Embrace 2021 Issue 3

Your Wealth

The Pleasure of Caring

Creative You

Forest Bathing

Finding Yourself

Sibling Rivalry

IS THIS YOU? Drag yourself to work Irritable and impatient Lack motivation & energy Drink to relieve stress Eat on the run

Choose YOU. A healthier and realistic lifestyle awaits you, so with

you:

break free from burnout

practice self care

get your Zing back!

YOUR

Thrive and Alive Program

Sally McGrath Founder, Health that Heals

www.healththatheals.com.au

2 | Embracehealththatheals

E: sally@healththatheals.com.au M: 0433 411 580

Refresh. Relax.

Uplift

With Summer Salt 24K Gold Blue Moon Face & Body Oil www.rosemarynaturopath.com.au

BUY ONLINE www.rosemarynaturopath.com.au/skin-care mickaylanaturopath@outlook.com 0427430562 Embrace | 3

This Issue proudly brings you

Photography/illustrations: Pexels, Unsplash, The Noun Project

Contributors Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline Hodges Designer Freya Kassulke

Irina Mazalova, Mickayla Hosking, Joyclyn O’Neill, Andrew Johnson, Sushmita Sharma, Siobhan Vale

Cover Image

07 31 433 334 10 Ellenborough House, 126 Brisbane Street, Top of the Town, Ipswich, QLD 4305 em@10ellenmedia.com

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10 ELLEN MEDIA Embrace Magazine is published by 10 Ellen Media (ABN: 23 645 770 350) Articles express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of Embrace or 10Ellen Media. The Embrace privacy policy is located at https:// embracemag.co/privacy-policy/ 10 Ellen Media’s privacy notice can be read at: https://10ellenmedia.com/ privacy-policy/ 4 | Embrace

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Embrace creates an attainable Shangri-La for women where they can live, prosper, and enjoy a healthy and balanced state of tranquillity.

At Embrace, we believe that wellness is not only about physical or emotional wellbeing but a balanced harmony of mind, body, and soul as well as their interactions with other individuals. While we embrace the beauty of being, we also look up to embrace the opportunities of becoming.

Our readers are women who are young, not only by their age but also within their heart and mind.

Website Visit embracemag.co to find out more.

Phone Call us on 07 31 433 334 Monday to Friday 9:00am and 8:00pm AEST. Share your opinion with us. Email us at emreaders@ 10ellenmedia.com

NEXT ISSUE July 2021

Embrace offers engaging activities, inspiring ideas, entertaining stories, helpful informational tips, and everything that one needs to live and enjoy a well- balanced life. © Embrace Magazine 2021

We celebrate Mothers and family and all care givers who bring joy to our lives

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SCRIB

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see www.em brace.co

SUBSC

RIBE C S S

Embrace brings a fresh perspective on holistic wellness and healthy living.

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Embrace | 5

50 Feng Shui Entrances

Wo rk

Grow

Contents Connect

ct e n n Co

52 Ending the Competition: Sibling Rivalry

Work 84 Juggling as a Freelancer 87 How Video Games improve your Demeanour

Belong 94 How Mothers Day is Celebrated Around the World 98 Salad, Soup & Smoothie

tain

69 Your Money, Your Wealth, Your Estate

Be l o n g

Grow

8 Letter from the Editor

Bou nce

116 Embrace Life Wheel 119 About 10 Ellen

Ca re Bounce 12 Why Run A Marathon 14 Finding Yourself

Care 20 The Pleasure of Caring

Learn

24 The Sound of Empathy 26 Forest Bathing

Learn 32 Food for thought – Ginger 36 The Real You, The Changing You Part II 40 In Plain View – Art Galleries 42 Puzzles

Re

Reflect 108 Total Recall: What your Dreams Mean 112 Painting: Purpose and Pleasure

Sustain 58 A Small Hero - Tiny Homes 62 Interior Harmony with Irina

ct fle Su

Letter from the Editor Hello and welcome to our third issue for 2021.Winter is coming and it is time to surround yourself with warmth. It is a time to pull out the blankets, turn on the fires, make mugs of soup and relish in the companionship of our family and friends. And as the cooler weather begins to settle in it becomes a time that many will use as a time for reflection and introspection.

I have recently been profoundly moved by some inspiring women and their stories. Stories of mother’s who care for their disabled children, mothers of daughters with Down Syndrome, one who is only three years old and one who is almost sixty. Both daughters rely totally on their mothers for their care, support and love. Then there are others, who need the help of support workers. And then there is a mother with an adult son who is severely disabled whom must be cared for day and night. The care and love these people have to give amazes me. I am in awe.

I am reminded of the golden rule to put others before yourself. And in this era of consumerism and greed the love that radiates from these givers outshines the negativity of materialism. I am reminded of a quote from the gentle and charitable character from ´Gone with the Wind” Melanie, “People must do what they must do. We don’t all think alike or act alike and its wrong to judge others by ourselves.”

It is the eudaimonism of these caregivers who choose to walk in the path that which leads to the well-being of an individual. An individual who needs their support.

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We may all seek Eudaimonia, we may all seek the fulfilment of living a good life that allows us and others to flourish, and that allow us moral or spiritual success.

And so for this issue we bring you stories and articles about mothers, family and carers. We bring you articles of reflection and introspection, to find yourself, to find the real you, and to heal the pain of sibling rivalry and love lost, so that you can move

Jacqueline Hodges

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Taking care of your body for optimal functioning.

Bounce When women take care of their health, they become their best friend.

Maya Angelou

Why Run a Marathon Completing a marathon is exhilarating and a true test of your endurance. But you can’t just pick up one day and start running, it takes preparation and training. Lots of training! But why would you want to compete in a marathon in the first place? If you are looking to improve your fitness and endurance and get walking or running then you are on your way to your first marathon.

Over the next few issues we will step you out with a training plan and will help prepare you for your first marathon. We will also explore your training diet, developing the right mindset, forming a training habit, and the fun reasons to compete in marathons.

The length of the first modern Olympic Games marathons were set at 40 kms. That is the distance from Marathon to Athens. The distance for a full marathon was officially set at 42.195 kms by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) in May 1921. If the thought of running a full 40kms is overwhelming, try a half marathon or a short 5km run. If you want more of a challenge, the ultramarathon at 50kms or 100kms might give you the bounce you seek. flexible and achievable. With the number of people that don’t stick to their New Year’s resolutions every year, we want people to be able to fly past the statistics and make 2021 a year to remember.

Getting Started If you have ever considered walking or running in a marathon, then why are you still waiting? Now is the best time to start. If you’re not really sure that you can run a full marathon, then start with walking or a half-marathon. Think about your commitment.

•

Do you have the time to train?

•

Do you train best alone or with friends?

•

Do you need a personal trainer?

•

Do you want to walk or run?

•

Can you commit to a regular training plan?

• Which marathon do you want to complete first?

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Develop the Team If you are training with a group of friends, you will need to commit to the plan and each other. Let your friends know your training expectations, what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. Ask your friends to tell you and each other what they expect from the group. Then commit to the plan.

Whether you are training alone or with friends, you will need a training team. Speak with your doctor to ensure that you are healthy and that there are no ailments or underlying illnesses that will prevent you from completing a marathon. Have a complete medical first. Find a personal trainer or a group marathon training group that will keep you motivated and on track.

Start Training Psychologists have found it takes on average 66 days to form a new habit. If you have been living on the couch over the last 12 months, be prepared for the ups and downs of starting a training plan. Ideally, your training plan should include days for long runs, short recovery runs, cross training and rest days

Day

Activity

Monday

Rest and recovery.

Tuesday

Friday

Warm up, walk/run, cool down and stretch Cross-training: cycling, swimming, elliptical, etc Warm up, walk/run, cool down and stretch Rest and recovery.

Saturday

Long, slow walk/run

Sunday

Cross training. Short easy walk/run.

Wednesday Thursday

Stick to the Plan It is important to maintain your training, so you will have the necessary fitness level to complete the marathon. If you miss a day or two, don’t berate yourself. You haven’t failed, just pick up from where you left off. If you leave it for longer, you might need to start from the beginning or find a training buddy. Your training buddy can be motivated friend, someone you meet at the gym or a personal trainer. If you prefer to challenge yourself alone, upload a fitness activity tracker to your smart phone or smart watch.

Positive reinforcement is a great motivator. So give yourself a treat and reward yourself at the end of each training session. Your reward can be healthy smoothie, some fruit or a nice healthy meal with protein. Or try something different like a new training outfit or training shoes.

Before you start any training program you should seek appropriate medical advice and make sure you are healthy. We suggest you speak with your local GP or a sports doctor. We also recommend speaking to a podiatrist and a physiotherapist.

Check your insurance. Ask your financial adviser to make sure that your personal insurance covers you for this type of activity. Finally, check your private health insurance covers you for marathons.

You might find they provide incentives for healthy activities.

So whether you are young or old, extremely fit or just starting out on your fitness program, marathon walking is a great way to build your fitness, increase your endurance, improve your body strength, get outdoors, see nature and have fun with your friends and training buddies.

You can download and print this training plan at: www.embracemag.co/training_plan

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Finding Yourself

I was tremendously inspired reading about Australian Women of the Year 2019 recipient Emma Gierschick whose personal story of tells us of a courageous woman. A woman who stood up for herself and shone through. If you are seeking inspiration to find your purpose then look no further that your own life, what you do everyday and you will see what it is you seek to achieve and you will find your purpose.

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“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”

– Aristotle

Emma Gierschick is an international motivational speaker who has a story to tell. She is an advocate, speaking for those who cannot fight for themselves.

Emma was in an unfortunate relationship, suffering domestic violence, the mother of a three year old daughter with Down Syndrome and a cancer survivor. She fought for herself, she fought for her child, she for freedom, and she fought for her life. She has a genuine understanding of life’s struggles. These circumstances forged her strong will.

“When I lost the use of my legs from chemo and had to crawl – I kept moving. When we were in such poverty I only ate alternative days.”

Every woman, man and child has a story and your story and your journey may not be so different but it is yours alone. It is your story to tell, and while you may have people to guide and support you and walk along beside you, no one else can travel in your footsteps.

If you are not sure where your life is heading, or who you really are, it is time to start a journey of self-discovery. Research suggests that finding yourself means you become aware of who you are, what is important to you, what motivates you, and why you respond and react as you do. As you continue your journey you will begin to understand your personality, values, goals, and dreams.

While there is no one right way to go about this, here a four things you can do to find yourself.

Be Different!

Adventure Alone!

Dare to be different! Your values, beliefs and behaviours are formed and influenced by the various personal experiences you have had during your life. Negative traits make us critical of ourselves and others. Differentiate yourself from any negative experiences by understanding what your negative internalised thought processes are, changing those traits within yourself, reframing any patterns of defence, and develop your own values, ideals and beliefs.

One way to find yourself is to get out of your comfort zone and start exploring new places and things. If you do this adventure alone your experience will be different and it will be yours alone. You won’t be distracted by other people’s feelings and you will be able to explore why you respond or react to this place, this event, this experience. Try wandering through an art gallery as a safe way to start being by yourself and think about how you feel about the art. You might try going to a park or the beach and practice some mindfulness techniques. Turn your phone to silent and enjoy being with yourself.

Look to the Past!

To find yourself you need to step back into your life. Research suggests that it isn’t just the things that happened to us that define who we become, but how we’ve made sense of what’s happened to us. By facing your past and remembering exceptionally happy, traumatic or trigger events you will gain insight into your behaviour. Your memory may be of a moment in time, as long as you think about how it made you feel and think about what it was that made you feel that way.

“Finding yourself also means feeling at peace with the person you’ve become” – Eriika Martinez

Find Your Power!

There’s only one you, you are unique! As you begin to understand yourself and accept who you are you will realise what makes you special and interesting. So look for your hidden power. You may find your hidden power is you are a great friend, a good listener, a natural leader, highly intuitive, kind and empathetic, or simply happy and optimistic. It doesn’t matter what power is as long as you have started to find yourself, understand who you are and accept you for you.

Finding yourself is not always easy and sometimes it’s a journey best done with the help of a professional.

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Exercise to Bounce Take 5 minutes to think about your health, fitness and wellbeing.

When ready, jot down some points for your personal journey. Are you happy with where you are?

We all have the ability to bounce. Complete this plan to help you grow your healthy self.

What do I want to achieve?

How will I achieve these goals?

When do I want to achieve these goals?

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Understanding your feelings and how to handle your emotions to grow and learn from experiences.

Care If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.

Jack Kornfield

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The Pleasure of Caring

W

e have some wonderful people in our community. People who care for others.

People who know that each little thing that they do for another human being is needed, accepted and appreciated. They may be employed to care or they may volunteer. None the less, they care. And it is a thankless job, a hidden job. They go into the homes of others and the wondrous support that they provide goes unnoticed by the many. But to the person they care for, their work is noticed.

They may receive a spoken thank you, it might be just a smile or it may be something just something in their client’s eye that is just a little different. We have heard the horror stories of people being mistreated by their career. And while those stories are unbelievable, they are not the usual.

I have had the overwhelming fortune to watch my sister be cared for. My sister is in a slow decline with a dementia. Some days even weeks are good. Some less so. Some seem hopeless. She have been so far down that she was not able to walk, dress, bathe or feed herself. But then a little miracle occurs and she is back. Not quite but she is back to a stage where she can walk, she can eat and sometimes even talk. My mother has been my sister’s champion all her life. My sister was born with Down Syndrome a condition that causes physical and mental development delays and disabilities.

But she was a delightful ray of sunshine and joy, with a gregarious and friendly nature. That was until the latter years, in her late 50’s when she really declined.

Caring for others is an expression of what it means to be fully human.

- Hillary Clinton

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Caring opens your Heart!

I have met my sister’s carers. They come into my mother’s home. They become special to our family.

Their personalities and skills differ, but this I believe is a good thing. They become a microcosm of society, providing different experiences, stimulation and interaction with Jo. And her life is better because of these wonderful people. For without their caring nature her life would be less. Much less! They keep Jo socialised. They play games, play the piano, sing, paint her nails and just talk.

They keep Jo healthy. They walk, they bathe, the watch, and they put her to bed.

My mother does all this to, I just expected it. Never gave it a thought. After all, she is the mother. But when a carer left, I needed to step in. I was amazed at how hard this job really is, I was scared I would do something wrong, I am pleased to again be able to spend time with my sister. If you have ever thought of caring for someone. I encourage you to do so. You will be rewarded in ways you never realised. It is personal, very personal. But it is very rewarding.

Caring for someone will make you: Feel good and caring Feel trusted and worthy Feel loved and empathetic Feel valued and rewarded Feel a sense of personal growth Feel a sense of accomplishment Caring has it challenges, it has its up and downs but you will be surprised by how rewarded you will feel. And it’s this opportunity to be rewarded in such a special way that will last your lifetime.

“When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.”

- Dalai Lama

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The Sound of Empathy Living in Silence Imagine a life without sound.

Not being able to hear your baby cry, or the sound of a car hurtling toward you, or the phone ringing. Deafness may not be a debilitating illness but it does impact on the lives of those who are deaf, whether the deafness is mild or profound.

Have you ever wondered what is was like to live without sound?

A little empathy goes a long way.

P

eople hear sound by picking up on vibrations produced by sound waves in the air. The vibrations pass through from our middle ear, to the cochlea our inner ear and are translated by the auditory centre of the brain.

The normal audible range of loudness is between zero and 180 decibels.

However sound over 85dB is considered damaging. So standing in front of the amplifiers at that rock concert may not be the best option.

Ears are made up of the auricle and auditory canal, the outer ear, the tympanic membrane eardrum, tympanic cavity middle ear and the inner ear, which consists of the cochlea, vestibule, and canals.

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There are four levels of deafness mild, moderate, severe and profound.

Mild Hearing Impairment is when a person can only hear sounds between 25 and 29 dB. Moderate Hearing Impairment is when a person can only detect sound between 40 and 69dB, Severe Deafness is when a person can only detect sound between 70 and 89dB. Profound Deafness is when a person may only detect sound between above 90dB and may not hear anything at all.

Life Stage

Causes

Prenatal

Genetic factors Intrauterine infections

Postnatal

Birth asphyxia Hyperbilirubnemia

Childhood and Adolescence

Chronic ear infections Fluid in the ear Meningitis

Adulthood and Older

Chronic diseases Smoking Sensorineural degeneration

People who are severe and profoundly deaf communicate by lip reading, using sign language, or reading and writing. People may be unilaterally or bilaterally deaf, meaning only one or both ears are affected.

Many people will also lose some hearing as they age.

While deafness can be caused by a hereditary or genetic disorder, people may suffer acquired hearing loss. Prenatal exposure to diseases such as rubella, mumps or even medicines such as quinine may result in congenital deafness. Other causes of acquired hearing loss, include, prolonged exposure to loid noises, trauma such as a fractured skull or perforated eardrum, exposure to diseases such as meningitis, chickenpox and Meniere’s disease.

Hearing loss may be conductive which affects the transfer of sound between the outer and inner ear, sensorineural where hearing loss occurs because of damage to the inner hear or a combination of the two.

Conductive hearing loss may be caused by impacted wax, or damage to the middle ear or ear drum such as a perforated ear drum.

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the inner ear is damaged. This may be due to disease, trauma or brain damage.

If you are unsure if you or a family member is or is becoming hearing impaired, seek medical treatment. Early intervention may prevent further loss.

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Forest Bathing Mindful Solitude There is something special about living in a house with a wooden floor. It is soft, it gives, it is tactile, and it is natural. Perhaps this feeling is evoked by our deepest desire to commune with nature, to be with the trees, to breathe with the trees, to walk in the dappled shade beneath the forest canopy.

It is this desire to commune with nature that has positioned trees as culturally sacred or significant. Rituals, and sacred and social practices across time and continent have hallowed trees from tree huggers chaining themselves to protect environmentally significant trees, to the ‘Birthing Trees’ and ‘Directions Trees’ of Indigenous Australians, to the Bodhi Tree, ‘Tree of Awakening’ sacred to the Indian Hindi’s and Buddhists, to trees of mythical importance to the Celts, the ‘Healing Tree’ of Delaware’s Indians, to the Thai Forest Tradition, which emphasises meditation, austere living and pilgrimages into nature, to the modern Christmas Tree.

As the modern world stepped away from the natural forest into the concrete jungle it comes as no surprise that mankind make time to commune with trees. We in Australia look to bushwalking, Germany has a history of seeking Waldeinsamkeit forest solitude, and in Japan they practice with intent the art of Shinrin Yoku forest bathing.

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Forest Bathing Shinrin-yoku is a modern Japanese word coined in 1982, Shinrin meaning forest and yoku meaning bathing. It is based on ancient Shinto and Buddhist practices of letting nature flow into your body through the five senses. The popularisation of forest bathing as a wellness therapy was in response to the pressures of work related stress. Although originating in Japan, this practice is now mainstream around the world.

Forest bathing is intentful, it is practiced with purpose and focus, and a mindful presence of being with and in the surrounding forest.

Walking with the intent purpose of connecting with your surrounds using your five senses, sight, sound, smell, tough and taste. Forest bathing connects you with the forest, the sky, and the ground, and the changing colours, the sounds, the smells. It is a powerful way of engaging the senses and stepping away from the pressures and distractions of modern life.

How to begin • • • • • •

Turn off your electronic devices, so you can be fully present in the experience Forget your stress, your goals and your expectations Relax, and take deep long breaths Be mindful and enjoy the sensory forestbased experience.

Move slowing through the forest so you can observe more.

Stop, stand or sit, listen to the sounds, smell the scents, and notice around you.

There are many parks and gardens offering guided courses in forest bathing. Find a Certified Forest and Nature Therapy Guide and look for someone local to you or at your preferred holiday destination. Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, run 2 hour forest bathing courses throughout the year and are capped to 15 people (minimum age 12), finishing with a morning or afternoon tea.

The Blue Mountains, two-hour nature therapy walks are held every Saturday along the Lady Fairfax Walk at Botanic Garden Mount Tomah and conclude with a Japanese tea ceremony (minimum age 13).

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Exercise to Care Take 5 minutes to think about your heart, feelings and emotions.

When ready, jot down some points for your personal journey. Are you happy with where you are?

We all have the ability to care. Complete this plan to help you grow your caring self.

What do I want to achieve?

How will I achieve these goals?

When do I want to achieve these goals?

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Actively participating in mindstimulating activities that expand your knowledge.

Learn The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.

Brian Herbert

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Food for Thought Ginger

Mickayla Hosking

Ginger, the wonderful and warming spice, is a rhizome that originates from Southeast Asia. The plant belongs to the same family as turmeric, cardamon and galangal. The flowering portion looks amazing during Spring and Summer. While you may know this plant largely for its use in the kitchen, did you also know that it can be a healing medicine too?

In the world of a Naturopath, Ginger is used for it’s circulation boosting effects, it’s warming digestive properties, and to improve nausea. The active components of ginger include; zingiberene, ar-curcumene, beta-sesquiphellandrene, betabisabolene, and gingerols (this one is responsible for the ginger smell). Some of these components help ginger to be a great gastrointestinal aid. If you have an upset stomach, cramps or ate something that didn’t agree with you - a bit of ginger tea can work wonders! Not only does it actively encourage food breakdown by stimulating digestive enzymes, ginger also speeds up the processing time of your food. Meaning, it helps to move food out of your stomach a little bit faster and it’s antispasmodic effects help calm down muscle spasms in your digestive system (read: bloating, discomfort, diarrhoea). This same antispasmodic effect, in combination with it’s warming circulation promoting effect is also a home remedy for period cramps.

Something you may not know about Ginger, is that it can also improve your blood lipid levels and may improve triglyceride levels. So if you or a loved one has high cholesterol, try including more ginger in your diet.

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You can even get the pre minced ginger if you must. Cook it in stirfry’s, marinades, sauces, in stews and soups, everything! A study by AlizadehNavaei et all (2008) demonstrated Ginger, at 3 grams per day, significantly lowered lipid levels; triglycerides and LDL cholesterol were down and HDL had returned to normal after just over a month. If you happen to have Type 2 Diabetes, or are prediabetic/ insulin resistant - Ginger is also for you. Not only are you more likely to have altered cholesterol and triglycerides due to diabetes, but Ginger can help improve your insulin response and your serum glucose. Remember I mentioned gingerols as an active component in Ginger?

Well, those little compounds are the hero here.

They are one of the main constituents responsible for improving insulin sensitivity (which means more glucose is absorbed rather than sitting in your blood stream).

Among those very important actions that Ginger has, we should all know by now that this pure source of plant magic has more tools in its toolbox. Ginger is also antifungal, anti-viral, antiinflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, acts to reduce pain, AND helps protect your liver.

Anyone fancy a cup of ginger tea now? All those actions are perfect for cold and flu prevention and recovery.

As it’s now getting a bit chilly and cold’s are appearing throughout workplaces, I’ll give you my not-so-secret ginger tea recipe.

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Ginger tea for 2: •

2 cups water

•

½ teaspoon ground turmeric

•

½ teaspoon chopped fresh ginger

•

1 tablespoon honey

•

(raw or manuka if you like)

•

1 lemon wedge

Bring this to the boil in a small saucepan and then simmer with the lid on for up to 10 minutes.

Drink throughout the day for therapeutic effect.

You can make a bigger batch or keep simmering down (lid off after 10 minutes) to a more syrup consistency (like a concentrate) which you then add to hot water when you want more tea!

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Feel free to add echinacea root or elderberries if you would like more immune support.

If you would like to find out more about how herbs can help your nutrition you should consult with your doctor, dietician, nutritionist or naturopath.

Mickayla is a qualified Naturopath. She has completed a Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) from Torrens University and currently runs her own naturopathy clinic. Please seek advice from your health practitioner before beginning new treatment.

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The Real You, The Changing You Sushmita Sharma

Beyond this body, the personality, and the traits that you are known for, who are they really? Do you know? Does anybody? We think we know who we are but what is our perception of self is simply an illusion created by the projection of someone else’s opinion of who we are?

This is the second and final part to this article. The first part of this article looked as how people change, self-concept, ego and cultural contexts. Please continue on this journey of self-exploration to discover the real you.

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Herclitus’ Theory of Self When trying to unravel the prolonged mystery of “Know Thyself”, we must look at the philosophy of a pre-Socratic philosopher, Heraclitus of Ephesus.

In his belief, everything is constantly changing and nothing is ever the same. He used an analogy of a river to highlight the similarity in the ever-changing world.

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”

- Heraclitus

At the molecular level, the river is at a constant change. The water in front of you is not the same water as it was a second ago. In its constant flow, the river keeps changing, as does the person watching it. We, as human beings, change every second. Every second you observe a new thing, your memory changes. With every breath you take, you inhale a new composition of air.

Every cell of your body is dying and replacing itself throughout your life. The point is, biologically your body is at a constant change, but what about your mind? Well, that is changing too.

You might be a very friendly, kind, and positive person in your partner’s eyes, but maybe, not in the eyes of someone else.

Imagine this scenario.

You ordered a new appliance but it got damaged during the shipping. When you called the customer service helpline, they said that there is no refund and return policy and you should have bought the shipping insurance to protect your product from such damage. What is your instant reaction?

Anger? Frustration?

Maybe it is reflected in your tone too. Perhaps you complain ever furiously now than before. Now, try to understand your image from the other side. That person is only doing their job and following the protocol and your aggravated behaviour, for them, may not be justified. But you faced a loss too, and for you, this reaction seems appropriate. For this person, you are a nagging and obstinate customer.

But are you really a nagging and obstinate person?

Maybe not.

This is exactly what Herclitus’ theory suggests.

Every person is different in a different time and situation. From this logic, self-actualisation, at its core, is a myth, an impossible and unattainable goal. However, this sounds a lot like ego. It is not you who is reacting to different situations in different times, making you a different person in everyone’s perception.

It is your ego that makes you act differently in different circumstances. You are a lot more than the understanding of you in others’ opinion. You are a lot more than just the collection of ideas gathered by your actions. The problem is that it is tremendously challenging to fight your ego and not let your action be guided by it. But remember, nothing in this world is impossible if you are determined to make it possible.

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Control your Ego The first thing you should remember in finding your true self, is to stop looking and letting it reveal itself to you. The second is to understand that your ego should not control you. You should control your ego. When you let your soul take charge of your ego, you gain full awareness of your existence and purpose in this universe.

Here are a few ways you can take control of your ego.

Recognize your ego You must completely understand your ego in order to control it. Do you find yourself silently speaking to yourself in your head? Most of the times, it is your ego. When someone’s action makes you angry and you think in your head “How dare they do that to me?”, that is your ego.

Let go of these voices in your head. Let go of the “What ifs” scenarios you keep creating in your head. These are all signs of your ego creeping its way in your journey of self-identification. It has an innate desire to plant negative thoughts and imaginary scenarios that generate fear in your head. Recognise this voice and stop following it.

“Dissolve your ego before it dissolves your self.”

Maxime Lagacé

Let go of your pride The ego loves being right. Most of the times, when you feel a negative emotion towards someone, it is because your ego creates this image that they did something wrong to you and you are the victim of the situation. It blinds you from seeing the other person’s perspective.

This “I am right and you are wrong” mindset is the most favourite game of the ego. Understand that you can be wrong too. Do not let your ego take the face of pride and separate you from the connections with others in this world. Practice gratitude every night when you go to bed. Think of all the people who helped you during the day.

Thank the universe for your existence and for introducing you to the people and opportunities that make your life a little better every day.

Be one with the universe Being one with the universe means letting yourself be an inseparable part of the universe.

According to the Law of Attraction philosophy, your thoughts and emotions are forms of energies that you provide to the universe. The universe, in turn, brings you scenarios that you had imagined or wished for. So, when you let your ego constantly plant negative emotions in your head, the universe will return the same in your life. Create a positive home for your internal thoughts and emotions so that the universe can create a positive space for you.

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“All that we are is a result of what we have thought.”

– Buddha

Practice mindfulness Silence allows you listen beyond the superficial sounds of your inner self. To quiet your ego and listen to your true inner self – your soul, you must sit in silence and let your soul speak. Sit in silence and practice mindfulness. Let your inner self become aware of every part and every sense of your body. When you feel the life energy flowing through your body, your consciousness rises. Let this awareness course through every bit of your body. Become one with your inner-self through this awareness of life energy. At first, your ego will deliberately distract you and put your attention to other activities or topics that stress your mind.

The moment you realise you are being distracted, bring your attention back to your present moment. After months of practising meditation, mindfulness becomes effortless and you create a more peaceful living space for your inner self.

Grow your Wisdom When you control your ego and stop obsessing over imaginary or irrelevant scenarios, you allow your brain to gain wisdom and learn more about life and yourself. You stop blaming others and start focusing on your own growth. Complaining becomes forgiveness. Anger becomes peace.

You become more you and less of your ego.

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In Plain View – Art Galleries Art is the language of self-awareness. Whether you like visual arts, music, theatre, graffiti, or poetry, art has beautified our life since prehistoric times. For the artist, it is a blank canvas to express themselves whereas for the observer it is a land of serenity.

It surpasses the societal concepts of race, culture, religion, and sexuality. It brings people together in the toughest of times. It gives a voice to the silent ones, and a sense of calm to the anxious ones. Art is a beautiful language in itself.

Interactive art redefines the boundaries between art, artist and audience by inviting the audience to participate in the creation and appreciation of art and transforms traditional galleries into immersive, multi-sensory experiences.

Victoria

New South Wales

Launching this August, the LUME Melbourne is set to re-ignite Melbourne’s art scene. The LUME delivers immersive multi-sensory art and cultural experiences over a sprawling 3,000 square metre, 11 metre high digital art gallery. You will experience the vivid colours and intricate details of worldrenowned artworks coming to life all around you while a symphony of sounds, aromas and tastes create an experience unlike anything that has come before it. With no set paths, you may explore every perspective of your favourite work, or simply stand still and let the wonder of the artistry wash over you.

Lumen audiences will be treated with a spectacular luminous experience, set over the entire four floors at White Rabbit Galley. The exhibition features 30 works by artists from China and Taiwan, including Zhang Peili series of 14 blinding portraits, Yao Chung-Han’s DzDz participative musical instrument and Luxury Logico’s Solar and Miniature works.

Audiences will be delighted by the gallery’s tranquil street-level Tea House a place to relax, chat, or simply read the paper as you sip

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Queensland

Western Australia

Support local artists in this first major event held at HOTA. The Solid Gold: Artists from Paradise exhibition features a variety of artforms including sculpture, weaving, textiles, ceramics, painting, photography, video, and installation, with works presented in Gallery 1, around the public spaces of the Gallery, and outdoors. Established and locally recognised Australian artists and collectives will remind you of the beauty of the landscape, and examine our sometime fraught relationship with the nature and, how we might relate more harmoniously to this wonderful world around us. Entry to the exhibition is free.

Freighting Ideas: There Were Moments of Transformation, features international and local artists exploring the power and fragility of transformation through sculpture, jewellery, ceramics, glass and video works. Art has the power to transform; transform thinking, transform objects, and transform materials. There Were Moments of Transformation explores the power and fragility of transformation through sculpture, jewellery, ceramics, glass and video works.

Audiences are asked to consider how materials change, how they change us, and the world around us.

South Australia Illuminate Adelaide is a new annual winter event that will light up Adelaide’s city streets with light, art installations, immersive technology, music, performance, discussions and ideas over 17 days.

Described as an event of global significance and distinctively South Australian, Illuminate Adelaide will present a new event concept which celebrates the union between future technology and creative industries.

Northern Territory

Tasmania

For those in Northern Territory and share a love for the lights, Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku invites you for a treat to the eyes and soul! The Field of Light display has a permanent home at the base of Uluru. This event speaks to everyone through a series of 50,000 glass orbs elevated on handcrafted stems that breathe and sway through a sympathetic desert spectrum of ochre, deep violet, blue and gentle white. Entry is $44 per adult and $31 per child.

Gallery Pejean, showcases select established and emerging visual artists, with a focus on Tasmanian artists. The gallery presents the work of contemporary visual artists, working across a broad spectrum of mediums and artistic platforms. Artists represented reflect the shifting interests and concerns of contemporary art practice. Gallery Pejean presents the opportunity to view and purchase a diverse collection of paintings, drawings, etchings, linocuts, photography, textile art and sculptures.

Remember to embrace the fresh air under the stars while you fill your soul with the mesmerising lights of the festival.

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Puzzles Diagrammar

Clues

Find the intersect for three words.

All words contain some of the same letters.

The Central Intersect has been filled for you The other intersects may have 1 or 2 letters The circles may have 1 or 2 letters All sections must contain at least one letter

Starry, Sparks, Shares

A Growth, Flower, Worker

R

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For solutions: Visit https://embracemag.co/solutions

Falling Petals Unscramble the letters to piece together the flowers and make them whole again.

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Letters once unscrambled form one word

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Find the word T

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Harp

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Abundance

Caress

Influence

Noise

Ambition

Devil

Inspiration

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Amour Propre

Dill

Leaps

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Mimosa

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For solutions: Visit https://embracemag.co/solutions

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Exercise to Learn Take 5 minutes to think about your wisdom, knowledge and intellect.

When ready, jot down some points for your personal journey. Are you happy with where you are?

We all have the ability to learn. Complete this plan to help you grow your learning self.

What do I want to achieve?

How will I achieve these goals?

When do I want to achieve these goals?

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Building healthy and supportive relationships with others in the community.

Connect People heal from their pain when they have an authentic connection with another human being.

Marshall Rosenberg

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Feng Shui Entrances

The Chinese have always believed in balance and harmony with nature and sought to reflect that balance in their daily living. Feng Shui is the traditional Chinese art from that has been practiced for over 6,000 years. It is the study of the environment and the interaction between the environment, places, people and time.

Balance is reflected in the passive, the active, the feminine, the masculine, the heaven, the earth, the living and the dead, the Yin and the Yang. It is the tajitu symbol that expresses this balance, this dualism of two interlocking spirals. Feng Shui seeks the balance between the Yin and the Yang to enhance positive chi and correct negative chi.

Yin refers to aspects qi that are relatively material, substantial, condensing, solid, heavy, descending, cold, moist, cooling, dark, passive and quiescent.

Yang refers to aspects qi that are relatively immaterial, expanding, hollow, light, ascending, hot, dry, warming, bright, aggressive, and active.

Chi is the flow of energy which pertains to all living things such as trees, plants, humans and animals.

A Grand Entrance Everyone loves a good entrance. It is the open arms and smiling face of the home that welcomes you, your family and your visitors. It is the space that connects you to the outside world. A grand entrance helps maintain the flow of positive chi. And with a little Fend Shui knowledge everyone can achieve a grand entrance to their home.

The Front Door •

Make sure your front door is proportionate to the size of your house

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Have a clear path from the verge to the entrance

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The front path should curve to the front door

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The main entrance should be at the top of a flight of stairs

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Internal stairs should not align directly with the front door

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The front door and back door should not be aligned

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The front door should be well lit

Ensure your entrance is appealing and welcomes you, your family and your visitors. Having a tidy front yard is a good start. Keep your lawn mowed, edges timed, garden weeded and hedges pruned.

If you cannot alter your main entrance try adding a rug just inside the front door. Pay attention to the design aspects and aesthetics. By following these simple principles you should be ready to invite new opportunities and positive energy into your life.

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Ending the Competition Sibling Rivalry

Remember running to your mother in tears because your sister or brother didn’t play fairly. Or perhaps it was the other way. For most of you sibling rivalry will be a childhood phenomenon, something you outgrow years ago. But adult sibling rivalry exists and causes arguments, distrust and even estrangement. If you feel your relationship with your siblings is strained, you are not alone.

I

t is fairly common for a parent to be closer to or favour and research shows that parent plays a significant role in creating or fueling adult sibling rivalry. In particular, research shows that favouritism affects mental health and the perception lasts throughout life. It affects both the less favoured and favoured child by impacting on their relationship.

But favouritism doesn’t always stem from childhood. Favouritism may develop in adulthood due to life events, shared personalities, geographical proximity and other factors such as one sibling providing a caretaking role. Just as much as we may perceive our parents actions favouritism, other factors need to be considered. A parent caring for an adult child with a disability can hardly be accused of favouritism. Yet, their time and energy may be devoted to one child at the exclusion of the siblings.

So how do you cope with sibling rivalry as adults? Well you are an adult now, so you could stop taking it all personally and simply let it go.

Here’s some tips to help you put an end to your sibling rivalry.

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2.

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Stop overthinking the rivalry, and find other things to enjoy in your life If you can’t bear you parents causing you this pain, speak with them. Let them know how you feel Stop completing with your siblings, and enjoy your adult relationship. They will be a great support for you Acknowledge the successes of your siblings, and support their goals. They may be feeling the stress like you If you cannot manage the stress alone, seek professional advice to help you get past the rivalry and envy If you are a parent, stop the repeating the past, and love your children equally.

Help them to grow into friends for life.

“Your mission: Be so busy loving your life that you have no time for hate, regret or fear.”

– Karen Salmansohn

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Exercise to Connect Take 5 minutes to think about your friends, family and peers.

When ready, jot down some points for your personal journey. Are you happy with where you are?

We all have the ability to connect. Complete this plan to help you grow your connected self.

What do I want to achieve?

How will I achieve these goals?

When do I want to achieve these goals?

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Living in harmony with nature and respecting the environment for a sustainable growth.

Sustain Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.

Henry David Thoreau

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A Small Hero Tiny Homes Andrew Johnson

As an Australian after years of living in the large homes and apartments in Victoria, when I moved to Hong Kong I experienced the rude awakening of living in under 60m2 and I did this for nearly ten years. It became a personal epiphany around how I lived and what was really important in my life, streamlining the essentials, living a minimalistic existence but essentially enjoying a big lifestyle.

What I came to experience in Asia was an appreciation for a tiny home living, design smarts, and technology providing all the facilities I really needed but none of the extras I did not. This appreciation is different for everyone.

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S

ince returning to Australia, I have witnessed a surge in tiny home living.

Whether it be a tiny home, small home, granny flat or a secondary dwelling, the small home is a hero worth considering. According to Core Logic more than half a million home owners across Australia’s eastern seaboard have enough space on their property to build a granny flat, which could boost home values by 30 per cent and add around 27% to rental income.

While policies and regulations differ from State to State, and I encourage you to look at the rules in your State. Here in Victoria the “Plan Melbourne 2017-2050 identifies the need to facilitate housing choice and meet changing household needs. In Victoria, from August 2020 and March 2021, a pilot program involving four councils has trialled the Secondary Dwelling Code. The councils involved in the pilot are Greater Bendigo, Murrindindi, Kingston and Moreland councils.

Alternative forms of housing such as secondary dwellings offer: • • • •

diverse and affordable housing options, providing opportunities for extended families to live together, couples to downsize or, extra rental options for the community.

Planning Victoria has developed a smart planning code to facilitate smallscale ‘granny-flat or garden studio’ style accommodation on the same lot as an existing dwelling in a residential area. Key aspects of the code to guide the siting and design of secondary dwellings are: • • a height limit of 5 metres.

• a maximum floor size of 60 square metres.

• the need to meet the minimum garden area requirements of the zone, along with other siting and design requirements assessed through the permit process.

• no ability to subdivide.”

Living small, smart, comfortable and affordable is a great option to consider, so be your own hero and start the journey today.

This has been the first instalment of a three part series where I look at the benefits of A Small hero – Tiny Home, Small Home, Granny Flat or Secondary dwelling.

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Andrew Johnson is a licensed estate agent, businessman & entrepreneur based in Brown Hill who has enjoyed a long and varied business career in Australia and overseas providing solutions and building a strong referral business.

Mobile 0473 207 988 Email andrew@maxjre.com LinkedIn http://linkedin.com/in/andrew-johnson-8435092 Company Maxwell Johnson Real Estate Pty Ltd Address 9 Gracefield Road, Brown Hill, VIC 3350

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LINESTUDIO2020 INTERIOR, REPRESENTING YOUR PERSONALITY IS OUR PHILOSOPHY AND MISSION

w w w. l i n estudi o2 02 0.c om.a u

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Interior Harmony with Irina Mazalova First impressions count and everyone loves a warm greeting and a friendly smile. It makes them feel welcomed and appreciated. Your entrance hallway is your opportunity to greet your guests with that same warm welcome.

It is their first encounter to the inside of your home or business. Your hallway entrance is a business card for your home.

This is the first impression for all your visitors. This is a WOW point for all your guests.

Great design is important for homeowners and business owners alike. It takes only a microsecond for anyone entering your home or business to take in what they see and form an impression about you or your business.

One of the perfect way to give a good vibe – keep this area clean and welcoming.

Here’s my 6 tips to create a warm and welcoming impression:

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Hide all your shoes and bags into the closed wardrobe (even better if it is build-in).

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Hang a large size mirror – everyone will thank you for have a chance to quick self-check before they go out

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Keep a stool or two or a poof – to be able to sit down.

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Brighten and light up this area - nice bright light makes your guests feel welcome.

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Hang your favourite art to help to reflect your personality – it is an invitation to your guests to come in and find something interesting.

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And last one – keep your hallway clean and fresh; this is only one chance to impress your guests!

Now you too, can start an amazing presentation at home!

Irina Mazalova is a qualified Interior Designer and owner of Line Studio. Irina offers advice and planning for residential and commercial projects. Her portfolio covers a variety of styles and colour palettes.

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Exercise to Sustain Take 5 minutes to think about your home, nature and environment.

When ready, jot down some points for your personal journey. Are you happy with where you are?

We all have the ability to sustain. Complete this plan to help you grow your sustainable self.

What do I want to achieve?

How will I achieve these goals?

When do I want to achieve these goals?

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Feeling a sense of security and stability by being able to comfortably meet current and future commitments and needs.

Grow Chase the vision, not the money; the money will end up following you.

Tony Hsieh

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Your Money, Your Wealth, Your Estate Jacqueline Hodges

W

e all long for a healthy life in our retirement and enough funds in retirement, enough funds to enjoy ourselves, and some left over for our family. If you can relate to this, then you need consider how you wish to live in your retirement, establish your goals, start planning for your future, and decide how to share your estate among your family and love ones after your death. If you haven’t considered your retirement yet, now is the time to start planning. Because the earlier you start the more likely you will have plenty to enjoy in your later years.

We are fortunate in Australia, that we have guaranteed future retirement savings in the form of superannuation. Those of us we are employed, have the benefit of our employers pay at least 9.5% of our wage into our superannuation fund. If you are self-employed you, your superannuation savings may be more sporadic than you desire. Shaping your future can be confusing and not only involves navigating a myriad of rules, regulations and tax laws but also managing the family dynamics. You should seek the help of your financial team but as an introduction you will need to establish a retirement plan and an estate plan.

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Start a Retirement Plan We all have dreams about how we wish to spend our retirement. It may be a sea change with a life at the beach, a tree change to a farmlet or a lifestyle block, or a caravan trip around Australia.

How you fund your lifestyle choice will require planning and the earlier you start you will be able to control of your retirement savings. Planning requires understanding your goals and values. Spend some time to think about how you wish to spend your retirement and write down you goals.

Once you have your goals established you need to consider how much you will need to fund those goals. Ask yourself. Are your goals feasible? Can you save enough to fund those goals?

Funding your retirement can be a multipronged approach. You may be waiting to downsize from the family home into a smaller property and use the excess equity for your retirement funds. You may already have a sizable superannuation fund and investment portfolio and feel confident that your retirement is secure. If you haven’t got a plan yet, that’s ok. Now is the time to focus on your future, consider what options you have and set your plan in motion.

Transition to Retirement If you are aged 55 and over and are still working you may be able to supplement your income and your superannuation savings using a Transition to Retirement pension. If transitioning to retirement you can transfer some or all of your current superannuation into pension phase while continuing to earn income. You can boost your super by salary sacrificing additional super into your fund up to the concessional cap. Your additional superannuation contributions will only be taxed at 15%.

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You will also receive a pension from your superannuation and although while you are under 60 years of age the pension is assessable, you will receive a 15% tax offset against this income. Effectively, the amount that you put into your superannuation fund will be more than the amount that you take out as a pension.

“Right now is the best time to create your tomorrow.”

– Ken Poirot

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Start an Estate Plan Your estate plan is more than simply preparing a will. Your will is just one part of the estate plan.

Estate planning is a process. It is a process of deciding how your assets will be organised and managed before and after you pass away. It is an important part of your wealth management.

While your estate plan will include your will, it may also include life insurance, and a testamentary trust. A testamentary trust is a special type of trust that is set up by your will on your death. They are particularly useful for distributing to minors or where you wish to protect the assets from being split in a divorce.

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Your superannuation does not form part of your estate, but deciding how the superannuation will be distributed is a part of the estate planning process. Generally you will nominate a beneficiary by way of a Non-Binding Death Benefit Nomination or a Binding Death Benefit Nomination.

Remember, things change, people change, and choices change. Your estate plan is simply a plan and it can also change to reflect your changing relationships, your changing wishes and also changes in the law. You should consider it to be a dynamic document that is to be reviewed regularly.

Binding Death Benefit Nomination

Make a Date with Yourself

A Binding Death Benefit Nomination is a written direction from you to the trustee of your superannuation fund setting out how you want the remaining superannuation balance to be distributed and to whom it is to be distributed.

The BDBN must be renewed each three years, but might also lapse if your marital status changes. The BDBN must be in writing, signed, dated and appropriately witnessed to be valid.

Block out some time and clear a space, so that you are mentally prepared to think about your future, your retirement, and your estate. Have a notepad ready. You can use a variety of tools, such as a mind-map, post-it notes, an excel spreadsheet, an electronic notepad or specialist software.

Whichever tools you are going to use, have them ready to commence your date.

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Setting Goals and Values

Values

Goals

Goalsetting is essential in developing your retirement plan. So make it an important part of your life. Set financial goals that align with your values and think about how you direct your current and future cash flows to achieve those goals. Goalsetting helps us align our desires and wants with an actionable plan and timeframe to achieve them.

Security

Having an emergency fund

Overcome the challenges of dealing with your future with SMARTER Goals. SMARTER is a mnemonic acronym. Set SMARTER Goals.

of $10,000 Travel

Having cash available for one big trip per year

Family

Having time available to care for grandchildren

Health

Maintaining top level Private Health Insurance

Caring

Donating a regular amount to charity each month

Learning

Determine how you might challenge your mind

Give yourself a Gift Make time to learn about financial matters. You can read blogs and books, listen to podcasts about personal finance and investments and speak with your financial adviser. Financial literacy is something you can learn.

Align your values to your Goals Once you know what your goals are, you can see how these align to your values. You may find at times that you move away or diverge from your values. It is normal to change your values at different life stages or when your circumstances change, such as when you are preparing to retire, and when you retire.

Remember to revisit your values and align them with your goals on your budget date night. Here are some examples to help you define your values and goals.

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Your gift doesn’t just have to be financially rewarding, you’d earned yourself a treat for doing a good job. So, whether it’s buying a bunch of flowers, burning a tranquil incense or splurging on some wine and chocolates, do this as your gift to you.

Jacqueline Hodges is a Chartered Accountant, Registered Tax Agent and SMSF Auditor. She is a Financial Adviser and an authorised representative of Wealth Today. She has a wealth of experience having worked in the financial services sector for most of her career. Jacqueline is a firm believer in continuing education and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (UQ), a Master of Taxation (UM), and a Financial Planning Certificate. She established her own accounting firm servicing individuals and small businesses in 2005 and complemented the business in 2015 with the opening of the financial advice division.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is general in nature and may not be relevant to your personal circumstance and needs.

Taxation, legal and other matters referred to in this article are of a general nature only and are based on laws existing at the time and should not be relied upon in place of appropriate professional advice.

We recommend that you assess whether the information is appropriate to your needs and if appropriate speak with a financial adviser to discuss your needs, financial situation and investment objectives.

HQ Wealth Pty Ltd as trustee for HQ Wealth (CAR 1238791) and Jacqueline Hodges (AR 1238790) are Authorised Representatives of Wealth Today Pty Ltd (ABN 62 133 393 263), AFSL 340289.

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Print and digital subscriptions www.embracemag.co 76 | Embrace

What you need to live and enjoy a well-balanced life

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Exercise to Grow Take 5 minutes to think about your finances, wealth and future plans.

When ready, jot down some points for your personal journey. Are you happy with where you are?

We all have the ability to grow. Complete this plan to help you grow your wealthy self.

What do I want to achieve?

How will I achieve these goals?

When do I want to achieve these goals?

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Reaching a sense of fulfillment while maintaining a work-life balance and positively influencing the growth of the organisation where you work.

Work You will never feel truly satisfied by work until you are satisfied by life.

Heather Schuck

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Refresh. Relax.

Uplift

With Summer Salt 24K Gold Blue Moon Face & Body Oil www.rosemarynaturopath.com.au

BUY ONLINE www.rosemarynaturopath.com.au/skin-care mickaylanaturopath@outlook.com 0427430562 82 | Embrace

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Juggling as a Freelancer Jacqueline Hodges

There’s a freedom in freelancing.

You get to create and develop your own ideas and concepts. It’s like you’ve begun a personal choose your own adventure story. No more demanding bosses, no more handing timesheets, no more pressure, no more sweating it from those pesky annual and mid-year reviews. You’re in your glory!

There is a saying that if you are doing what you love, you will never work another day in your life. And there is certainly well deserved personal esteem and pride in starting and running your own business. Well done you! You may find you never work another day in your life but you will learn to juggle. Because running and growing a business is hard work. It has its own demands, pressures and risks. Your time will be stretched between ideation, developing ideas, finding clients, making sales, getting paid on time, paying bills on time. That’s quite a few balls in the air.

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It may seem like starting a freelance business is an exciting opportunity that allows you to pursue your passion and work your own hours but it takes careful planning. Before you start your freelancing business, you need to understand what is involved and decide is running your own business really for you.

Take some time and decide some of the big question: do you really want to pursue this goal?

Once you have tackled the big question and you are confident that you wish to start, it is time to build a plan.

Step 1: Define the Goals Step 2: Find a profitable niche Step 3: Identify your target customer Step 4; Set your pricing Step 5: Build a great website Step 6: Develop your pitch Step 7: Network, network, network You will be juggling work, family, friends and personal commitments, Juggling is not always easy. Sometimes the balls stay in the air, but sometimes one may come crashing down. That’s ok, you just pick up from where you left off and keep going. After all, you have promised yourself to give it a try.

Its quite a few balls you’ll be juggling and until you throw that first ball up in the air you won’t know whether it is worth it. I’ll always say don’t give up your day job, at least not yet. It will take a while until the business sales are consistent and reliable. So, to keep the cash flow and a regular flow of income, your current job is a great safety net.

Starting a business requires persistence and resilience. It takes time for the business to start making sales and for you to see results. You must be prepared to stay the course. Set yourself up for success by setting achievable goals. You’ll find juggling comes naturally after a while.

Its not always easy but it’s definitely worth it!

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How Video Games Improve Your Demeanour Siobhan Vale

I

magine if you have had a rough day at work or you have had an argument with your family or loved

one and all you want to do is come home and wind down and de-stress.

You might be surprised to learn that playing video games is a good way to de-stress, rid yourself of the bad vibes, and improve your demeanour.

“It may not be fair that people make judgments so quickly, usually within a few seconds of observation, but it’s unrealistic to expect that they won’t. So, if you want to be judged in a certain manner, be sure that your look and demeanor give that impression.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich

Y

our professional demeanour is a reflection of you, it is your outward presentation, the language you use and what you discuss. It involves your manner and your nonverbal emotional tone. When it comes to work, your demeanour should exude confidence without arrogance. Your demeanour has impact and effect how your team members perceive you and how they work with you.

Personally, after a stressful day, I find after playing video games and spending time with my online friends I am able to go into work the next day feeling refreshed and less stressed than the day before. The question is how do different video games help a person become less stressed?

Video games are an electronic entertainment technology that enable players to access virtual environments, 2D or 3D, within specific rules and conditions that vary from game to game. Research has found the effects that video games may have on players’ personalities can be negative or positive. Negative effects on the players’ personalities, may produce violence, aggression, anxiety and stress. Positive effects include improving social skills, mental skills and finding solutions.

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Research, by Muhannad Quwaider, Abdullah Alabed and Rehab Duwairi in 2019, found video games change in-game environments dynamically the behaviours of the players in-game adapt with the changes in the game. This adaptability may lead to a gradual change the behaviour of the player and player may change his personality in real life and become more adaptive.

Based on this research strategic games that focus on thinking and planning such as Starcraft II increased player’s problem solving skills and selfregulation. The researchers identified four domains of positive benefit.

Game Type

Benefit

Shooter/Action

Cognitive Skills

Strategic Role-Playing Strategic

Motivational Benefits

Puzzle

Emotional Benefits

Playing Co-operative-based

Social Benefits

Prosocial Role-Playing * Muhannad Quwaider*, Abdullah Alabed and Rehab Duwairi 2019

Historical research focused on whether video games caused aggressive behaviours. However, while that can be the case, the effect will vary from person to person and from game to game. Games like Resident Evil and Grand Theft Auto are likely to cause anger and aggression. While shooter games like Counter Strike, Ghost Recon are likely to cause aggression and delinquent behaviours, players of Halo II and Call of Duty are more likely to be co-operative and competitive. In essence video games do not have the same effect on all players. As someone who plays shooter games myself I personally have not become more aggressive by playing these games.

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If you come home feeling stressed and sit down to play a video game, you are seeking to escape the day, taking all of that stress and putting it into a video game. In the case of the Call of Duty Series you take your frustrations out on killing other players and trying to get the most amount of kills in the match. While it does have that aggressive nature to it, it is a de-stressor allowing players to take their frustrations out on fictional character online.

While there is always going to be an argument about why games can cause aggression and violence there is also an argument for the benefits.

Research also suggests that playing a violent video game with a group will increase the cooperative engaging, feelings of cohesion and subsequent cooperation between the team members. These are the learned, adaptive behavioural changes Quwaider, Alabed and Duwairi allude to in their research.

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Can playing video games be mindful?

Well not likely. But when people play video games they can become so immersed in what they are doing that they are solely focused on the game, they can zone out and allow time to pass. While a couple hours may have passed and you may feel a sense of achievement, having completed so much in the game.

Zoning out and getting right into playing the game causes you to stop thinking about what happened earlier in that day.

This may be useful, especially for those who are a more introverted. Being able to completely zone out while they play a video game is how they emotionally prepare themselves for whatever is potentially coming their way. While it’s not really healthy to be zoning out for very long periods of time doing so for a couple of hours at the maximum a day can improve a person’s demeanour.

Sitting still and playing a video game is only one option. While some people enjoy sitting down and holding a controller or sitting at a computer with a mouse or key some people would rather be active, and move around more.

Consoles like the Switch, Wii and VR headsets make game playing a fitness or fun activity, so that you can play games while you move at the same time. Games like Just Dance, Wii fit, Beat Saber, and Gorn involve physical movement. Just Dance being a dance game, Wii Fit being about health and well-being, Beat Saber is a rhythm game that you need to try to hit the boxes with light sabres and Gorn is a gladiator game. Because you are getting up and moving and being physically active.

Overall, if you are feeling stressed and enjoy video games let your stress go and just enjoy the playing game. Remember at work you are a professional and maintaining your demeanour will ensure you get full cooperation and support from your team and your manager.

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Exercise to Work Take 5 minutes to think about your career, workplace and ambitions.

When ready, jot down some points for your personal journey. Are you happy with where you are?

We all have the ability to work. Complete this plan to help you grow your working self.

What do I want to achieve?

How will I achieve these goals?

When do I want to achieve these goals?

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Feeling a sense of belonging by participating in various cultural activities and embracing the cultural differences of the community.

Belong We exist to serve our community. That’s the most important mindset to maintain.

Chris Brogan

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Mothers have a unique place in our hearts. They bring live. They ae synonymous with caring and concern, sharing and sacrifice, love and compassion, and life. Mother and child are united through the unique and strong bond formed from birth that cannot be broken. Without mothers there is no future for humanity.

Without mothers there are no grandmothers. Without mothers there are no children and there is no future. And we celebrate our mothers and motherhood.

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How Mothers Day is Celebrated Around the World

A

round the world we celebrate our mothers, with the tradition of mother’s day. But Mother’s Day as we know it today is a fairly recent tradition just over 100 years old. Traditionally, Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday was the day slaves and servants were allowed to leave their masters to visit their family home. It may be more commercial today that in the past, but our love for our mothers does not wane.

The commercial trimmings do nothing to undermine the meaning and the joy of celebrating our Mothers.

You might be surprised to find that there is no universal Mother’s Day, it is celebrated in some countries in February, some in March, some in May, and others in June, July, August, November and even December.

“A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never

But like all traditions, different traditions have evolved around the world. Here are some of the ways different cultures celebrate Mothe’rs Day:

Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.”

Endymion – by John Keats

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Australia

India

Australians show their love on the second Sunday in May, showing their mothers with gifts of chocolates and bouquets of Chrysanthemums. It seems the ChrysantheMUM bouquet was a deliberate choice and a play on the word. Typically, Australians will enjoy brunch or lunch with the mother or even dine out for dinner. A home a lavish buffet of meat, seafood and salad is usually preferred. While children will draw and decorate handmade cards sealed with a kiss.

People once wore coloured carnations if their mother was alive and white carnations if their mother had passed away.

While, Indians living in the major urban centres celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May, in October the Hindus honour Durga, the goddess of mothers, during the 10-day festival known as Durga Puja. Durga Puja is a time for family reunion s and religious ceremonies. Families typically spend weeks preparing sumptuous banquets of currines and sweets such as Basanti Pulao a fragrant sweet rice dish, Doi Ilish fish curry, Aloo diye murgir jhol chicken curry, Aloo Posto potatoes with poppy seeds, and Rosogolla sweet cottage cheese balls. Families give gifts, and decorate their homes elaborately.

United Kingdom

Nepal

Mothering Sunday has been celebrated in the United Kingdom since the 17th century. It takes place the fourth Sunday of Lent. It is a celebration of not only mothers but also the Virgin Mary. Mothering Sunday began centuries ago as a day when Christians travelled to their mother church to worship, and children working away from home were given a day off to visit their mothers. The day begins with a special church service and festivities include a traditional simnel cake, spiced cake made with dried fruit and topped with marzipan balls.

To the Nepalese, mothers are the symbol of love, sacrifice, affection and strength and Mata Tirtha Aunsi the Day for seeing Mothers is an auspicious day based on a traditional legends. People celebrate the day with their mothers at home, offering them with delicacies, finery, clothing and gifts. According to the legends, a shepherd lost his mother and went to Mata Tirtha pond and suddenly he saw his mother’s face in the water. Today, those who mothers have passed away do the Mata Tirtha Pilgrimage about 15 km to the eastern side of Kathmandu valley.

Germany

Poland

Muttertag dates back to the Middle Ages, when relatives visited and congratulated each other with spring. Mutti, Mothers were blessed by their relatives as spring was associated with birth, beginnings, and women as live givers.

In the early 20th century Germans started to celebrate Mother’s Day and in 1933 this occasion Mother’s Day was declared an official holiday to be celebrated on the second Sunday of May.

Dzień Matki, Mother’s Day in Poland is an official holiday celebrated on 26 May each year. Schools host special events where children present their moms with laurki paper cards decorated with flowers and special messages of love. It is a time for families to unite and visit their mothers and grandmothers, at home. There will always be cakes for Mother’s Day and Polish Cakes are beautiful creations.

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Mexico Historically, Mexican culture was a matriarchal society. So embracing the modern norms of Mother’s Day was a natural adaption for the Mexicans. Mother’s Day is celebrated on 10 May each year, no matter what the day. Apparently back in 1922 when Mother’s Day began in Mexico pay day was on the 10th of the month.

A Mexican Mother’s Day is a festival. It begins in the morning, waking the “Las Reinas de la casa,” Queen of the Castle, with a serenade.

Las Mañanita is a favourite.

Despierta mi bien despierta mira que ya amaneció Ya los pajaritos cantan La luna ya se metió Wake up, my dear, wake up!

Look, it’s already dawning, The little birds are already singing, The moon has gone away.

Flowers are a must. This is often followed by a special mass. A Feast is central to the day with traditional Mexican food on menu such as mole, pozole, enchiladas, cochinita, sopes, quesadillas, and beef barbacoa.

There are many other countries that we haven’t written about their Mother’s Day traditions, in Japan mothers receive red carnations, in Thailand children present their mothers with garlans of white jasmine, while in Egypt they celebrate the Goddess Isis who represented the ideal mother and wife.

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Salad, Soup & Smoothie Pumpkin & Smoothie Winter calls for warming fruits that kindle the treasured childhood memories of home cooked meals, the aroma of baking wafting gentling through the house, like a hug beckoning with scrumptiously delicious temptations. In this issue, we celebrate the humble pumpkin and delicious apple. Pumpkins and Apples are packed with antioxidants, are nutrient dense and low calorific. So, quench your thirst or stave your hunger with these pumpkin and apple recipes.

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Roast Pumpkin & Apple Salad Ingredients For the dressing: 2 tbsp

walnut or extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp

balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp

manuka honey

1 tbsp

Dijon mustard

1 tbsp

fresh ginger, grated

2

garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp

pink salt

1 tsp

black pepper

For the salad: 1kg

butternut pumpkin, peeled and cut into small cubes

500gm

red apples, peeled, cored and sliced into thin wedges

500gm mix

baby spinach, rocket or arugula

500gm

watercress sprigs

80gm

chick peas drained and washed

80gm

raisins

80gm

pepitas

1tsp

olive oil

1/2

tsp salt

A pinch

cinnamon & cayenne

Equipment Vegetable peeler

Baking tray Baking paper Large salad bowl for serving Small bottle to mix salad dressing

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Directions

Variations

a.

2. Place pumpkin in a small bowl, add olive oil, b. salt, cayenne and cinnamon. Toss to coat.

3. Line baking tray with baking paper and add pumpkin pieces. Roast for 30 minutes, turn at halfway. Remove from oven and allow to 1. Pre-heat oven to 210c.

cool

4. Whisk together, all the salad dressing ingredients.

5. Arrange spinach, roast pumpkin, apples, chickpeas, watercress, raisins and pumpkin seeds on a salad bowl

c.

Add green and red apples or nashi to the salad.

Thicken your salad dressing with 200g pumpkin puree. Substitute manuka honey, and balsamic vinegar with maple syrup and apple cider vinegar.

Make your own pepitas by roasting the pumpkin seeds, clean and dry first.

Toss in oil and a little salted cayenne.

Spread flat on baking tray and roast at 140c for 15 minutes.

6. When ready to serve drizzle dressing over the salad and gently toss.

Creamy Butternut & Granny Smith Soup Ingredients 1kg

butternut pumpkin, peeled and cut into halves

3tsp

butter

1tsp

brown sugar

3

granny smith apples,

1/2 tsp

ground cinnamon

2 peeled, cored and halved,

1/4 tsp

white pepper

1 sliced into wedges for serving

1/4 tsp

ground nutmeg

1

white onion chopped

A pinch

salt & cayenne

2

garlic cloves

sliced almonds for garnish

750g

vegetable broth

250g

apple cider

100g

heavy cream

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Equipment Large Saucepan Blender Mason Jars or cream soup bowls for serving

Directions 1. Pre-heat oven to 210c.

2. Oil the inside of the pumpkin and apples and season with a little salt. Place cut side down on a baking sheet and bake for 30minutes or until tender. Remove from oven and when cooled scoop out flesh and set aside.

3. Melt butter in a large pot. When butter begins to brown add onion and sauté for 5 minutes. Add apple, garlic, brown sugar, cinnamon, white pepper, nutmeg and cayenne and cook for 3 minutes. Add the roasted pumpkin, broth and cider. Stir well, season with salt and bring to the boil.

Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in cream and let cool for 10 minutes.

4. Blend in the pot or transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to the pot until ready to serve.

5. Serve in a cream soup bowl, and garnish with swirl of cream, apple slices and almonds.

Variations a.

Substitute almonds with walnuts.

b.

Spice it up: substitute cinnamon and nutmeg with cumin and sage and garnish with feta cheese and pepitas.

c.

Heat it up: substitute apple cider with coconut milk, and 1 tspn of red Thai curry paste and 1 tbsp lime juice.

Serve with a dollop of coconut milk, lemon mint and coriander.

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Granny’s Blender Breakfast This smoothie with its pumpkin pie spices will trigger those warm memories of grandma’s baking and licking the baking mix from the spoon. Simply enjoy this breakfast smoothie and let those memories flow.

Ingredients 1/4 cup

rolled oats or honey granola

1/4 cup

pumpkin purée

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk 1

apple diced (peel on)

2 tbspn

pure maple syrup

1/2 cup

plain Greek yoghurt

1 tsp

pumpkin pie spice

A pinch

salt

Directions In blender, add all ingredients and blend on high for 30 seconds to 1 minutes or until smooth.

If smoothie is too thick, add a little more almond milk.

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The Sweet Roasted Smoothie

The Sweet Roast is an uplifting smoothie to start your day with a bounce in your step. Sweet Roast is packed full of natural goodness to ensure that you are full of nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants and have you smiling all day.

Ingredients 1 Gala apple 1/2 cup

Directions 1.

Chop and roast butternut pumpkin

in walnut or macadamia oil. Allow to cool.

cooked pumpkin

1 cup

natural yoghurt

3 tbsp

manuka honey

1/2 tspn

turmeric powder

1/2 tspn

pure vanilla extract

1 cup

ice cubes

For the Pumpkin Pie Spice 3 tbsn

ground cinnamon

2 tspn

ground ginger

2 tspn

ground nutmeg

2.

Chop and dice Apple

1 tspn

ground allspice

3.

Blend all ingredients until smooth.

1 tspn

ground cloves

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Exercise to Belong Take 5 minutes to think about your culture, community and creativity.

When ready, jot down some points for your personal journey. Are you happy with where you are?

We all have the ability to belong. Complete this plan to help you grow your cultural self.

What do I want to achieve?

How will I achieve these goals?

When do I want to achieve these goals?

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Deeply connecting with self and something greater than ourselves to find and integrate the meaning and purpose of life.

Reflect We cannot reach happiness by consciously searching for it Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

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Total Recall: What Your Dreams Mean Do you remember your dreams from last night?

Do you recall any of your dreams? Are the details vivid and strong? Are they related to your experiences from the day before? Can we make our dreams work for us?

W

hile there is no rationally confirmed reason to why we dream what we dream, there are many interesting theories that try to explain this process. Some believe that dreams are made up of different images and situations that our brain puts together, from our everyday functions, thoughts, emotions, and memories. There are some researchers that suggest dreams are influenced by our experiences and thoughts from when we are awake. If you spend some significant time searching for a house you are interested to buy, there is a good chance that your dream would also consist of a house.

Our dreams seem help us to unravel our daily life, resolve lingering problems and reframe our stresses. During slumber, our dreaming brain conjures up highly vivid visualisations and often illogical sequences to help us resolve problems by thinking outside of the box, when our emotional defences are resting. Yet we rarely remember our dreams.

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While we rarely remember our dreams, certain ones we don’t forget. It seems that only the most beautiful or bizzare dreams are the ones that we remember. Research suggests that we can use our dreams to solve problems with lucid dreaming or dream incubation. There are five steps to using your dreams:

1. Clarify your problem 2. Write the problem down 3. Keep a journal by your bed 4. Stick to a regular sleep pattern 5. Repeat the process if necessary 6. Be patient and trust your dreaming

A friend of mine Susan told me how she had lamented over a teenage heartbreak for many years now. While she didn’t ponder over the breakup these days and she is in a happy relationship. As a young woman it had at the time a deep impact on her psyche and had scarred her emotionally. Mark had been her first boyfriend, a young love that had lasted three years. Around that time Susan’s parents had separated and planned to divorce. Susan said that Mark had broken up with her as she was no longer suitable marriage material and that statistically they would end up divorced as well. Sounds strange today but Susan was recalling a teenage romance from the 70’s, at a time when most girls expected to marry and very few completed high school. Susan recalled wakening to hear her mother saying that he hadn’t respected you. What astonished her was not only was the dream vivid but the feeling of regret that had tied to this past memory had dissolved in that waking moment.

Knowing Susan, she had just visited her mother and she and her current partner where looking to move in together. Taking her dream in context, she has a man in her life that respects her and she feels she her mother’s approval. She is simply letting go of the past and moving forward in her relationship.

Dream interpretation may be fairly obvious to someone who knows you well or to a highly intuitive person. But your dreams are unique and belong to you alone. They are highly personal. When you awake remembering a vivid dream, think about what it may mean to you. Your dreams are a reflection of your waking life, mirroring your fears, anxieties, desires, hopes, and aspirations. Before we explore the symbolic meaning of dreams, remember that dream interpretation is a general guide that may not always explain the what, the where or the why for you. Put your dream in context.

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Mother Mothers are often associated with unconditional love and affection.

It might be that you have shown someone this side of yourself while you have been passing on your knowledge or been a caretaker.

If your mother was trying to hurt you with words in your dream this could be a reflection of the anxiety you feel about the relationship with you mother ordinarily.

To have a conversation with your mother in your dream suggests that you have some unresolved issues with her that need to be addressed.

If you saw and heard your mother cry in your dream it could mean that there are some unfortunate events on the horizon involving your family.

The Past Dreaming about your past may mean there is the attachment or the longing to recreate this experience or you may be desiring a past relationship which we weren’t ready to finish yet.

If you are dreaming about an event that happened suddenly or unexpectedly you might be struggling to process this in your waking life. Dreaming about the past suggests that it is time to process the past experiences so that you might be able to stop reliving them and move forward.

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Breaking Up Dreaming of breaking may signify change and could be an indication of new beginnings or new opportunities in your waking life.

Dreaming about breaking up with your current partner may indicate that it is time to end certain patterns or expectations in your relationship or that you are ready to commit Dreaming about an old boyfriend is further in the relationship. fairly common. It may be associated Dreaming about breaking up with your current partner may with possible emotional trauma in waking life. Listen to your dream as be a warning that you are feeling uncertain or insecure in for you it may be better to resolve this relationship. Consider the the issues that you hold inside importance of these thoughts about this relationship so that you in context of your waking life. can let it go.

Dreaming about breaking up when If you are currently in a happy and committed relationship or marriage you are single may indicate that and you dream of an old boyfriend things are not going as you desire.

Is it time to let it go, Dreaming you feel you need help to lighten about past break ups may be your load in daily life.

If you dream of a stranger as an old an indication that you are still processing the residual emotions. boyfriend and you are single then Your dream may be telling you it is you might be ready to commit to a time to let it go so you can move new relationship. forward with your life.

If your dream caused you to feel anxious or frightened you may be encountering an emotionally unstable time.

Old Boyfriend

Waking up Dreaming of waking up is known as a false awakening. It may indicate a change in your schedule, stresses of urgency in your waking life or a sense of urgency about a task.

Recurring dreams of waking may indicate that there is a situation or a person that you do not want to face.

If you realise that you are in the midst of a false awakening stay in the dream state and try to see and understand what your dreaming brain is revealing.

Being In Bed Dreaming of being in your own bed may indicate that your life is calm and peaceful without worries and anxieties.

Dreaming of being in someone else’s bed may be a subconscious warning not to proceed with a task in your waking life.

Beside Lamp Dreaming of a lamp turned on may indicate that your life is moving in the right direction.

Dreaming of a lamp turned off may indicate you are worried and it could be be a warning that you forget a task the previous day.

Dreaming of a breaking a lamp may indicate your disappointment and resentment. It may also be a warning to recognise deceit in your waking life. Dreaming of a throwing away a lamp may indicate you should give up or reject something to enable a better choice.

Morning Dreaming of a clear morning may indicate you have made a good decision, good fortune and pleasure are coming your way.

Dreaming of a cloudy morning may be a warning that an important decision is overwhelming you.

Interpreting dreams does not solely depend on the details, the objects or events that you see. It can also be altered by the colours in your dreams. Again, the meaning of things you see in your dreams may vary from person to person. However, observing your dreams is a good practice of knowing yourself in and out. Remember to give your body a relaxing sleep to see positive and sweet dreams.

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Painting: Purpose and Pleasure

C

reativity is a beautiful expression.

But conscious creativity is so much more. It is the channelling of the creative ideas and inspiration into a deliberate and tangible project. A piece of work that can be touched, held and admired. Painting is an art form that falls into the realm of conscious creativity.

And painting is for everyone.

Painting is a process, a slow or fast process. It is a tactile and deliberate experience that commences with the decision of what to paint, what medium to paint with, what tools to use, colour palette selection, where to paint and when to paint. It culminates in a final completed article and finishes with a sense of achievement, of pleasure and purpose.

Painting allows you to create from the smallest of canvas, to the embellishment of domestic artefacts through to large open public murals sprawling across children’s playgrounds and regional silos. It is an art form that suits the individual but everyone can be ready to learn and socialise. You may benefit from joining a Saturday morning art class to paint a nude model to hone your skills and find friendship and fund in a paint and sip class. Whatever your motivation, just paint.

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Here are seven benefits of taking up painting for purpose and pleasure.

1.

Creative growth

Whether it’s a water colour, an acrylic, an oil painting, an industrial piece or fine china, you will feel the a sense of achievement in creating and completing your project. If you’re an analytical right-brained thinker, painting can stimulate and nurture your creative growth.

2.

Optimistic self

Paining allows you to explore your creativity and encourages feelings of optimism as your project progresses and your artwork is appreciated by others. Like any creative project it involves the unison of the head, the heart and the hand. It improves your spontaneity.

3.

Focus Booster

Painting can be an immersive experience as you enter a State of Flow, transferring your ideas from your imagination to your canvas. It allows you to focus on your work, and escape the worries of daily life. As you become absorbed in the creative process, you will be able to fully focus on your art and help your mind relax.

4.

Stress Buster

Anxiety and stress can affect both your physical and mental health. The physical process of painting and creating is an emotional release allowing you to let go of your problems. As you become fully focused on your painting, you will stimulate your creative mind, which relieves your mental stress and make you feel happier.

5.

Project Manager

No matter the size painting is a project. It requires management of your time, your resources, your costs and your labour. You need to complete the task in your desired time, and often in your spare time. As you fit in those brush strokes. to escape the mundane, you will soon understand how long the project will take. You’ve made multiple decisions along the way, from the medium, the colours, and the tools. Think of the five W’s you have decided; who you are painting for, when you will do with the painting, what you are painting, where you will paint and why you are doing this project.

6.

Memory Bolster

Painting sharpens your mind, through conceptual visualisation and implementation. It is a way to slow cognitive decline as you age and boost your memory skills. You will be stimulate areas of the brain that reward processing, attention and planning, which handle sensory information and spatial navigation, which process visual information, which involves in storing memories and interpreting language and meaning, and which coordinate precision and timing of movement.

7.

Social Builder

Painting can be as social as you please. From joining a class or a masterclass to visiting a gallery, to exhibiting your own works. If you are seeking a social experience, or simply looking for a fun way to extend your social networks then paint and sip sessions may be for you. You will be with a group, where you can develop you skills in a social learning environment and make new friends at the same time.

Just remember, there are no rules to art, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So, express yourself as you desire in your hobby.

You may be more creative than you think.

And if you are not really into confident with your colour mixing skills, you may find linocutting, stencilling, even paint by numbers or even digital more to your style.

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Exercise to Reflect Take 5 minutes to think about your soul, identity and purpose.

When ready, jot down some points for your personal journey. Are you happy with where you are?

We all have the ability to grow. Complete this plan to help you grow your inner self.

What do I want to achieve?

How will I achieve these goals?

When do I want to achieve these goals?

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Embrace Life Wheel The Emrace Life Wheel encompasses nine aspects of life. To see how complete your life is across each of the nine aspects of the Embrace Life Wheel, the following questions and colour the wheel.

If you feel that colouring is not for you, draw a dot or a line at the point you believe corresponds with how complete you feel in that aspect of your life.

nn Co

Boun ce

ec t

Wo rk

re Ca

ec efl

g

Grow

Learn R

B e lo n

t Sustain

How complete is your Embrace Life Wheel?

We have set out five questions for each of the nine aspects. You can do either of the following: Give yourself a yes/no response for each question. For each yes you have given, colour in the corresponding number of lines in that aspect.

Give yourself a point for each question. Add the total points and draw a dot in the corresponding aspect indicating how complete you feel in that aspect.

The Embrace Life Wheel is a positive tool to help you see where you can improve in each aspect of your life. Even if you scored yourself full and complete, there is always room to grow and improve.

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Notes

Bounce 1. I exercise for least 30 minutes each day.

2. I follow a well-balanced nutritional diet.

3. I drink alcohol responsibly.

4. I am the right weight for my height.

5. I am generally fit.

Care 1. I am happy with myself and my life.

2. I enjoy and appreciate my life.

3. I express my feelings clearly.

4. I can control my fear, anxiety or anger.

5. I enjoy laughing.

Learn 1. I am learning a new skill.

2. I pursue a mentally stimulating hobby.

3. I read a book regularly.

4. I am committed to life-long learning.

5. I commit time to professional and self-development.

Reflect 1. I regularly take time to reflect or meditate.

2. I have a sense of purpose in my life.

3. I recognise and renounce self-limiting thoughts.

4. I live by my ethical values and moral principles.

5. I listen to and trust my intuition

Sustain 1. I am aware of the recycling bin rules for my local area.

2. I reduce, reuse, and recycle.

3. I have a green space I can visit and feel replenished.

4. I use environmentally safe cleaners and sprays.

5. I take time to educate myself on environmental matters.

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Belong 1. I spend time developing my creative ability.

2. I have a hobby that allows me to be creative.

3. I regularly visit art galleries, museums or cultural venues.

4. I like learning about different cultures.

5. I am part of a community that shares creative ideas.

Grow 1. I have a good savings plan in place.

2. I repay my debts when or before they are due.

3. I have a diversified investment strategy in place.

4. I have a savings goal for my retirement.

5. I regularly donate to charity.

Work 1. I have a satisfying career or business.

2. I have a career plan or business goal.

3. I manage a good work/life balance.

4. I respect my colleagues and peers.

5. I know when to take a break and do so.

Connect 1. I have a great group of close friends.

2. I make time to meet or call friends and family.

3. I readily make new friends and acquaintances 4. I know when I need my space and alone time.

5. I can set my boundaries and respect the boundaries of others.

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About 10Ellen 10 Ellen Media is a privately owned, vibrant multi-media company that includes a portfolio of print and digital content. Based in Ipswich, Queensland, 10 Ellen Media reaches to national and international readers of all life stages.

Our work reflects our values of living in total harmony with ourselves and those around us while indulging in pleasures every now and then. We inspire our readers to seize the little moments of joy while working, cooking, traveling, creating, and just being.

Our creative teams collaborate with the readers and industry professionals to share their stories, creations, and beautiful ways of living and learning. The readers enjoy access to our work in their preferred channel that include print and digital articles, podcasts, social media groups, and video content. We welcome the experiences of our readers to create a community of likeminded people who share common interests and goals.

Our portfolio includes print and digital content inspired by the simple pleasures of life, wellbeing, travel, food, creativity, and community-building.

Our Portfolio

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