Blog
RELAXING IN PARIS
PANIC IN PARIS
‘Whew! What a day, Paris on foot. It’s now time to relax. So, off with my gear, my shoes, my bras and my old faithful trousers that I’ve worn every day, and into my soft blue and black flannelette pyjama pants. Wow, that feels great. Now, for my top, ah, my green ‘Mustang Sally’ singlet, thin and well-worn, yep, that’s just the thing. Yep, feels wonderful.
Suddenly, Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Oh my God, what’s that? The sound was deafening. Hell it’s the fire alarm. What am I going to do? What am I going to take? I know my money belt. What else? —oh I’ve got no shoes on—got to take my shoes. Got to get out of here now but I can’t go out like this! What do I do? What will I take? I know my shoes and my money belt and get out of here.
Out of the room I went, post haste carrying my shoes and money belt. Four sets of stairs to get down. Hurry, hurry, I looked behind me and there was my partner sporting nothing more than boxer shorts, sandshoes and wearing a cap and holding his driver’s licence. People started peeping out of doors, half naked, looking worried and uncertain as to what to do. Down the ancient stairs we raced then on the last set of stairs, we heard, “False Alarm, False Alarm,”
A dark fat man was waving his arms feverishly and yelling out, “False Alarm, False Alarm.”
‘Phew, thank God.’ We turned around relieved and started going back upstairs, me in my flannelette pyjama pants, singlet and bare feet and my partner in his boxer shorts, sandshoes and cap and hold his driver’s licence. On the first landing a mother stood holding her baby close to her chest, her face tense with fear. A half-naked man was leaning out of the next door, seemingly frozen. “False Alarm,” we heralded as we made our way back to the fourth floor passing a rather interesting array of skimpy and half-clad attire.
I’d often wondered what I’d do if a fire alarm went off and now I know. Frightening and exciting as this experience was I learnt two things from it. I know now how I’d react if a fire alarm went off and I found out that behind closed doors of an evening, at least in hotels, people dress very similar to us.
THE BOOK OF LIFE (Memoir Extract)
I believe in something I call ‘The Book of Life.’ I believe that everything we think and do is recorded in this ‘book’ and that we carry this book around in our minds every day. We cannot escape the contents of this ‘book.’ We might be able to justify to ourselves and deceive, hood wink and play the innocent with others, but our book of life will remind us of the raw truth in our quiet hours. You simply can’t hide from your book of life and irrespective of what method you choose to camouflage and justify your deeds, all the good, and evil contained in your book of life will be there constantly reminding you of the truth now and forever.
THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY
The world is forever changing. Do not be hypnotised by today’s world. What seems strange today may be commonplace tomorrow or at least commonplace in years to come. So do not let the stereotypical thinking of the day stop you from experiencing life. And do not let fear stop you either. In fact you should congratulate yourself if you are feeling fearful because you are more than likely going forward. When I was boarding the plane in Sydney to fly to Los Angeles for my very first International Competition I was so nervous I was taking in big gulps of air and thinking, “What am I doing? Who do I think I am, going over to compete in the USA?” And when the plane was circling in a holding pattern before landing in LA I remember almost having a panic attack. I was so petrified at the thought of what I was doing.
But I also remember with an elevated heart how wonderful it was being given the title of MS Universe, Grandmaster Division, in a venue in New Mexico which held 5,000 people, with the crowd roaring and my image being beamed live across America. What an exhilarating fairy-tale experience that was! Here is the good news! After fear comes exhilaration. But the bad news is the only way you can get the exhilaration is to go through the fear in the first place. All of us are frightened of the unknown. It is normal to be frightened but do not let fear stop you because on the other side of the fear coin is success. Fear is on one side and success on the other. It is a bit like the agony and the ecstasy.
CHALLENGES (manuscript extract “DARE TO BE DIFFERENT”)
You can choose to stay safe and remain inconspicuous and not experience the wonder of yourself. There is no doubt that fear is an uncomfortable feeling and anyone who moves outside his or her comfort zones will experience some fear, but fear, although uncomfortable, isn’t a bad thing. Fear energises, stimulates, heightens sensitivity and helps to motivate. In my opinion there is only stimulation or stagnation, there is no in between. Stimulation excites and heightens the emotions. It can cause anxiety, fear and anticipation but if you’re not being stimulated by life you are stagnating and in a state of decay. Struggling with challenges is stimulating, eventful and rewarding.
TAKE CHARGE
The person who chooses to take charge of his or her life stands naked before the world. Some spit at these courageous souls, others cheer. But irrespective of the response of the onlookers, these courageous souls have begun their journey to freedom.
KEEP GOING!
Retirement is seen by many as a time to stop, and relax and enjoy life. This, I believe is a recipe for death of the spirit. Struggle, striving, commitment, persistence and even anxiety are all part of a meaningful life. If you organise your life to eradicate these elements I believe, you will find life empty and meaningless in the post retirement world.
If you’re not going forward, you’re going backwards because the world will continue to move on and you’ll be standing still. So endeavour to become more and more of who you can be every single day you’re on this planet. Don’t let your spirit wither and die, keep going!
HAVE AN OPEN MIND
Try not to be certain about anything. You need to think outside what you know. People who are certain restrict their life experience. Have an open mind and remember your time is always NOW! Stop lamenting over what was and start making the most of what is. There is so much more life to experience and so much more to discover. The pathway to your dreams awaits your first step. 
HAPPINESS
There are always well meaning people ready to tell you how to live your life but you are the only one who can really know what will make you happy. It is vital therefore that you take time to think about what would make you happy. Do not give too much credence to what others tell you. The only person, who knows what is right for you, is you. In my years as a psychologist I met many who had acquired everything they had been told was right for them and would make them happy and they were left feeling disappointed and disillusioned. Different things make different people happy. What makes one person happy might not make another person happy. As the old saying goes, ‘One man’s meat is another man’s poison.”
STEREOTYPES
Stereotypes, stereotypes, stereotypes, will it never end? Yesterday I phoned a local Senior Citizen’s club to make an appointment to speak to the manager, about giving a motivational talk on positive, healthy, active ageing, gratis too I might add. A receptionist answered the phone and quizzed me as to why I wanted to see the manager. I began by saying I was a bodybuilder who had been on ABC radio at their club some years ago in relation to positive active ageing. I mentioned that I was a psychologist and a motivational speaker and that this year I had been on ABC and commercial radio and on National TV and in the print media and that I was 71 years old. After all this I heard the receptionist sing out to the manager, “It’s a bodybuilder who wants to give a talk.” And then I heard the manager sing out, “No, I’m not interested in bodybuilders,” and that was that. Of course it’s their loss, not getting to hear about the wonders of WRT and the life benefits of being strong, active, vital and excited about life at any age.