Ok today's mantra is Be the Bomb!!
Now if my hip flexor was feeling great I would be feeling the bomb because I would have participated in the 3 x 1km efforts this morning with my running friends. Instead I toddled off on my own to do 8km. I did get to see a gorgeous pre sun rise at the headland but I love the feeling of pushing myself through efforts - not while I'm doing them - just at the end so I feel I missed out a bit.
Anyway, back to Be the Bomb!! I have been doing some recruitment for some casual positions recently and for me the big thing that resonated is that for a small town we have a lot of library qualified and experienced people out there. The other thing is that most people don't know what we do as library staff.
So since I don't want to go into too much detail about applications received and quality of applications - because that is not something to share in the public sphere - I will just say that perhaps as a profession we don't do a very good job at letting people know or illustrating just what we do in our jobs in libraries - or perhaps we do such a good job, we make it look easy!!
Predominately, in our library it is all about customer service - knowing your customers, knowing your community, knowing what they want and knowing about the books they like to read and how to find the information they want - or even going as far to pre-empt their information needs so you have the access to the information they want. So lots of professions have customer service as their main skill set (if that's what you can call it, but you get what I mean). So lots of people have experience in customer service and this can be transferred to a library service.
Lots of people know how to know their customers and their community because we are not the only industry that does this.
But what about books and information. What industry combines all of this and knows what information their community needs and when they need it??
Back to the part about people not knowing what we do. Do they need to know what we do? Or do they only need to get the end product - really how many of us care how that packet of chips got on the shelf and into the trolley - we just want to eat the chips??
Should we be like the farmers and start educating people about the process of getting the information to them? What does it involve? How do we go about it? What skills are needed? What hurdles do we jump to get the information? Or do they really need/want to know?
So perhaps it is about being the bomb - get the right information to the right person at the right time - but let's not get hung up on whether the person cares about how you got the information.
What do you think?
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Monday, June 1, 2015
Blog June - Post 1
Yay!! It's that time of the year again - Blog June!! Where I get motivated to blog everyday of June!! Well, ok, I'll try to blog everyday of June!!
We left off in Blog 12 Days of Christmas with me striving to be awesome!! Well let's see how that is going almost 6 months on!
I'm sticking with my Month of Mantras from the Women's Fitness magazine. So today's mantra is.... inspire someone today!
Personally I don't think I'm an inspirational person. I don't live a very exciting life. I run, exercise, work, eat, read, sleep, and start all over again.
However, running and exercise have somehow lead to me being considered inspiring by those around me. People in the community that I didn't know where taking an interest in my daily doings (yes a bit creepy I know), friends who find my dedication to exercise and running inspirational, those that have seen me lose weight and make some minor changes in my lifestyle - inspirational!!
Personally it makes me all a bit embarrassed. Anyone can do what I've done - anyone can be inspirational!!
There are people I meet everyday that will share something they consider small about their life and I will find it inspirational - much more inspirational than mine!!
There are ladies I run and exercise with that have done much more challenging and inspiring things - inspirational!!
But me, no I don't think I'm inspirational, nor do I think I inspire! But perhaps just by the little things we do each day, we are inspiring someone - and we should all be proud of that!!
As a side, I'm 5 weeks away from running the Gold Coast Airport Marathon - yes 42.2km. I'm battling a small injury at the moment that is leaving me less than inspired by the whole run but I'm doing little things that I hope will resolve this and bring back my inspiration to complete this journey. Blog June is bound to contain a lot of musings as my marathon training journey comes to an end - stay tuned!!
We left off in Blog 12 Days of Christmas with me striving to be awesome!! Well let's see how that is going almost 6 months on!
I'm sticking with my Month of Mantras from the Women's Fitness magazine. So today's mantra is.... inspire someone today!
Personally I don't think I'm an inspirational person. I don't live a very exciting life. I run, exercise, work, eat, read, sleep, and start all over again.
However, running and exercise have somehow lead to me being considered inspiring by those around me. People in the community that I didn't know where taking an interest in my daily doings (yes a bit creepy I know), friends who find my dedication to exercise and running inspirational, those that have seen me lose weight and make some minor changes in my lifestyle - inspirational!!
Personally it makes me all a bit embarrassed. Anyone can do what I've done - anyone can be inspirational!!
There are people I meet everyday that will share something they consider small about their life and I will find it inspirational - much more inspirational than mine!!
There are ladies I run and exercise with that have done much more challenging and inspiring things - inspirational!!
But me, no I don't think I'm inspirational, nor do I think I inspire! But perhaps just by the little things we do each day, we are inspiring someone - and we should all be proud of that!!
As a side, I'm 5 weeks away from running the Gold Coast Airport Marathon - yes 42.2km. I'm battling a small injury at the moment that is leaving me less than inspired by the whole run but I'm doing little things that I hope will resolve this and bring back my inspiration to complete this journey. Blog June is bound to contain a lot of musings as my marathon training journey comes to an end - stay tuned!!
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Epiphany - Blog 12 Days of Christmas
So this is the post where I am supposed to look back over the past 12 days and discuss what I may have learned or: a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.
I can't say I have found the meaning of life, or had any insight into reality. I can say that I have once again enjoyed sitting down at the end of the day and reflecting on what was and then trying to put it into something remotely interesting to others.
What I can say is that in the space of 12 days I have regained my running mojo and even pushed out a 16.5km run today without feeling like it was a chore. It was hard but it was enjoyable. On the home stretch I even enjoyed the bush on either side of the road for the birds that were singing, the lagoon that I ran past, and the view from the top of the hill overlooking the beach. I made peace with being in the right place - this beautiful place I live and love.
I felt that again after a splash in the surf with my family as I was sitting in the hot midday sun looking out over the ocean watching two dolphins swim past and a sailing boat in the distance. And up front, an 8 year old girl and her dad sharing so many laughs and moments in the surf - their bond warms my heart!!
In the afternoon, walking along the river, out on the boardwalk - secretly trying not to be too annoyed by the tourists - but instead lap up seeing my locals and saying hello. Having a short conversation with my daughters friends mother. Over hearing some visitors from Sydney saying how it was nice that everyone here says "hello" unlike in Sydney. My home, my community, my friends, my people!
There will always be hard times, tough times - but happiness can't be all the time as then we wouldn't appreciate it as much!
Being awesome is something to strive for in all aspects of your life and something I will be striving for in 2015.
Expecting miracles, celebrating achievements, being creative, enjoying moments of laziness, being alert and waking up, being healthy and celebrating being here and now, and making the most of open doors - this is what 2015 will be for me!!
Until #blogjune......
I can't say I have found the meaning of life, or had any insight into reality. I can say that I have once again enjoyed sitting down at the end of the day and reflecting on what was and then trying to put it into something remotely interesting to others.
What I can say is that in the space of 12 days I have regained my running mojo and even pushed out a 16.5km run today without feeling like it was a chore. It was hard but it was enjoyable. On the home stretch I even enjoyed the bush on either side of the road for the birds that were singing, the lagoon that I ran past, and the view from the top of the hill overlooking the beach. I made peace with being in the right place - this beautiful place I live and love.
I felt that again after a splash in the surf with my family as I was sitting in the hot midday sun looking out over the ocean watching two dolphins swim past and a sailing boat in the distance. And up front, an 8 year old girl and her dad sharing so many laughs and moments in the surf - their bond warms my heart!!
In the afternoon, walking along the river, out on the boardwalk - secretly trying not to be too annoyed by the tourists - but instead lap up seeing my locals and saying hello. Having a short conversation with my daughters friends mother. Over hearing some visitors from Sydney saying how it was nice that everyone here says "hello" unlike in Sydney. My home, my community, my friends, my people!
There will always be hard times, tough times - but happiness can't be all the time as then we wouldn't appreciate it as much!
Being awesome is something to strive for in all aspects of your life and something I will be striving for in 2015.
Expecting miracles, celebrating achievements, being creative, enjoying moments of laziness, being alert and waking up, being healthy and celebrating being here and now, and making the most of open doors - this is what 2015 will be for me!!
Until #blogjune......
Monday, January 5, 2015
Day 12 - Blog 12 Days of Christmas
We are nearing the end of blog 12 days of Christmas and as usual it has been a good thing for me to sit and reflect at the end of the day.
I usually say that I will continue to do this more regularly throughout the year but then only blog during #blogJune. So unless there are more blogging challenges out there, you probably won't hear from me (except for my final post tomorrow) until June!
I couldn't really find an appropriate mantra for today so there isn't one.
I'm still on holiday and for me, it really doesn't feel like the new year has started until I return to work - which will be next week.
This week I will be working on putting myself in a positive mind frame for my return to work. I will be drumming up some enthusiasm and excitement for my return. Thinking about possible projects or how I will work towards finishing the projects I know I have to complete. I will be thinking about what things I can do with my staff to keep their enthusiasm for the job up and/or what new things can be learnt/taught. Most of all I will be thinking about my community - I miss them when I'm on holidays and they are what really makes the job for me. So I will be thinking about them and what they might like to see happening in the library.
I already have one exciting thing booked for this month - one of my favourite authors will be doing a book launch in our library!! I'm so excited as I've been waiting 12 months for this book to come out and I really do like this author.
Our library is also hosting a workshop for the annual Camp Creative next week. I hope to stick my head in on this workshop and see if I can pick up a few pointers.
See I'm already generating some enthusiasm for my return!!
PS Bootcamp resumed today so I didn't have to come up with my own. It was one of our biggest classes with 33 ladies (I think). It was so good to be back in the company of such a large and supportive group of females!! And, of course, to be put through the paces by our bootcamp leader, Shelley!
I usually say that I will continue to do this more regularly throughout the year but then only blog during #blogJune. So unless there are more blogging challenges out there, you probably won't hear from me (except for my final post tomorrow) until June!
I couldn't really find an appropriate mantra for today so there isn't one.
I'm still on holiday and for me, it really doesn't feel like the new year has started until I return to work - which will be next week.
This week I will be working on putting myself in a positive mind frame for my return to work. I will be drumming up some enthusiasm and excitement for my return. Thinking about possible projects or how I will work towards finishing the projects I know I have to complete. I will be thinking about what things I can do with my staff to keep their enthusiasm for the job up and/or what new things can be learnt/taught. Most of all I will be thinking about my community - I miss them when I'm on holidays and they are what really makes the job for me. So I will be thinking about them and what they might like to see happening in the library.
I already have one exciting thing booked for this month - one of my favourite authors will be doing a book launch in our library!! I'm so excited as I've been waiting 12 months for this book to come out and I really do like this author.
Our library is also hosting a workshop for the annual Camp Creative next week. I hope to stick my head in on this workshop and see if I can pick up a few pointers.
See I'm already generating some enthusiasm for my return!!
PS Bootcamp resumed today so I didn't have to come up with my own. It was one of our biggest classes with 33 ladies (I think). It was so good to be back in the company of such a large and supportive group of females!! And, of course, to be put through the paces by our bootcamp leader, Shelley!
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Day 10 & 11 - Blog 12 Days of Christmas
I think I've done pretty good so far to only miss one day. And that was because a bottle of bubbly made writing a coherent blog post near impossible and I was a bit concerned about what might be written in that state. Anyway, I'm back on board today with a double post - 2 for the price of 1!
Two mantras for today's post: Life is an adventure story. And Be awesome!
Today I was reading an article in the January issue of Runner's World Australia/New Zealand edition - The writer runner by Michael Heald. The article is sort of an interview/story of the writer meeting author/runner Jamie Quatro who wrote I want to show you more.
Jamie makes an observation about a similarity between writers/authors and runners. She says, "When people say the short story is practice for the novel, or that you're not a 'great' writer unless you've written a novel, I always think: That's like saying the half-marathon is practice for the marathon, or that the half is easier to run than the full, or that you're not a 'great' runner unless you've done a marathon. Each distance - each literary form - is its own thing, with its own challenges and heartbreaks."
That is something that I must keep in my head. I struggle to believe that I'm a real 'runner' unless I've done a marathon - hence I'm doing a marathon this year. But really, it is exactly as Jamie says, each distance is its own thing! Just as each runner is their own competitor - not the other runners. As a runner you compete with yourself and you should not compare with other runners, just yourself.
The same can be said in your career or really anything in life. Stop comparing yourself to others and only compete with yourself. Concentrate on making yourself a better person, but bettering yourself - not comparing yourself to others - be awesome!!
The other thing Jamie says is: "The space between the run and going back inside. The space between the heart pounding, sweaty thoughts flowing middle of the run and the chaos waiting inside the house, the kids. But the middle space between these - the pause after the run, before the run inside - I drink this like water."
I can relate. Perhaps not in the same way but it is the moment when you have pushed yourself and finished your run - the journey may not have been pleasant but the end is totally worth it. You feel stuffed but exhilarated - possibly not all the time because not every run is a good run. But you always feel better for doing it.
I really haven't discussed the mantra's much in this post but they are there for you, the reader, to think about.
Also, think about what Jamie say's and how it relates to you - even if you aren't a runner. I'm sure there are other hobbies/sports/things you participate in that you may get that middle feeling - between when you finish and when you move on to the next part. Think about how much you value that!
Two mantras for today's post: Life is an adventure story. And Be awesome!
Today I was reading an article in the January issue of Runner's World Australia/New Zealand edition - The writer runner by Michael Heald. The article is sort of an interview/story of the writer meeting author/runner Jamie Quatro who wrote I want to show you more.
Jamie makes an observation about a similarity between writers/authors and runners. She says, "When people say the short story is practice for the novel, or that you're not a 'great' writer unless you've written a novel, I always think: That's like saying the half-marathon is practice for the marathon, or that the half is easier to run than the full, or that you're not a 'great' runner unless you've done a marathon. Each distance - each literary form - is its own thing, with its own challenges and heartbreaks."
That is something that I must keep in my head. I struggle to believe that I'm a real 'runner' unless I've done a marathon - hence I'm doing a marathon this year. But really, it is exactly as Jamie says, each distance is its own thing! Just as each runner is their own competitor - not the other runners. As a runner you compete with yourself and you should not compare with other runners, just yourself.
The same can be said in your career or really anything in life. Stop comparing yourself to others and only compete with yourself. Concentrate on making yourself a better person, but bettering yourself - not comparing yourself to others - be awesome!!
The other thing Jamie says is: "The space between the run and going back inside. The space between the heart pounding, sweaty thoughts flowing middle of the run and the chaos waiting inside the house, the kids. But the middle space between these - the pause after the run, before the run inside - I drink this like water."
I can relate. Perhaps not in the same way but it is the moment when you have pushed yourself and finished your run - the journey may not have been pleasant but the end is totally worth it. You feel stuffed but exhilarated - possibly not all the time because not every run is a good run. But you always feel better for doing it.
I really haven't discussed the mantra's much in this post but they are there for you, the reader, to think about.
Also, think about what Jamie say's and how it relates to you - even if you aren't a runner. I'm sure there are other hobbies/sports/things you participate in that you may get that middle feeling - between when you finish and when you move on to the next part. Think about how much you value that!
Friday, January 2, 2015
Day 9 - Blog 12 Days of Christmas - Happiness!
Today's mantra: Choose happiness!
I have been thinking a lot about happiness today. More along the lines of "I am not responsible for someone's happiness." You can not control whether another person is happy or not, but you can control your happiness and sometimes happiness is contagious!!
Much like thinking everything is greener on the overside of the fence, I have been shifting negative thoughts to positives. Looking for the things that make me happy and doing them more often. Surrounding myself with those that make me happy - because happiness is contagious!!
While writing this I'm thinking of the Gumball cartoon characters singing "When life gives you lemons" clip - I love Gumball!!
So remember to choose happiness!
And really heat does not help blog writing creativeness!! So hot!! But on the bright side ---- hmm there really isn't a bright side except I hate being cold worse!! Choose happiness!!
I have been thinking a lot about happiness today. More along the lines of "I am not responsible for someone's happiness." You can not control whether another person is happy or not, but you can control your happiness and sometimes happiness is contagious!!
Much like thinking everything is greener on the overside of the fence, I have been shifting negative thoughts to positives. Looking for the things that make me happy and doing them more often. Surrounding myself with those that make me happy - because happiness is contagious!!
While writing this I'm thinking of the Gumball cartoon characters singing "When life gives you lemons" clip - I love Gumball!!
So remember to choose happiness!
And really heat does not help blog writing creativeness!! So hot!! But on the bright side ---- hmm there really isn't a bright side except I hate being cold worse!! Choose happiness!!
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Day 8 - Blog 12 Days of Christmas - Opening Doors!
Today's mantra: Old ways won't open new doors.
Ok let's step back a bit and tell you what I did today. I started the day with the Sawtell New Year's Day Fun Run 5.25km. I ran this for the first time in 2014 and found it a very hot and challenging run. It was the same this year.
However, I managed to run a faster time by 51 seconds than last year. And, I also managed to beat a fellow local runner that I come across a lot in the local fun runs I do. Unfortunately or fortunately I seem to be a bit of a competitive person when it comes to running. I spotted the runner early on - thinking that they weren't going to run this year because I had not seen their name on the registration list - and kept them in my sight. At first I thought I would not be able to beat them because of a not so good run at the Dorrigo Show Fun Run in which the heat and hills got the better of me and I walked most of it. But this time, I won the mental battle!! And this has been huge for me as I have been battling a bit with my running since the Ipswich Park2Park and my issue with hills. It seems this run has put my head in a good place for 2015 - with regards to running anyway!
After the run I met up with a fellow Running Mums Australia (Facebook running group that I am a member of) who I had come across during the run. Seems the world gets smaller every time I meet someone through running. In Ipswich back in April 2014, I met a lovely lady at my first parkrun - it was her first too. We became friends on Facebook, as you do, and found we had a mutual friend.
Today after meeting the fellow RMA we found we also have a mutual friend and that she works in the local high school. I talked about fate in a previous post and strongly believe that once again I have met these people for a reason.
A visit to the beach was in order to cool down and then an afternoon of not doing much at all. It was really hot - seems to be a theme in the blog posts today!!
So back to the mantra - this is another thing to add to my list to work on this year. I am going to change my approach to work - not sure how yet but I do believe it needs changing. My attitude and thoughts towards work are something I will be working on but also how I approach things at work. This will, I hope, lead to new opportunities!!
Here's a link to a video of the start of the Sawtell New Year's Day Fun Run that my hubby took. Look out for me waving at the camera at 15 second mark.
Ok let's step back a bit and tell you what I did today. I started the day with the Sawtell New Year's Day Fun Run 5.25km. I ran this for the first time in 2014 and found it a very hot and challenging run. It was the same this year.
However, I managed to run a faster time by 51 seconds than last year. And, I also managed to beat a fellow local runner that I come across a lot in the local fun runs I do. Unfortunately or fortunately I seem to be a bit of a competitive person when it comes to running. I spotted the runner early on - thinking that they weren't going to run this year because I had not seen their name on the registration list - and kept them in my sight. At first I thought I would not be able to beat them because of a not so good run at the Dorrigo Show Fun Run in which the heat and hills got the better of me and I walked most of it. But this time, I won the mental battle!! And this has been huge for me as I have been battling a bit with my running since the Ipswich Park2Park and my issue with hills. It seems this run has put my head in a good place for 2015 - with regards to running anyway!
After the run I met up with a fellow Running Mums Australia (Facebook running group that I am a member of) who I had come across during the run. Seems the world gets smaller every time I meet someone through running. In Ipswich back in April 2014, I met a lovely lady at my first parkrun - it was her first too. We became friends on Facebook, as you do, and found we had a mutual friend.
Today after meeting the fellow RMA we found we also have a mutual friend and that she works in the local high school. I talked about fate in a previous post and strongly believe that once again I have met these people for a reason.
A visit to the beach was in order to cool down and then an afternoon of not doing much at all. It was really hot - seems to be a theme in the blog posts today!!
So back to the mantra - this is another thing to add to my list to work on this year. I am going to change my approach to work - not sure how yet but I do believe it needs changing. My attitude and thoughts towards work are something I will be working on but also how I approach things at work. This will, I hope, lead to new opportunities!!
Here's a link to a video of the start of the Sawtell New Year's Day Fun Run that my hubby took. Look out for me waving at the camera at 15 second mark.
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