I think if I was to reinvent myself it would be as a photographer. Taking pictures is almost like a meditation for me. It places me completely in the present moment and moves me out of my head and into my heart. I walked around Circular Quay and over to the Sydney Opera House. As I was walking up to this majestic piece of architecture I was struck by the calm and quiet of the morning and also thrilled that I would be able to get pictures of this masterpiece with not one tourist (which would also include me) in the picture. After taking several shots I turned the corner to head up into the Botanical Gardens only to be stopped in my tracks by the most breathtaking sunrise. It was so so beautiful that it did two things. It reminded me of the power and magic of the moment and also of just how amazing my life is and has been. I have been so fortunate to have traveled pretty much all over the world, both for work and for pleasure. I think that traveling is one of life’s gifts. Being able to visit a different part of the world enables us to perhaps visit parts of ourselves that we may have forgotten about. I have found that many of my life “realizations” have happened away from home and on the road.

Even though we all live in different parts of the world, we all long to belong, even though we speak different languages we all desire to be heard and on one side of the world as the sun is rising, our hearts beat as one as the sun is setting around the globe. Together we take collective breaths,and together we exhale. Together we can do magic.

This morning I was reminded of the magnificence of life and just how truly blessed I am. Thank you universe for the gift of my friends, my career, my health and my life journey that is only getting better and better with every step I take.

So, we land on Sunday morning at 6.00 am and it has a very surreal sense. I know I am in Sydney but somehow my brain is still thinking—Now what happened to Saturday again? So, we hop in a cab and quickly learn it is ANZAC day a HUGE holiday of enormous proportion, more on that later. So we get to the hotel and Petra’s fine hunting skills spots a Starbuck cup, with cheetah like speed she intercepts the human vessel carrying the equivalent, at this point, of the holy grail and ask the critical question. “Where did you get that?” This was an intuitive gentleman and sensing the impending danger to his hand holding the coffee, he quickly responded with “Just on the corner, you make a right out the door and it’s just there to the left.“ So, crisis averted, we completed check in and headed to the first room, anyone that knows my sister knows what comes next! It was actually a huge victory had that day with only one room change being required. Now, I’m not going to deny if I had been on my own I would have done the exact same thing but when your with my sister you just know it’s going to happen so no effort needed from me. To explain we are staying in the Marriot Circular Quay with views of either Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge. What was our view? A conglomeration of unknown buildings at this point under a grey sky, now city views in New York are great because from every angle there is a landmark building, Sydney not so much. So, one phone call later, a very friendly bell hop moved us and our luggage to a room on the 27th floor with a wonderful view of the Opera House, oh yes one small detail and extra $50 AUD a night but that’s a no brainer. Given the pending threat of jet lag, we decide to get out of the room as quickly as possible. I grab every guide book published by Frommers this century and we head to Starbucks. Just as we walk through the door someone grabbed the Primo table which had just been vacated, I scan the room and all that is left is the worst seat in the house, a communal bench next to the fixings table, but we needed to rest our legs, so Petra heads for the coffees and I go and grab the seats, we are a well oiled machine in this department. Now, usual coffee house stuff happens, nothing of note for about the next 10 minutes. Me I am plotting the attack strategy we always use for each city—Pick the things you really want to do slot them into days and then your trip is a no brainer Petra doing her best to fain interest, this is her equivalent of the room change for me, I really like the results, would do it myself but have no need because I have a sister with this particular expertise. As I am diligently trying to figure out where the zoo which you can have a picture taken with a Koala is, my sisters choice, she is texting America. Now, in normal American unlimited texting world the next question doesn’t really seem a logical thing to be wondering about at 9.30 am half way around the world, however my sister has purchased a 50 text plan for this trip so every text counts. With this in mind she looks at me and asks,

“How many words can you put in a text?”

I answer “It’s 160 characters.”

Petra now looks at me and asks, “Why do you know that?” Momentary pause as she interprets the look on my face, “ Does everybody just know that?”

I say, “I think everyone just knows that,” I turn to the gentleman on my left and say, “you knew that right?”

“Yes” he answered, “but I thought it was 140.”

Then he starts explaining to my sister how it doesn’t matter IPhone to IPhone as it will stay as a single text. Oh yes how true in IPhone world but I would like to see that argument being used to AT&T! Anyway, in the mean time I am checking my inferior Blackberry and pull up my SMS and it does have 1/160 so I show him and he goes,

“Oh you’re one of those.”

Silent rant inside Jennie’s head, yes, I am one of those always curious people who if in doubt have to check so I will have the right answer next time. Hence, why I knew it was 160 characters!!!! And I know your thinking I just always have little Miss have to be right which is a little true so that stings. But, out of my mouth comes the Get out of Jail Free card, “Maybe there are different formats.” I mean we are in Australia after all and things could be different!

Now, at this juncture my sister rapidly leaves the table. For what reason we are not going to discuss here but me and the mystery man are left chatting.

Anyway, turns out he is in Sydney as backing vocals for Tears for Fears. “Would you like to go tonight?” he asked. I immediately say “Yes” then realize I better check with Petra as our original plans had been an early dinner at the Rocks and then bed by 9! She sits down and I say,

“This gentleman,” turn to the left “what is your name by the way? “Michael” he said. “Michael is here touring with Tears For Fears and has invited us to the concert tonight.”

Without hesitation my sister says, “Yes.” And that is how we ended up at Tears for Fears and also backstage after!

Huge thank you to Michael Wainwright the man with amazing vocal cords, you must all go check him out on You Tube and then head to itunes and buy his songs. What a kind gesture to offer two strangers you had only just met the chance of a life time because they are women of a certain age that would know who “Tears for Fears” are and look trendy enough still to have been fans of theirs back in 19xx.

I still have a few (very important) things to do before I leave. Number one is watching the Madonna tribute episode of Glee tonight:) Many of you are aware of my slight obsession with this show. I was trying to pinpoint what it was that “sang” to me, so to “speak” I think it is the sheer joy one feels when watching this show and of course the memories it brings back to anyone who was in musical theater. This show captures those memorable moments that we all have had growing up. Some amazingly joyous and some incredibly painful. How I survived my teenage years without too much baggage I am still not sure (those around me may not feel the same way)

I am also using this particular post to test my photo uploads. One of my passions is photography. To me a picture can speak a 1000 words and so I am hoping to upload many pictures during my trip down under. Let’s see if it works.

In gratitude always, Petra

My goal moving forward it to post tips, trends and anything that I believe may help us all on this wonderful adventure called life. You are already magnificent and so for this week here is the take away. Take one minute away from watching TV and sit for just 1 minute a day in silence. Feel, visualize, and believe that you are already living in a body that you love and living the life of your dreams. For 60 seconds shift from saying “What could be” to “What is”

Have great week. Remember to do something good for yourself today and something great for someone else.

In gratitude.

Petra

I was recently nominated as one of 3 “Women Who Wow” in American Profile magazine. I am so honored to have this mention and will do my best to live up to the name. You can find the complete article on my home page.

Well fall is almost here. I can feel a slight chill in the air and am excited to ramp things up again after the sleepy days of summer. As always I wish you good health, good friends and good luck in all that you do. May you see the beauty in every moment and be blessed with the gift of the present.

On a daily basis I think we need to strengthen our self esteem and inner focus. Just as we would go to the gym to strengthen our body, diving into a good book or watching an inspirational movie can strengthen our own resolve. Below are some great reminders from Jim Rohn on ways we can improve the quality of our life on a daily basis. By taking care of ourselves we will be better able to serve others.

“Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines practiced every day.”

“We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret and disappointment.”

“You don’t get paid for the hour, you get paid for the value you bring to the hour.”

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you will fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much!”

Let’s make sure we are creating a life we love, in a body we love, giving love to those around us.

Warmly,

Petra

Warmly,

Petra

Watch your words, for they become actions

Watch your actions, for they become habits

Watch your habits, for they become your character

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

Frank Outlaw

So the question is: How are your thoughts shaping your destiny?