Saturday 28 July 2012

I've had the time of my life... and I owe it all to Booze??

Dirty Dancing

"...you're the one thing I can't get enough of
so I'll tell you something... This could be love...
be-cause I've had the time of my life and I've never felt this way before,
yes I swear it's the truth and I owe it all to BOOZE..."


When we were young most of us who tasted alcohol thought it was disgusting, we couldn't understand why adults liked it so much and swore we would never drink it, but after acquiring a taste for it and choosing our poison our relationship with alcohol may have, at some point, resembled this famous Dirty Dancing song.

So what created this love affair with alcohol? 
Quentin Tarantino (a famous film maker) often “presents” independent films so that they have a better chance of getting a decent audience at the cinema, but he has nothing to do with the making of the film.  So the film is only made more appealing by it’s association with Quentin Tarantino.  Couldn’t that same formula be tricking us into giving alcohol all the credit for a good night out or a fun holiday?  Is it possible that we were having fun regardless of the fact that we were drinking, but the association with alcohol and a good time means we assume the alcohol was responsible for the fun?   

Alcohol is only "cool" by association.  Association with spending time with friends, letting go and having a good time.  It is true that sometimes alcohol may help us release our inhibitions, but we can do that without alcohol.  We did it as kids, we're just out of practise and we need to retrain ourselves to loosen up naturally.

"...With my body and soul I want you more than you'll ever know.. 
so we'll just let it go, don't be afraid to lose control..."

When we don't rely on alcohol as a social lubricant we learn to let go without it, both mentally and physically.  When our bodies are left to their natural devices they release endorphins in the same way that they do when we go for a run, play sport, take a yoga class or similar.  It might feel a little strange at first, but eventually it feels even better than letting go when drinking and the bonus is:  There's no hangover!  If other cultures can dance like no one's watching without needing "dutch courage", then surely so can we!

If you would like to support the cause you can recommend this page below or donate here:  http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Life is like a (half) marathon

Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia
Life is like a marathon.  
We draw inspiration from the people in front of us 
and we are humbled by those behind us, 
but the key is to stay focussed on ourselves,
where we're headed 
and compete only against our own best.
If we focus too much on the people overtaking us 
or in front of us we can become disheartened 
and if we look back too often at those behind us 
we can lose focus and trip up.  
There are always going to be rough spots;
pain kicks in, we feel like we can't take it any longer
and we want to give up.
But when we push through, adrenalin kicks in, 
we're taken to another level 
and we experience an intoxicating, rewarding high.

On Sunday I ran my fist half marathon.  This time 1 year ago I was recovering from surgery.  This time 2 years ago I couldn't run for longer than 5-10 minutes at a time (and I thought I never would).  
It wasn't easy, but I did it and I'm getting the sense that it's true when they say anything is possible.

If you would like to support the cause you can recommend this page below or donate here:http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Friday 6 July 2012

Selfishly Selfless

St Kilda Beach, Melbourne, Australia

On the flight of life we know that kindness toward others makes our journey more enjoyable, yet there seems to be some confusion around selfishness and selflessness.

Selflessness is the new black.  Everyone’s jumping on the charity band wagon these days because of a wonderful appreciation for altruism.  But sometimes in relationships when we sacrifice our own needs to help someone out we can be reactive and only end up making matters worse.  These situations often end with “I was only trying to help!”.   If we haven’t looked after ourselves first, are we really in the best condition to be assisting others? 

What of selfishness?  There are scientific theories on evolution based on the belief that all living things are competing with each other and therefore we must be selfish to survive, but these theories are based on physical survival only.  People who live unethically might “appear” to have survived, but it is impossible for someone who is ruthlessly selfish to be truly happy and we have proven time and time again that happiness can increase not only quality, but longevity of life.  

Rather than look at selfishness and selflessness as opposing, why not fuse them together so that they complement each other?   If selfishness is putting our desires first with total disregard for other people, then surely if we put our needs first, coupled with the intention of being in the best possible condition to help others, we’re not being selfish.  We’re being selfishly selfless.  Airhostesses have been trying to tell us all along: “Secure your own mask before assisting others”.


If you would like to support the cause you can recommend this page below or donate here:http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6