Hating me 101: First of all you don't know me. Second of all... You don't know me.

Learning is constant. Will I think it totally should be. Which should always be growing. And learning. Right now I am learning to deal with people. Well to be more specific learning to deal with people who do not like me. For one reason or another really are not a fan of little old me. This normally doesn't bother me. At all. Which I am normally just fine with. I am understanding. I get it. Some people we just click with. Others we simply don't. That doesn't make me a bad person or them a bad person it simply makes us different people. Which again is normally fine. But sometimes those people that you don't like... well you can't escape. Get away from. stuck in your life whether you like it or not. You know how it is. So here is part one. Things you should know before you decide you hate. And perhaps it will give you a reason not to hate me. Maybe even a glimpse of how I am. And why I am how I am.

When I was younger I was a people pleaser. To the point where I didn't know who I was. There was the real me then the washed down and diluted version of me. A me that I didn't even like let alone recognize. One day or perhaps one week I decided to change this I decided to let me be me. For my yes to mean yes and for my no's to mean it. In making this decision I grew in a way that I didnt expect. I started being on my side. I started believing in myself and my rights as an individual. In becoming more unapologetic I become more understanding. People didn't have to agree with me for my opinions to be my own. They didn't even have to agree with me. I was totally okay with that. Unlike the younger version of myself that was convinced that I was right and everyone else should totally agree with me. So while you hate me.. you should appreciate the fact that my face is my face. The only face I have. Definitely not two faces here.

I am... Australian

I currently live about a fifteen minute from work. Which I walk to and from five days a week. This is a nice time. I often contemplate how I am feeling, my thoughts and the general goings on of my life. Today I contemplated Australia Day. And what makes me Australian. More than how I love a good barbie along with the best of them or how being at the beach with my family and friends makes me feel as if I am home. While I am sure there are certainly more things I only live fifteen minutes walk and so this is what I came up with. The first being the obvious.

I was born in Australia. In a small town in Western Australia. To my Australian mother and father. It was a country little town which in many ways was just like many other small country towns in Australia. A pub and a town hall and not a lot else. But it was home. And then our little family moved away when I was ten to small beach town. A small town that loves the coast and the lifestyle that goes with that. A town where a day at the beach is the best possible use of a day off. A beautiful little town where my family and friends still live. A small Australian beach town that I still call home. My home. Even when I am on the other side of the world.

My love of the under dog. I have always been a fan. A very big fan. I love that someone who no one expects anything of can come from behind and have a win. Someone that nobody thinks can, can win and does win. A nobody can win and I love that. I love the Underdog and am not ashamed to say that I am a huge huge fan. And speaking of fans I am also a big fan of the Come Back Kid. Someone who can come back from adversity through hard ship and have a win. Someone who will not be defined by their past or their current situations or hardships. Long live the Come Back Kid.

I have religious beliefs. I believe in God. But you know what I am allowed. And in Australia you are allowed to not believe in God and also allowed to believe in a different God then I do. I don't have to worry about people bursting the door down because I do believe. I am not going to get thrown in jail. Life is good and I am free to have religious beliefs. And not just those beliefs I am allowed to have political beliefs. Life is good because if I dislike what my government is doing I can voice that opinion. Out loud. In public. And if I wanted to change things I can. I can vote. Or I could run for government. If I am not happy with the way things are then I have the opportunity to change things. I am free.

Since travelling I haven't heard the Australian national anthem that often. Which is perfectly natural I guess. I heard it the other day for the first time in a long time and I am not ashamed to say it brought tears to my eyes. I miss Australia. It is an amazing country. And I am blessed to be Australian. I am blessed to be free.



Much love to you,

Forever free and a lover of the underdog,

Karen xoxoxo

Living a Happy Life

I had an awesome day today.
Awesome.
It was a great day.
Come to think about it yesterday was a great day as well.
Actually amazing.
Then most days last week were great days as well.
Life is good.
Things are good.
I am happy.