A Grown Up’s Gap Year – ISSUE #6 – Find Your Fun

Hello, how was your Weekend?

After much research, okay a straw poll of one (moi) – I’ve realised that if ever there is a day I might require a ‘nudge’ to ‘do the thing’, Sunday is it.

We know Monday’s are the day to begin ‘the thing’ (insert your – ‘I am going to….). However if you haven’t put a few thoughts to the matter, or plans in place, we all know exactly where your sparkly new start will end up.

Yup, nowhere…

So my catch up’s will pop into your inbox on a Sunday afternoon.

So unless you all head for the unsubscribe button – here we are to remain

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FIRST THINGS FIRST

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Maybe you have read A Grown Up’s Gap Year – perhaps your friend received their free copy – well if anything resonated, provided a moment of entertainment. Did you learn a few new IDEAS? Ones worthy of REVIEW? Then I would so appreciate your rating – brief, honest and HERE.

(…any less glowing feedback welcomed too).

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ASK MONIQUE

A new section, answering the questions I get regularly popping into my DM’s. If I see a similar theme 3 x times – I will answer it here via the THEME of the week – feel free to hit reply to this email and ask any pressing things on your mind!

“…I barely have time to fit in ALL I HAVE TO DO, without even pondering how I could squeeze in something new. Help me get my FUN back – where do I begin?”

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WHAT TO DO IF YOU’VE LOST THE FUN, IN YOUR LIFE?

So perhaps you want to spark some FUN in your day-to-day.

Something I need to remind myself constantly. Ho hum, hum drum is extremely easy to default to – when weeks are full, space in the diary for yourself is light on the ground – adulting forces a same, sameness to days.

I wrote the book on ‘living your best life’ and even I can find myself becoming complacent, a full diary and a list as long as my arm (I know you are nodding).

Yet exercising my ‘Why not, now’ muscle on a daily basis. Just stopping to ask myself this question without too much fanfare – means I’ve been saying yes more often to;

Ocean swims – some days I can only manage a dip, others more time for ‘laps’ – either way this activity never fails to deliver a sense of FUN.

Ditto accepting invitations – any opportunity to make a connection with a group of women gets my vote. You never know who you might meet and what you might learn. Besides then is something joyous about frocking up for lunch (or breaky – dinners don’t often get my vote these days – my idea of fun is waking early, and that requires early to bed).

WELLBEING

Celebrate a bit of novelty with verve and intentional determination. This idea is not unique, but it is definitely fun.

Brainstorm and write down a list of 52 things to say ‘yes’ to this year. This could include trying a new cuisine each week, attending local community events, saying thank you to someone who shaped you, learning a new skill through online tutorials, or volunteering for different causes. Keep this list visible and check off each item as you go, celebrating the small but significant ways you enrich your life.

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ADVENTURE

Having eschewed my usual round of travel Media events in lieu of afore mentioned ‘book writing’ – baby I am back. Beginning with tours of two ships recently in Sydney;

Queen Anne: Mum came as my plus one and loved the experience, thrillingly we met Cunard’s first female Captain, Inger Klein Thorhauge.

MSC Magnifica: Euro heritage evident throughout this ship.

As an aside, the vessel was moored in the middle of Sydney Harbour so our tour involved a ‘tender transfer’ that was FUN, I often forget to look at my backyard through the eyes of a tourist. Australia is a magnificent country.

As a Cruise ‘virgin’. Okay there was one memorable family holiday I marched us to Circular Quay to board a LARGE ship bound for the Pacific. A case of ‘…a little more research might have been better’. It was memorable because we hadn’t even left Sydney Harbour before The Husband was debating jumping ship and swimming to shore – things didn’t improve as post-cyclonic seas marred our ten-day voyage).

Happily, we remain married, and I was reminded of a valuable tip. Horses for courses, one-size travel is NOT a thing. More importantly, solo trips allow for such FUN as you cast off compromise and put ‘what I want’ front and centre.

To that end – you’ll find my TRAVEL REVIEWS back on my website with more regularity. I know you know, I will always give my honest two cents, so you don’t spend your hard earned cash on a ‘pretty brochure dream’ that doesn’t deliver (or has your travel companions threatening to bail before Adventure even begins).

ARTICLES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED HERE.

LIFESTYLE

Here is the link to a few FUN ideas I incorporate if I am feeling a bit flat, stuck, a sense of inertia settling. Doable no matter your location, no matter your circumstances.

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CHIC

Fashion is FUN!

Money and age do not equate to chic – a certain je ne sais quois delivered firmly by being bold enough to celebrate all the ways fashion can uplift.

Women whom I find sartorially inspiring at the moment;

Philippine Leroy Beaulieu – French, sexy and ‘our age’. Has FUN bustng ‘ageing’ myths.

Trinny Woodall – aspirational and accessible. Has FUN with fashion and highlights plenty of ‘high/low’ ideas.

Ronni Kahn – Founder of OZ Harvest, change maker. Founded by Ronni AO in 2004 after noticing the huge volume of food going to waste, OzHarvest has quickly grown to become Australia’s leading food rescue organisation.

I recently heard Ronni speak. Now in her 70’s she commanded the stage, had us in awe as she recounted changing laws and dealing with doubters. Her enthusiasm for the project she began later in life (her ‘50’s), her joy of life, and yes her bold CHIC – a FUN woman I’d love to sit next to at a dinner party. Further proof – YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD to dream and ACTION those dreams.

Don’t forget, I’ve been in your shoes (okay not exactly, but I’d guess we are not that dissimilar). When I hit mid-life I was in for a rude shock. Far from ‘having it all together’ – I felt depleted, overwhelmed, untethered. Leaving for an ‘Eat Pray Runaway’ moment a wonderful diversion – yet I returned to a still unanswered question.

‘What to do with my second- act of life’?

It took me a moment, but eventually I re-ignited my spark, a next-act in joy!Any questions, just send me a note. No question too small – I love to hear from you.

Now, go forth and create your own Grown Up’s Gap Year novelty.

Whether it’s a series of mini-adventures or grand escapades – the most important thing is to start. As philosopher and writer Lao Tzu said, ‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.’

Love & hugs,

PS: I’d love for you to join us but if you no longer find it relevant, just send me a note or unsubscribe below. Ditto if the system hasn’t captured the name you prefer to be addressed.

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