This month I am grateful for Body Pump and Body Combat, for a visit from a faraway friend, for the release of the beautiful hardcover Into the Mists Trilogy, for an awesome four days at the Mind Body Spirit Festival, and a fun online launch with author Felicity Pulman…
With thanks… Sunday May 1…
Today I am grateful for a day at home with Juz, and grateful to him for putting my cupboard together. Why are seemingly simple instructions so difficult to comprehend?!
I’m grateful for the soft grey rain in the morning…
I’m happy that I finally got the trilogy files sorted – although there’s a small hitch with the ebook file, sigh…
And I’m grateful for a chat with Mum and Dad…
With thanks… Monday May 2… Pump + 11,166 steps
Today I am glad I got lots done at the magazines (Nemo and Frozen), and could race out to see Alice Through the Looking Glass, which is really beautiful…
I’m grateful for the beauty of Sydney in late autumn…
I’m happy that I squeezed in an hour of Pump before rushing off to work, and that I managed to pass 11K steps.
Not so happy about the migraine, but painkillers helped a little…
And I’m grateful for some with Juz when I got home, a long chat with Mum for her birthday, and some more work ticked off…
With thanks… Tuesday May 3… Combat + 17,601 steps…
Today I am grateful for the first chill in the morning air – winter is approaching 🙂 – and grateful that I could walk through Darling Harbour on my way to a PR thing – Sydney is so beautiful, and the crisp air, the blue sky and the sunshine sparkling on the water always lifts my spirits and makes me happy.
I’m grateful for a quick walk through the aquarium on my way to the toy launch in their theatre. The seahorses and the rescued dugongs are so beautiful, the penguins are so cute, and the jellyfish are fascinating…
I’m glad I managed to get a magazine off to print before having to rush out for a Disney showcase…
I’m glad I got up early to work out before work – an hour of punching and kicking my way through BodyCombat always makes things look better 🙂 – and I’m happy that I passed 17.6K steps for the day.
And I’m grateful for time to catch-up with Juz, and glad I managed a bit more work before bed…
With thanks… Wednesday May 4… May the Fourth Be With You… Pump + 7000 steps…
Tonight I’m grateful for a quiet night in with Juz, watching The Force Awakens to celebrate Star Wars Day 🙂
I’m grateful for a day to work at home on my stuff – although it was one of those weird days where even though I was doing something every second, it didn’t feel like I got much done… Oh well, tomorrow is another day! And I did pretty much sort out the ebook issue, so all good!
And I got to see the trilogy cover in miniature form, which was very cute! My phone died recently, and my uncle gave me an old iphone. I resisted getting one for so long, but I mist admit there are some cool things on there…
And I’m glad I made time for an hour of Pump in the afternoon, although I didn’t hit my step target – lucky I did an extra 7.6km yesterday 🙂
With thanks… Thursday May 5… Samhain blessings… BodyCombat and 19,567 steps 🙂
Samhain blessings to everyone in the southern hemisphere – wishing you love and inspiration as the wheel turns, and the energy changes to preparing for what’s ahead, harvesting and releasing the things we’ve been holding on to and readying ourselves for new challenges and experiences.…
And to those in the north, magical Beltane wishes at this time of sunshine and abundant growth, and celebrating the fertility of life, not just physically, but also of our dreams and ambitions and creativity…
Today I’m grateful for a productive day at the magazines, and for getting up early(ish) to fit in an hour of BodyCombat before work…
I’m happy that Juz met me in town after work, so we could have dinner together then walk home in the beautiful early winter night. There’s an awesome new chill in the air, which I love…
And I’m (sorta) glad that I kissed Juz good night then got back to work – I was making so much progress I stayed up til 2am (oops!), but it made me smile, as that’s how author Maria V Snyder works 🙂
With thanks… Friday May 6… Dark Moon blessings…
Sending dark moon blessings and love to all. Look within, at this magical time, and get in touch with your inner wisdom and hidden truths, and the passion that can fuel your new moon wishes xx
Today I’m grateful that my focus remained super sharp and that I’m powering through the final edits of the individual ebooks and the files for the paperbacks, with barely any time on Facebook or other procrastinate-y things (hence this catch-up being lengthy, and me forgetting much of what happened over the last week…).
I’m happy that I did an awesome hour-plus of BodyPump. I upped my weights a bit – could barely get my arms back up from the last set of chest flyes, or move my arms after the bicep track, or move anything after the shoulders one. Yay, loving the burn! I didn’t make my step goal, but I figure an hour of Pump is okay – and man did I get some writing work done – I’m feeling super focused and less procrastinatey than usual, although maybe staying up til 2am again was a bit naughty. But I was getting so much done that I didn’t want to stop!) 🙂
With thanks… Saturday May 7… New Moon blessings…
Wishing everyone much love and magic on this new moon day. Tap in to the new energies and all the potential swirling around us today, for new growth and new ideas and new dreams. Make a wish for this magical month to come, and dive in and make it come true. Lots of love bright blessings xx
Today I’m glad I did an awesome hour of BodyCombat early, cos I really didn’t feel like it later in the day, and glad I passed 10,000 steps…
I’m grateful for time with Juz, and for cups of tea and catch-up with the Diggers, and for a fun night at home chilling out, before I got back to work…
With thanks… Sunday May 8… Mother’s Day wishes…
Tonight I’m grateful for dinner with Juz and a friend…
I’m grateful for our walk through the cool dark of the night, and glad I passed 76,000 steps for the week…
I’m glad I did a bit of work, but even more glad that I spent some time with Juz just hanging out…
I’m grateful for a long chat with Mum for Mother’s Day…
And I’m so touched by a beautiful email from someone who loved the Into the Mists trilogy – kinda makes the tougher, doubt- and frustration-filled days and the crazy sleep-free nights worth it 🙂
Hi Serene, I am almost finished Into the Light. The tears. I had a face with streams of tears in front of everyone, so much emerged in your book. Wow. What a trip it has been. I never expected to be right in there with your books (no offense, I like light romantic novels normally, but wow you have blown me away)… I don’t think I have ever thought so much over any books. Cried and dreamed. Wow. What a trip. Hope there is more coming. Thank you Serene for these books xx
With thanks… Monday May 9… BodyPump + 14,256 steps…
Today I’m grateful that I got up early to work out before work – a very cool BodyPump workout.
I’m glad I got lots done at the magazines, and grateful that I could have a friend come in and help out…
I’m sad that I missed the gorgeous sunset, cos it was dark by the time I left work, but I’m glad that I walked home, and grateful for the beauty of the tiny golden sliver of crescent moon hanging low in the dark sky as I walked…
And I’m grateful for time with Juz to chill out and catch up on our days…
With thanks… Tuesday May 10…. Squeeeee!
Today I’m so happy that the first copy of the hardcover omnibus edition of the Into the Mists Trilogy arrived. And I love it! It looks amazing! Even better than I’d hoped! 🙂 Returning my publisher advance and going indie? #priceless #noregrets!
I’m excited about an upcoming event with awesome author Felicity Pulman, and fun plans with the Story Queens – more details soon…
I’m happy that I managed to check and approve paperback proofs and still fit in a workout before racing off to work – T25 cardio, which is short, sweet and sweaty – and that I added a couple of 20-minute power walks before and after work too, so I hit 14.5K steps for the day…
I’m glad I got lots done at the magazines, and that I managed to race off to an Angry Birds screening too (wanted to check it’s okay for preschoolers – it is – and it’s kinda fun for adults too… although it might make kids not want to eat eggs anymore!)…
And I’m grateful for time with Juz tonight, and all the lovely messages about the Trilogy… Can’t wait to launch it at MBS!
With thanks… Wednesday May 11…
Today I’m happy that I got through lots of work, making tiny revisions to the proofs…
I’m glad I worked out in the morning – 75 minutes of BodyPump, repeating the chest, back, tricep then bicep tracks twice. I could barely get the bar up by the end of each track, but it was a good feeling 🙂 And I’m happy that I did a short Combat workout just before Juz got home, to get my steps up for the day 🙂
I’m happy and excited about fun plans with a writer friend – our third shared online book launch…
I’m grateful for time with Juz, catching up on our days, reading a little, then getting back to work for a late but productive night…
With thanks… Thursday May 12… 10,210 steps…
Today I’m grateful for beautiful comments about the Mists Trilogy…
I’m happy that I got the revised files uploaded before bed last night (well, in the early hours of the morning, oops!), so I could read through the e-proofs on the train to work…
And I’m glad I made it through a busy day at the magazines on not much sleep, and can’t wait for the weekend 🙂 It’s been a crazy busy week, but it’s all been worth it… xx
With thanks… Friday May 13… 10,900 steps…
Today I am grateful for a fun catch-up with some of my writers group, and for awesome chats, and sharing ideas and advice and experiences over chai, then lunch with Selina and another time slip adventure, losing track of the time cos we were too busy chatting.
I’m grateful for the beautiful blue-skies-and-sunshine-and-chill-in-the-air morning, and the gorgeous train ride through forests and past sunlight-sparkled water, although I did spend most of the trip doing a final proof check…
I’m grateful for the beauty of the first quarter moon as it sailed across the sky in the afternoon, and the colours of the sunset as I walked home…
I’m happy that more book proofs arrived, and they look awesome, and that picking them up added lots more steps to my day 🙂
And I’m grateful for a beautiful night in with Juz for Cute Night…
With thanks… Saturday May 14… Rest day…
Today I am grateful for time with Juz.
I’m grateful for time with my aunt and uncle, and lots of tea.
I’m glad I got some work done – can’t believe MBS is less than two weeks away!
And I’m grateful for a lovely night in with Juz, before getting back to work. Staying up til 2am every night kinda sucks, but I’m getting so much done, it’s worth it…
With thanks… Sunday May 15… 10,100 steps…
Today I am grateful for Juz’s patience while I worked…
I’m grateful for time together in the breaks…
I’m grateful for an awesome double Pump workout in the morning. I could barely lift my arms by the end, but pushing to fatigue makes me happy 🙂
And I’m grateful for an awesome catch up over dinner with a dear friend we don’t get to see enough of any more. Distance sucks, but I love that we just pick right up from where we left off when we do get to see each other 🙂
With thanks… Monday May 16… Combat + 13,770 steps…
Today I’m grateful it was Combat before work – I felt like I was sleep walking at the start, after staying up til stupid o’clock to get work finished, but I finally managed to punch and kick away the cobwebs 🙂
I’m glad I got lots done at the magazines…
I’m happy I racked up loads of steps, with a mini walk at lunch time and some more after work…
I’m grateful for time on the train to check through proofs…
And I’m happy that it’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, and that while slow, some progress is being made…
With thanks… Tuesday May 17… Pump + 10,001 steps…
Today I am grateful for the beauty of the waxing moon in the dark sky as I finally left work and headed home…
I’m happy that I fit in an awesome morning Pump workout before work…
I’m glad I approved the proofs for some paperbacks – and printed sections for one of the mags…
Not so happy that I had a stupid migraine for most of the day, but it was only unbearable when the painkillers wore off, so I can’t complain too much…
I’m grateful for time with Juz when I finally made it home, to catch up on our days…
And I’m happy that I made it to bed by 1am – I’m making progress!
With thanks… Wednesday May 18… Combat + 12,369 steps…
Today I’m grateful for a cool Combat workout in the morning…
I’m glad I was super focused and got some revising done – then finally got to work on revamping my website – it’s been on my to-do list for quite a while, but it’s never been quite as urgent as the other things 🙂 I love my existing one, and I’m kinda proud that I went and learned Dreamweaver so I could build my own, and not be reliant on others every time I wanted to make a change, but I’ve finally stopped being in denial that it needs to be tablet friendly 🙂
Not so grateful that a nasty migraine started in the afternoon, which certainly made my wrestling with a new site even more painful and frustrating than it should have been. And it was frustrating enough on its own, sigh…
But I’m grateful for time with Juz when he got home from work, before I got back to my website and wrestled with it for a few more hours. Seems I’ll have to delete my current one before I can even preview this one, which makes me nervous 🙂
With thanks… Thursday May 19… Pump + 8,200 steps…
Today I am grateful for forced patience 🙂 Not my strong suit! But I finally caved and decided that I should get a little help with my website, and that I don’t have to do every single little thing myself. It’s mostly built, so the beginner courses wouldn’t be much help, but I’ve booked a couple of hours one-on-one with someone who really knows what they’re doing. Patience and relinquishing my stubbornness to do everything myself for a moment. Who’dda thought it? 🙂
I’m grateful for an awesome double Pump workout – I could barely lift my arms to drink water by the end, but it was that very cool, shaky-cos-I-worked-so-hard feeling 🙂 I didn’t quite hit my 10K step target for the day, but decided that an intense 80 minutes of Pump and a few short walks was enough…
And I’m grateful for time with Juz, and a cruisy night, before I went back to my little purple office and continued on…
With thanks… Friday May 20… Combat + 16,488 steps…
Today I am grateful for an awesome night out with Juz, seeing the inspiring Gloria Steinem speak. She was wonderful – so wise, eloquent, inclusive, passionate, humble, and so aware that so many fights for civil rights are linked, not separate, and so filled with gratitude to all the people she learned from, and continues to learn from, and so full still of hope, and so lacking in bitterness. Such an amazing and inspiring woman, who I am so grateful to.
I’m grateful too for the people outside who were rallying for Safe Schools, and who were happily surprised by all the people signing their petition as the massive queue for Gloria snaked around the cathedral and under the trees and the clear dark night sky – Sydney in winter is so beautiful….
I’m grateful for the beauty of the almost-full moon, which we didn’t see rise because of all the towering city buildings, but gazed upon as we made our way home later as it sailed across the gentle sky.
I’m glad I squeezed in a Combat workout in the morning before work…
Not so grateful that my computer at work had died, and IT clearly didn’t think it was important enough to come up and fix. Luckily there was a spare one, so I could muddle through some work, but it had none of our fonts, and I couldn’t access any of the stuff on my desktop – which was most of what I needed – or any of my email folders… Fingers crossed they’ll get around to it on Monday…
With thanks… Saturday May 21…
Tonight I’m grateful for Cute Night, which we held over a day cos we were at Gloria Steinem last night…
I’m grateful for Legends of Tomorrow – so fun, and surprisingly so much better than season four of Arrow 🙂
I’m happy that I did a really awesome double Pump workout in the morning…
I’m grateful for cups of tea with Margie and Pete…
I’m thinking of Dad, on his birthday, but I can’t speak to him cos he’s camping on a beach in the Great Australian Bite, on his annual winter surfing adventure. But I’m happy that he’s doing what he loves…
I’m glad I got a little bit of work done…
And I’m grateful for time with Juz…
With thanks… Sunday May 22… Full Moon blessings…
Lunar blessings on this beautiful mild winter night. Wishing everyone a magical full moon, and an enchanted month ahead, filled with love, motivation, inspiration and passion. Dream big, then take action to make it happen xx
Today I am grateful for the beauty of the moon…
I’m happy that I struggled through an hour of a BodyCombat workout. I was tired and not really in the
mood, but I always feel better afterwards 🙂
I’m grateful for a few orders for the Into the Mists Trilogy, and happy I could get them packaged up and sent out into the world…
I’m grateful for time with Juz to chill out…
I’m glad I got a bit of work done while he was out with some work buddies…
And I’m loving Selina Fenech’s audio book of her Memory’s Wake Trilogy – I listened to it while I was making dinner, then sat in the almost-dark and kept listening while I ate. It was really peaceful, and nice to rest my eyes for a while, and she is such a beautiful writer…
With thanks… Monday May 23… BodyPump – 10,298 steps…
Today I’m grateful that I got lots done at the magazines.
I’m relieved that IT finally came and fixed my computer so I could get stuff done…
Not so grateful that I had a bad head, or had to stay back at work…
But I’m happy that I did a fun Pump workout before work, and that I (just) passed 10,000 steps for the day…
And I’m grateful for time with Juz when I finally made it home 🙂
With thanks… Tuesday May 24… BodyCombat – 11,479 steps…
Today I’m grateful for a day to get organised – planning Friday night’s online launch with Felicity Pulman, sorting out a few prizes, writing some posts etc, and starting to get a bit sorted for the upcoming Mind Body Spirit Festival…
I’m happy that I did an awesome hour of BodyCombat, and hit 11,450 steps for the day…
And I’m grateful for a lovely night in with Juz, and making it to bed by midnight…
With thanks… Wednesday May 25… BodyPump – 16,823 steps…
Today I am so grateful to Juz for helping me so much, loading the car to head out to set up for the Mind Body Spirit Festival, lugging things in with me, helping me put up the banners and set everything up, and being so patient in pesky traffic there and back…
I’m grateful for the beautiful sunshiny day, and no rain as we loaded in…
I loved the Quidditch Stadium… I mean Brickpit 🙂
I’m grateful for the beauty of the sunset sky as we headed home…
I’m happy that I got up early so I could work out before getting ready – a cool hour of BodyPump – then walk to two different post offices to pick up parcels – it certainly got my steps up for the day!
I’m grateful for a cruisy lunch and a bit of Star Wars before we headed out…
I’m glad(ish) that I fit in an hour of magazine work late tonight…
And I’m grateful for a lovely night in together, before I started getting my shit together for tomorrow. I forgot a couple of things today – lucky it’s a Sydney festival this time, ha ha!
With thanks… Thursday May 26… MBSF day 1… Combat – 15, 934 steps…
Today I am so so grateful to Juz, for spending the whole day with me at the Mind Body Spirit Festival, keeping me company, making me cups of tea, making me laugh, and sharing the delirium that set in towards the end of the day.
I’m grateful to the really beautiful people I met, touched by the kind words about my books, honoured to have been able to help someone, and happy to catch up with a couple of friends…
I’m amused by the interactions with a handful of… interesting… people – one trying to convince me of an alien conspiracy, one terrified by my “dark” books, a few making disparaging remarks about witches as if I couldn’t hear, and my favourite:
“Are these books or cards?”
They’re books.
“Oh, so they’re not cards?”
No, they’re books.
“Do you have any cards?”
No, they’re all books.
“So these are just books?”
Yes…
She asks every year. And she doesn’t want to BUY cards even if you do have them, she just wants a free reading if you do… The odd moments keep us amused though 🙂
I’m grateful I could pop outside for a few minutes in the late afternoon, and breathe in the cool air and winter sunshine…
I’m happy I got up early to work out before heading out to Homebush – BodyCombat is always a great way to start the day! And I hit 16,000 steps for the day, hooray!
And I’m grateful for a few precious hours with Juz when we finally got home, to collapse on the couch for a while, then start getting organised for day two… Sweet dreams! xx
With thanks… Friday May 27… MBSF day 2… Combat – 12,350 steps…
Today I am so so grateful to Juz, for helping me so much all day – then staying out at the festival on his own to man the stand, so I could leave early and make it home for my online launch with awesome author Felicity Pulman (www.felicitypulman.com.au)…
I’m grateful to Felicity for a great night, which we both stayed up crazy late with cos it was so much fun, and to sweet Selina Fenech for being part of it too…
I’m grateful that I got to catch up with lovely friends at the festival, and meet new ones, and that I sold some books…
I’m happy that I got up early to work out before it all began, a cool Combat session, and got lots of steps in too…
And I’m grateful for little snatches of time with Juz to celebrate his birthday eve last tonight…
With thanks… Saturday May 28… MBSF day 3…
Today I am grateful for a fun third day at the Mind Body Spirit Festival, and catching up with friends, and meeting new people, and being so so touched by beautiful feedback about the books, especially the trilogy. Although most people chose the three paperbacks over the hardcover, just cos it’s so heavy 🙂
I’m grateful to my sweet husbee, for spending his birthday helping me, and for struggling through the rain with boxes of books, and making me cups of tea, and just hanging out with me.
I’m grateful for cups of tea and great conversations…
I’m… amused… by a woman who came over because her little daughter’s hope for the day was to meet a real witch, and could she introduce us, and could the daughter ask me questions… And by a young woman who seemed to want to catch me out about why witchcraft was so bad… But everyone else was really lovely, and the time (sort of) flew by…
I’m happy that I got up early enough to squeeze in a Combat workout before we headed off to Homebush – I’m feeling a little too mentally exhausted to attempt Pump right now, but punching and kicking my way through some cool tracks (Joan Jett was one of them today, yay!) Is the perfect way to sweep the cobwebs away 🙂
I’m grateful for cooling rains and the sharp cold bite of winter at last – I’m so glad the wheel is starting to turn again, after being stuck for a while – I didn’t even mind getting drenched on the way to the festival 🙂
I’m glad I got some more orders packaged up when I got home, so they can wing their way to their new homes tomorrow…
And I’m grateful for a sweet and cosy night in with Juz when we finally made it home. And now to bed, so we can do it all over again tomorrow 🙂 xx
With thanks… Sunday May 29… MBSF day 4…
Today I’m grateful for an awesome last day at the festival, meeting some lovely people, catching up with friends, being overwhelmed by response to the Mists Trilogy, and selling lots of books…
I’m grateful to my sweet husbee for all his amazing help – I couldn’t have done it without him…
I’m grateful for hot cups of tea to get me through the day…
I’m grateful for lots of steps – 12,174 today, and 92, 470 for the week – and a bit of heavy lifting as we packed up at the end and lugged tables and banners and boxes across to the carpark.
And as fun as it was, I was very very grateful to collapse on the couch for a bit when we finally made it home 🙂
With thanks… Monday May 30…
Today I am so grateful to Juz for an awesome week together, and so grateful for all his help over the last five days, and for taking a week off work to spend with me at the festival, working (although he insists it’s nothing like his actual work). And I can’t believe it’s less then three weeks til Supanova!
I’m glad I got lots done at the magazines, and vaguely amused that instead of the annual leave day I booked for today to recover from MBS, I ended up working 12 hours straight. Will have to take my day off later in the week…
I’m glad I could race out to see the chiropractor in the afternoon…
And I’m grateful for a quick catch-up with Juz when I finally made it home…
With thanks… Tuesday May 31…
Today I am grateful for a day at home to chill out a little with Juz…
I’m grateful for time to package up the rest of the prizes from Friday night’s book launch…
I’m grateful for a cute lunch date…
I’m happy for Once Upon a Time…
And, hmm… Not glad I stayed up half the night to do it, but happy that I got heaps sorted for my new website, and my appointment tomorrow to get it done…
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