Living on the Edge Newsletter

Last time I told you I was turning 30 in a few weeks time.... Well I am now officially there, and I have to say, so far, so good. All this reflecting I have been doing over the last month or so has made me grateful for so many things. I thought I'd share with you something I'm grateful for from each year of my life...

1974 Being born - I am so grateful to be alive and to have been born into a family that loves me and wants to see me become all I can be. My parents have been so faithful to me. They have loved me and sacrificed for me. They have been there at all times. The 2 people with the largest influence on my life. I am so very grateful for being born to such amazing parents.

1975 Time in the country - I spent the first 8 years of my life living on a farm. I got my share of animals there and so now I'm affectionately known as 'not an animal person' - but I am grateful for having had years of fresh air, cows, motorbikes, snakes, chooks, cats, dogs, goats and horses.

1976 My sister Amber. I was 2 when Amber was born so I really don't remember life without her. I am so grateful to have a sister - especially one I love so much. We've shared lots of fun times as kids playing dress ups and putting on concerts for whoever was prepared to watch and as adults talking, crying and laughing together.

1977 Pre-school - and learning that cactus isn't a plant you want to handle closely!

1978 Kindergarten - Mrs Day, my teacher - I am grateful that she persevered with a head strong child who threw her books in the bin because she'd finished all she had to do! I'm grateful for a small country school with good teachers who got my education off to an excellent start.

1979 My brother Richard- Can I be so lucky as to have a sister and a brother? Well done Mum and Dad! Richard has been fun for all sorts of reasons - initially as a play thing for Amber and I to dress up in leotards and tutus. His sense of adventure has been exciting to see develop and his natural leadership is something I'm looking forward to see where that takes him. I love having a brother.

1980 My grandparents. I am blessed to have 3 grandparents, Didi, Pa and Sassy. I remember lots of trips to Sydney to stay with Didi and Pa when we were living in the country. I used to love spending hours in their pool making up synchronised swimming routines with Amber and having diving competitions. Not to mention the cooking and special granddaughter times.

1981 Enid Blyton - I'm grateful that she wrote so many lovely stories that I escaped in as a child - most especially The Magic Far Away Tree and all the adventures of Jo, Bessie and Fanny! I developed a great love of reading as a little girl.

1982 Creativity - As a little girl I was into all sorts of craft things - knitting, embroidery, cross stitch, sewing - all sorts of things. I wouldn't describe myself as artistic but I have got a few creative abilities which I'm grateful for - it's good for relaxing to get into some creative outlet.

1983 Moving to Sydney.. I am so very grateful that we moved to Sydney when I was 8 even though I found settling in pretty horrific at times. For me, growing up in a city opened up all sort of opportunities and developed my personality and experiences.

1984 "character building experiences" - Mum's expression for anything that doesn't kill you! I didn't find primary school in Sydney a positive experience on the whole, but in retrospect it has taught me that character is developed in hard times so whilst unpleasant, the saying is true!

1985 Fiji - Our first overseas family holiday was to Fiji some close family friends. We had so much fun for 2 weeks living in 'Fiji time' fishing, eating, reading books by the pool, collecting shells and watching Fijians shimmy up coconut trees! I am grateful that we were able to have such a fun time together as a family and have the opportunity to travel to other cultures.

1986 Tara I had such a fantastic education and time at high school. I am extremely grateful for the sacrifices my parents made to send me to Tara.

1987 "The shop" - My parents owned a newsagency from 1983-1988. I'm grateful that through their example I learnt the importance of customer service, hard work and dedication. I also got great retail experience and developed my chocolate addiction (not sure how grateful I am for that ;-)!!!)

1988 Australia. I loved celebrating Australia's bicentennial year. It was fantastic to be able to watch the Tall Ships come into Sydney Harbour. Australia is such a blessed place to live. 1988 was also the year we went to Singapore on a family holiday and the year I became a Christian.

1989 New Zealand exchange - I spent 3 months living in Waitara, New Zealand on a Rotary Exchange program. I learnt a lot about myself having to live away from home and in another family. It wasn't all easy. I grew up a lot and made some friends that I have kept to today and I love that. I also fell in love with New Zealand. What a beautiful place.

a^TM Volume 27 July 04l
Welcome to Volume 27 of Living on the Edge, the now monthly newsletter from Living Edge Life Coaching, designed to inform, educate, challenge and inspire you! For previous volumes click here. Thank you for the kind birthday wishes I received from many of you, especially those I've never met. I have had a great time! If you enjoy Living on the Edge please forward it onto your family and friends. Annabel Varvel Life Coach BA.LLB
COACHING CORNER
Gratitude Last time I told you I was turning 30 in a few weeks time.... Well I am now officially there, and I have to say, so far, so good. All this reflecting I have been doing over the last month or so has made me grateful for so many things. I thought I'd share with you something I'm grateful for from each year of my life... 1974 Being born - I am so grateful to be alive and to have been born into a family that loves me and wants to see me become all I can be. My parents have been so faithful to me. They have loved me and sacrificed for me. They have been there at all times. The 2 people with the largest influence on my life. I am so very grateful for being born to such amazing parents. 1975 Time in the country - I spent the first 8 years of my life living on a farm. I got my share of animals there and so now I'm affectionately known as 'not an animal person' - but I am grateful for having had years of fresh air, cows, motorbikes, snakes, chooks, cats, dogs, goats and horses. 1976 My sister Amber. I was 2 when Amber was born so I really don't remember life without her. I am so grateful to have a sister - especially one I love so much. We've shared lots of fun times as kids playing dress ups and putting on concerts for whoever was prepared to watch and as adults talking, crying and laughing together. 1977 Pre-school - and learning that cactus isn't a plant you want to handle closely! 1978 Kindergarten - Mrs Day, my teacher - I am grateful that she persevered with a head strong child who threw her books in the bin because she'd finished all she had to do! I'm grateful for a small country school with good teachers who got my education off to an excellent start. 1979 My brother Richard- Can I be so lucky as to have a sister and a brother? Well done Mum and Dad! Richard has been fun for all sorts of reasons - initially as a play thing for Amber and I to dress up in leotards and tutus. His sense of adventure has been exciting to see develop and his natural leadership is something I'm looking forward to see where that takes him. I love having a brother. 1980 My grandparents. I am blessed to have 3 grandparents, Didi, Pa and Sassy. I remember lots of trips to Sydney to stay with Didi and Pa when we were living in the country. I used to love spending hours in their pool making up synchronised swimming routines with Amber and having diving competitions. Not to mention the cooking and special granddaughter times. 1981 Enid Blyton - I'm grateful that she wrote so many lovely stories that I escaped in as a child - most especially The Magic Far Away Tree and all the adventures of Jo, Bessie and Fanny! I developed a great love of reading as a little girl. 1982 Creativity - As a little girl I was into all sorts of craft things - knitting, embroidery, cross stitch, sewing - all sorts of things. I wouldn't describe myself as artistic but I have got a few creative abilities which I'm grateful for - it's good for relaxing to get into some creative outlet. 1983 Moving to Sydney.. I am so very grateful that we moved to Sydney when I was 8 even though I found settling in pretty horrific at times. For me, growing up in a city opened up all sort of opportunities and developed my personality and experiences. 1984 "character building experiences" - Mum's expression for anything that doesn't kill you! I didn't find primary school in Sydney a positive experience on the whole, but in retrospect it has taught me that character is developed in hard times so whilst unpleasant, the saying is true! 1985 Fiji - Our first overseas family holiday was to Fiji some close family friends. We had so much fun for 2 weeks living in 'Fiji time' fishing, eating, reading books by the pool, collecting shells and watching Fijians shimmy up coconut trees! I am grateful that we were able to have such a fun time together as a family and have the opportunity to travel to other cultures. 1986 Tara I had such a fantastic education and time at high school. I am extremely grateful for the sacrifices my parents made to send me to Tara. 1987 "The shop" - My parents owned a newsagency from 1983-1988. I'm grateful that through their example I learnt the importance of customer service, hard work and dedication. I also got great retail experience and developed my chocolate addiction (not sure how grateful I am for that ;-)!!!) 1988 Australia. I loved celebrating Australia's bicentennial year. It was fantastic to be able to watch the Tall Ships come into Sydney Harbour. Australia is such a blessed place to live. 1988 was also the year we went to Singapore on a family holiday and the year I became a Christian. 1989 New Zealand exchange - I spent 3 months living in Waitara, New Zealand on a Rotary Exchange program. I learnt a lot about myself having to live away from home and in another family. It wasn't all easy. I grew up a lot and made some friends that I have kept to today and I love that. I also fell in love with New Zealand. What a beautiful place.	1990 Great friends. By year 11 at school I had developed some lovely friendships. Gone were most of the petty bitchy things girls do and we could settle into getting along and getting all we could out of school experiences together. 1991 The HSC. What a year! I worked the hardest I've ever worked. I'm grateful for the discipline to study hard and do well. I'm grateful for the dedicated teachers I had and opportunities in so many things - debating, sport, leadership, public speaking, giving back. I have to say study is the overriding memory of 1991! 1992 The steep learning curve. Out of the safe protected environment of a private girls school into the melting pot of Sydney University. Started to really work out who I was, what I believed, what I thought was important. Started to question and think and therefore grow. 1993 St Paul's I must say I am very grateful for the church I went to in Sydney. Not only for helping to build a strong foundation for my personal faith but for teaching me so many life skills I don't know where else I would have learnt them - leadership, basic counselling, communication, team work, giving, care for others. 1994 First broken heart. What would a list like this be without being grateful (in hindsight only of course!) for having my heart broken for the first time. Grateful for a fun first relationship where I felt truly valued and loved but also grateful that ultimately I learnt I would love again and could learn to deal with the grief of a loss of relationship. 1995 Europe. 8 weeks backpacking around Europe and the UK with 6 other uni friends was an eye opening experience! What a world we live in. I am grateful to have the means to have seen so much of it. I learnt that I'll never again drive in Paris ;-) 1996 Perseverance. I'm grateful that I stuck out studying law and finally finished my degree. I didn't enjoy a lot of it, but I learnt about finishing what you start and the discipline of study. Uni was a great lifestyle to live for 5 years. Hectic and hard, but fun. 1997 Value of a mentor. So began my life as a solicitor. I actually enjoyed it far more than I thought I would and I must thank Anthony Scarcella for taking me under his wing and teaching me to care for my clients, to have a passion for the 'little people' and for teaching me to pay attention to detail (not one of my strengths). I learnt many good skills and qualities from having a caring and experienced mentor. 1998 Hiking & other unlikely activities - from about 1995 on I started taking on physical challenges I would never have thought possible... hiking, abseiling, rock climbing. I am very grateful for friends who took me and for what I learnt about myself - I am very determined and can walk long distances with hideous blisters, but not without tears! 1999 Girlfriends. I learnt that whilst boyfriends might not always be there, my girlfriends always will be. I have enjoyed many good friendships and a couple over very long periods of time. Thank you to my best friends for being there in the ups and downs. I've learnt that good relationships are two way. I enjoy having and being a good friend. 2000 The internet. I remember talking with a friend from uni one day on the way home on the train in about 1995/6. He was explaining this new thing called the internet. My mind couldn't get around the concept. Little did I know or would ever have imagined that I would meet my future husband on the internet! 2001 Leigh. I have to say there were many times over many years that I often doubted that I'd find a husband, let alone one that is so good for me. I am more than grateful for the man who is my life partner, my friend and lover. 2002 The courage to change. After years of not knowing what I've really wanted to do, I discovered life coaching, decided to face some fears. I resigned as a solicitor and started Living Edge Life Coaching. I love it. It took a lot of courage but I know now I CAN do it! I discovered it helps to have a husband, family and friends who have supported me unconditionally. 2003 Alexander. I can't describe the gratitude I feel to God for giving Leigh and I a son. What a blessing a child is! 2004 The NOW! In the end, we don't live in the past we live now. I'm glad I have opportunities each day to live, love, give, learn and grow. *What are you grateful for?*

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