Netball in my Near Future

Netball....when I first heard this I thought it was what Kiwi's called basketball.  (my kiwi friends, please forgive my "live in a bubble" americanness)   One night when I was watching TV, which is permanently on  the Sports channel, I saw these women basketball players and thought--oh how cute! They wear skirts here in NZ.

Apparently I was really wrong.  Netball is a sport that is, as far as I can tell, a cross between basketball and ultimate frisbee.   And tonight I will be starting a Netball league with some friends here in NZ.  Oh man...I am not sure how I feel about this.  I said no twice, then my friend Mark convinced me it is just like basketball without the running.  (looking back not really sure how that convinced me because I am not great at basketball, but between him and LIz I was convinced)  You don't run, dribble, or shoot from anywhere on the court.  You can take one step once the ball is in your hands.  You can only shoot from inside the goal line (which is similar in size to the three point line) and like soccer, depending on your position you can only be on certain parts of the court.

We will see how this goes tonight...who knows...this just my be my sport and thing I am called to do with my life--hehehe--you get to wear a skirt, how cute is that?  Knowing that skirts are a part of the sport, it seems like their is potential for me do love it.

Good Morning Mount Maunganui

Have you seen the movie Hairspray? I have been recently needing some music that is chill enough that I can work on my computer, but not be too distracted. My friend Scott made me an amazing playlist before I left L.A. I can honestly say that I know less than 10% of the music, so it is fun to listen to as background music. I also started listening to my friend Chad's band, Roger Moon.  I forgot how much I LOVE Chad's music.  If you are into finding new cool music at all, you should stop by his site.  

But I have to admit that Hairspray has been one of my fav's lately.  This morning I got up early to run and heard that it was raining (and secretly was happy).  I didn't even check, I just thought of well instead I lay in bed and read.  I finally decided I would just get up so I could get a quick work out in and it didn't kind of sound like there was no more rain.  

I grabbed my iPod and thought....what should I listen to today.  For those of you though know me well, know I am not always really inspired by music.  (I know, it is bad, I am sorry to all my musician friends).  So when I say I like something, it had to really inspire me or make me laugh.  Currently it is the silly sound track, Hairspray.  The songs have a fun beat to listen to while you work, but also for a good, quick jog.  But the best part is the actrual lyrics of the songs...they are hilarious.  I found myself laughing the whole time I was running.  Which is always the goal for me:  fun and laughter, especially while working out.   

This is where I really think I might be crazy...as I heard the first song  "Good Morning Baltimore"  I started laughing picturing me like the girl in the movie...I think sometimes I really believe there are movie cameras following me and not only that capturing the script in my head.  I giggled all the way to the beach and then enjoyed laughing as I ran and headed back home so glad I went running.  And so glad that I listened to Hairspray this morning---and secretly pretended that my sound track to my life today was "Good Morning Mount Maunganui."

My roommate in LA always asked this question and it always ended up making us laugh so hard: What is the sound track in your head for that moment?  

So today what is the song for the soundtrack in your head?

P.S. If you haven't seen the movie, seriously rent it you will laugh and not be disappointed!

YIKES

I graduated from college 10 years ago today!!! What the heck? Where did all that time go? And when did I become a grown up? I still feel like I am playing life....

Kiwi Weekend

After my humbling few days, I did the most logical thing ever....went and got my hair done. It was 2 full hours of pampering: reading a a fashion magazine, drinking a diet coke, having someone play with your hair, getting a 15 minute head massage, and then at the end having yummy smelling, non gray hair! YAY!

The next day was ANZAC Day here in New Zealand. The closest thing I can compare it to us is Memorial Day--but not the BBQ and Swimming part of Memorial Day, but the remembering part of Memorial Day. Anzac Day is the date 90+ years ago in WWI that Australian and New Zealand troops were sent up this gorge as a part of the allied forces. It was NEARLY impossible for them to survive and was the most treachorous part that these men were given to fight and defend. They celebrate ANZAC day to remember not just the sacrifice that these military men made, but to celebrate their INTENSE courage and willingness to take something on that would end in sure death. In essence, they were given the crappiest part to send their troops in and Australian and New Zealand men showed their true spirit of taking on anything that is placed before them with bravery and honor. This is the very attitude that I see in NZ even today. A Kiwi will ALWAYS rise to the occasion. They can do anything, make anything, and are full of courage.

Here is a picture of me and Michelle after the dawn service.



There are services all around NZ at dawn celebrating and honoring the men who bravely fought. Everyone wears a poppy on their right side to remember ANZAC day...notice mine in the picture? Michelle's great granddad fought in WWI, and I went with her to the service her granddad marches in each year. It is a very cool and humbling moment. I am not Kiwi but I felt so patriotic as I sat there listening to the stories, feeling proud to be a part of this day.

Me and Michelle headed down to a cafe across from the beach after our morning (which was only 7am because the dawn service starts at 6am) We ate breakfast and sat across from the beach talking, laughing, and crying....a perfect girl morning! We carried on our conversation and sat at her house under a fun warm blanket drinking tea, while she shared her and Jared's love story. Which is pretty romantic, so I felt like I just watched the best girl movie ever!

Today I had a GREAT meeting with my two friends, Mark and Liz, who are helping me lead some stuff here in New Zealand and I walked away amazed at what I get to do with my life and who I get to do it with. Before heading to work this afternoon I had to run a little errand. I was in desperate need of a "target" day, but if you keep up on my blog you know there is no Target here. I just needed a little "wander around" mindlessly shopping after a kind of intense week. And, I wanted to buy some fun bedding to have in my room, too. So I went to a place called the Warehouse here. It isn't quite Target, but it is kind of similar and fulfilled my need. I browsed around drinking a diet coke, enjoying mindless shopping, and talking on the phone to some friends. I found a cute bedding set I loved (for kind of cheap...NZ cheapm so a little more than Target but not bad) then when I got up to the check out it was all 20% off!!



The more I get to know Kiwi culture the more I realize just how different I grew up and experience life. But there are some moments I have here when I just feel really Kiwi...I can't tell you exactly why, I just do. And this was one of those weekends!

I am MYSELF...YIKES

"I wasn't myself"  

Have you ever had one of those moments?  You were doing something and either in the moment or soon after you thought, "That wasn't me.  I just wasn't myself."  I heard someone say once, "Actually the scary part is you were yourself, you just didn't like who was in there or what came out."  I kind of hated that line, but it's pretty true.  I am me, so when I act a certain way I don't like I would love to think that it isn't me, but I just did it or said it so unless my body was invaded by aliens then I was acting like myself....  

GUTTED

Yesterday was one of those days that just kept seeming to show the worst parts of me.  It started with a couple friends really disappointed in me, which never feels good.  Followed immediately by me arguing with the Credit Card company because they held my card once again because of NZ purchases.  That moment ended with me crying at that lady as I read on my computer how I hurt a friend.  Awesome, huh?  My poor office mate just looked at me and said, "want me to go get Michelle for you?"  Then he went and got me a Diet Coke to make me smile.

I was pretty shattered after a few more hard work situations and went home to a very HAPPY thing:  TWO HUGE BOXES from my Mom with my winter clothes, Mac Make up!!!, fun candy that my friends Jared, Michelle and Ingrid were really happy about--she sent them candy you can only get in the States,  and hair products from the states.  She is so good to me...even Uncle Neville got a treat!

Ali made me dinner (ahh the paradise I have landed in, she makes dinner every night and today she did my laundry, took my car to get the warrant while I was at work and wouldn't let me pay her for it...what the heck??!  She is AWESOME!) and I headed off to hang out with some friends.  The night ended up taking a couple bad turns and led to a conversation I did not want to have.  My big goal was not to do anything to stupid or awkward, but I took that to a whole new level.   I had no emotional energy left to respond or think clearly so I emotionally reacted the whole night.   And let me tell you I was VERY fired up, but not really thinking clearly.   It was not one of my most prettiest moments as a leader.  I just "wasn't myself." I got in my car and cried, and did what any decent girl would do:  went home talked to Michelle and ate a HUGE bowl of ice cream.  I didn't even like the flavor but it just made me feel better.

I woke up this morning crying and still so upset about all that had happened.  But this morning I realized how harsh I was and even more how arrogant I was being.  Again, I would love to say I wasn't myself, but I was is the scary part.  I saw how I was more angry at people than compassionate towards the place they were in.  I wanted them to be further down the road, and instead of helping them move forward or point out anything they did well I went the other extreme and made sure they knew what I didn't like they did.  I told you it wasn't pretty.   Once I worked through that and made a commitment to go clean up the mess I made tonight I thought I would go for a quick bike ride by the beach to the Mount and jog around it to clear my head and give me better perspective. Right before I headed out the door I was tying my shoes on the kitchen floor talking to Uncle Neville and he asked me about last night. I started crying all over! He listened and gave me encouragement and advice. And I knew was that I definitely had to go for a work out or everyone I saw would get TEAR FEST USA from me.

I rode down there and it took just a few moments of seeing the Beach and heading towards the Mount to relax and remember that I do not control the world...I know, not a news flash but sometimes I need that reminder.  I parked my bike, grabbed my iPod listening to my favorite podcast: This American Life and headed up the trail to run around the Mount.  I was so into my podcast that I was actually running rather fast, and thought man this is going to be a really fast run for me....not two seconds later I tripped over a rock, catapulting my body towards the ground and skidded (yes you read that right), landing on my arm and side about two feet in front me with my iPod about 4 feet in front of me.  I laid there thinking, CRAP I don't have insurance until May 1st.  My arm hurt so bad and my hands had holes and gravel and blood in them. (I am fine now just a little sore)




So I gathered my little self up, walked for a few minutes, jogged the rest of the way to my bike as I laughed at the situation. The fall actually made me laugh for the first time in a day. And then my dad had the best statement of all as I was retelling him the situation: "Well, Dana, God is just reminding you He is in control and not you." Why are parents so smart?!

I came home, walked in with my bottom lip out to see Ali in the kitchen. Like a five year old I blurted out, "I fell." She gave me a hug then promptly started laughing at me and we had a good chuckle at how life works. Then Uncle Neville came in the kitchen with these GORGEOUS flowers from him and Ali to make me smile and tell me they were glad I live with them.

I really do think I landed in paradise, but in all seriousness I am so thankful for all that I am learning here. And that I have people that will cry with me and laugh at me when I need it, so I don't get to serious for my own good. Well, I am off to clean up my mess and spend the night laughing with some great friends!!!

Hope you enjoyed this weeks antics....

Cute White Car

As I drove past the beach today...yep I DROVE! I was reminded today that there are some moments in life that seem mundane and ordinary but actually are extraordinary. The beach has always been one of those places for me. It is just water and dirt at the end of the day, but there is something there that instantly makes me realizes that there is something greater at work than what I see. It isn't a conscious thought, but an instant shot of perspective. Living by the beach has made me realize how much I love seeing the ordinary things of life as extraordinary.

Today my good friend, Andy Kay brought me over a cute little white car. (this is Andy's family: Ruby, him, Jane and me at their house for dinner one night)




A couple here had a white Toyota that had a broken water pump, but said if I wanted to fix it I could use it while I was here. (they said it would be around $400 to fix) One night I was over for dinner at the Kay's and was telling them about it. Andy piped up asking 'where is the car cuz I can fix that?' I told him but didn't really think much else about it. I was in the midst of trying to take care of all the details necessary for staying longer in NZ, so I was too overwhelmed with stuff in America to think about it really. The next Sunday Andy's sweet daughter Ruby said that her dad had been working on my car all weekend. WHAT?! I didn't even know he went and got it. Apparently it ended up being quite a nightmare to fix. That night he was so excited to bring it to me, but as he was pulling out the water pump broke, yet again! So he spent today working on it again, and he showed up at 1:30 this afternoon  with a cute little white Toyota all fixed.



I have to get a Warrant...which I think is a mix between getting a smog check and registration. I will do that this week and then I am legal to drive. I have driven here a few times, but it will be nice having a car since it has been raining so much here.  It is really different driving on the left side of the road and the right side of the car, but I am getting used it...which is scary to think that it seems normal to me now. Though, I still have to say in my head "think left...think left...think left" all the time.

Sometimes ordinary things like fixing a car or someone going out of their way speak volumes. And for me the ordinary of a white little car was the extraordinary for me today. Without me doing anything I am able to have a car and feel so valued and loved. It is funny because when I first was offered the car, I felt the distance of my Dad...he would take care of it if I was home, but while my dad (nor mom) can EVER be replaced, it did feel good to have a 'dad' moment here. Dad's just take care of you, and you just know everything is going to be okay when they are around....and Andy represented that for me this week.

I genuinely hope that today in your life you will see something that is ordinary, as the extraordinary--reminding you that there is a God who is active and working when you can not see him, or even wonder if He really exists.

Theme: Do It Yourself (or as they say in NZ: DIY)

This weekend:

--Read 3 or my 4 trashy mags
--Watched Lord of the Rings (the first one)--thought is was fitting since I live in NZ and live by Hobbit town...
--Caught up on people's blogs
--Rode my new red shiny bike to the Mount (and strolled around the mount) with a new friend, Laura, and grabbed a coffee
--Watched Hannah Montana--yes it is true...I actually like that show a lot
--A worse confession: watched the entire movie....High School Musical two...I told you I was brain dead this weekend
--Went to see Definitely, Maybe with my good friend Sally...
We both liked it and needed an escape and what better way to do that then with a great girl movie....I did think that it wasn't quite as good as 27 dresses, but let's face it 27 Dresses was a like watching my life on the big screen:)
--Woke up with a headache still....
--Felt refreshed talking to Sea Jay while she was heading to Madeleine's bday party

--Choose to not have a "DO IT YOURSELF" attitude with all that I am leading and asked some good friends, Liz and Mark, who offered to help me if they would come down and help today...that is HUGE for me. I didn't have too many tasks for them, but I knew that I didn't want to start life out here by always feeling like I have to do it myself.

--Did a DO IT YOURSELF hair remedy for soft silky hair (that I read about in one of my magazines...see they are tools for learning): 1/2 avocado, 1 egg, 1 Tbl olive oil put it on for 20 mins: VOILA silky smooth hair

--Talked to Ker while my DIY remedy sat in my hair. (so good! Thanks for calling Ker)

--Went to work (with silky smooth hair) and felt so much better having Liz and Mark there to help. It is funny how just having 2 people you can trust makes a difference. I am so new here and these friends are new, but sometimes you just know who you can trust, you can't describe it you just know. I love what I do but it makes all the difference in the world to know there is other people you can look at and realize that you are all in this together.

--Had a very successful first night and laughed a lot while doing it.

What a weekend! The theme really was DIY this weekend. I always laugh that DIY is an understood abbreviation here in NZ and Australia. My first few weeks I would read it in magazines or here people say DIY (not do it yourself, but literally say D I Y) and I had no idea what they meant.  Well it really is a DIY country and I can err on the side of doing it all myself as it is without the help of being a part of a culture that values that.  So this was a big test of my pride this weekend.  I really wanted other people to help me but I knew that in the end I could DIY if I just pulled myself up by my boot straps (I had to throw in an American line...)  But I chose not to.  That was pretty huge for me.  As I shared with these guys why I needed their help it was awesome to see us work together.  I think we are going to have a fun team.

But I am not going to lie...I loved my DIY hair remedy.  I just couldn't fathom spending the heaps of money on the overpriced hair products (yes I just said heaps...yet another word I have picked up here:) And it worked so well and was less than $1!

And I still have one more magazine to read tomorrow...can life get any better?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADELEINE

Today is one of the unfun realities of living far away....  It is one of my favorite little girl's Princess Birthday Party--Madeleine is turning 3!!!



She is one of my best friend Amy's daughter. Amy is more like a sister than a friend so it is hard to miss out on the everyday life of her beautiful little girls growing up. And the her party being a PRINCESS PARTY...man does Auntie Dana want to be there!

You are more than welcome to watch this video, but it is really for a SWEET little 3 year old girl in Redding CA!

Auntie Dana loves you Madeleine!!!







 :

Synergy, Trashy Magazines and the E channel

I was reminded this week how much fun working with friends can be.  It is Friday night and I am exhausted and currently listening to the sound track from Hairspray as I catch up on blogs.  Hairspray was not a movie I really wanted to see but I went with Kimberly and Moni (and we drug Glen with us...hehehe) and we ended up laughing all the way through the movie.  And tonight I knew it was a long week when I wanted NOTHING deep or serious in my life.  I went to the store bought chocolate cake (it was weight watchers, so it wasn't that CRAZY, but still it was YUMMY), and 4 trashy mags (yes you read that right 4...I couldn't decide and all I could fathom doing this weekend is reading about other people's lives and seeing what the new styles are for the year...not that I can afford them here in NZ, but at least I will know what I am not buying....hehehe) And I was so excited to come home and watch the E channel.  You think I was ready for a NON SERIOUS night?!

The funniest thing is I never watched the E channel in the States, but some how it is my little escape back to CA/LA for me.  I feel like I am seeing my "old neighborhood" and getting caught up with my "friends."  I know ridiculous, but true.  So I just watched a good 3 hours of E (all caught up on Hollywood) and then watched a few MTV favorites...Punk'd and Run's House and now am listening to Hairspray reading about my real friend's lives.

This last week was one of those weeks that seems to have had 14 days in it not 7.  I hit the ground running with my new areas I am leading.  It was a lot of details to work through at first as well as meeting with some people that I think will make incredible leaders.  I think my favorite part about Kiwi culture is the fact that most of them don't realize how incredible they are.  The talent here is unbelievable.  I feel like a kid in a candy shop as I look at the potential that is overwhelmingly obvious to me.  You know those candy shops you go into with bins and bins of candy?  That is the leadership and creativity or Kiwi's.  I feel giddy all the time as I think I get to be apart of helping them realize their potential and seeing how uniquely they were created.  

The way I tend to lead volunteer teams is by placing people in leadership over areas that they are passionate about.  I have been asking the question this week:  if you can do anything what would you do?  It has been so exciting to hear what people are saying.  And much more exciting to see them begin to get excited about not just filling a role that someone else assigned them or completing a task that someone gave them.  I get to say, "you want to do that?  Ok let's make it happen.  Go try it.  If it doesn't work I will take responsibility, you just go create and risk."  I oversee two different areas of volunteers.  The first area is one that is dedicated to making sure people have a spot to be involved and volunteering their own talents.  The second area is making sure people have friends to do this with.  These two areas eventually will be separate but for right now I oversee them both.  

The first thing  I have done this week is began to pull people together that already get the concept that life can be about so much more than just ourselves.  In actuality I am taking a core group of people that want to see people have places to volunteer in areas that they are talented as well as create a space for people to explore spirituality, church, and God.  So far I have been so excited about each person that wants to work with me. I feel so privileged that I might get to work with these leaders.  They are going to teach me so much over the next 6 months.  Over the next few weeks there will be many changes....which is always a touchy point.  We will see how it goes.  Some times I look really nice until I began to shake things up a little.  Which at the end of the day I realize is what I will do here. (which is why my friend Joel has named me Dane Pain, short for Dane that brings the pain...nice, huh?  And it is beginning to stick...the most creative nickname I have ever had before--told you they were really creative) 

If you have been reading my blog for awhile, do you remember when I ran the Mount?  And remember how I pretty much complained and whined the whole way up the mount?  Yep that is kind of how I approach leadership too.  On the inside I am quiting the whole time.  I walked into my friend Joel's office this week and said, "I quit.  I will quit numerous times in the process this is just my time for today to quit."  He is a great friend and just smiled, but then later came by my office and we lamented for a little bit about what we were doing and how hard it was, then very quickly we started to talk about all the cool things we are seeing and getting to do.  Joel challenged me in so many areas this week.  I talked to him a couple times this week about the areas that we are leading and I walked away feeling like a better leader each time.  

I guess at the end of the day it is called SYNERGY:  The interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substance, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum or their separate effects.

Synergy is one of those experiences that once you know what it feels like it become a little addictive.  You run faster, run better, and have the most fun you can imagine.  The catch though?  You can't create it.  I have tried to manufacture it, and you just can't.  Sometimes you just have it with the people you work with.  And this week I felt it.  My friends Jared and Michelle are overseeing me as I lead these new areas and between them and my friends Joel and Glen this week I felt like the best leader I could be while having an incredible amount of FUN doing it.  Jared and Michelle have helped me word and phrase vision in this new Kiwi culture.  Which was quite a humorous experience this week.  I had emailed them an email to look at before I sent it to my new teams.  Well, lets just say this was my answer:  did you already send it?  I had to laugh as I spent so much time rewording my thoughts, calming down my intensity for this new Kiwi culture I am still trying to figure out, and then still create excitement around what we get to do together.  

I am not gonna lie I really didn't want to redo the email.  And I had to laugh because it was my bright idea as a consultant to have a Leadership Team member (Jared and Michelle) oversee leaders like myself that are overseeing certain areas of the organization.  It is so easy to think that we don't need people or that our ideas are the best.  But I really believe at the end of the day people that are overseeing us have a wisdom that we should listen to...we can always learn from those that are placed in leadership above us.  It was a great experience for me.  When I got the email back that said..."looks good send that."  I have to admit I was ecstatic and felt like I had worked so hard and had the best pulled out of me.  And on top of all that I got to work with Michelle and we created so much stuff together this week.  She is a VERY talented graphic designer and she took my ideas and put them in useful and eye catching graphics. 

I came home tonight exhausted from all of that, plus navigating some emotionally draining leadership consulting experiences, but feeling so full of energy.  I guess it is that GOOD tired when you want to fall on the couch and eat chocolate, watch trash TV (ie. The E channel) and read trashy hollywood gossip magazines during the commercials.  Or is that just me?  The only thing that would have made it a better night would be if their was a Hills Marathon this weekend on MTV, but I guess a girl can't have it all can she?  I guess I will settle for watching The Holiday one more time...and enjoying a SUNSHINEY weekend in paradise!

Only in New Zealand (part 7)

Sometimes there are just no words...this is one of those moments

Rain = Pumpkin Spice Lotion

Today I found myself wishing I had Pumpkin Spice Body Wash and Lotion from Bath and Body Works. I know it sounds weird, but it was officially "winter" this week her at the Mount. It was Redding rain and wind all day on Monday... In fact a friend asked if we could catch up for coffee. I said sure, but 10 minutes before we were supposed to go I text and said, 'how about you just come in and I make you a cup of tea?'

I am not sure when I became such a weather wimp? This isn't new to NZ, I was actually like this in LA, too. But I just don't like the rain. When I am inside curled up on the couch watching The Holiday, then the a windy rain storm is fine. (which if you have seen the Holiday here is something that might make you laugh...remember the scene when Cameron Diaz looks at the name on Jude Law's phone, only to notice it is a girls name and she says something about it? Want to guess who did that this week? You guessed right, me. Once you go there you just have to play it off cool and act like it is totally normal to look at cuteness' phone and comment on the girl's name that just popped up. I played it off cool...while secretly dying inside!) Anyway back to the winter weather in NZ.

So with the rain and wind comes something else: My Pavlovian response and need for Cinnamon Pumpkin Spice lotion from Bath and Body. All week long I wished that I had that here in NZ. It is funny how there are certain things that seem normal and a necessity in new seasons. I wondered if I would be a flipped out because April means that summer is HERE and sundresses and swim suits are on the horizon, but here Apirl means get ready for a long winter.

It is so different to be flipped up side down on the bottom of the earth. The stars are different, the temperatures are different in the months, the cars are different-well they are on the different side of the road, the accents are different and the food is different. But more than anything this week I just miss having the correspoding bath gel and body wash for the season.

Mind you, I am still sleeping really bad and not getting full nights of sleep. Which might contribute to my biggest thing I am currently missing and blogging about being Bath and Body, but a little deliriousness is good, right? And we all know the truth....after my friends, of course, I miss TARGET more than anything :)

Hospital Pass

Why can't I sleep in this country?!  Now I know it is not New Zealand's fault, but I can count on one hand the number of nights I have a good sleep and slept all the way through the night.  So since I have been up since 3:30 or 4 I thought I would stop thinking and catch up on some great blogs (Shanny supplied me with a new fun one to read today!) It is funny the things I think about when I wake up in the middle of the night.  It usually starts with me trying not to think, hoping I can fool myself into not realizing that I am actually awake.  (I play weird mind games with myself in the middle of the night I have realized in this lack of sleep season)

Once I have admitted to myself I am fully awake I lay their thinking about not thinking about things.  I know, kind of confusing but I do.  I try not to open my eyes at all, I try and focus on anything that doesn't cause me stress or worry, and then I consciously think, 'don't think about work.  don't think about what you could do or say about that situation. don't think about that person's reaction.'  This works really well as you can imagine (said in a very sarcastic tone).

Part of what happens I think (a little self diagnosis, if you will) is that I am processing my day in the middle of the night.  I process emotion all day long.  I'm never really at a lack for knowing what emotion I am having and being able to verbalize it.  But as work and  my personal life unfold and even intersect I don't quite always know how to process all that is happening.  I am bombarded with information or experience all day long, and while I can tell you I feel sad, excited, scared, hopeful, hurt, happy, etc I don't often why I am having all those emotions (which for me to have only one emotion at a time is rare...I often have three or four)

One of the things I love to do (and am lucky enough to do this for a job) is to spot potential in people and organizations and then help them realize that potential.  Part of that experience is me thinking of ways to pull the best in people out of them.  I think about experiences I can create, or words I can say to inspire them, questions I can ask, and vision I can cast to help them see beyond this moment into what they could become.  I just naturally do this, it is the part of my life that is the most fun and the most effortless.  I am realizing though, that this is often times what I am doing in the middle of the night.  I can't seem to turn my brain off.  So if I wake up, I am seeing people and their potential and wondering how I could help them see their potential and live their potential.  

Funny, huh?  It might not be why I am waking up but it definitely happens when I wake up.  This last few weeks though I can tell you that it is a little bit of both:  I wake up because of my mind being on overload with stuff here at work and in my personal life AND once I am up I naturally start to do this.  Let me explain.  I was originally supposed to be heading back to the States on Monday.  It is the most bizarre thing to think about because it just doesn't seem real that this would be my last weekend in NZ.  But originally it was supposed to be.  I have spent a lot of time here with the leaders where I am consulting and helping them build a volunteer culture.  I have not had a specific area to lead here, but have spent my time working with the top level of leaders helping them increase their effectiveness.

A couple of weeks ago my boss came to me and said, "There is a term in Rugby we use here: Hospital Pass.  I need to throw you a hospital pass right now."  Hhmm, not quite sure what that meant, but secretly I got a little excited.  It kind of sounded daring and full adventure.  Yet, at the same time I thought...uh oh what does this really mean?  He went on to explain that in Rugby there are times that you throw a pass knowing that the receiver will catch it and make the play, but the tackle that will follow will put him in the hospital.  That is what I am about to throw to you now that you are staying for at least 6 more months.  

Oh that's all...no big deal (again said in a sarcastic and slightly fearful tone)  I sat on his couch listening, trying not to react but thinking "what the heck did I just get myself into?"  ....and "this is going to be a lot fun!" I am a walking paradox! And I am sometimes too optimistically naive for my own good, but if I thought through all the things I have done in life I would have never done them.  So sometimes naive optimism is my living passport into all sorts of different worlds (and adventures).

He wasn't kidding about this next season being a hospital pass.  It has officially begun and man do I see the ball flying through the air and the opposing  team's rugby players racing towards me.  (please God let a cute rugby player be one of those running towards me...hehehe)  It might be long, it might involve me hurting people's feelings, it might involve me challenging people who think they have things all figured out, it might involve me making some waves when really I kind of just want to be watching the waves at the beach, it will involve me shaking up a place that I am not quite sure really wants to be shaken up, and it will involve me freaking out at numerous points.  You see, the naive optimism eventually wears off...most of the time it wears off in the moment right before the ball is caught and you see the 12 rugby players from the other team about to crash into you and pummel you with delight.

I was supposed to get on a plane on Monday and head back for the States starting a new season of life, instead I am starting a new season right here in NZ.  Truth:  I am so glad that I am here and can't wait to begin.  It's kind of nice to not think through things before you do them sometimes.  If I did I would have missed out on so much in my life.  I definitely still miss friends at home, but I LOVE the people that are in my life here and feel pretty lucky to be doing what I am doing, with the friends that I have made, and living by the beach (c'mon living by the beach makes a hospital pass seem not that bad...)

Ahh...1-800 numbers

So what did I realize I take for granted today?  1-800 numbers!!  Today has been one of those very frustrating "I do not live in the States" days.  I am trying to switch over or cancel things from the States still!!  It has been a few weeks now and it still isn't all done.  Which I HATE.  I like things finished, complete, tied in a nice little bow, not left undone.  This just hasn't been my luck with some of these things.  I have managed alright for the last few weeks, but yesterday and today I wanted to pull my hair out!

It started with my credit card company putting a hold on my card.  I figured it was because they saw use of the card in NZ, but seriously?!  It has been 3 months since I have been here, using the card at least on a weekly basis.  Then I was able to get a 1-800 number to call...but 1-800 numbers are NOT free from NZ!  AGHH!!  I spend an hour on the phone with my mom, the NZ operator, then finally the people at the credit card company.  It was all sorted out, but for some reason my Skype will no longer accept my credit card!!!!  So I spent another hour trying to fix that and finally said forget it I am going to lunch with Michelle and not dealing with it at all!  I know, I know, super healthy right? (but it was the best lunch ever! And I was again so thankful that I had a friend like her in NZ:)  I usually am not a procrastinator but I just couldn't handle one more moment of feeling so helpless.  I never realized how much I took 1-800 numbers for granted.  Yeah, sometimes they were annoying when you were put on hold, but I always knew I could get through.

Well today I spent another few hours trying to get ahold of my cell phone company to fax them a letter saying I really live in NZ and am not trying to just get out of my contract, then with United to try and extend my ticket. Which almost worked but the time difference is now 5 hours (well and the day before, ie it is 5:45pm on Tuesday here and 10:45pm on Monday in the States).  And another hour trying to remedy my Skype issues.  And did any of that happen?  NOPE...so gutted (my favorite new word I learned in NZ--it just means really really bummed, but it just describes it so much better I think).

All that to say I will never take 1-800 numbers for granted and I will NOT complain when I am hold with them there.  We really do have a convenient country...the good ol' USofA :)

So if you are dialing a 1-800 number this week and you are tempted to be annoyed, just be thankful that you can actually pick up the phone and quickly hear something (even though you might not hear a real person for awhile at least you are in their phone system).

Have a great day!!!

Things I Miss Today...

Today is Sunday here in New Zealand.  I woke up remembering what Sunday's were like for me in LA and I smiled, thinking fondly of what a typical Sunday was like.  I had the chance to do what I love, by helping people have space to encounter God if they were looking for Him.  That was amazing.  I had incredible conversations that I could not believe I was privileged to have with people that were struggling or searching for who God was and if He was real.  That was humbling and exciting.  

But my favorite part about Sundays...getting to see these two cute kids!  

One of my favorite nights at the Reyonlds: Making Gingerbread House...look at how cute she is!

And can you really resist this cute boy?! 

 

I loved Sundays, because no matter how long or hard the day was I always ended up over at Scott and Amy's.  Their house was just safe--I wasn't leader dana, or problem solver dana, I was just dana.  And I always knew that even if the kids were already in bed I would be able to sneak and see them.  Zane and Audrey were always a bright spot in my day, no matter what type of day I was having.

So as much as I absolutely love being in NZ, and actually have a place where I am just dana with my some of my good friends here, I still MISS the Reynolds today.  Not "crying, please let me leave living by the beach in paradise" sad, but one of those good "sads."  A fond heart memory of the way things were, wishing I could mix my worlds a little bit. 

Just to reiterate I LOVE being here, but for those of you at home, or in Redding, Chicago, Riverside, or North Carolina, I do miss you and love that we have made so many memories over the years.  They are like reading a book for me--fun to picture and enjoy the experiences all over again.

Look Dad, it looks like yours!

So I attempted my dad's rum cake last night for a dessert I had to go to.  He made sure to give me some specific instructions so I didn't wreck his cake :)  And after figuring out the measurements in a different place--why aren't we on the metric system in America again?  I baked and added the powder sugar just like he told me and took it to the event.

I think everyone liked...  I just love that my dad went from teaching me how to ride a bike, go hunting (which I never really got into), treat people with respect, lead with integrity and be an ethical woman who loves people, that now he is teaching me how to bake the most yummy cakes ever.  My mom was always the AMAZING baker and chef....move over mom:)

At least my life is a FUNNY book...

So tonight I saw "cuteness" and thought I was playing it pretty cool since we finally are just friends these days. Feeling all in control and glad that I am normal, and cool with being just friends, I find myself smack dab in the middle of one of those situations that you only read about in books. I happened to see him with his mom, who was loaning me this book about males/females, For Women Only (which is a book I secretly mocked, but had it recommended so many times I thought would try it, especially becaues I work with so many men...though I am dying that I am getting handed this book infront of "cuteness"...but what can I do but act like I don't care?)

As she hands me the book (in front of him and some others, mind you) she says, "oh Dana the book is really graphic I hope it isn't too much for you." Mortified my 'feeling in control' was reduced to just that a feeling and not reality. I tried to play it off cool, but really just ended up saying I was trying to figure out men. Really? Why didn't I just keep my mouth shut!! So I walk away thinking...are you kidding me? Is it impossible for me to be just normal?! At least it is always a good story. His mom may just be the most LOVELY person in NZ, so the whole situation made me laugh even more at her genuine sweetness and looking out for me as I read this book. Well even though I think we might just end up friends at least I have some great stories! Maybe I should write a book one day because there is no way anyone will believe these situations really happen to me, so I might as well make some money with all these crazy moments!

Uh Oh too long outside of CALI...??

Ahhh man! I took this quiz, so bratty that I would for sure come up a CA girl--feeling the CA pride after being gone for 3 months I think. But that is not what it came up :( I was shocked at first...then laughed a little. Maybe all my living in different states and traveling to different countries has effected my accent. What the heck am I going to sound like when I come home from NZ?! And of all things to be pegged a "mid-westerner"!! The irony...I mocked that part of the country all the time, and now look!

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
North Central
The West
Boston
The Inland North
The South
Philadelphia
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz