Quote for a Monday... Evening?

Okay so I'm late with this one, but it's an extra special quote to compensate. This is from Kafka on the Shore and according to Aristophanes in Plato's, The Banquet.

"In ancient times people weren't simply male or female, but one of three types: male/male, male/female or female/female. In other words each person was made out of the components of two people. Everyone was happy with this arrangement and never really gave it much thought. But then God took a knife and cut everyone in half, right down the middle. So after that the world was divided just into male and female, the upshot being that people spend their time running around trying to locate their missing other half."

Week in Review

This week was a busy week, if I do say so myself. I spent Monday afternoon in Manly. I visited one of my closest friends from uni and my beautiful college. I miss it a lot and I didn't realise how much until I went back. I think what I miss the most is the freedom I have in Sydney, I feel confined living in Canberra, but more about that another day.

I managed to see everyone that matters and it was a lovely day. On Monday night I made dinner for two wonderful people and then we sat up for hours talking, debating and watching youtube videos of dancing. It was a great day.

Manly at Sunset

While I was waiting for my ferry from Circular Quay to Manly I discovered that my all time favourite photographer, Annie Leibovitz, is exhibiting her life's work at the Museum of Contemporary Art. I'm ecstatic. It's an exhibit I've wanted to see for ages. I'm going to take my best friend when she comes to Australia in December.

A Leibovitz work of Art

On Tuesday, I caught the early bus back to Canberra for my sister's formal. She's all grown up and finished school and she dressed up to celebrate. I did her hair and makeup and she looked awesome. A non-biased opinion of course. I also worked at her formal which was fun. I think that I was probably more excited about that than she was. The inspiration for this hairstyle was taken from Martha Stewart dot com. 

My sister

On Thursday I worked at a White Ribbon Foundation Luncheon hosted by Andrew O'Keefe. The man is exactly as he appears to be on television: friendly, smiling and funny. His obnoxious laugh is delightful. This advertisement for White Ribbon Day has to be the best advertisement of the year.

Be Allanah

Gretchen Ruben is well known for her book and popular, daily blog, The Happiness Project. I visit this site frequently, not because I need advice on how to be happy, I'm figuring that out by myself, but because Ruben's writing is inspirational and reminds me of the important things in life.


Ruben has Twelve Personal Commandments of happiness that she discusses both in her book and on her blog. The first one, to Be Gretchen, involves facing one's likes and dislikes, accepting them and embracing them. Now I'm all for growing, becoming a better person and changing but I, like Ruben, feel that we need to accept what's at our core in order to really grow.


So what does is mean to Be Allanah. I like learning, alone time and snuggling up on the couch to watch a good film. I also prefer watching sport from the comfort of my own home and following the rules. I'll never be the life and soul of a party and I don't like crowds, I'm also not a fan of alcohol and I don't think I ever will be. I won't ever be a teacher, as nice as the holidays might be, and I'll never get a degree in something scientific. I don't like meditation, but I do think that reflection is important, and I'm not very fashionable. I'll also probably never like camping or hugging.

Like Ruben, the acknowledgement of these dislikes does make me a little sad. It means "letting go of what I am not and acknowledging what I don't encompass", as Ruben says, and, "makes me wish I were different". A lot of the time, this desire stems from others and not from myself. The majority appear to like something, so why don't I? I'm Allanah, that's why. It's a simple answer but it's one I forget often. One I need to be reminded of because acceptance of oneself is of the utmost importance if we are to be truly happy.

The Comet

The boy saw a comet & suddenly his life had meaning. And when it went away he waited his entire life for it to come back to him. It was more than just a comet because of what it brought into his life. Direction, beauty, meaning. There were many who couldn'tunderstand, & sometimes he walked among them, but even in his darkest hours he knew in his heart that someday it would return to him & his world would be whole again, & his belief in God, & love, & art would be reawakened in his heart.

I like to believe that everyone of us has a comet. That comet doesn't have to come in the form of a lover. It could be a child, a hobby, music, a book or many books. You can have more than one comet. Depending on the stage of your life you find yourself in, you might even see two at the same time. That's a truly awesome experience. A world without comets would be a devastating place to live. We need them to protect us, at least slightly, from the harshness that is the world sometimes. 

Right now, my comet is events management. Working at events, learning about events and experiencing events lights a little fire inside, like all good comets should. 

They Swear

Today I worked for the White Ribbon Foundation on an event for White Ribbon Day. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against women is an important day. I have not been directly affected by domestic violence but too many women have been. The men who make the white ribbon pledge to "never commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women" are taking the right step towards making such a thing an unacceptable social practice. Thank you to them.

Inspiration for a Monday Morning

 

"There is a desire within each of us, in the deep center of ourselves that we call our heart. We were born with it, it is never completely satisfied, and it never dies. We are often unaware of it, but it is always awake. It is the human desire for love. Every person in this earth yearns to love, to be loved, to know love. Our true identity, our reason for being, is to be found in this desire… love is the ‘why’ of life: why we are functioning at all, what we want to be efficient for… I am convinced it [love] is the fundamental energy of the human spirit, the fuel on which we run, the wellspring of our vitality. And grace, which is the flowing, creative activity of love itself, is what makes all goodness possible.  Love should come first; it should be the beginning of and the reason for everything."

~ from the Sacred Heart by Gerald May

Week in Review

In an attempt to record the important aspects of life I've decided that a Week in Review post is appropriate. I'll write it every Sunday morning and it'll reflect the various important events of my week.


First up, after a frustratingly long amount of time, I finally got my P plates. Yes I'm twenty. Yes I can only drive in a car by myself now. But between moving between two countries and again between two states I just haven't had the time. I'm free as a bird now and I'm ecstatic!

I looked after my very first event on Monday and Tuesday. It was a small function for sixty five people but I was the point of call for manager and client and everyone was happy with my work. The whole experience reminded me of my reason for the wanting to work in this industry - it was pure exhilaration - and I loved it. 


I watched the first installment of the last Harry Potter film on Thursday at Midnight. A one word description? Awesome.


I booked bus tickets to and from Sydney. I leave tomorrow morning and will return on Tuesday. I haven't seen Sydney for nearly three months! I can't believe I planned to visit at least once a month. I didn't realise how much my life would be consumed by work. I'm looking forward to seeing my friends.

Last night I worked on the bar for the first time. I ended up smelling like beer but it was fun. I prefer working on the floor though. I didn't really feel a part of the event. It was a Christmas party (the first of many I'm sure).