Our world needs more...

Along the journey of putting ‘with LOVE from Bel’ together I have had some incredibly interesting questions asked of me. Questions about my intentions, about what I would share, about how I would launch and about what I hoped it would achieve. These questions have fuelled some great thoughts. However, I think more than anything they have just helped me create my own roadblocks, fears and reservations about putting this out to the world.

So, today more than ever I am convinced this is where it needs to start.

At 12:30pm today I was walking through my local shopping centre. A place I left many years ago. Strolling out of woollies I was lucky enough to bump into an amazing woman who is the mum of one of my old best friends. It brought back a lot of memories from my time spent in my childhood city (Redlands rep).

About 5 or 6 years ago I moved to follow my dreams, I moved to escape the ordinary life, I moved to get away from those that spend their days invested in the lives of others. I moved away from gossip and into growth, I moved away from drama and into adventure, I moved away from sorrow and sadness into experience and gratitude.

In the world I live in, in the life I have created for myself I often forget what it is like outside of seeing life through my eyes.

This is a little bit of how I see it. A little bit of what I’ve learnt in it. And a little bit of what I dream about… a taste of what you will find when reading ‘with LOVE from Bel’.

So, here goes nothing.

I believe our world needs more…

1. Love and Kindness

I have heard that our two deepest fears are 1) that we will not be loved or 2) that we will never be enough. It kills me to think that someone would not feel loved by anyone. Imagine if we were unafraid to tell each other how much we really care. Imagine how much difference that would make to our self-doubt and our fears. We can make someone’s day every day, just by showing kindness. Our world would be a better place if we cared for each other the way we care for and love our puppy dogs.

2. People to follow the path less travelled

Society tell us that we should go to school, head to university, land a job that pays well, find the person of our dreams and have 2 kids by the time we are 30. From a young age, we are brought up to believe this is what the perfect life should look like. Reality check, life is NOT a linear path. Some of us will study, some of us will travel, some of us will work in retail, some of us will own a business and some of us will become Olympians. I just hope that ALL of us follow our passion and have the courage to forge our own path. There are many that do it every day, but not enough. The ones that do and accept their unique path are content, feel good and have a smile on their face. Be one of those people!

3. Compassion for all (a little equality check)

I really do believe that my journey is no greater than yours and or anyone else’s. Our impact may spread to different numbers of people and we may achieve different things in our lifetime but we are human. We need to let down our guard, our tough persona and appreciate that we are all human and we all have an incredible contribution to make in this world. No matter where you were born, how much you earn or what your talents are; we are all equal. We are all just doing ‘our best’ to own this thing called life.

4. Peeps to realise their influence is far greater than they will ever know

Ever notice after hanging out with someone for a few days you pick up their sayings? Remember the first person that inspired you to do great things? We as everyday humans are far more influential than we will ever know. Because of that I see it as a responsibility to treat people with respect and be strong role models in everything we do. Someone is always watching and deep down we all (well, hopefully everyone reading this) want to be remembered for something great (even if it is making your neighbour smile or getting that little boy back to another soccer game after he lost or was bullied). Treat each word you say and each interaction you have as one that could change a life.

5. Introductions that aren’t just ‘What do you do?’

This is my pet peeve, I think mostly because I do it too! Grrr. I really despise that we are so quick to label and put someone in a box based on what they do for a living. I really want to challenge this. I’m still searching for the go to question to ask someone when you meet them at a BBQ. So, until then if you meet me I will be trialling some unique introductory questions. Perhaps ‘Tell me about you?’ or ‘What do you love to do with your time?’.

When I unexpectedly bumped into that amazing lady earlier today many people in my shoes would have found it incredibly awkward. Why? Because we had a real conversation, we spoke about what our challenges were, the breakdown in some of our relationships, we shared in stories of success and then there were tears. I honestly believe the tears were because right there outside woollies, we were remembering (7 years ago) that we treated each other with kindness, we shared in life’s curve balls, we respected each others lifestyles and the journey we were each on. Parting on a huge hug I could feel that we cared for each other and it was a rare moment that our world needs more of.

What are you going to do to create more connection, more respect and get in touch with the ‘real’ world?

with LOVE from Bel x