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This month I’ve taken a break from alcohol. It’s not an issue for me but it’s always good to flex the mental toughness muscle. The theory being that when you train your brain to accept change and adversity, the skill set acquired will be there for you when you really need it. I do this kind of break now and then but this time, I found the whole « no drinking for a month » so god damn boring! It was a last minute whim and the moment I committed I had regret. I remembered all the social events and travel that were happening in July and the whole month loomed with dread. But I hung with it and here we are, at the end of the month. So what was the point? Well, I learned that my triggers- the scenarios that make me want a glass of wine are: A) boredom and the desire to change that state B) travel and romance - I love having a glass at little cafes and over a platter of yummy things with Dale and C) social situations where I feel my introvert needing to be pulled out so I can be entertaining and entertained. These were all good things to know and the triggers did pass- as much as I cursed not being able to « pull » them! The best thing I learned though is that NOT having a glass of wine at a social occasion was more than fine. I actually loved being the sober person in a room and found that I was just as conversational without a cab sav security blanket. It reminded me a lot of the early days of not dyeing my hair and worrying what people would think at fancy do’s where my roots would be showing. I discovered then that no one gave a crap and it was actually fun (and subversive!) having this two toned situation to rock in public. Funny the stories we tell ourselves.This sober experience is the topic of my latest The Change Guru podcast #Ep 68 -google that or my name to find it. I share tips for taking a break from whatever is the current thing in your life you want to experience time without be it booze, social media, coffee, sugar, etc. If you say you could never do either of these, this exercise might just be for you ;) Just be prepared to be bored AF! #podcastsforwomen #dryjuly #menopause #over50women https://www.instagram.com/p/B0hd56PgzCr/?igshid=1igt7tp1qlfm8

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Ladies - I've changed! A year ago, if you told me that I wouldn't be freaking out on discovery of a "bigger than me" snake skin (carpet python to be specific), hanging from our roof - let alone holding the thing! - well I don't know if I would've believed you. But yep, not only did I pull it off the roof but I proudly held it and took a selfie. This snake skin is so symbolic as we've officially shed our city skin and have moved full time from Sydney to a property up in the rainforest in Northern NSW. On one hand it was a massive leap to do this move, full of uncertainty. But on the other hand, to NOT make the leap, to stay safe, when our hearts were calling for change would've been at the very least sad and at the most, out of alignment for living our best lives. And funny what happens when you just trust your gut. The things that originally seemed so daunting somehow got handled. The day to day experiences that initially seemed overwhelming get sorted and are usually fun. Lately, I find myself, so many times, just looking at my surroundings, in total awe, not giving a damn about anything except how grateful I am to have this chapter to learn about living off the land and being more in touch with nature than I ever expected to in my life. I could sit for ages and just marvel rather than wondering what’s next. I kissed a new thing and I like it! Speaking of change, I've just uploaded a podcast on one of my favourite topics which I've done several episodes about - my perimenopause journey. Actually that's changing too as it's looking like I'm finally approaching full menopause land. I just turned 57 and it's been six months since I've had a period and gals, newsflash, I I feel really good!!! In the podcast I share 10 things that I'm certain have contributed to this (so far) smooth transition. Should I have any bumps along the way, I know that reflecting on these 10 things will certainly support me on the rest of this strange trip that I've spent so much time talking and writing about. Enjoy! #womenover40 #menopause #podcastsforwomen (at The Channon, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByZMHyggxm_/?igshid=zn3y7ror9gqm

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What kind of year was this for you? For me 2018 was the year I lost my ambition. AND I LIKE IT. This has been a year that pretty much cracked my heart open - highs and lows to the point that I just had to stop. Anything that had a sniff of pushing, striving or grasping literally gave me a sick feeling in my stomach. So rather than pushing against a tide I did what I had to do to feel good. Learning Vipassana meditation this year really had a lot to do with these changes I’m sure. I’ve heard from other old students that this practice simply makes life better because you stop chasing your tail and based on what’s happened to me, I agree. I focused on my family and getting us settled in a divided life between the city and the rainforest. Down at the apartment and up at the rainforest house I found pleasure in shitty crafting activities like today’s effort of stringing frangipanis for holiday ornaments. I’m pretty sure I started the year with very big ideas but this was the first time I let them all fall in a heap. And ya know what? Things worked out just fine as I sit here and reflect. As someone who loves to write and talk and teach I’ve realised the importance of also being quiet and listening. It has been so nice. So what kind of year did you have? What did you learn? And what, if any, shitty crafting did you get up to? In the pics you’ll see the ones that I enjoyed this year. I’m thinking that when I eventually do retreats up here at the rainforest house that shitty crafting will for sure be part of the activities we do. They are perfect for the times when you have lost your ambition. It’s rewarding to do an old timey activity for a useful outcome. And a bonus is if you’re in a headspace like me, where you’ve lost your ambition, you’ll discover looking back that you actually have something to show for it. 😜👊 Wishing you a simple and peaceful holiday season xoxo Sue PS If I’m in the mood I might do a podcast or YouTube vid for a little inspo for the coming year so maybe keep an eye out if you’re looking for an easy and effective way for starting over (again) 😜 #2018 #lettinggo #vipassana #womenover50 (at The Channon, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/Brt6cdDAPR_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=o7pgbsl5t6vt

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Hi Friends - I’m at LAX right now waiting for my plane to head back to Sydney. My kids and I flew in to LA about a week ago to surprise my mother for her 80th birthday which also coincided with Thanksgiving so it’s been a week of lots of family, lots of eating and lots of hugs and laughter. In the Uber on the way to the airport I was looking out the window, watching California pass by me and I was thinking “Remember this moment”. “Remember these stores.” “Remember this traffic.” “Remember these street signs.” All these things that are so familiar to me as a girl who grew up in California but are really now so foreign to me as someone who has lived so far away for so many years. I had to pinch myself a bit to soak all this normalness in because really before I know it, it will just be that, a memory. I’ll bet if you happened to head back to where you grew up these holidays you might’ve had that same feeling - that combo of nostalgia and moving on. Strange the pulls and tugs that come from returning to where you came from but living somewhere else. During this time away I watched my daughter @tilda.fm prepare to launch her ep #trois while we traveled. The songs are about the creative journey, about trusting your gut and putting your unique gift out in the world. It is her best work so far and I’m listening to it now while I write. If you check it out - via her social media- be sure to tell her that her mum sent you ;) x Sue #dualcitizen #family #holidays #newmusic #memories (at Oneworld Alliance VIP Lounges) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqq8n3ugMLn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rwoepjxupfqy

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On weekdays we live in a little bolt hole smack in the middle of Sydney. I enjoy every moment of living in this hood where anything you want is just steps away. It’s an adventure each time I head out the door. Back in the day this used to be an extremely seedy side of town- strip joints and all that goes with it. But now the whole area is being gentrified and with that so goes the end of the red light district. Strip clubs for degustation menus. We’re rarely out after dark so whenever I pass the clubs with their neon signage turned off during the day, I tell myself that one of these days I will return at night and take some black and white photos of these signs in their full glory. They’re little pieces of city history that sooner or later will be torn down for some new espresso bar. Noticing changes in the constant shift of urban scenery feels good. I’m not too busy to observe and I like it. After so many years of being quite driven, it feels like I’ve pulled off a highway and have chosen instead to walk -slowly- along some dirt road. I credit a lot of this feeling to taking a break from social media, only posting when I feel called. Frankly it gives me more time. But more than that, I sense this slower pace is a side benefit of being older. Of being willing to not grasp so hard, of choosing to stop and smell the rose (or notice a strip club sign), rather than feeling the need to go hard or go home. And I’m not beating myself up about it either. I have the attitude that I’ve earned this current slow pace and I’d be cheating life if I didn’t accept it. I talk about both of these things - taking a break from social media AND earning the right to get off the merry go round for a spell in the latest episode of my podcast #66 A Surprise Gift or Getting Older ». Get it via The Change Guru on iTunes. I recorded it just before I went to my first harmonium lesson at a Hare Krishna city ashram a few minutes walk from my apartment. See, I told you there’s everything in this neighbourhood! PS I’m thinking about doing a very small retreat at my rainforest farmlet in mid 2019. Good food, walks, meditation, yoga, writing, purpose work...Does that sound cool? PM me (at City Of Sydney Kings Cross) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpQ2x0HhQl_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=s9fraciuvnv7

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I did a Vipassana 10 day silent course a little over 6 months ago and on Day 6 I became very irritable. Everything was pissing me off. I was even pissing myself off! Frustrated with this development, I went and had a chat with the teacher to ask if I was doing something wrong. She smiled and told me that the meditation was doing its thing. A purification was happening. I didn’t quite know what she meant but on my way back to my room I started crying - and laughing to myself because I didn’t know wtf I was crying about! All I know is that afterwards, I felt better. For the past week I’ve been in Bali at my yoga teacher’s annual retreat and go figure, the first 6 DAYS of this 10 day experience were just like Day 6 of Vipassana. I felt completely out of alignment. It was Murphy’s Law around every corner. I had no hot water in my hotel so I left it. I had lousy wifi and couldn’t work. I missed my husband. A stray cat kept trying to get in my room. I felt off kilter.Everything and everyone was irritating me to the point that there were many times that I felt trapped and plotted escape plans. And so I used this discomfort as a point of inquiry. What about ME was irritating myself? What was I supposed to be learning here? And then I remembered that strange Day 6 of Vipassana. The icky feelings I was having maybe were some kind of purge - much like when some people who’ve been incredibly stressed out go on holidays and immediately get sick because their immune system is shot. I thought about these past 6 months and all the different things that have happened. I was just starting to feel normal when I left to come here. And I think leaving all my normal roles and responsibilities with only myself to care for here left my psychic immune system exposed. Wacky right? But who knows. All I can say is that once I looked at this cavalcade of mishaps as a release rather than personal injustices, I felt better. I didn’t have a cry like on Day 6 but I did smile and accepted that being here, in this short window of time, to see how I react to the things that I’d normally want to avoid, was exactly where I was meant to be. #ashtanga #vipassana (at Ubud, Bali, Indonesia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnbJNecByvk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1uzcy2f6htz8o

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For the past couple months we’ve been commuting between a property in the rainforest 20 minutes from any town to a teeny studio apartment smack in the middle of Sydney. Up the street is a soup kitchen as well as a few legal brothels sitting quietly opposite fancy schmancy restaurants. We go from an environment of plenty of space to a tiny apt where the only place I can roll out my yoga mat is at the front door between our bed nook and the bathroom. This life of flying back and forth to different lives would not be for everyone but we love it and yesterday as I walked out of the train station, passing strip clubs and espresso bars, I realised that finally I felt kind of normal. Home is there and here. When I entered the apartment I didn’t have to think twice to figure out where the forks were or where we keep the toilet paper. I finally felt grounded. I’ve spoken a bit about the feeling of groundlessness during these past 6 months and today I just uploaded a podcast sharing what I did to keep some semblance of it happening during upheaval and how it has benefited me during this crazy, joyful time of double lives. Even if a commuter lifestyle isn’t your thing, we all have times of upheaval and hopefully this episode will give you some inspo to sail through the wildness that life occasionally throws.You can find it on iTunes or Stitcher under my name Susan Paget or The Change Guru. And one bit of girl talk: One thing that kind of was a casualty of not being as grounded as I prefer is that I feel like I lost my pretty a bit. I’ve kinda let myself go in that I haven’t been wearing lippy or even TRYING to be attractive!!! Hopefully I can reverse that a bit. Right now I’m back at the airport and heading to Bali to attend my longtime teacher’s annual retreat. My big goal is to solidify this grounded feeling and restore my pretty so the outside matches the inside. Get my goddess energy on. I’ll shoot you an update from the retreat and hopefully by then my lip gloss will return as a habit! #groundedforlife #podcastsforwomen #commuterlife #goddesstime (at Sydney, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnDJUOkBrNy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8jllyq9f47tp

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This weekend we made good progress on our little rainforest farm - the whole underneath the house is a diamond in the rough with a sketchy toilet, outside shower, laundry, workspace and an area we are turning into a hippie den - an outside living room. My goal over the next couple months is to turn that toilet into an area a lady would love using, not just a bloke! I have a vision of having workshops and retreats here so that’s what I’m working towards in the comfort department. But for now, we’re working in the space with what we can handle and so we started with the « hippie den ». The previous owners told us that this is a very comfortable area when the humidity and temperatures climb during peak summer. We’re trying to use everything we have so that means using old rugs, etc but it’s so funny that keeping everything we loved during the move means that everything eventually finds a place. You can see the first stage of it in the pics as well as some other things we’ve got going on including the wax wraps I made, the couch we built out of a single bed mattress, plywood and denim (I just need a pocket from a 501 pair of Levi’s to stitch on the side for fun), potatoes we planted a couple months ago and some pretty flowers that are springing up without any effort on our part. While I was working on stuff I decided to not renew my thechangeguru.net website for the moment so it will be a blank spot for a while. It felt good to let go of it so I can clear the path for fresh content as clearly I’m changing and I’ll want my new stuff to reflect that. It was initially hard to let it go and I’ve actually put it off for some time but I’m discovering that the more I cling the more cluttered life is. Things seem to be working out right now with less. Have you discovered that for yourself? #change #upcycledfurniture #rainforestlife (at The Channon, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnAUUKch5X_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1jo1qbvd7s9i9

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Well over the past few days I had a go at making one of those arm knitting chunky blankets. This is on top of some other crafty craziness I’ve been driven to do lately probably because we’re interested in making our own things or upcycling rather than buying new. But here’s the thing. I don’t do this kind of stuff. Like ever. So in the back of my mind as I’m sewing and knitting and watching a million YouTube tutorials I’ve had a bit of a loop in my noggin going « This is so weird- wtf is going on?!!! » I discovered the answer to that question when, after a crafting session, I found myself inspired to do what feels normal for me - writing. I returned to a book that’s been taunting me for months now. During these past couple months between taking a break from a lot of social media plus a big move to two other locations, my daily writing habit fell in a heap and seemed neither enticing or motivating to return to. I spoke about this in my last podcast and if you want more info you can find it by googling Susan Paget on iTunes. But the crafting weirdness unlocked a little puzzle piece to the stagnation and it occurred to me when I was at mid page of typing that the crafting had given me creative divergence - it worked different mental muscles of flow and expression which started up the engine. And this leads me to share that when you are stuck, FIND YOUR WEIRD. Follow that thing that makes no sense or can’t be monitized or seen by others. Even if you have no idea how the hell to do it. I know there’s that saying that goes « Find your bliss » but honestly bliss to me means a nap or a facial and so far bliss hasn’t inspired me to put my fingers on a keyboard. « Finding your weird » might just be the key that unlocks a blockage. You can see the finished chunky arm knit blanket at the end of the pics. I made so many mistakes and it doesn’t look as polished as the Pinterest and YouTube vids but it’s actually a very forgiving activity and hides the mistakes pretty well. Oh and if you were wondering you CAN do essential arm tasks during it as well - between you and me it goes well with a nice glass of Cab sav and Netflix. #armknitting #findyourweird #stuck (at The Channon, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmP8w6LhFeR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1tobetxe92px3

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« You’re nesting Suzie » my dear friend Janey said to me the other day when she visited our house in the rainforest. I can’t remember what I was doing that brought her to mention that but I was probably talking something domestic which is highly unusual for me. Jane’s a midwife so when it comes to women and their cycles and behaviour, she knows what she’s talking about. I’ve thought a lot about what she said and it’s given me a sense of relief. Like a little mystery solved. It is true- I am interested in creating things right now that will benefit our family. At the same time, I notice that I’ve missed a few periods and so I’m also finally heading into menopause. Only noticing that they’ve dropped off is so far the only physical symptom I’ve had. I’ve mentioned in past posts all the transitional things that have happened in my life these past few months and how I’ve chosen to do less than more - something that’s very conflicting for me as I usually like to do a lot. On reflection I think there’s a link between wanting to « nest » and my body asking to be stiller because I’m in deep physical transition even if my symptoms aren’t obvious. I’m really grateful to be able to have a life where I can honor this change and I hope this metaphysical experience I’m having will help you connect the dots between a change of your normal behaviour and what your body’s doing. It’s fascinating! Speaking of creating - one of the new things we’ve learned to do is harvest coffee off our land. I posted a pic a few posts below of getting the beans out of the coffee cherries. Now, a few weeks later, we’ve made our first batch and it was delicious. You can see the process and my first taste in these pics. It’s a laborious task - just shelling the dried beans took hours for very little beans but as a massive coffee lover, the start to finish is so satisfying. We also saved the leftover coffee so that we can use it as a stain for some wood furniture we’re making. We’re trying to recycle or make everything instead of buying. See what I mean? Menopause is making me nest, baby. That it comes with a nice hot cup of organic, home grown, dark roasted coffee is okay by me.

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This is the first week in months that it feels like life is starting to settle. We are fully moved in to both our little farm in the rainforest and our sexy city studio smack in the middle of Sydney. Everything is in place and our heads have finally wrapped around the logistics of traveling between both homes in extreme locations and finding a way for life to feel grounded. There are a lot of complications and roadblocks that could be thrown at all this but everything seems to be working out in the right way and I’m certain that it’s because it’s the right time. More than that really. The timing is divine. What I haven’t quite figured out yet is where to leave our cat Cleo’s ashes so I’ve let go of figuring it out and for now she’s been doing the commute with me whether we drive or fly, back and forth. Perhaps one day we’ll scatter them but for now it feels better for me to have an aspect of her physical form close. In many ways that cat and her passing set off a lot of strange magic that has covered us at every turn so even without these ashes, her presence is still felt. But for now I’m keeping what I can of her close. I talk about some of this strange magic in my latest podcast episode #64 “ The Right Things Happen In Their Right Time”. I recorded it up here at the farm today and I was surprised in that I still cry when I speak about Cleo. I sometimes think I should be over the grief but what can I say, It still feels raw. But the raw is good because it leaves me open to magical thinking - a state of mind that has its pleasures and comforts. And I swear to god, when I listened back to it, I noticed that when I spoke about her, amongst me choking up, there were also birds singing loudly. Coincidence perhaps. Or maybe the timing was just right for them to sing and me to hear their call ;). Either way I’m calling it all divine. You can listen on iTunes, Stitcher - just google Susan Paget or The Change Guru on iTunes. #podcastsforwomen #crazycatlady #divinetiming

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I was gonna begin this post talking about how I don’t even know where to start with the changes that have happened in my life over the past month. But then just now, in the city walking to get my teeth cleaned, I turned a corner and almost bumped into another woman who was clearly in a lunch hour hurry and not in the mood to have anything get in the way. I kind of smiled and said « Oops! » But she snapped a nasty « Keep to the left! » meaning because we’re in Australia, the general direction is to stay to the left side of things. I was keeping right at that moment but seriously after living here since the 80’s I didn’t know this was a thing walking into a building!!! Or maybe I’m just out of the city loop right now. I’d just come back from a week at our new home, a farmlet in the rainforest. Everything is slow up there and people have time. Being back in the heart of Sydney, right at lunch hour is a bit of a shock to the system. So being on the receiving end of a stranger’s anger stung maybe more than usual when my skin is tougher. The snark in me thought of a few retorts I could’ve said so I could attack straight back but then I realized that I actually train for these moments of challenge every single day- twice a day. I sit in silence and following the technique of Vipassana. I think about equanimity and impermanence in the good times and bad. This was an opportunity to make my practice real. I walked to my dentist and rather than feeling bad for a mean reaction I chose to bring myself back to balance and to let this wash over me. And then I chose to use this as my post today because often we think people make us feel a certain way when in truth, it’s we who choose how to interpret it. I often have to remind myself that I have a choice and today was one of those days. It’s not easy to do but in my experience so far it’s often the best choice- balance yourself out before lashing out. Oh and the pic is of me preparing our own personal stash of coffee beans from the farm. We just discovered we have a couple coffee trees on the property so we’re gonna try our hand and roasting our own! #citylife #vipassana #chooseyourthoughts

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A really dear friend of ours messaged today to let me know that on occasion he reads my posts and enjoys seeing how I handle - and sometimes don’t handle - all the things life brings. His note came at a funny time, one of those uncertain “not handling” times and it inspired me to share. Over the past six months I’ve written about a series of natural occurrences - some enjoyable, others difficult- that have happened in my life. Nothing’s really unique about all this- we’re experiencing milestones all the time. But one thing I notice is that for the first time in my life I DON’T feel the pressure to throw work into this mix. I DON’T have an inspired energy to stay up all night and create or come up with new ideas and put them out there. I’ve always based my self esteem on how busy I am, so this shift- when I’m finally NOT doing the hustle- is an odd place to be. I have to admit that there’s a part of me that misses the life long drive I’ve had to try and make something of myself, to fulfill my potential. Who was that girl? Will she ever come back? Logically, knowing that life is long and that there are different seasons to it, I think she will but for this moment, now is my season to hold still and be okay with my work pulse either being dormant or conserving itself as the ground shifts underneath my feet. So when my friend mentioned about how I DON’T handle things, this is one of those. Years ago, with a lot going on I would’ve automatically chosen to add crazy to the mix and continue to work, even harder, almost ignoring what was going on around me. Now though, I think I’ve learned my lesson, that if I go that route again, I’ll miss what’s right in front of me. Call it getting older or waving a white flag to all the “shoulds” and “have to’s, I just don’t want to. For once in my life I’m good with sitting on the sidelines, listening and watching. But on the chance this weird state of not being and doing is temporary and the muse and the drive return, I probably should try and enjoy it while it lasts. #chilling #accepting #over50 (at Manly Beach, Sydney Australia)

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If you’ve moved before you’d know that at first it’s a mind numbing jumble of tasks- the organising, sorting, packing, ditching and shipping of belongings. Once you get into it though, there comes a time where there’s a clearing. There’s new space. You can feel the energy and the once exhausting mission takes on a pleasant momentum. Drawers and cupboards empty out, walls become unadorned, floors and rooms only hold bare essentials. That’s the stage we’re in right now with our Sydney apartment. Tomorrow we’ll do a final check to double ensure that every box we’ve packed contains what gives us joy. And the next day we’ll wrap our art. And then the movers come to take it to our new - old house!- up in the rainforest. There’s very little there as well- just a couple camping chairs and sleeping bags. Even when the move’s complete there won’t be much as not a lot of stuff made the cut. That’s fine. It might be my age but I finally feel patient with NOT filling up a home. For now though, I’m going to savor these few days of empty- where the majority of our material needs are on the back of a truck on some highway- because I know that old saying of « Nature abhors a vacuum » is true. Despite loving the feeling of empty, soon enough drawers will be full, walls will have pictures, there will be a bed to lay on - and up at this particular house, there will always be something that wants to get into it (watch the end of the vid to see what I mean!) The peace you can experience, this energetic space you can feel, has been one of the nicest side effects of moving. Perhaps if I would’ve known this was a feeling you could cultivate for our past house moves, I would’ve been less daunted from the onset. #movingtip #treechange #konmari

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« My god, this might be the last breakfast with our table!» Dale said this morning. He’s preparing a brekkie of bagels in honour of my birthday and in an hour, someone is coming to pick up our 20 year old family dining table, part of the process of packing, tossing, donating and selling that comes with moving house. It’s a coincidence but it does seem that this state of taking stock and culling our belongings is a perfect ritual for a birthday. I’ve always loved decluttering and this feels like an appropriate time to only take what I love through the next year. None of the things that I’ve been shedding have mattered that much until I sold our kitchen table yesterday. This table has had nothing but happy family. gatherings including millions of breakfasts. It’s infused with great energy and the new owner will love it. But me, it surprisingly brings up emotion. Through this table I do feel my age and the weight of a life time. I do my best to let the feelings of time going by too fast and wanting to slow it down pass. I sit down at the family table for a final brekkie with a little lump - of joy, of endings, of gratitude, of beginnings- in my throat. #birthdaygirl #letitgo #june21962 #movingon (at Manly Beach, Sydney Australia)

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Ahhh it feels like ages since I’ve checked in! I mentioned a couple posts back that my family and I were going through a major change and this is that Dale and I, at 56 years old, have bought our FIRST home. It took us 30 plus years to find a location we could see a long term future in - and most importantly, it took us nearly as long to learn how to do this without putting ourselves under financial stress. I could go on and on about money health - it’s a subject I love - maybe another time. For now though I need to mention one more thing about this house. It’s a 5 acre mini farm of organic fruit and veggies in the rainforest. It’s about 75% off grid with rain water tanks, a wood and gas stove and solar. There’s no garbage pick up- we’re talking compost and hyper recycling. The closest town is 20 mins away. As someone who’s never successfully grown a plant before, I’ve got a lot to learn but I feel if I could raise 3 kids and a cat, I can learn how to be a hobby farmer too. I’m hoping that you’ll be able to give me some ideas and advice on all this new stuff. I also think it could even be an amazing place to hold retreats down the track. But for now we’re in the thick of moving.The house is an hour plane flight from Sydney and for the time being we’ll be dividing our life between both the city and the country. Once the move is complete we’ll fall into a commuting groove but naturally, right now it’s all new and I’m not feeling my usual grounded self. What helps are my practices of daily yoga and meditation. They aren’t as extensive as I’d prefer but even mini versions are helping me feel like my feet are on this earth rather than floating like a space cadet. If you happen to be going through a time where life is chaotic, cling to your practices like a life preserver no matter how tempting it is to take a break. I think you’ll find, like I do, that this commitment to what helps you feel balanced during normal times will help you maintain some aspect of that feeling when everything is all over the shop! I look forward to sharing this new « it’s never too late » chapter of my life with you and hope it plants a seed for yours. #nevertoolate #treechange

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Hey from the lounge at LAX as I wait for my night flight back to Sydney. I’m going to completely miss Mothers Day because of the time zone changes but honestly I think I had the best Mother’s Day I’ve had in years because I spent this week with 3 incredible moms - my mother and my sisters.I’m so grateful for them - I wish I could just bottle this feeling of contentment and love. Whether it’s a quiet and contemplative one or busy and full of faces, Happy Mother’s Day to you. X Sue #mothersday #generations #sisters