'There is nothing unusual about that...'
On a Saturday afternoon, on the grounds of a very nice art gallery in the middle of New South Wales Wine Region, we found a rather large uninhabited spot of grass. It was manicured, soft and had very little contact with anything heavier that a bird, until we arrived.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
A pic in time
My sister and I were in Budapest a few years back and I remember we had to kill time before our scheduled train trip into the countryside. We passed a small convenience store where fresh produce winked from the wooden cart. I bought us a couple of bananas. The streets were empty except for the garbage collectors down the way. The sun was just peeking through the shadows. Apart from fog, cobblestone streets and textured city sidewalks, I also have a fascination with gaudy entrance doors. They tell a different story. If they could talk. Pictured, this door leads down underground. It could be a cellar, it could be an underground record store. I’m not sure. But my sister passed it nonetheless, oblivious that it was there. You wouldn’t have guessed we were on our way to a funeral.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
Make every minute count
I was sitting on an open top bus in London January 2020 when I took this photo. At the time I didn’t know what the billboard was advertising, however, the message resonated with me. LIke a call from the universe, we had stopped at a set of traffic lights and it yelled out to take a look. Was it in anticipation of what was about to come? We had heard some reports of a virus spreading in China, but in January, Australia was on fire. Literally. Naturally, our attention was focussed on what was happening back home.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
Everything has a story to tell
We hadn’t enjoyed a Saturday morning get together since I don’t know when. But whenever the three of us get together, it’s always going to be filled with lively and sometimes hilarious conversation. And when a bestie’s birthday falls on a weekend, there is no excuse to not celebrate all day, hence, we the three stooges as the birthday girls’ father affectionately calls us these past thirty-five years headed off to lively King Street in search of a hipster organic, fair trade and sustainably farmed breakfast slash lunch and then endeavoured to stroll along the bustling retail strip, weaving in and out of one concept store to another.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
Go on..try not to smile!
Change the mind, you'll change the world.
Before I begin, let me just outline that while I’m not a clinical expert in the field of psychology or an advocate for violence, I do want to point out that dealing with the bully in the 80s was a lot easier than it is now. And I really feel for those kids who have to deal with the issue that seems to be repeated with every generation.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
Never assume on a daily walk...
As a creature of habit, you will most likely find me taking my daily walk at the same time every weekday. I plan, it’s scheduled in my online diary, friends can catch me on the phone as I am most likely listening to a podcast or song, generally, it’s a green light for any future stalker. Contemplating now, perhaps, is not such a good idea. That being stated, there are others like me, who walk the same path around our area, albeit opposite, which, is another OCD moment on my behalf because I tend to walk the same path at the same time in the same direction.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
Has the current pandemic forced us to compartmentalise even more?
Look at your to-do list, admit it, you’ve ticked a lot of boxes…
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
Dear ISO, I’m running out of time…
I am now moving into my seventh week of working from home ISOlation. And I’m loving it, but not loving it. I’ll admit to missing the buzz of interacting with colleagues in the office. I miss not being able to go on long drives and excursions for the day. I miss not being able to meet up for walks at the beach or coffee with friends. I miss that my retail outlets are closed and I can’t just wander in for a look. I miss that the cinemas are closed, that I missed out on the French Film festival, international concerts, the ballet, the opera. I miss visiting the art gallery. I miss seeing my siblings and extended family. When it boils down, it’s the personal contact that Maslow so highly regarded as essential to our human well being that is missing right now.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
The power of the collaborative voice
Today I received a lovely email from our local mayor. Well it wasn’t just directed at me, of course I was part of a consortium, but a part of it I was. A little while ago I was reminded of a survey that I was asked to partake. The survey requested my support to oppose a potential change to a ferry service along the shores of one of our many rivers. Now if you live in Sydney, you would have rode at least once, the ferry into the city. It’s a lovely mode of transport, especially on a warm spring day. Clinical papers have proven the effects of fresh air and water having a positive impact in lowering stress levels as well as clearing sinuses, and increasing the overall well-being of the psyche. It was with this thinking that for the first time, I lent my email address, I entered my personal details and took the time to oppose the suggestion cut to the now privatised ferry service
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
Wheelfulness, it's a visual of calm
I ask the question: “How does this image make you feel?”
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
Is December 26 our only day of rest?
Christmas in our part of the world tends to begin on December 1st. Work is gearing up for Christmas, the shop windows are dressed with baubles and lights, heck I even heard a Christmas Carol whilst tearing down the aisles on December 7. And after all that is the joyous time of Christmas and the family gatherings have ceased, the food coma surpassed and reflections on the past 12 months, December 26 seems to be the only day of rest. For on December 27, the machine starts once again. This morning December 26, 2019 I’ve allowed myself to simply rest, not feeling one iota that the dishwasher needs unpacking or that anyone in the household wants breakfast, yes, they can get it themselves.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
The Arty Farty Retreat, everyone needs a little creative outlet...
I think this will be my shortest blog entry ever. Imagine a group of friends together, getting creative. That’s my existence today. Today we are painting, drawing, writing, we’re getting the creative juices flowing. How important for our psyche to just let it all hang out. I’m not sure we allow ourselves the liberty of simply letting ourselves to rest or to speak to our creative selves, everyone is so goddamn busy. Today I’ll keep my observation to a minimum, because I’m getting busy getting creative…
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
I know you're busy and I value your time...
This week, and perhaps subconsciously for quite some time now, I’ve been compartmentalising my life into sections of definitive time. Everyone I speak to is so, so, super busy. We juggle work and family, social and the everyday. I’m no exception to this rule, so when I look at the aspects of my time, one thing I prioritise is that I endevour to make every time period count. It doesn’t mean that every minute of the day is accounted for, there will always be the one hour binge fest where you just need to ‘chill out’, rather I’m giving value to my time and reciprocating those who give me their time. I watched a TED Talk recently about time management (see below) and what stood out for me, is that whilst we are trying to fit in all of the aspects of our lives into every 24 hours, what is the most effective use of your time? I’m writing this from my ‘people observations’ point of view.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
Don't let the age fool you
A few weeks ago my sister and I travelled OS together. This is something that we had never done before, so it was the beginning of a lot of ‘first’s.’ First to spend more than eight hours together, first to face tragedy together (another story to tell) and a first for me to show her the Budapest I love so so much. One of the ‘first’s’ was a visit to the thermal baths, one of the most famous in the city, The ‘Szecsenyi Furdo.’ The thermal healing waters of the baths were discovered in the 1880s and although now popular with tourists, the ritual of bathing in these baths has long been engrained in the culture of the Hungarian people. When I was a child only the mamas and the papas used to religiously frequent the 28 degree waters and I would complain how boring it was because I wasnt allowed in to ‘bomb’ and splash around. According to my great aunt Rose, the etiquette of relaxing in the soothing waters did not permit Sylvia aged 12 and her famous double barrel spike dive.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
Minimalism doesn't = minus
The other day I had an exciting date with an ironing board and a basket of washing. Boring I know, however, there does not seem to be an adequate ironing person who I can pay to iron and bring back my garmets on my wooden coathangers (hate those nasty wire hangers) but let’s save this rant for another time. This time I decided to multitask this laborious chore and pull out the ipad, place it on the laundry bench and switch over to Netflix. A new programe appeared on my screen it was called Minimalism*
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
Be the creator of memories
Lately there’s been numerous discussions in our household about getting out and doing things, see and experience life. Master X is hesitant and for the life of me I can’t understand why. I often compare his opportunities with my own (at his age) and when the topic arises, I’m surprised that he doesn’t jump at the chance to get on a plane (or train or any other modes of transport) and seek the (vicarious) adventure I crave. When I was trying to explain the importance of branching out and doing something out of your comfort zone, I summed it up in a statement, that ‘in order for one’s character to grow, one must create memories.’
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
My friend Selina.
A few weeks ago a work trip took me across the seas into downtown San Antonio. I was excited for the upcoming travels not only because I would be partaking in a summit of creatives, but the fact that I would be able to spend time with a past colleague who ultimately became a good friend after we both parted ways with an ex employer. (Left voluntarily, not the other way around!) You see Selina departed our shores to pursue a beau in the mid-western states and well, now she can safely say she’ll be wearing cowboy boots with nearly every outfit. What I also ascertained very quickly, was that San Antonio Texas is full of big things. Big trucks, Big voices and Big Appetites.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
An ode to my peeps
‘Come up and recuperate, you can relax and rest and get your body functioning again.’ This was the gift from one of my besties as I deal with my immediate reality, that and the fact that we can share our favourite Gin, chat, catch-up, sleep, FB, Insta and watch Netflix – however, we’ll leave that for another time. So for this particular post, I dedicate this to all my peeps.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez
Finding the 'f' in funny
I’ll admit I’ve let time lapse a little, however there has been a lot on lately. Apart from the usual, three months of chemo, three exams, three assignments (passed, thank goodness) and full time work, Ive been on a mission (with my likeminded friends, thanks Madam C) to ‘find funny.’ I made ‘Finding Funny‘ a mission. How else was I going to get through this horrible disease, without (metaphorically) losing it completely? I’ve scoured bookshops all over Sydney, the same question asked time and time again.
Published: Sylvia Jimenez