Way back when

What were the things that you loved when you were a kid? The things that made you happy and made you smile. My favourite thing in the whole world was animals. Even when my friends were being mean or even if I maybe didn’t feel like I had a friend the thing that could always cheer me up and make me feel loved were animals. I thought that I was an animal whisperer and that I could talk to animals so I used to try picking up bees and when they stung me (which they did) I thought it was just because I hadn’t learnt how to talk to them properly yet.When I grew up I either wanted to be a farmer or a vet.

 I have memories from when I was a child of spending weekends and holidays in central Otago, where my dad grew up as a child. We would spend time going and visiting our friends who lived on farms and had animals and it was always the best part of being there.

 When I was 7 and we moved to Christchurch one of the bribes to try and make me not hate it so much was my kitten. She made me so happy and I spent hours spending time with her, pushing her around in a dolls pram and training her to jump through a hoola hoop in the staircase.

 When I was a kid my dad used also spend time driving me around all the different pet shops so that I could look at all of the animals and day dream.

Animals for me relate to so many good memories of my childhood and growing up but somewhere along the way I forgot about them. I forgot how much they meant to me I got too old and too cool to love animals and spend time with my cats and enjoying being around them. I have started reading a book that has reminded me of my love for animals and rekindled it for me. It’s helped me to remember all the good memories that animals are associated with from my childhood.

 Another thing I have recently remembered my love for is baking, and that’s not just because of the yummy taste but because it reminds me of doing it with my mum and helping her for as long as I can remember

Now there is definitely some things from our childhood we need to let go of like that imaginary friend or my belief that I could talk to animals, but  what is something that you have accidentally forgotten about or left behind that used to make you so happy.

Dig it out and see if it still has the same effect.

Mine does J

Katie D

Snow

I know my last blog was on snow so I'm sorry for the repeat but thanks to the snow Polytech is closed . I am rather happy about this because it means instead of getting up at 6am to truck through the snow and get to class it is 9am and I am still warm, still cosy and still in bed. In honour of that, here are some snow photos.

Stay warm and Enjoy
Katie D

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

I Love the Snow, it is so beautiful and it makes all the cold weather worth something. It's funny how when it is snowing, I forget about all the things that I don’t like about winter and am just filled with happiness and excitement.

Snow links me back to memories of being a kid, living in Dunedin and on a hill. I remember sliding down the small hill in our back yard. Winters at my grand parents in Central Otago, ice skating outside and going skiing. Spending as long as I could outside in the snow until my fingers and toes were so frozen that I couldn’t feel them. The burning sensation of putting my toes too close to the fire for too long

I love how the snow can re ignite those memories for me and take me back to the awesome happy childhood I had. I’m so thankful for those memories that it sparks. I hope that I never become too grown up to loose my excitement and I hope that I'm never too old to have a snow fight, play in and en joy the snow.

I hope that you all got to enjoy it too : )  

Katie D

Thankful

Maybe it’s due to the fact that I’ve only left the house twice in the last 3 days due to study, so I’m going a little crazy, but Today I am feeling thankful for lots of things.

Even though I’m as nervous as I could possibly be about the exams I have on Thursday and Friday, I’m thankful that the reason I’m so nervous is because what I’m hoping to achieve isn’t just a pass but hopefully the start of my path towards a career that I am so passionate about.

I’m thankful that even though it’s not the nicest day out sitting behind the glass it feels like it’s warm out there too.

I’m thankful that we are only getting closer to summer

I’m thankful for a week with hardly any aftershocks so I can focus on my study

I’m thankful that I got to see my oldest friend who I have known as far back as my memories go in the weekend.

I’m thankful for the friends that make me smile. The friendships that have lasted for some time and the ones which are just beginning to grow.

Today try being thankful for the small things and have an amazing day

Katie D

I like to move it move it

2011 for me so far has been a year of actually doing the things I’ve wanted too for a while. It started with me getting off my bum and getting active again.
Almost 3 years ago now my Dad died really suddenly of a heart attack. It was unexpected and a huge shock to me and my family. It has however made me think a lot more seriously about my health and my lifestyle and about the fact that I want to live the best, healthiest, longest life I can, not just for my own benefit but for the benefit of my future family and loved ones.

According to the Heart Foundation, approximately one in two New Zealanders (that’s half the population!!!)is overweight or obese, and we wonder why cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of death (40%) in New Zealand? The worst part? The majority of these deaths are preventable.

So what are two main things we can do to avoid this problem? Get Active and have a Balanced Diet.

I have always loved exercise, I was in multiple sports teams at school and although I was never the best, I just enjoyed being a part of a team, socializing with different people and being active. However after highschool as many of you will know it is harder to fit it in, life gets busy and exercise without even realising it can slip completely off the radar.

I believe life is there to be lived, to have fun and experiences that you look back on with a smile, so I don’t think that means running every morning and never touching a piece of cake again but I’m trying to learn to get the balance right now while I’m young. It took me a good 2 years to actually put my thoughts into action. So I know from experience that it is easier said than done.


So I have implemented a plan to make sure I work out, maybe it will work for you too. I love hanging out with my friends and I hate letting them down so I make a commitment to hang out with them and exercise at the same time. Monday and Thursday is Zumba with Amy and Lauren, Tuesday is pilates or yoga with Shanny and various mornings of the week are runs with Sammie. It’s the longest I’ve ever lasted with consistent (not including in a team) exercise

I think exercise is so important and something that everybody needs in their life. So I encourage you to ask yourself if your doing enough and if the answer if no then get a buddy, someone who can keep you accountable and get moving, you will feel so good about yourself in the long run. There are so many different forms of exercise that I don't believe for a second there isn't something out there to suit everyone.

I have a long way to go with making my lifestyle completely healthy and still I have a lot of goals to reach with my fitness, but maybe this will spark a thought in your head and encourage you to get up and get moving. If you wait around for tomorrow its never going to come so if there is something you want to change about your lifestyle and the way you are living then today is the day to do it.

Katie D

Faith

Stumbled across the picture and it reminded me following on from yesterdays blog, why learning to be patient is important to me. It doesn't mean it's always easy but it means that situations, with some patience will work out the way they are meant too.

Limbo Land

Waiting is horrible... not entirely sure what your waiting for is even worse. This year has been the biggest patience tester ever! And even if I do say so myself I think that I am getting to be more patient and letting the reigns of control and organisation go a little bit

At the moment I am waiting to find out if I am accepted into the Nursing programme that I have applied for and I just want to know! If I get in, I can finally start working towards having a career and a job that I am passionate about and if not I can start figuring out what my next step is.

Just a quick silly blog from me today but for all of you out there like me, feeling like your stuck somewhere you don’t want to be... hold on and be patient.

Whatever it is your waiting for, stay positive and remind yourselves of the reasons why it’s worth the wait.

Katie D