Interview with The Monk Kathy Married

I am an avid fan of Kathy from Lessons from the Monk I Married.

I have gained a lot from the lessons she has learnt from her husband, the Former Monk. But until recently he seemed to be an elusive character that existed only in Kathy's blog posts.

You can imagine my delight when I received a comment from him on my "Life was meant to be easy" story.

Voila! That classifies him as a reader! So this week Seong Yoon Lee is  reader of the week!

 Come over to my website to read the interview from the man himself.... 

Update your blogroll, pleaso?

Heya, I know some of you lovely people have me on your blogroll as the Chronicles. But really I am just using this poor little sucker as a billboard for my other website.

If you do like your chronicles... you can subscribe to my feed over there, or change your blogroll to

www.sharnanigans.com

save me pimping my stuff here with the old half story then click here for the rest hoopla...

If you like me, please subscribe and update.

If not, she's apples.

What? It is a THREE HORSE TOWN?

I had resigned myself to the fact that most of my social life in this One Horse Town was spent online, when I made a friend in the One Horse Town (with three horses) online.

Turns out there is more than one horse here. Who knew?

Confused?

A little while back, my website was featured in the local newspaper.

Afterwards I received a lovely email from a very inspiring local lady.

Her name is Elle.

She moved from the city with her hubby and kids  from the city for a tree-change.

They bought a motel and she opened up a shop called “Hayven” (clever, huh? – oh the OHT is called Hay in case I have not mentioned that)

Whilet many shops in the One Horser decided to stick with the original decor from the seventies, in sweeps this ambitious newcomer and presents the OHT with the most gorgeous little boutique shop you are ever likely to see.

Think Coco Republic standards.

It is pure class.

Homewares, jewellry, clothing, beautiful gifts. Everytime I walk in there other shoppers are always oohing and ahhing and words like “Beautiful..” “Gorgeous” “Divine” are heard around the shop.

You know the type.

She keeps it new and fresh and …. OK – you see, I just love this shop and love she believed enough in her passion enough to make it happen (cue in: Flashdance)

read the rest of story here 

Take your passion, and make it happen!

Say No For Kids

Another new feature?  You ask?
Yes! Another new feature! I reply
This time I'm taking my lead from Mahatma Gandhi with his famous quote "Be the change you want to see in the world" and starting a "Be-The-Change Monday!"
Each Monday I'll  feature a cause that strikes a chord and let you know how you get your hose out!
If you'd like to suggest a cause for Be-The-Change Monday - send me a note here!
While I'm talking Mondays, don't forget to cook meatless tonight and send in a pic of your meal.  You could win a copy of Jonathan Safran Foer's highly acclaimed book "Eating Animals".
SAYING NO FOR KIDS
An issue that is close to my heart and that has come to my attention is the placement of pornographic material in eye-shot of kids.
To be honest, the stuff offends me as well. I don't want my son viewing women with mammoth breasts and come hither eyes while shopping with me for some milk. What kind of subliminal messages about women is this going to send him, and if I had a daughter, a whole other kettle of fish.
To be completely honest, what sort of message does it send to anyone about women? Anyway I'll save my piece on it for another date. I'd like you to meet the crusader behind Say No 4 Kids Catherine Manning.

For interview with Catherine Manning and link to the petition click here

Riding the Wave

Sometimes I prove myself wrong and challenge my own theories.
I recently wrote a flowery post spouting thatLife was Meant to be Easy.
While I still believe it is true, I am beginning to realise if it were too easy we would never grow or learn.
This last week, emotionally, I have succumbed to the more difficult side of it.
The "control" I thought I had went out the window and the emotions I thought I had a handle on proved the opposite.
A week ago I weaned my son from breastfeeding.
It has been 15 months and we were both ready.
Well, so I thought.
Who knew this process that has been looming gradually, would instigate the most mind blowing sadness , emptiness and out of control emotional roller-coaster I have ever experienced.
The pit of my stomach has ached with sadness. No amount of cuddles, reassurance or logical thinking was able to take that away. I was told to "Stop being silly", "Have a hot shower" and that I should just be "Happy to have my body back"
I have become confused, fatigued, nauseated, but most overwhelmingly, I have been deeply sad.
It is as if the happy switch had been turned off.
The Happy Mama drug had run out and all that remained was a heart-shredding feeling of emptiness.
I felt unloved, redundant, irrational.
You hear of the baby blues and Postpartum Depression here and there, but it is not often we are honest about it.
I am fortunate to have made a wonderful community of online friends who have helped me enormously through supportive emails helping me to get through this time.
I must admit, our pregnancy was completely unexpected and I was primed after the birth of our son expecting to get PPD. I had experienced anxiety before it, and I was armed and ready.
It never came.
What did happen was I felt the most intense love I have ever felt and have had the most life changing 15 months with my beautiful son.
After Monte was born, despite crying over lost sleep, I danced a happy dance and secretly felt cured of the depression and anxiety that had made guest appearances in my life before child.
15 months later while I was off-guard it seems to snuck around the corner and given me an upper-cut!
No-one saw it coming.
I realise some hormone upheaval is at play alongside the normal 'mourning' as the baby period ends.
One moment I was so happy, the next - I felt broken, out of control, and was lashing out at those I love.
Why has this happened to me? Wasn't life meant to be easy? Why do I feel out of control?
I have been asking myself these questions as I have tried to meditate and take time out to get clarity of mind.

rest of the story here