Own it
July is my birthday month! Yes, I give myself an entire month to celebrate. Through all we have experienced this year, I’ve realised celebrating and relishing in simple joys is important. This month I gave myself permission to do more of what brings me happiness and I actively encouraged those around me to do the same. Living lightly and blissfully is now, more than ever, the way I care to live.
The month of July started out as another challenging one. I found myself overwhelmed, drowning in to-do lists, trying to be everything to everyone and having these feelings compounded by what we are all going through collectively around the world. 2020 has been big!
Often July is a time of self-reflection (I think this is a common experience around birthdays), taking a time out to focus on my health and wellbeing made me realise that my cup was empty. I had given all of me to those around me, which is easy to do when you are juggling a little one or two. I also found myself somehow diluting my authenticity in order to continue giving. I was disowning my truth to compensate for others. Without a buffer, I wouldn’t stand up for myself or what I believe in.
Recovering my truth and owning my story was what got me through this month. I have learnt a big lesson. You need to be happy. You need to be happy in your skin, you need to be happy with your surrounds. You need to trust you have all you need to get by in this world. No matter what people may say about your authentic self, it’s okay as long as you own who you are (flaws and all) and relish in that beautiful space. Pay no attention to the noise around you, just the voice within. It’s not the outside world that dictates your story and makes you, you. It is you inner strength, your inner wisdom, your inner desires that will always push you forward and it is that what you need to tune into.
This month I’ve embraced more of who I am. If anything this year has proven we need to look inwards more. It’s a time for awakening and revelations. We’ve been given an opportunity to stop and reset. If there is a dream that you’ve left unfulfilled – go for it! Don’t let anything or anyone deter you. You can do it. Reflecting back on my writing journey, I’m so grateful that I somehow found the courage to trust my inner wishes and leap towards my goals. I hope others on their creative path are able to do this too. It’s time to reclaim who we are and own it!
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH
Delighted to be part of the Mighty Playwrights project through the Goulburn Mulwaree Library. So thrilled for the budding young writers I’ve had the privilege of mentoring 
Thank you to ABC Canberra for having me on air & Better Reading Kids for sharing 8 fabulous reasons to read the exciting Penguin Kids Australia Aussie Kids series. Can’t wait to introduce Matilda to you all soon. In the meantime I hope you check out the other wonderful stories in the series
