LILIWIOFE is not a story, a tale or a novel.  It is a diary.  Some of you will ask, "but why a diary? What possible use could a diary have in anyone's life?"  This diary is far more than just a method for attacking one's goals head on and recording the tasks one needs to do, in order to achieve them.  It represents the act of taking action, in a physical sense.  When an individual writes something down by hand, there is a commitment to oneself and the likelihood of following through with a dream, to make it reality, is far more likely.  The brain switches on because the senses have been initiated.

However, for me this diary represents time - something we all have, but in limited supply.  It is a full year, that we can choose to engage with our dreams or flitter them away on something less meaningful.  And sometimes, it is not just a year.  It could be as much as six years, just gone in an instant and you don't know where those hours, days, minutes have flown.  Time has a funny way of healing one's heart.  You don't plan to lose time or put your life on hold - it just sort of happens without you realising it and before you know it, you have not moved in the direction you set out to or something else has taken its place. 

Since my father's passing, six years ago - life has just up and flown away and with it a great deal of my confidence.  He was the person to whom I discussed my ideas, my plans and creations.  We were very similar, in many ways.  This diary represents a promise - not to waste a minute, an hour or a breath.  It is a commitment that I can physically see on my shelf, see what I have achieved and how long it has taken me to create those dreams I had planned, prior to him being consumed by cancer. 

Dad was a man who was energetic, creative, passionate and had dreams like the rest of us.  We don't know what Mother Nature has in store for us, where we will be, who it will affect, how we will react or how we will claw our way back when the dust settles. 

All I can tell you, is that we should not let 'time' steal our plans for achievement, joy, love or life.  So many times we hear, "oh I'm just killing time; I don't have the time; I lost time; I can't give you my time."  The list goes on.  I'm sure, you could think of your own phrases that you use on a daily basis, as to why 'time' is stealing what you set out to do.  Yet, my point is simple - we don't have time.  It is gone as quickly as you can say the word, 'time'. 

It doesn't matter if some of you don't get what I am saying - that's okay. In 'time', the penny will eventually drop.  But for me, I am on a quest to do as I say and complete what I started six years ago...and on my way, I hope to help a million others to leave their comfort zone, before 'time' up and flies away. Living a life without fear and taking a chance on getting it right, takes a lot of guts.  You have to shelve the voice inside your head that says, 'what if it doesn't work out; what will they say if I fail...' There are so many what if's.  But what if, you get it right?  What an honour that would be to yourself?  What an achievement it would be to be proud of your growth and the person you have become. What an honour it would be to share those milestones, with others who have struggled similarly and overcome the hurdles. 

This is my plan.  You are my witness - help keep me accountable - failure is not an option.
Grab a diary - and join me on Instagram at #liliwiofe

Read more on working your brain...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2018/04/15/neuroscience-explains-why-you-need-to-write-down-your-goals-if-you-actually-want-to-achieve-them/?sh=414a817d7905
​https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-power-of-writing-down_b_12002348
http://neurorelay.com/2013/08/07/how-does-writing-affect-your-brain/

When the introduction of hand sanitiser became available to the world; it was said it would solve all our unseen germ problems and the world would definitely be a safer place.

​Over the years, the selection of products have grown, each purporting the ability to knock those little nasties on the head, and then the family could sleep easier.

But gradually over time, we have come to know they are not all they were cracked up to be -  some with nothing more than water and no alcohol content what-so-ever.  And no, they can’t resolve all our problems.  Now with the new CoVID19 lurking around every corner, good old soap and water appears to be winning hands down (excuse the pun)on this war against this lecherous virus, or at least preventing it from staying around too long. 

​Although this might be the case, it is our duty to make sure we are on the right track in selecting the right cleaning products and hand sanitisers.  Keeping the home and family safe has never been more important and the practise of thorough hygiene, imperative.  So, how does one get rid of buggy blighters and how can you be sure they work?

For me, I have a few favourites that have stood the test of time.  They suit my needs and so far so good.  All are well known reliable brands, have all the stated ingredients to stop bugs in their tracks and at the end of the day, will be there when you need them most.  I don’t get sponsored by any of these companies, but I am cool with sharing what works for me.

​Dettol is a biggie for me.  It has been around forever and has kept its bargain producing top of the range medical products and hand sanitisers for global use.  I use it as a pocket/handbag go to after all sensitive interactions, if I can’t wash my hands.  I have used it for years, while in Korea during other similar epidemics and I hope it keeps me equally as safe.

Palmolive has moved from bar soap to liquid over the years, but the product and its effectiveness is much the same – great!  I also pick up glycerine soap from the Body Shop – one’s face can be particularly delicate. 

When it comes to bathrooms, toilets, floors etc, I have two.  Glen 20 and one I always come back to and that is good, old-fashioned bleach – in hospital grade strength.  For the latter, it doesn’t matter what label, just so long as it is bleach. 

​Well,  they’re some of my tricks of the trade for home and family maintenance.  What about you guys – do you have any favourites that work wonders for you? 

​Stay safe and keep smiling! :)

Life really is, what you make.

Get out there - be brave, live new experiences, find undiscovered places, enjoy being with new friends and find you.

It is sometimes easier said than done. For some of us, the task will be a real challenge because we all have begun to lose that natural knack of just saying ‘hi’; lost that inquisitive nature that once sparked our dreams and desires.

Life, responsibilities and what the world expects from their trustworthy, reliable citizens always seems to come first. The model citizen does have its draw backs. One tends to stay in the same job, respond in the same way the population would expect and you find yourself caught up in a dull, uneventful world of being proper.

So I declare, starting today - an entire week of new discoveries; where reporting back is obligatory - telling the world just how, what and with whom you spent this new period of discovery! :)

Type - ‘I’m in!’ and we can keep each other accountable. :)

Can wait to hear your tales!

Just like you, I am guilty of this misdemeanor, I tell no lies. The above photo was taken with my son a few months ago and we have not spent quality time doing something together for such a long time. We both now live separate lives, our life demands are very different; we are separated by hundreds of kilometers. That should not deter us, but at times, it does.

So over the years, I have used other means of spending time together with love ones. Having lived more than half my life overseas, one learns to adjust ones way of doing things, but it does come at a cost - massive phone bills, Skype calls, sleepless nights (time zones are not always compatible) and extra flights home to Oz. Yes extra, because by the time one forks out two and three hour calls every couple of days, one might as well buy a flight ticket home. A $600-$700 phone bill every quarter or so, racks up the pennies fast! So coming home for a week of R&R is a great way to recharge your life batteries.