Our “Market Ritual” kick off Sundays My Solo Run to the Market #smilingontheinside – Sunday 29 June 2025 It hit me this morning on my drive to the Hamilton Farmers’ Market – I actually live alone for nearly half the year. When you add up all the nights Alan’s work roster takes him away from…
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Walking 1,400 Days: Rainy Adventures and New Plantings
Rain. Rain. And More Rain. Alllll Day! My Raincoat Was Still Damp – ugh! #smilingontheinside – Saturday 28 June 2025 I hadn’t realised that my raincoat hadn’t fully dried out until I went to wear it again for my daily walk. Ugh! Obviously, hanging it up in the garage – over a bucket to catch…
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THE WETTEST WALK. EVER. SO FAR!
is more than “saturated” possible…? Steps – Day 3/3 @ 9×84 = 756 | 2,268 this week #smilingontheinside – Friday 27 June 2025 Man! It was wet! Sooo wet, that I contorted, twisted and wrangled myself into my raincoat and changed my shoes, inside the car! I planned to start off as dry as possible.…
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CLIENT SUCCESS – HUGE WIN!
Thursday Finished on a High! Defining “success” #smilingontheinside – Thursday 26 June 2025 In my day job, one of the things my team and I do, is help veterinary clinics fill their job vacancies faster. Alan and I have a veterinary profession job board – amidst a number of huge competitors, while we’re just the…
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JUST ONE STEP AT A TIME
Never say “never”…! Day 2/3 – 9 Repeats = 756 steps: 1,512/2,268 #smilingontheinside – Wednesday 25 June 2025 Twas Friday last week the thought started making its presence in my mind a little louder, a little bit more persistent, a little bit more obvious: I was enjoying climbing stairs!! What??? How’d that happen…? Will it…
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MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WAKE-UP ALARM
My Rhythm Knocked Completely Out of Balance The things we do for love! #smilingontheinside – Tuesday 24 June 2025 As I write this, Alan’s on another Pacific Tour of Duty. Being an airline pilot all sounds very glamorous but it’s far from that. Our alarm went off at 03:00 because he was on the first…
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AUTUMNAL TREES NOW WINTER TREES
Red Tree No Longer Red First Climb of Three: (9×84)=756 #smilingontheinside – Monday 23 June 2025 I had the Ann Street Steps all to myself yesterday – 09:30 Monday mornings must be a good time – if I don’t want to share…? Or maybe the timing had nothing to do with other people being out…
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FOGGGGGGGG!!!
It’s times like these… The Value of a Resilience Bank #smilingontheinside – Saturday 21 June 2025 Apart from the fact that growing your (my) Resilience Bank is good for your (my) mental health in the moment, it’s also super helpful when you (I) need to make a withdrawal later. Sometimes, life can be challenging… Sometimes,…
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BUSIER THAN GRAND CENTRAL
Stepping on a Public Holiday Everyone and their dog were using “my” steps #smilingontheinside – Friday 20 June 2025 Given it was Matariki – public holiday – I kinda thought the walkway – leading to “my” steps – would be busy … I sure hadn’t anticipated that everyone and their dog would be doing what…
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