When I grow up...

So, I've been working this temp gig to earn some money because for some reason the Lotto doesn't seem to paying me out millions of dollars. Kinda weird really because that's why I play it but there you go. 

I was working with this woman yesterday - actually, working is probably the incorrect term as we spent most of the day talking. After talking to her I've decided I want to grow up to be her. Why? Because when she retired she and her partner hit the road and travelled Australia working odd jobs and seeing the country and basically just enjoying the adventure. Currently she lives on a boat in the Whitsundays and they travel up and down the east coast of Australia just going where they want and living as they please. No, they're not rich. They worked hard all their lives and saved to get to the point where they are now. Talking to her was like talking to myself in 15 years time. 

I believe every so often life gives you glimpses of the future to remind you that yes, you may be going through crapacious times but there is a reason to it all so hold on and do what you have to in order for better days to come. I believe...

What is it with bullies?

 

I had a face off with a bully yesterday. She thought I was a victim. Why? I'm not sure. Maybe because I'm an average woman with average looks and her need to try and pick on someone was transferred to me.  I spent my childhood with a bully who tried to stomp on my self esteem and destroy me. Bullies are like that. By their very nature they are weak people who try to demolish the strength of others to make them feel better about themselves. Get a frigging self help book or see a psychiatrist I say. Unfortunately for the bully I faced on the job, I detest bullies and I will never put up with the rot they go on with. I stood my ground and I dealt with her letting her know I was the absolutely wrong person to toy with. I also reported her actions because while I can look after myself another may not be able to and she needed to be officially stopped. Tattling? No. Someone has to say something to stop something. She got stopped. 

Today, a woman at the gym was telling me about the stress of a bully who was making her life a nightmare. After I left her I was wondering to myself are bullies more recognizable now? By that I mean did people in the past just suck it up and forge  ahead, saying nothing as they got on as best they could against the bully. I don't recall an outcry against bullies in school thirty or forty years ago. Did that allow the bullies to grow up and create more bullies to the point that they can be found everywhere and that has caused people to stop and think about the evil of bullies and how they should be stopped? Is it that we understand our rights more? Do we remember as kids that one person that pushed us too far and stiffened our resolved to never be pushed that far again? 

I dunno. All I do know is if a bully tries to hurt you and doesn't succeed, there will be a dozen more people that bully will try and attack. Stand your ground and be the one who stops them. Yeah, it's hard work but you never want that happening to someone else.

I done good...

I was sauntering along the Cairns esplanade on my usual 5km, walking and running, thinking about the upcoming trip down to the big smoke for 7 weeks of training for a new job. The training is held smack bang where I used to work 25 odd years ago. I thought back to then. I had no money, a thousand year old, decrepit, beat up car that stalled constantly, a mortgage that I could barely pay, I made my own clothes due to no money and I worked constant overtime to the point that there were nights when I got home that I would have gladly fallen asleep on the carpet to avoid having to walk the extra distance to my bedroom. But that’s life ain’t it? We – you – me – work, sacrifice, save, lose sleep, make do and get by in order to be better 25 years later down the track. I’m proud of what I’ve done and where I'm at. I worked bloody hard for it. While I’m not a great believer in going backwards in life, sometimes it’s good to see where you started just to remind you how far you’ve come.     

Today I dig...

Down, down, deeper down...

Format, format, format...

I’m Scarlet Harloting at the moment. Book formatting. Is it exciting or what?

As mum always said to us when we were growing up, the harder you work the luckier you get…