Gifts from Blogging

Posted on by Miriam

Roses are red, violets are blue, today’s my birthday but the gifts are for you.

Make a wish 

I’m 53 years old young today. Hip, hip, hooray, where have the years gone?  I still feel 21. Yep, except my need for reading glasses, dodgy memory and aching bones tells me otherwise. Falling off a bike recently didn’t help either.

However, I’ve never felt more blessed and passionate about life than I do right now. I’m grateful for every single day and my heart, mind and eyes are wide open. To a degree, blogging has played a huge part in that.

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“Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.” – Robert Browning

I started back in 2015, the February before I turned 50, the year before I lost my mum and my life changed forever.

As I write this (a few days before my birthday) I reflect on the gifts that blogging has brought me.

Perhaps you’ll relate to them as well. Gifts and messages for all of us:

“The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes.” – Frank Lloyd Wright

I see things in a different light. One of my mantras since starting this blog is “seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary’. I truly believe when we see beauty in the simple things life can’t be anything but good.

Gratitude is the key. Every morning when I wake up I could sleep more give thanks for what I have. Even if the day before wasn’t brilliant I shift my focus to what I have and feel grateful for a new day.

Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen.

You Only Live Once.  I know it’s cliched but it’s so true. Go after your dreams, take risks, take that holiday, do what stirs your heart and soul. I feel so passionate about this I started my own FB group (the link’s at the moment if anyone wants to join me.)

Everything feels enhanced. Through writing I gain clarity and in photography I gain awareness, through the subtleties of the world around me. The smallest details take on a new perspective and I love the way ‘ordinary’ can be transformed through a lens.

There’s messages in everything. I’ve learnt to roll with the punches, go with the flow, to let go of judgements and accept what is, even when I don’t fully understand. There’s always going to be challenges, crappy days and disappointments. However, we get to choose how we react.

Anything feels possible. I don’t just focus on what’s in front of me but what could be in front of me. I look for opportunities and see the possibilities and positives and, miraculously, when I do they somehow show up. What we focus on grows.

Every word and photo is a record of time. My posts on my blog and my travel articles that have been published in magazines, aren’t merely a destination piece but a tangible record of special times with my family. It’s a living journal and a legacy of sorts.

Published stories
A snap shot in time through my stories
Loving the great outdoors
My latest column
On top of the world at Powers Lookout

Sharing and travelling through others. Through WP I’ve travelled virtually to places that are still on my bucket list. I’ve laughed, cried, shared in success stories and been incredibly inspired. I love this community of kindred writers and artists.

My blog has lead me to my dreams. Through this blog I’ve forged my Outanabout column in a leading Australian travel magazine, I’ve made contacts and been offered assignments. Later this year I’ll be cycling hundreds of kilometres in a bike ride I wouldn’t have even contemplated a while ago. Who knows what’s next?

Rekindling a passion. I’ve rediscovered my love of music and felt confident enough to collaborate with Deb and Rob and share my singing and guitar playing, with more than just whoever’s sitting in my lounge room! And there’ll be more.

The greatest gift of all, friendship. I’ve met so many amazing people and formed a number of close friendships through my blog, both virtually and in real life. You know who you are. I feel as though my world has expanded tenfold.

Cheers to all of us, loving what we do and embracing who we are, regardless of our age. Life is beautiful and every day is precious.

I can’t imagine any greater gift.

Big collective hug to you all. Now it’s time to go and eat cake.

Enjoy today, laugh, live and love deeply and with no regrets and remember “you’re only as old as you feel.”

In love and light as we continue this awesome blogging journey

Live in the moment

Want to connect with me on Facebook.

Come join my group for like minded travelers
Outanabout YOLO “You only live once”

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207 thoughts on “Gifts from Blogging”

  23. A very content and healthy birthday and rest of the coming years to you Miriam 😀 . These are the best birthday thoughts I’ve ever come across and fill me up with joy and smiles. There is no better way to live than enjoying what you have and sharing all the way.
    Keep exploring and cherishing the moments. Lovely pictures and beautiful thoughts. Age is just a number, count your blessings instead!

    Liked by 3 people

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  24. Happy Birthday Miriam! Congrats on making your life so full of passion and possibility. I must admit to losing those in my life. Thankfully, I so have my health, a good living situation, and friends. I love your tips, especially looking for the beauty in ordinary life. Big hugs and blessings!

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Thank you Brad. I hope you can find back that passion and possibility. I must admit to losing mine a bit on the way too but if you’ve got friends, good health and other positives it’s only a matter of time before the rest falls into place. Hugs back xx

      Liked by 1 person

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  25. Happy Birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day. You know I ll be 40 in February and aging is so strange. Yes I can see wrinkles on my face which confirm aging, your core self doesn’t age. I thought I’d feel different as I age but on the inside I feel no different to when I turned 30. Perhaps that’s God’s special gift to us? ✌🏼☺️

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  27. Happy Happy Happy Birthday too you dearest Miriam. What a beautiful, joyous, up beat , dancing blog.

    I am sooooooo very happy that you have got work that is aligned to your passion in real life, and in your blog. And that is something so great and means life is in harmony.

    Omg cycling assignment… well you are fit and strong. So how will that work, will hubby be with you .. it is a fab opportunity and exciting. (Clearly i fainted reading that . Cause that is not for me as you know 😉😆).

    Have a fab birthday and wish you a lot more happiness and success

    Love bella🌹😚

    Liked by 1 person

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  30. What a terrific blog post for all of us to read — inspired by your most recent birthday! My favorite sentence is “there’s always going to be challenges, crappy days and disappointments. However, we get to choose how we react.” Please keep living, loving, observing, photographing and writing about your life here on planet earth. We will keep reading!

    Liked by 2 people

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      1. Oh thanks Miriam! I do get your comments but sometimes it takes me a few days to respond. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I all of the sudden feel like I have way too much alone time on my hands so am searching for some kind of part time job. The blog doesn’t take up as much time as I have and the kids are in school all day so now is the time. 🙂

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  44. Happy birthday my dear friend! I’m so happy to know you virtually. And thanks for those virtual tours of Australia! I’d like to make it there someday. Hope you had a great day and keep writing and inspiring all of us. Sending you tight hugs from sunny Seoul!

    Liked by 2 people

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  49. Miriam,
    Many warm and happy birthday wishes to you, my friend! You have such a beautiful way of sharing your life with all your readers and I feel blessed to have found you. Every time I read one of your posts, it’s like opening up a gift of joy! Have an amazing birthday week and 53rd year! Sparkle on,
    Mona

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  50. What a lovely heartfelt post Miriam and a very happy birthday (which I’ve probably missed by a long way now). You’re so right about blogging bringing you gifts though, we feel it’s opened up so many new worlds to us and brought us into contact with so many wonderful people.

    Liked by 3 people

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