GFC... Coronavirus... Life.

I am old enough to remember the 1990/91 Gulf War. 14 years of age and living in a small country town in Queensland, it was the first time I felt the world on my doorstep; it was the first time I felt real fear.

Fast forward 15-ish years and a decade of post school life, my eldest wasn't a year old when we started hearing the term 'GFC' (Global Financial Crisis). I was self employed and the $10K of work sitting on my whiteboard before Christmas 2007, turned into a paltry $1,000 by April 2008; goodbye self-employment, hello job to support my family. It was during the GFC and another beautiful addition to our family that I truly appreciated my bottom-up work philosophy and diversified skillset. When a choice between staff had to be made, sadly there are no prizes for guessing who kept their job; it's all that got my infant family through.

Today we have COVID-19, but this time it's not a financial crisis, it's a human one, and we are all in it together. Yes, we've seen panic buying, yes, people have behaved with an immaturity most of us can't fathom, and yes, unfortunately people have been aggressive, but hopefully it has also shone a light on possibility and opportunity. Possibility? Opportunity? Allow me to plant a seed.

Are you really happy? Are you truly fulfilled? Are you living passionately? Or are you just going through the motions? It's events like this that create an opportunity for us to live honestly with ourselves, dare to dream of following the passion in our heart and wake up every morning invigorated to grab the day and run with it. The possibilities... they are endless. If you read my post, see the light and rush into decisions... you will most likely fail, especially if you have a family. This post is not suggesting you race out and start a business or quit your relationship, upheave your family or make drastic changes. It's suggesting you reflect and work twoards making positive change.

Reflection and a healthy (but not obsessive) 'what if' internal conversation (external conversations are also important) is a huge part of my life. Small steps often in the right direction rather than huge all-or-nothing leaps has allowed me to edge carefully into unknown waters, self-correct, take a step back to reflect a little more, but most importantly to create a life that truly makes me happy.   

'Well bully for you', has been projected at me. But you know what, I've had rugs ripped out from underneath me, I've been side swiped and had to scramble to keep my footing, keep myself afloat and make everything ok for those I love. Today, #ImLivingProof that #PositiveFocusChangesLives. I had no choice, but I'm so grateful for it. Those swished rugs lead to study that makes me feel invigorated rather than slogging because 'I needed the money'. It ignites and fans the passion in my heart rather than the 'one foot in front of the other' existence that befell me. I was fortunate to have an experience of asking my mentor, "When are you going to see the Universe is pushing you in a different direction? When are you going to stop forcing what the Universe clearly doesn't want you to be?". I was also fortunate to ask my best friend of 20 years a similar question mere months after he barely survived an infection; he is now my husband and stands arms crossed squarely in front of my self-questioning and self-doubt. 

Even though many of my successes have came out of ashes, thank you Universe.​
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#TrueStrength with #MandaOsborne @ #EverythingByDesign