1) Showing the boys around the disused Peak Hill Gold Mine.
2) Spending a couple of hours with the boys at the CSIRO 'Dish' near Parkes.
3) Taking the boys to the observatory near Cowra to see the planets and stars.
Neuro-psychology experiments have shown that if people journal highlights from their day every day, then new pathways will be created through the brain. This allows these daily highlights to be automatically generated from then on, resulting in long term benefits such as less symptoms of stress with greater mental health and happiness. After completing various versions of this exercise several times on this blog, I am now taking on a new exercise by answering five simple questions each day.
30/12/2011
Day 33 - Thu 29 Dec 2011
1) Relaxing by the pool and listening to a soccer podcast while the boys swam.
2) Playing table tennis with Oscar in the campsite games room.
3) Cooking up a BBQ for dinner with the boys.
2) Playing table tennis with Oscar in the campsite games room.
3) Cooking up a BBQ for dinner with the boys.
28/12/2011
Day 32 - Wed 28 Dec 2011
1) Taking the boys back to the zoo to see the animals we missed yesterday.
2) Visiting the old gaol in Dubbo with the boys. They loved it!
3) Swimming in the campsite pool with the boys.
2) Visiting the old gaol in Dubbo with the boys. They loved it!
3) Swimming in the campsite pool with the boys.
27/12/2011
Day 31 - Tue 27 Dec 2011
1) Watching the Aston Villa game live on TV with Charlie while eating breakfast.
2) Going on a bike ride around Dubbo Western Plains Zoo with the boys.
3) Swimming with the boys and their new-found friends in the campsite pool before dinner.
2) Going on a bike ride around Dubbo Western Plains Zoo with the boys.
3) Swimming with the boys and their new-found friends in the campsite pool before dinner.
Day 30 - Mon 26 Dec 2011
1) Taking the boys to see 'The Adventures of Tintin' at the movies.
2) Sharing a take-away Indian curry with my two boys for dinner.
3) Swimming in the motel pool with the boys after dinner.
2) Sharing a take-away Indian curry with my two boys for dinner.
3) Swimming in the motel pool with the boys after dinner.
25/12/2011
Day 29 - Sun 25 Dec 2011
1) Taking Oscar for an early morning bike ride to the light houseand back.
2) A mid-morning swim in the surf with the boys, and with Leanne taking photos.
3) An afternoon on the beach with all of Leanne's family.
2) A mid-morning swim in the surf with the boys, and with Leanne taking photos.
3) An afternoon on the beach with all of Leanne's family.
24/12/2011
Day 28 - Sat 24 Dec 2011
1) Taking the boys swimming with my cousin Simon and his kids.
2) Taking my boys for a bike ride through a rough track in a lakeside reserve.
3) Swimming in the surf with Charlie before dinner.
2) Taking my boys for a bike ride through a rough track in a lakeside reserve.
3) Swimming in the surf with Charlie before dinner.
Day 27
1) Watching the Spurs vs. Chelsea game with Charlie over breakfast at Andrew's house.
2) Going back to bed and sleeping in to lunchtime!
3) Chatting with my cousin Simon and his wife Lisa before going to sleep at their house.
2) Going back to bed and sleeping in to lunchtime!
3) Chatting with my cousin Simon and his wife Lisa before going to sleep at their house.
23/12/2011
Day 26
1) Watching the Aston Villa vs. Arsenal game this morning.
2) Clearing out every email on my work computer.
3) Filming Michael for his YouTube video after work.
2) Clearing out every email on my work computer.
3) Filming Michael for his YouTube video after work.
22/12/2011
Day 25
1) Serving on an interview panel at work was an enjoyable experience.
2) Participating in a celtic drum circle to celebrate the winter solstice.
3) Enjoying a beer while sitting around a bonfire chatting with friends.
2) Participating in a celtic drum circle to celebrate the winter solstice.
3) Enjoying a beer while sitting around a bonfire chatting with friends.
20/12/2011
Day 24
1) Discussions over coffee with Steve and Kate this morning about future business opportunities.
2) Catching up with former colleague David for lunch and talking about our plans for next year.
3) Taking Charlie shopping and out for dinner after picking him up at childcare.
2) Catching up with former colleague David for lunch and talking about our plans for next year.
3) Taking Charlie shopping and out for dinner after picking him up at childcare.
Day 23
Day 1) Enjoyed listening to a CD of Spanish lessons in my car on the way to work.
Day 2) I joined three soccer team-mates for a pint and a bite to eat at a pub after work.
Day 3) Lying in bed watching an Alfred Hitchcock movie before falling asleep.
Day 2) I joined three soccer team-mates for a pint and a bite to eat at a pub after work.
Day 3) Lying in bed watching an Alfred Hitchcock movie before falling asleep.
19/12/2011
Day 22
I know that this only needs to be done for 21 days, but I am enjoying the discipline, so I am going to carry on for a while!
1) Taking the boys bike-riding around Gungahlin Lake and playing soccer there with them.
2) Spending time at the library searching for travel books on Antarctica.
3) Chatting with Kaz about what it means to be a fully self-expressed bold leader.
1) Taking the boys bike-riding around Gungahlin Lake and playing soccer there with them.
2) Spending time at the library searching for travel books on Antarctica.
3) Chatting with Kaz about what it means to be a fully self-expressed bold leader.
18/12/2011
Day 21
1) Taking my boys swimming and noticing how much they have improved.
2) Watching the movie Dolphin's Tale at the cinema with my boys.
3) Going to my local pub for a drink with the boys before dinner.
2) Watching the movie Dolphin's Tale at the cinema with my boys.
3) Going to my local pub for a drink with the boys before dinner.
16/12/2011
Day 20
1) A one-hour session of Bowen Therapy and Emmet Technique on my sore back.
2) Going to the bank and transferring money to pay for my Antarctic cruise - now it is a reality!
3) Recording some video interviews of Michael talking about his passion for his website.
2) Going to the bank and transferring money to pay for my Antarctic cruise - now it is a reality!
3) Recording some video interviews of Michael talking about his passion for his website.
Day 19
1) Meeting with Charlie's school and making a decision about his schooling for next year.
2) Having great conversations with Michael and Vanessa on our way up to Sydney by car.
3) Having a chat with a friend who advised me to take one day at a time in regard to my year ahead.
2) Having great conversations with Michael and Vanessa on our way up to Sydney by car.
3) Having a chat with a friend who advised me to take one day at a time in regard to my year ahead.
14/12/2011
Day 18
1) Organizing my antarctic cruise with travel agent this morning.
2) Relaxing with colleagues at our work Xmas lunch at an English pub.
3) Doing an exercise this evening that revealed that I need to be clear, decisive and confident about my life plans for the coming year.
2) Relaxing with colleagues at our work Xmas lunch at an English pub.
3) Doing an exercise this evening that revealed that I need to be clear, decisive and confident about my life plans for the coming year.
Day 17
1) Organising a book promotion at work for a first time author.
2) Kicking a ball with Charlie at a soccer BBQ after work.
3) My chat with Leanne in the evening about our plans for the upcoming year.
2) Kicking a ball with Charlie at a soccer BBQ after work.
3) My chat with Leanne in the evening about our plans for the upcoming year.
12/12/2011
Day 16
1) Sharing a blueberry cheese cake for my birthday with my colleagues at work.
2) Spending over an hour with a travel agent planning my next overseas trip.
3) Watching Babe: Pig in the City with Charlie before his bed time.
2) Spending over an hour with a travel agent planning my next overseas trip.
3) Watching Babe: Pig in the City with Charlie before his bed time.
Day 15
1) Going on a morning bush walk with my boys, Bernd and his girls.
2) Presenting with Vikram at the Advanced Course in the evening.
3) Re-affirming at this course that everything in life is perfect just the way it is.
2) Presenting with Vikram at the Advanced Course in the evening.
3) Re-affirming at this course that everything in life is perfect just the way it is.
10/12/2011
Day 14
1) Chatting with Marie about her time in Ecuador.
2) Cutting the lawn at Bernd's place using a slasher riding on a tractor. What fun!
3) Playing soccer with Charlie and the girls.
2) Cutting the lawn at Bernd's place using a slasher riding on a tractor. What fun!
3) Playing soccer with Charlie and the girls.
09/12/2011
Day 13
1) Talking with Marie at the beach while watching my son Charlie splashing around in the waves.
2) Receiving the best Chinese massage I have had in a long time. I even fell asleep for a large part of it!
3) Spending time with Charlie at Maroubra Beach teaching how to body surf for the first time.
2) Receiving the best Chinese massage I have had in a long time. I even fell asleep for a large part of it!
3) Spending time with Charlie at Maroubra Beach teaching how to body surf for the first time.
Day 12
1) Great phone call with my coach this morning.
2) Spending lots of time playing word games and chatting with my son Charlie while driving to Sydney.
3) Having a meaningful chat with Rhafaea and Rod after my course.
2) Spending lots of time playing word games and chatting with my son Charlie while driving to Sydney.
3) Having a meaningful chat with Rhafaea and Rod after my course.
07/12/2011
Day 11
1) Sorting out a more effective way for our work e-Newsletter to be distributed.
2) Spending time with my son Charlie at a playground after picking him up from school.
3) Having a pint of real ale with a friend in an English pub and laughing out loud so much!
2) Spending time with my son Charlie at a playground after picking him up from school.
3) Having a pint of real ale with a friend in an English pub and laughing out loud so much!
06/12/2011
Day 10
1) Working with realistic goals at work is much less stressful!
2) One-hour session with counsellor this morning was productive.
3) Putting together the schedule of public programs at work for next six months.
2) One-hour session with counsellor this morning was productive.
3) Putting together the schedule of public programs at work for next six months.
Day 9
1) Great to be back at work again after my back injury.
2) Making my one-year leave without pay official.
3) Enjoyed meeting up with Kaz and Rick for dinner.
2) Making my one-year leave without pay official.
3) Enjoyed meeting up with Kaz and Rick for dinner.
04/12/2011
Day 8
1) Having the house to myself for a couple of hours, as wife and kids all went out.
2) Watching a bed-time movie with the boys in my bed on the iPad.
3) Taking a quiet hot bath after all the kids were asleep.
2) Watching a bed-time movie with the boys in my bed on the iPad.
3) Taking a quiet hot bath after all the kids were asleep.
Day 7
1) Spending three hours chatting with a friend while driving up to Sydney.
2) Getting an insight from a friend in Sydney about how I could achieve several goals that I thought were mutually exclusive.
3) Meeting a having lunch with a wonderful lady that reminded me of a close friend, who died.
2) Getting an insight from a friend in Sydney about how I could achieve several goals that I thought were mutually exclusive.
3) Meeting a having lunch with a wonderful lady that reminded me of a close friend, who died.
02/12/2011
Day 6
1) Spending time as a classroom assistant this morning at Oscar's school with Charlie.
2) Lying in bed resting my back while playing games on the iPad with Charlie.
3) Spending time with both boys at the Discovery Xmas Party. Face-painting, dalek races, art and crafts activities - they loved them all!
2) Lying in bed resting my back while playing games on the iPad with Charlie.
3) Spending time with both boys at the Discovery Xmas Party. Face-painting, dalek races, art and crafts activities - they loved them all!
01/12/2011
Day 5
1) Meeting with my doctor this morning, who said she thought that my back injury was stress related and that there was no damage. She was hopeful that it would clear up within a few weeks.
2) Meeting with my boss this morning, who agreed that I could take off one year without pay in order to travel overseas.
3) Getting a massage at lunchtime with some Bowen therapy. My back is feeling less lob-sided now! Hopefully, it will heal up soon.
2) Meeting with my boss this morning, who agreed that I could take off one year without pay in order to travel overseas.
3) Getting a massage at lunchtime with some Bowen therapy. My back is feeling less lob-sided now! Hopefully, it will heal up soon.
30/11/2011
Day 4
1) Had a day off work with a recurrence of my back injury. The highlight was lying down and resting the back while watching the video 'By Any Means' a documentary about a trip that Charlie Boorman made from Ireland to Sydney.
2) Being able to pick Oscar up from school at 3 pm, so that he didn't have to go to after school care, and spending one-on-one time with him helping him do his school homework, etc.
3) It was great to have a productive chat with my wife about next year and what we both want to do and where we want to go. We didn't make any grand decisions, but we discussed possible scenarios and their outcomes, which was positive.
2) Being able to pick Oscar up from school at 3 pm, so that he didn't have to go to after school care, and spending one-on-one time with him helping him do his school homework, etc.
3) It was great to have a productive chat with my wife about next year and what we both want to do and where we want to go. We didn't make any grand decisions, but we discussed possible scenarios and their outcomes, which was positive.
Day 3
1) Spent the morning at home paying bills on-line. Doesn't sound exciting or a like it should be a highlight, but the consequence of having paid a month's worth of unpaid bills reduces the worry and stress factor immensely.
2) Ran a very successful panel discussion at work for the Australian Science Communicators.
3) Having a beer and a chat about life with Simon after work.
2) Ran a very successful panel discussion at work for the Australian Science Communicators.
3) Having a beer and a chat about life with Simon after work.
28/11/2011
Day 2
1) A business meeting with two retired scientists, who are campaigning for a local valley with waterfalls to be made into a national park.
2) Helping my son, Oscar, with his school homework.
3) Receiving a shamanic healing after work today with drums, rattles and reiki.
2) Helping my son, Oscar, with his school homework.
3) Receiving a shamanic healing after work today with drums, rattles and reiki.
27/11/2011
Day 1
1) Taking my son Oscar on an adventure to the tip.
2) Playing an Xbox car racing game with my other son, Charlie.
3) Catching up with my friend, Simon, and hearing about how his family holiday went in Bali.
2) Playing an Xbox car racing game with my other son, Charlie.
3) Catching up with my friend, Simon, and hearing about how his family holiday went in Bali.
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