Karen Weaver

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Mother's in here just having a chin wag. We could have talked forever and forgot about the radio even being here. [00:00:05] Speaker B: Play another song. Please [00:00:08] Speaker C: press that button, Jess. [00:00:11] Speaker A: Karen, thanks so much for joining us. You are an integral part of my community. I've pretty much grown up with you being a mum. You know, we've kind of raised our kids together, haven't we? [00:00:22] Speaker C: We have, haven't we? [00:00:24] Speaker B: Yes. [00:00:24] Speaker C: Been in the school community, but also outside of it. Yes. And we've had. Had a few shenanigans along the way, which is always fun. [00:00:31] Speaker A: Shenanigans with you is a must. [00:00:33] Speaker B: I love. I love that word, shenanigans. A great word. [00:00:36] Speaker A: Is it Irish? [00:00:37] Speaker B: It is, yeah. [00:00:38] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. Well, no wonder it's such a good word. Karen, we're talking about the power of a mother. I'm pretty sure you could write a book on it. [00:00:47] Speaker C: Oh, yeah, I have written a book on it. Well, I have written a book that's actually just got released. It just got picked up in Czech Republic. Would you believe it's being put out there from others. And it won an award at the Able Awards last year in October. And it is life Magic mastery for moms. So it's kind of like just showing how you can be a mom but still pursue your dreams and ambitions, you know? [00:01:17] Speaker B: I need to hear that. I feel like, you know, like you, I have a lot of children. I'm at a point in this, in. In my motherhood journey where I'm like teenagers who are selfish, not very nice people. And I'm like, who am I anymore? [00:01:31] Speaker C: You know, they have to go to that point. [00:01:32] Speaker B: Oh, I don't even like to let them go. [00:01:34] Speaker C: And you sort of get, you know, [00:01:36] Speaker B: oh, okay, so you're willing to kick them out of the nest. They have to be horrible. [00:01:39] Speaker C: Have you ever listened to Leon Morgan? [00:01:40] Speaker B: No, I've not. [00:01:41] Speaker C: Oh, she's a comedian. You gotta. She talks about motherhood and you're going, [00:01:45] Speaker B: huh, okay, cool, cool. [00:01:48] Speaker C: She says she's just my daughter. She's just, you know, the light of my life and she's just a nightmare. But they have to get that so that you let go as a mother. [00:01:58] Speaker B: Last night I was at church and so I have got six. So I've got three who we call the top three, but I'm not allowed to call them that. And then the younger three and the older three were, like, looking after the younger three. And I have a significantly disabled son and one of my daughters was looking after him. And I was just sitting, doing not, nothing but nothing. I was praying, you know, I'm holy and stuff. And this lady came up to me after mass and she was like, you know, it brings me such hope for the future watching your girls look after your younger children. And I was just like, you don't live with them, they're just putting on a show. [00:02:34] Speaker A: Right? [00:02:34] Speaker C: But it's good when they save it for home, isn't it? Yes, my kids save it for home as well and I have high needs kids as well. But I'm also really ambitious and I loved and I serve through my ambitions. You know, I'm all about the power of story and like you share in that. I can connect and relate with that. And, and we do need prayers whenever we're mothers to get us through some days, honestly. [00:02:56] Speaker A: Absolutely. [00:02:57] Speaker C: But the thing that I want moms to realize is it doesn't have to be one or the other. You can make your blend your fusion of life and make it work for you. And when you do that, we're actually teaching our children who are the next generation to not sacrifice their thing just for conventional things. We're going to find your way and do it that way, you know, and have that balance. [00:03:20] Speaker B: Like I see, I don't see a lot of, but I see some mums who are chasing their goals or their work goals and their kids feel like they're missing out. So having that balance of I'm still my own person and I want to achieve things, but I do really love you and I want to meet your needs as well. So. Coming. [00:03:39] Speaker A: So Donna Bates shared like a really interesting Last week she was on and she was sharing just like a few tips and tricks when it comes to business and things that when she comes in and she has a client that may be struggling with different areas, she tries to include their family into the business and it doesn't matter which shape, way or form, it may be having a goal list on the board of what you're trying to achieve within your business and then going, how can you help me with this? It actually helps your child along that way. Be a part of what you're doing, but then also help them look at going, oh, look at mum aspiring to this and I'm a part of it. Or what do I want to be? What do, do I want to be a part of this business? Or do I have a business of my own in mind? Or there's something at school that I'm aspiring to and they start putting their goals on the board and I just thought that was a really good tip. To go, you know what? If you're in a small business yourself, include your children. [00:04:37] Speaker C: Oh, million percent. [00:04:39] Speaker A: And you did that so well. So much. So your son is now. [00:04:44] Speaker C: He was going into engineering. He was in engineering. There was no way he was coming into publishing. And then he broke his foot out with the lads on a night, jumped off a roof. He told me it was a small wall, but it was a roof. Apparently broke his foot and was out of action for three months, so couldn't work. And he said, mom, do you need any help in the office? I was like, absolutely. Because he's so good with digital tech and stuff like that. And he. So he came in on board and he fell in love with the popular, ended up going to Curtin University, studied editing and publishing and now has his own publishing company that's really thriving, you know, thriving. [00:05:19] Speaker A: We're seeing his books everywhere at the moment. And as we said, he's hit the right genre because he's in, like science fiction, isn't he? And we know that for young readers, that is hot at the moment. Absolutely hot. [00:05:34] Speaker C: And he's going to all the conventions, you know, and things like that. Whereas some of the things for whenever they were growing up, I was like, well, I can do that, but I'm not doing that, you know, Like, I didn't do so many events at weekends or stuff. I had to be present. But he's able to go and be present. And then he also is now doing events for us as well. So he's, you know, it all ties in together. It's just a beautiful synergy whenever things come full circle. [00:06:03] Speaker A: So how much of a role did you play in helping him develop his own publishing company? [00:06:10] Speaker C: He's not as flowy as me. Is that the word? [00:06:15] Speaker A: Flowy? [00:06:16] Speaker C: Flow person. I'm very intuitive. I put my energies where it needs to go because I do a lot of multitasking. And he doesn't have six children. He's able to focus on his. So the connections and the things were there. So we would have got a bit of a springboard up. But he's done all the work. He's done it all himself, you know, it's really cool. [00:06:36] Speaker A: Now, he said that he just went to a large convention, didn't he? [00:06:39] Speaker C: He'd done three. He traveled over east coast and he had. He done the Supernova in Melbourne, Supernova in Sydney and the Gold Coast. [00:06:48] Speaker A: Should we give him a plug? [00:06:49] Speaker B: Yeah, do it. [00:06:50] Speaker A: It's New Dawn Publishing, isn't it? [00:06:52] Speaker C: Yeah, he's doing so. And the newest book they've got out right now is Kate Forsyth's Long Lost Fairy Tales, which we actually published through Serenity Press as individual collections. And Kate Forsyth is a doctor of fairy tales. Can you imagine being Doctor of fairy tales? [00:07:06] Speaker A: A doctor of fairy tales. I think I want that written under [00:07:10] Speaker B: my name to that. Yes. [00:07:11] Speaker C: She's amazing. And she talks so you could listen to her all day. She talks as if she is. It's just beautiful. So we've done the collections and then Dylan said, wouldn't it be awesome to do, like a trade version that can get out into stores? And so these are long Lost fairy tales. They were written over 100 years ago. The Kiata is retold because whenever something's written over 100 years, it goes out of copyright, so you're able to work with it or quote from it or rewrite it or whatever. And she does that. She researches all over the world these long lost fairy tales and rewrites them for the current market. [00:07:45] Speaker B: Just making a note. [00:07:47] Speaker C: Yeah, we love them. Started with Vasilisa the Wise and we had big success with that. It went into the US market and stuff. So amazing. And these fairy tales, you know, fairy tales are so important, especially for teenagers, because they show that there's always morals in it, there's always the journey that you go through, the adversity, but that it comes out the other way and, you know, put in the work and stuff. [00:08:13] Speaker A: So, yeah, you retreat to your mind when you read a book that's science fiction where you have to, you know, imagine and create the. The world in your mind, actually. Quite soothing and very good for your mental health, isn't it? Yes. [00:08:30] Speaker C: We get to go and be somewhere else for a while, forget our troubles, forget, you know, things, live lives through a character. Exactly. It is. Yeah. [00:08:39] Speaker B: Oh, that's like my daughter's song. She wrote a song about falling in love with a guy on a screen. [00:08:43] Speaker A: Yes. That was an excellent song. [00:08:45] Speaker B: It is an excellent song. She's very talented. She's beautiful, too. [00:08:48] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:08:49] Speaker B: Just like a mum. [00:08:50] Speaker C: She has to get it. [00:08:51] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:08:52] Speaker A: Can we talk Raw? [00:08:54] Speaker C: Yes. Here is Roar. [00:08:56] Speaker A: Here is Raw. [00:08:57] Speaker C: It has got a life of its own. [00:08:59] Speaker A: Yes. [00:09:00] Speaker C: That is whenever a project calls and I honor the call and I show up for it and it takes on an energy of its own and I just go with it and show you. So it's book and docu film. You're going to be in one of them, Jess. I'm going to. [00:09:14] Speaker A: I laugh at that because, I don't know. You were gorgeous and you were stunning. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very, very much. But I often look at what you do and you give a lot of women a platform to share their stories. I went to one of your book review launches, which was Global Girls. [00:09:32] Speaker C: Yes. [00:09:33] Speaker A: And that was incredible to see. Some women say, I didn't think I had a story in me. But then when I started writing, I realized I really do have something to share. And they had this kind of cathartic release of. It was like. It was extraordinary. And you connected on such deep level to a lot of these ladies. And these ladies, one of them was a boob doctor, wasn't she? She was a. [00:10:00] Speaker C: She's actually just. She's actually written her own personal book. [00:10:05] Speaker A: Yes. [00:10:06] Speaker C: She's nearly finished that. [00:10:07] Speaker A: So that was a platform for her to go. Hang on a second. That she said that there was a cathartic release. And I realized I've got a lot to share. [00:10:14] Speaker C: And that's why being part of anthologies is so important, because you dip your toe in the world of writing. And I want people sharing stories as if they're talking to someone, you know. So it's like, this is the theme. So I'm going to tell you a story on that theme. And that's how the word I am Irish. This is what we do. If somebody needs something, help with something, you go and you tell them a story. [00:10:37] Speaker A: It's a cultural thing, isn't it? [00:10:39] Speaker C: People learn from that. And so that's what Here at Shore is all about. There's eight books in the series. We've Lions Filled up and launched. Lioness is just closed. It's the Stealth and Faith one, and it's launching in June. The Tiger one, which is passion and purpose, is the one I'm going to hound you for. So watch this face. [00:10:58] Speaker A: Okay. Yeah. [00:10:59] Speaker B: Excellent. [00:11:00] Speaker C: And it's only two and a half thousand words. And you just share a story. And I always say, like, share your knowledge, what you've learned, and share a story, a personal story connected to that. And people will learn because they will connect with your story, you know, and they learn through just you sharing. [00:11:16] Speaker A: I like to think that IPL is bringing the community together, but I so relate to what you're doing because that's what you're doing. You're bringing community of people together through storytelling and then letting them share and then connect with a wider community. [00:11:34] Speaker C: Just one. Oh, my God. Like the collective audience in there is. There's 38 authors, a lot. A lot of big profiles, and then there's just People who I've asked, can you share your story in this book? So contrast is huge. [00:11:50] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:11:50] Speaker C: But people have read that book and they're like, oh, my God, I didn't expect it to be so good. [00:11:56] Speaker B: So how do you find the people to share the stories? Do they have to submit it to you or do you go, I like you, you're amazing, Jess, you're writing a story. [00:12:05] Speaker C: So there's different ways. So it is a business venture as well. So people reply and they appear to be part of it. So there's that part of it then for influencers who will give it a lot of get eyes on it. We hunt them down and ask them to be part of it. So that's good. So it gives it more visibility. And then there's other people who I go, I want you in it. And can you please submit so you. [00:12:31] Speaker A: Our very own Kerry Ridley was a part of it, wasn't she? [00:12:37] Speaker C: And it is amazing. [00:12:38] Speaker A: Yes. She said that she was because she went over to Bali and really started put her head down and went, I'm just going to focus on being able to write this and share this story. And she said she was a little bit intimidated in knowing that there was all these other people that had these great stories and would my story fit? Now we all know how amazing she is, so she definitely had a space within that book. But it was so good to see her, you know, go, oh, I do [00:13:09] Speaker C: fit in her journey of that book, you know, that was phenomenal. And I was like, are you kidding me? Like, this is perfect. This is the story I really want for the book. And you don't want all the same stories. You know, you have the same theme. Every single story is so different. And that's what I love about. [00:13:25] Speaker A: She's a colorful personality. [00:13:27] Speaker C: I love her. Yeah, she came to the castle. [00:13:30] Speaker A: Yes. [00:13:30] Speaker C: So I interviewed her there and stuff for the docu film. [00:13:33] Speaker A: Yep. [00:13:34] Speaker C: So docu film is coming out end of the year and it's going to. What are hoping to. We haven't got it confirmed until August, but we're hoping to. To launch it on the rooftop cinema in Perth. [00:13:44] Speaker A: Well, I'm looking forward to being there. Tell me how I get tickets, because I want to be there. Yeah, definitely. Definitely. You let us know how we can share because we've got local people that are a part of that. So I want to see our community out there supporting you and loving this. [00:14:04] Speaker C: And the wonderful thing about Harris Roar is it's a community. We have 116 people in our Facebook group. And. And everybody's interacting and then everybody's in each individual book. But it's a collective experience. So if we're launching one book or if we're having an event somewhere, it's for anyone who's in any book, whether it's written or published yet, or whether it has been published and launched. It's just about the community getting together. And every time we do it, it gets bigger and bigger. And every. The thing about connection is whenever. Because I'm very precious over who's in the books. Like, I've said no to people because I'm like, yeah, they're just in for ego and things. Whereas it's the story. [00:14:46] Speaker A: Yes. [00:14:46] Speaker C: This is my legacy project in the world. [00:14:49] Speaker A: Well, you know, some stories fit, some stories don't. You'll know what. What will connect other people together. [00:14:55] Speaker C: Everybody has a story is whether the people fit. [00:14:57] Speaker A: Yes. [00:14:58] Speaker B: And the intention behind the show. [00:14:59] Speaker C: Yes, intention. And it's all about, like, there's lots of other opportunities for them. So I just go, well, maybe you're fit for this one. You know, that will give you what you want. [00:15:08] Speaker A: Do you have any books that I should be reading these days, Karen? [00:15:11] Speaker C: Extra Gifts? Yep, that's my one. It's took flight. It's got picked up in the Czech Republic as well. And it's all of the. My books together. You know, the Mindfulness, Knowing, Intention, Love, Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Belief. So it's all of those seven books together. And it's master Gifts, Permission to live without fear and on purpose. [00:15:32] Speaker A: How much do you go back to all those things that you know, because we all stray from our path and there's times where even though you know that you have a skill set or. But you sometimes go on a different road and you go, no, I have to go back to what I know. What I know is good for me. All of those things that you just [00:15:51] Speaker C: said, you know, I've been rereading. [00:15:53] Speaker A: Yes. [00:15:55] Speaker C: I started writing those books seven years ago, and I wrote one a year, unintentionally, for seven years. So I only realized when I finished the Beauty and Belief that the Magic of Mindfulness was written back in or published in 2017 or something. And so that was one every year. Yes. And so those seven books, like, I've journeyed so far and learned, but I actually didn't change them. I left. I didn't go back over them and apply what I know now. I've actually left it as the Journey of the seven Books. And where I was, you know, in mindfulness is still when I was in mindfulness. Era. Talk about eras, you know. [00:16:30] Speaker A: Yes. [00:16:30] Speaker C: Every single year. Intention. Million dollar year. [00:16:33] Speaker A: Yep. [00:16:34] Speaker C: You know, and then love is always at the center. Everything I do. So love is at the center of the series. So it's book four. [00:16:43] Speaker A: So you said it's changed even though the book one. You haven't changed. It's changed what you know about book one. [00:16:50] Speaker C: Well, I would couldn't write book one now the way that I wrote it then because my level of awareness and I've also, you know, I've experienced seven years extra of life and being aware and Mary would have only been two. One or two then, you know. So I've evolved and I could add different things into mindfulness. But I want to honor the process of the seven books and what they needed to be on that journey because I think, and this is the feedback I'm getting is that people are going, oh my God. This is not a self help book that you will just pick up and think, I journey with you. I say, here's what I've learned, here's how I've learned it. You know, the journey and take it on yourself. And there's activities and things in it. So. Yeah. [00:17:34] Speaker A: Where can people get these books, Karen? [00:17:36] Speaker C: Master Gifts is available everywhere. It's going to be in bookstores across Australia in June. Distribution. [00:17:42] Speaker B: I'm excited. [00:17:42] Speaker C: I just had my first bookstore order from Peribo to go out into stores last week. So that's cool. [00:17:48] Speaker A: That's awesome. That surprises me because I've seen your books on the traveling bookshop, like my little bookshop and things like that. [00:17:55] Speaker C: Is this is going to do an event as well? [00:17:58] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:17:58] Speaker C: Time for Master. [00:17:59] Speaker B: Oh, I love that. [00:18:00] Speaker C: Yeah. Maybe we can get IPL Radio to come down. [00:18:04] Speaker A: You're always good with the ideas, Karen. We would love to be a part of it. Obviously you're part of the family here. You were once a presenter. [00:18:12] Speaker C: Six months. I loved it. Loved every single moment of it. That was around the time here I got diagnosed with diabetes. [00:18:18] Speaker A: Yes. [00:18:19] Speaker C: So I had to. Had to pull me off the chair. No, I love my Mondays spot. [00:18:25] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:18:26] Speaker C: But yeah, yeah. I love IPL and everything that it does. And I'm just so glad that it's still going because it actually does so much for the community. [00:18:35] Speaker A: Yeah. Sharing voices, sharing opinions, giving people a platform to be heard. Tris just does a really good job. And now we're going into print. Did you know? [00:18:46] Speaker C: No, I didn't know. [00:18:47] Speaker A: So Inspire magazine is all about talking about those good news stories that you hear and see around in the community, but may not be printed in your old newspaper. You know, there's a lot of stories where I think people want to share but are probably not getting the opportunity in mainstream media. And Trish really wanted to highlight those and get them in print along with a lot of businesses that have supported us and give them an opportunity to. And I think that's a great idea. [00:19:20] Speaker C: Good news. [00:19:21] Speaker A: Good news. We need more good news. So Inspire magazine, watch this space. [00:19:29] Speaker C: That is so cool. [00:19:30] Speaker A: It is really cool. I think what he's doing is amazing. He has terrific ideas. And, you know, IPL is a not for profit. We do require the support of the community. So if you can support us, get in touch with ipl. We've got a new little studio that we're doing up. What do you think? [00:19:47] Speaker C: It's awesome. Vibe's really good. [00:19:49] Speaker A: Yeah, it's gonna be. It's. It's still incomplete, and we still need a lick of paint on the walls and things like that. But, yeah, we've got a busy bee coming up. [00:19:59] Speaker C: Progress. And that. We all are. Everything is. It's always about evolution. So once it's progressional. Do you know that the word progressional is not in the English dictionary? [00:20:09] Speaker A: Progressional, Progressional. [00:20:11] Speaker C: Check it out. [00:20:12] Speaker A: It's. It's not a word. [00:20:14] Speaker C: It is annoying. I make up words all the time, keep things progressional. [00:20:20] Speaker A: Yeah, well, you love words, don't you? Me too. What's your words like? What's your. What's your favorite words at the moment? [00:20:28] Speaker C: Oh, dude. [00:20:29] Speaker B: Mine is shenanigan. [00:20:30] Speaker A: Mine is shenanigans. [00:20:32] Speaker C: I love it. I'm up for some shenanigans right now, too. Yes. Can we just have collective shenanigans? [00:20:38] Speaker A: Collective. Collective shenanigans. Word of the day. Get into some collective shenanigans. [00:20:45] Speaker B: But not my children, please. [00:20:46] Speaker A: No, it's not a children's word. It's an adult's word. Shenanigans should be left to the adults. Kids are just cheeky. Kids are just shaky. Karen, I always love having you in here because you make me feel like that I'm a little enlightened every time that you come in and you share what's happening with you because you're so easy to connect with, too. [00:21:10] Speaker C: Well, life's for living, isn't it? And I. I always say that if you love life, it loves you back. So I always choose positivity every morning. Like last year, it was like I got run over by a steam train, but I still showed up every day. And tried to get the good out of it and. But also the lessons. Because we're all going to go through adversity in life. But we can either let it define us for longer than it needs to or we can learn the lessons from it, get up, do our best. And I just inject love into what needs your attention then and just get on with, you know, things happen. I've ebbed and flowed. I'm evolving. And I have a personal project that I'm doing this year and I've actually just really started this morning in my 5am I'll get up and writing again for an actual literary novel. That's a popular fiction I haven't done before. But this story is calling me very loud. There's a bit of me in it too. [00:22:06] Speaker B: So to get up at 5am it must be very loud. [00:22:08] Speaker C: Calling 5aM Riser. [00:22:12] Speaker B: I needed you in my house this morning. We slept in. It was not fun. [00:22:17] Speaker C: I'm one of those ones whenever I'm writing and I'm up at 5am straight to the keyboard because it's calling and I wake up and go straight there. And then it's like seven quick, really fast within two hours. And I'm like, oh, could I just leave Mary asleep for a little bit longer? [00:22:33] Speaker A: Does your have to get around? Does your story always come together like in one flow or is it portions of a story that you have to connect together? [00:22:44] Speaker C: It's, it's be. It's revealed as we go along. So I have the, the concept and I have the vision and I have like a storyboard of what it can, can be. [00:22:54] Speaker A: Okay. [00:22:55] Speaker C: But the characters always do their own thing. So I allow it to, to go. So. But when I am in the flow of writing every morning, whenever I'm going during the day, I'll get inspired thoughts, have to write them down or speak them into my phone. And so my subconscious mind's always working. So whenever I sit down at 5am the next morning, it flows again. Yeah. And the reason why morning works is because you're closest to a dreamlike state, which is like that state where you don't overthink things, you just allow things. [00:23:25] Speaker A: I'm still in a dreamlike state until I have my first coffee. [00:23:29] Speaker C: I agree. [00:23:30] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:23:31] Speaker B: I think I'm still in a dream. [00:23:32] Speaker A: Like you haven't finished yet. [00:23:34] Speaker C: I'm forever in a dream night state. But you know, in the, in the mornings that's. It means you don't overanalyze things. [00:23:41] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:23:41] Speaker C: You might do during the day. Yeah. [00:23:43] Speaker A: How much do you love living in Rockingham, Karen? [00:23:46] Speaker C: I love it here, Jesse, given the [00:23:49] Speaker A: fact that you could pretty much live globally. [00:23:51] Speaker C: I know, but I came to Rockingham 16 years ago this year on the first day of spring, and I just fell in love with it. It was the first place we landed to. Just fell in love with it. And so then we've built our life here. So It's. I was 35 weeks pregnant as well. So I waddled my way around. We knew nobody. The rental market was what it was now, hard to get into. [00:24:14] Speaker A: Is that. [00:24:14] Speaker C: Yeah, because we had no history here. [00:24:16] Speaker A: Yes. [00:24:17] Speaker C: And then someone took a beautiful real estate agent, took a chance on us and said, this property, if you want it, is there, got your name on it. And we were like, oh, my God. And I had just said my miracle prayer 30 minutes beforehand. I have a miracle prayer that I go to. And she rang up just out of the blue. Didn't expect it. And that's the thing I do in life, is I set an intention, and I don't try to control how it happens. I allow it to come in and answer that call just in case. All right. Action. That inspired thought, and it usually leads to the. To the. [00:24:50] Speaker A: Do you mean answer that call? Like, the phone call? Because I tell you what, there's so many unknown numbers that call my phone all the time. And I'm like, I'm not answering that. And it could be opportunity. Knock, knock, knocking at the door. But I'm just like, it's opportunity to leave a message. Yes. [00:25:06] Speaker B: See, there you go. [00:25:08] Speaker C: I don't answer my. Like, my phone has got. And it's terrible that has happened, like, over the past 10 years. Our. Our phones have now been sabotaged by people finding ways to ring you and push things to you. So, yes, I don't have your number stored. My phone, I ain't answering. [00:25:23] Speaker B: I don't answer. [00:25:24] Speaker C: But 16 years ago I did. [00:25:26] Speaker A: Yes. And. [00:25:28] Speaker C: And that was really cool. But, yeah, I answer all sorts of calls because I set intention, intentions, not goals. And so I'm not so laser focused on the steps. I'm. I'm open to the opportunities and inspired thoughts that come that are aligned with that intention. That's why the big things happen. [00:25:44] Speaker A: I think as I've got older, I've learned that even the crap things that happen in your life, although they're crap when they happen, you actually do learn some. There is like, an opportunity there for you to grow, to learn. And when they're happening, they are. And you, you're not Looking for that silver lining, but they do come. [00:26:06] Speaker C: It's my perspective on challenges. You may have set an intention for something and you don't know what you've activated. And that's why you need the awareness, the mindfulness. That's what I talk about in the magic of mindfulness. When you're mindful and you see something comes your way, it's not there to stop you. It's not there to make you thank you. It's there to help you grow into, to and learn something and grow into the next version so that you know your, your intentions and your dreams are just. Are getting closer. Because we have to evolve in spirit and evolve in ourselves so that it's the next whenever, especially when we set big fat goals like and big fat intentions. Just you have to grow into somebody. So that is just the next step. You know, it feels natural. [00:26:49] Speaker B: I think it's really interesting reflecting on who I am now, but seeing my oldest daughter has just turned 18 and so looking at her and seeing like the lack of direction and the airy fairiness in her brain and me just going, this is what needs to happen in my head. But try not to push that on her because her journey is her own and her choices are her own. [00:27:12] Speaker A: Amen. [00:27:13] Speaker B: So, yeah, this parenting business. Yeah. Do not recommend zero stars. [00:27:19] Speaker A: Yeah. And you know, I think especially the pivotal age of being 18, they've just come out of school. It is a transition. There are kids that go, yep. Know what I want to do. Yes. [00:27:29] Speaker B: But that was me because I always knew what I wanted to do. So I went straight from school. I always knew. And then I had six kids. That was not part of my plan, but that's okay. But like I always, you know, I went straight from school, into uni, into teaching. I knew what I wanted to do. There was always a plan until I had that first child and she just didn't. I'm not going to say messed up my. [00:27:47] Speaker A: Blew up your life. Yeah, she did. [00:27:49] Speaker B: And for the better. You know, I'm quite. I quite like all my children. Like, they're all awesome people and I'm loving seeing who they grow into. But by jingos, it is hard sitting. [00:27:58] Speaker C: It's hard whenever you're allowing them to so that they don't have to undo so much stuff when they're older. [00:28:03] Speaker B: Yes. [00:28:04] Speaker C: It's harder being a parent and let it like my kids are feral at times. You know, let them grow into who they need to be. And I don't know about you, but every one of my Six are totally different. [00:28:13] Speaker A: Yes. [00:28:14] Speaker B: And like I feel like same parents. They. There's. And I have to, I have to parent each one of them differently. This is not fair. You know, I have. We do have the same lamp now [00:28:23] Speaker C: so that they don't have to do. They'll make changes in the world. [00:28:28] Speaker B: Look, I really do hope so. Like even watching, like, whilst I did say in jest that, you know, you don't get to see my kids at home, they really do have this heart and this compassion and this tolerance and in. And ability to identify people who are maybe struggling a little bit and compassion to go and help them. Like it. It is really beautiful to watch Bar [00:28:51] Speaker C: Zone in my house last night. I was like, oh my God. Mary and Amar, it's like we had never had sibling rivalry until the last two. And it's like, oh my God, neighbors. [00:29:04] Speaker B: I walked into Elizabeth punching James, right? So that's my 7 and 10 year old. And I'm like, what is going on? I am just showing him how much I love him, Mum. The harder I punch, the more I love. And he's like, would not hit her back because he is just the most kindest and he is just laying on the floor with his hands. I'm thinking, oh my goodness, this girl. [00:29:26] Speaker C: Yeah, it's my Errol and hand. [00:29:28] Speaker A: Did you not just walk away and just go, they're learning lessons in life. [00:29:32] Speaker B: Oh, no. I separated them because like really, Jimmy will not. Would never hurt anyone. He's just such a beautiful little soul. But Elizabeth is just so fierce and I love that she is so fierced and I know that she would not be here today. Like her birthing process and everything was just such a challenge if she didn't have this character about her. But budging goes up. [00:29:52] Speaker C: Is she your 7 year old? [00:29:53] Speaker B: Yes. [00:29:54] Speaker C: Yeah, my 8 year old. She's like a. Wow. It's going to rule somebody's order. [00:29:58] Speaker B: Because I said to my mom, I think that because of her personality I'm might send her to Iona because I went to Iona for school and all my kids are going to Colby and my mum said, don't waste the money. She's probably going to end up in prison. [00:30:15] Speaker C: No, she'll end up running something. [00:30:17] Speaker A: Yeah, she'll end up running the prison. [00:30:20] Speaker C: That's what I, I know that, that my, that Mary will be fine. She's going to be fine. [00:30:25] Speaker A: She's. [00:30:26] Speaker C: She could, she could sort herself out now. She's like, excuse me, mom. You know, you're just in the way here. You know where's all the, all the rest of mine. I was like, I, I'll do. And I'll show you how to do things until you're 10. And then when you're 10, you do it for yourself. You know, this is where it's like, you're doing that wrong. Mom, go away. You know, she never. She always wanted to do things herself. [00:30:46] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:30:47] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:30:47] Speaker A: Find her own way. [00:30:48] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:30:49] Speaker A: Karen, I always enjoy speaking to you. Thanks so much for coming into the Jess address. You know, you've always got a seat here. We need to catch up more often, I think, because as I said, just hanging around listening to you speak makes me a happier person. [00:31:04] Speaker C: Thank you. That's so awesome. [00:31:06] Speaker A: No wonder your TED talks are so popular. [00:31:09] Speaker C: No, I love that my TED talks are reaching the hearts and mind of those that need to hear them. My favorite is the forgotten art of enjoying life. That one is doing well. [00:31:21] Speaker A: The forgotten art of enjoying life. Do you think that people are forgetting what is required to enjoy life? I guess we're spending a lot of time in our phones and with technology and not connecting like we are as people. Do you think that's what's forgotten? [00:31:42] Speaker C: I think it's connecting with ourselves, just knowing where we come from. I believe that too many peoples are leaning outside for the answers when the answers are within us, and that we should lean outside for the support to make things happen. Trying to control the journey instead of going on the journey, you know, aiming for destinations and aspiring for destinations and living for destinations. When the fun happens on the journey, if you just allow yourself to enjoy it, it's not supposed to be a hard slug. It's supposed to be a learning process and there will be challenges, but if you shift your perspective of it all, you will actually enjoy the journey and get so much more out of it. People, especially our children, will learn from our actions more than our words. I know my kids just think I'm nagging if I'm telling them something, but my actions, they're learning from without me having to say a word. So I think that our journeys and sharing our journeys with each other and that's why here at Horsery is so important to me, because it's the power of story. And we all journey. And what I would write now will be different than what I'll write in seven years time, you know, so we need to share our journeys as we're going along because we're helping others along the way. So it's the journey where the goal is. [00:32:55] Speaker A: We're living there to take a deep breath. Sink that in. Yeah. It's so good to have you in here. I can't believe how much you share with us every time that you come in and. [00:33:07] Speaker B: Yeah, I love when you come in because I always like to. This morning was terrible. I was having a rotten morning, and you have come in and I'm like, you know what? It wasn't that terrible. [00:33:15] Speaker C: I was better for coming in. [00:33:16] Speaker B: Oh, good. We'd love to have you. Love having you. [00:33:18] Speaker A: That's why I listen to the Jess address every Monday. We can help make your Monday a little bit better. Thanks for listening.