Tennis of Oz

I have had so much fun hanging out at the Australian Open tennis this week. There are lots of matches to watch, places to chill and things to do.

My sister earned a lot of ticket vouchers over the past few months, for doing some online product/service surveys in her spare time. She is MAD about tennis and whenever she wanted to go, she would get me free tickets to go with her. I have an awesome sister! We were able to go several times and it was always fun - even the days that were dangerously hot. I braved it and took a long bath in a tub of sunscreen before I went outside on those days.

I hope Novak Djokovic wins! I was excited to catch a glimpse of him on the practice courts.

One year, I met Rafael Nadal there. He was 15 and still playing in the juniors at the time. We took this terrible, terrible picture with him after my friend heard a rumour that he "might be good one day."

All of this has inspired me to to get out in the sun and have a few hits myself.

Happy Disneyversary

Starting life at Walt Disney World this time last year feels like yesterday but at the same time, it feels like a lifetime ago because the wonderful things and friendships I gained are now such a huge part of my life that I can't imagine a time where I ever lived without them.

Happy one year anniversary to the January 2012 Disney International/ College Program!

2013: My New Year's Resolutions

2013 began for me in a small coastal town on the Great Ocean Road, with a few friends (dress code: hats), sparklers and some guitar/ukelele sing-a-long. It's a good way to start.

It's a brand new year and I love the idea of fresh starts and new beginnings. It's the perfect time to try and rub out some of my bad habits and I've picked a few things to specifically work on for this year.

My New Year's Resolutions for 2013:

1. To be present and attentive to the moment I am in... by not using my phone when I'm around other people.

2. To be a better listener... hearing people out without interrupting them. 

The age of advertising and endless interruptions has shortened our attention spans and led us to think that no message is as important as the one we have. This is narcissism at its worst. If we're not careful, we can rush through an entire conversation without  ever really listening. And what happens if the other person does the same? 

3. To drink more water.

How are your New Year's resolutions going? Don't give up!

For the inspiration behind this post and some other things I'll be trying in 2013, see: 5 Ways to Slow Down in 2013 (Relevant Magazine).