Getting in the meditation zone

So I’ve recently decided to commit to meditating once a day, usually in the morning to set myself up for the day and do
whatever the voice guides me in to get me in the ‘right’ mind set…hmm?? That is questionable if I really think too much about it, so I stop thinking too much about it and just do it!

Last year a friend emailed me a guided meditation link to listen to this dude. She warned me, “Oh he will speak for awhile beforehand, but it is good once you get past his intro and get into it.” Ok, so I plug my headset into my iPad and eagerly await the mellowing of my mind or whatever it’s supposed to do and listen to this dude talk about himself, his history and…I don’t know after that, he was getting rather boring so I thought I’d check my emails and kinda got distracted with more important things to attend to and that was my meditation experience… enticing not.

“Donna, you should try meditating” said the one millionth friend, I have heard this so many times and it makes me think, am I that obviously in need of this?

So we all know I like to accept a challenge. “Donna if you do this you will notice changes” ok, so I will notice changes, questioning in my mind, the challenger obviously noticing my buzzing thoughts…is it that obvious?! “Yes, good things will start happening.” Well, in that case, let’s check this out, surely there has to be some sort of positive outcome if everyone is telling me to do it. The challenge was to meditate once a day, preferably first thing in the morning before I start the day for 30 days. Wow, 30 days in a row?! Could I commit to this?! So I went ahead and bought the guided CD and off I went.

Where do I sit and do this? Well I’ll play it at my desk in my laptop; I can use my headset and be in ‘the zone.’  So every morning I eagerly played, at first kind of easily guided by “the voice” then a week went by and I had imagined every relaxing place I could think of, the beach, the river’s edge, the rain forest, the beach, whatever else… let’s face it, how many smells, feelings, colours can I go through in 30 days? This was turning out to be hard work; this made me think of the things I had to get done that day…going through my list, when is this 20 minutes ending? What good things will happen? Now feeling guilty about thinking this way during a meditation,  I focused on goals, pictured them, surrounding them with a giant bubble (as the voice said to)and pushing it off into space…this was fun and entertaining at first…but every day? How many goals am I supposed to have? Do I put the same goal in every day and push them in a bubble off to space?

Finding a valid excuse to stop for awhile before my 30 days were up, I had someone stay with me…I couldn’t get away and have private time at my desk, there was no place to meditate! Can I transfer this CD on my iPhone and hide in my bedroom and find my peaceful zone? This was becoming all too difficult. THEN a thought came to my wondering mind, I wonder if there are meditation apps? Oh my, there were heaps! This was crazy trying to choose the ‘right’ one, spending all night in bed finding a meditation app, what a chore?!

Found it! Yes I now play it most mornings, sometimes even at night. No BIG decisions of what to put in the bubble, sometimes I even fall asleep but the voice says it’s ok to.

This is not meaning to be a write up against meditation. I actually really like taking the time to meditate now! Who’d have thought?

Now I bet you are asking if good things have happened to me since meditating, so am I! Is it just that if we look out for the good things and expect them in our life they are more apparent? I wonder…

The Power is in Me…it’s in You too!

Donna

Looking back to move forward

Last week I wrote about time and dare I say ‘Time Management’ the term we often shy away from, thinking maybe that’s possible for someone who has a Personal Assistant 🙂

It got me thinking about time and goals that I’m pursuing.

Yes, this week I had a ‘moment’ with a goal where I was left feeling flat and disappointed. It is a running goal that I’ve set with a time and date. This is to happen in a couple of weeks time, so I thought I’d test myself out.

This run had me a little disappointed this weekend, ok I was in tears! I ran for a certain time; smiling, being grateful that I CAN run and doing the best I could on the day … and didn’t make the distance in the time planned and YES I was disappointed. “In tears about a dumb run?” The voice in my head questions almost mocking me. Yes, I cannot believe I’m admitting this to you.

This made me think of my running journey and looking back at my diary, I read:

“Jan 21, 2013 – Doing my long brisk walk session this evening, I found myself walking along a path with a huge grin on my face. This isn’t as long as I once thought… not so long ago it was a massive achievement to run this length. Now I finally take time to breathe and look back at how far I’ve come and the improvements I have made.

This is something I’m learning to do with this marathon challenge, as I have done in the past with my whole life journey, just to pause once in a while, breathe and look back and see how far I have come and where I am going.

I have heard people say, even motivational speakers, “Look forward and never look back.” I understand what they mean, but I still think looking back for me, personally reminds me of the journey that has led me to now hasn’t always been rainbows and lollipops reminding me how I have succeeded and struggled in the past to get to my goals. At this particular moment I am reminded of the fact that it takes baby steps to get to a big goal. So I look back at my small baby steps here; 30 steps, then this path and next my 5.3km fun run challenge and now it appears more achievable in my mind, encouraging me to keep believing in me.” 

Reading this brings me to a state that encourages me to keep going, keep striving to reach my goal, even if it doesn’t happen on the exact date. I must also admit, I haven’t put in the training time as I should to train for such a result to happen…

Have you ever made a goal and haven’t quite reached it at the exact time you aimed for? We all do it from time to time; I’m not claiming to be Queen Goal Achiever 🙂 So maybe we should look back once in a while and keep striving for that goal and pat ourselves on the back for the distance we have made already along the way…I’m not just talking about running.

The Power Is In Me…it’s in You too!

Donna

Too busy?

So last week I was set a challenge by a friend…as you know, I love a good challenge!

If you take a peek at my last blog; he figuratively slapped me in the face to make a point of my need to keep going, moving forward and make the time to write. Write my book…as planned.

Ok, I came up with some fairly convincing excuses, as we all can do from time to time AND time was one of them. So now following what was my idea, well not exactly my idea, but a topic I once trained people in ‘Time Management.’ Time Management, boring blah blah blah…yawning as I think of this idiom… but maybe not so boring after all!

I’ve realised that when making this into a challenge or even wanting to prove my friend WRONG…(grinning as I write). Children do this all the time, maybe the child still hasn’t left my mind yet. I am currently enjoying the step I have made to move closer to my goal and not see it as a chore.

This could even be compared to training for a marathon, putting in the time, the km’s, the effort, this all comes out to be a positive result in the end, right?

To refresh your mind on what my challenge is; I promised my friend last week I’d set aside at least one hour (this included switching off my phone and email) to write at a specific time each day giving my book the respect it deserves AND the people who read it. These words made me realise there was a true meaning to this challenge and not just about proving my friend wrong. The report; I am even writing more than one hour most days!

Well, what if we looked at this even in our bigger picture? We could make everyday efforts a challenge in our own mind or have a friend, partner or even colleague make us accountable if this is what’s needed to move forward.

Instead of making excuses to our imaginary friend in our mind whom always understands and allows us to get away with missing that training session, or eating that extra cake or just finishing off the last cigarette packet for the one millionth time, or even just watching another two hours of TV. But what’s wrong with that? I hear your brains humming 🙂 Nothing!

Nothing if you are good with creating a gap that’s way too big to even contemplate your goal. A gap away (not toward) from you running a marathon and empowering your son, or you losing weight and feeling great about yourself for fitting into those slim jeans, or you quitting the cigarettes for better health and seeing your kids grow, or you spending more quality time with your partner than with a box opposite your couch.

Remind yourself when setting your challenge and reaching for your goal to focus on what you are aiming for…just sayin’

 

The Power Is In Me…it’s in You too!

Donna

 

Ouch!

Creating time around our BIGGER picture goals is another goal in itself, it seems. I am finding this when writing my book.

Have you ever found yourself dreaming of a wish, goal, aim…whatever you want to call it? But hear yourself (whether it is out loud or that annoying voice in your head) saying; “Where will I find the time?” or “I don’t have the time!” or “There are higher priorities than me following some dream.” Oh, it looks sad when I see it written in words, but we find ourselves saying this too often.

I found this has been the case for me recently unfortunately. Yes, there have been distractions in my life in the last month or so that were truly important…but also if I think about it, I have allowed other not so important diversions get in the way.

Just the other day I had a discussion with someone about the lack of commitment I have recently felt toward my book writing, not intentionally, but maybe subconsciously through fears of my own. He stated; “Donna, you need to share your story, think of the people you will be helping when they read it.” Yes, I have heard this said to me before but then he went on; “Donna, STOP being selfish! This is not about you, this is about your message that you need to share, so give this book the respect that it needs!”

Whoa! Ouch! Was this a slap in the face OR just what I needed to hear? Whatever you call it, it shook me up! After we spoke of the lives that I have already touched, inspired and encouraged, including adults and children, and even how parents have stated to me how I have become a role model, this was the stuff that took me aback; me, a role model?! To children?! This is the kinda stuff that is honestly scary to me… maybe the stuff that makes me a little nervous about writing.

But after looking back with my friend, who just knocked me out, realising the impact that little ol’ me has given with my story already, he was right! I had to get out of my head and into my heart.

Reminding me also of other BIG goals I have achieved. The marathon I achieved by remembering “why”…Why was I doing (some would say) this ridiculous challenge? Why was it so important for me to achieve? These are the questions we need to keep reminding ourselves when setting a goal, WHY? Yes, it is important to know how too, but the real reason for reaching your goal comes from your why… and setting a date.

So the steps I now promised my friend I’d do were to set aside at least one hour (switch of my phone and email…aahh!!) to write at a specific time each day to give my book the respect it deserves AND the people who read it. Ready! Set! Go!

What steps will you make to reach your goal!

 

The Power Is In Me…it’s in You too!

Donna

A Frame in Time

Have you ever gone back in time with thoughts that bring a smile to your face? Or thoughts that may even leave you feeling in a state of agony? Or perhaps the sound of a tune brings back an emotion that captures you in the exact state of feeling and brings a picture from the past in your mind or even that physical tingling of joy that is associated with that tune. We’ve all been there right?

I am feeling this today as I write and reflect back in time of past stories I am sharing in my book. I keep going on about how scary and exciting this is, but it is also a adventure that I am happy to go back to and experience all the exciting moments all over again, which is my aim as a writer to take you into a journey as if you are in it and there with your own thoughts and eyes to see what you wish through my words of reflection. However there are moments of my past that bring tears to my heart, but also give me and the reader the opportunity to reflect and feel different emotions all over again.

Today though, I am pleased to be writing about when I first started sharing with people close to me, other than my coach’s, about my huge marathon challenge.

The feelings of excitement that I had in myself, to learn to run again came rushing back. That original feeling even gave me the past feeling before that; from a memory of myself at seven years of age, running across the school oval in a race with my classmates and coming across the line first. Not really fully realising back then the distance of what a marathon would be like on foot. Yes, I knew it was 42.2 kms but that was a number I really hadn’t initially fully comprehended. I just knew it was a huge goal and that I was going for it and that I was excited.

As silly, naive or some would say just plain stupid as that may seem, I like to think of it as an exciting time and a case of having no fear of the unknown…this makes me smile as I write.
It reminds me of how we can associate feelings we place on ourselves that we connect with any goal. This can be a positive result or even end up as a negative.

If I held onto negative feelings associated with running a marathon, then that is what would have manifested negativity, and I would not have even started training for it.
So today’s writing has put me in a frame of time, bringing back an animated feeling, giving a response of joyful overwhelm all over again as if I were back in that picture.

Who knows what tomorrows writing will bring, it’s not all sunshine and lollipops…but that’s what makes life interesting.

The Power is in Me…it’s in You too!
Donna

Once upon a time…

Since writing my last blog I sadly received unfortunate news of a death in my family. Naturally it is a sad time, he will be missed by loved ones, but at the same time he lived a full long healthy life of over 91 years of age.

Listening to the eulogy at the funeral service, the amazing story told of a passionate man who survived the escape in a communist country fleeing armed soldiers and receiving refuge from nuns who protected him…this was just a tip of the adventures that lay ahead for the life of a truly heroic young man who left his family, stopping along his travels through a few countries to eventually start a new life in Australia.

It is always an interesting time when hearing a eulogy, even if you have known somebody all your life or only for a moment, there is always something new revealed in a eulogy…in a life story. We never really know the full details of one’s life until there is a time such as this when a group of people get together to join in to contribute their thoughts, their knowledge, their experiences in this life to form a eulogy.

I was even asked to stand in front of the service to give my reflections, and pass my experience of the times that I shared to give the essence of a true gentleman and pleasant character that he held. Even though I had never been in this position to share stories at a funeral service, it was a privilege and honour to be asked to contribute in his tribute.

This got me thinking of the story telling that I am currently doing with the writing of my book, my own life story. Just as it is interesting to hear others opinions, stories, secrets even of a passed person’s life which you thought you may have known, this can too be the case in my own living life. How can that be so?! It seems kind of odd right? But maybe not.

When reflecting on my own life writing the past experiences that lead me to where I am today, there is so much of a journey to be told that can be added by others like in a eulogy to combine and make a story or reflection from, I consider this almost like a school assignment.

Sharing my story in a book from the age of 7 years of age not only involves my own thoughts and memory but also others who were in that same picture, for example my parents and looking over my medical records, which looks like a novel in itself! This has involved intriguing conversations with my mother and father and hearing stories that I didn’t even know that had actually involved me, almost like hearing some other body’s eulogy.

Why do we wait to have to write someone’s eulogy to find these amazing journeys when we could share intriguing stories right now?

 

The Power Is In Me!

Donna

 

Pushing Back Harder

Recently I was lucky to meet an amazing woman on a running track…
but was it luck?

We met whilst fighting our own personal war (not with each other, but with ourselves) while running a marathon last month! Yes, I am a marathon runner! It feels great to brag about it 😉

Her name is Athena and I am grateful to have met this inspiring woman.

We, my wonderful team and I, ran beside her and noticed she was at a point of struggle. We asked Athena, “Do you want to join us?” thinking she may benefit from our camaraderie. Pointing out that she was finding it tough, but looked appreciative of our offer, Athena hopped on board.  We encouraged Athena and kept up with our high spirits of “let’s do this together and achieve!” attitude, even though admittedly I was experiencing great hip pain myself.

It was at the 10km mark where we met our new found goddess of heroic endeavour, who was close to quitting, as Athena was in great pain and was fighting her own conflict of the mind. Only two weeks before she was hit by a car! Yes, physically hit by a four-wheel drive vehicle when running! But she was here! Running a marathon! Fighting her own battle! This was a very reasonable, some would argue qualified reason to stop at 10km and many would pat her on the back and say “Good on you Athena for trying, 10km is great…”

It is even amazing that Athena turned up to the start line!

After meeting us, Athena proclaimed that she would run to the halfway mark, “yes, that sounds like a great achievement, well done for going halfway!” said the voice in her mind with the white suit and wings, stroking her forehead.

We reached the halfway mark, to see Athena was still on her heroic journey! This was a tough game, made slightly easier (I said slightly) at times with encouragement, great team spirit; determination and positive self talk. I am speaking from my own experience too of this massive challenge.

As we ran, my coach revealed my personal story with our new team member. About my survival of a childhood stroke and determination to achieve my marathon goal, after just learning to run 11 months before where I could only run 30 steps. This inspired her even more to stick with us and keep going on this purposeful journey.

Stories were shared along this taxing track of challenging weather conditions and immense physical pain. We were impressed to learn that Athena had run in the Athens marathon the year before and that it was a victory like no other. (Hearing her name was Athena and she had run the Athens marathon impressed us alone!…haha).

Her Athens challenge was an amazing run, she trained with her heart and soul to run for her Grandfather who lived in Greece and was no longer able to walk, but had a fighting spirit of a soldier sharing his love and positive advice to his inspired Granddaughter and many who knew him; “When Life Pushes You! Push Back Harder!”  This quote had stuck in her mind all the way during her marathon wars and applies to her positive and inspiring attitude in life.

Sadly Athena’s Grandfather passed away before her massive Athens marathon achievement began; although he was still with her in spirit pushing her on to achieve her special marathon victory.

There are people we meet in life that inspire us, that will live in our mind forever, this is the case for Athena with her much loved Grandfather, and this is the case for me with the strong amazing woman that ran with us till the very end.

Watching Athena achieve her tough goal, for me… was gold.

The Power is in You!

Donna

So, what’s next, Donna?

“So what’s next Donna?” This is a question that is being thrown at me repeatedly, from many of you who have been following my Run Donna Run journey. So I thought I’d write this for you all, here goes!

RDR Supporters

I have been so blessed to meet so many beautiful, encouraging, supportive people on this journey that I feel like I have a huge extended family now. My own family and friends have always been there for me, that to me I will always treasure. Now however, I have more special people that are from all over the world that I may never meet in person, but have made connections with through the RDR journey that I will cherish.

Let me start from the beginning of the RDR journey. The idea began on the evening of November 16, 2012. I was walking along Elwood beach on a gorgeous evening when I was passing people on a path that were walking as well as running. I thought to myself, I have been always happy to walk; especially since this was something I was unable to do at the age of 8 years when I had the stroke. So I have since never taken that for granted. But this particular evening I noticed the people running by and I wondered if it were possible that I could do that again. This is something I have clumsily attempted on the odd occasion when I have crossed a road and thought I was going to get run over by a crazy driver…haha…but not very well, thank god they slowed down as I don’t think I could save my life through my ability to only shuffle a few steps, nearly tripping myself over…haha.

So this particular evening I thought; I am going to give this a go! I wasn’t with anybody, so the thought did come to mind ‘What if I fall? Who’s going to catch me?’ but then realising, ‘Don’t be stupid Donna, you’ve fallen plenty of times before and survived! Give this a go!’ So I did!  First I started with 20 steps, next was 24, then 25…the last was 30 steps… I didn’t fall but had to stop. I knew I needed help.

So I went home all excited with the idea that I would learn how to run. Well if I managed 30 steps, surely I could increase this. I went home to Deb my housemate and announced as I do, when I think I have a great idea “I just ran 30 steps! I am going to get somebody to train me!…maybe I’ll do a fun run!…maybe I can raise money for a cause!…maybe!…maybe!…”

I don’t know if Deb thought I was crazy at the time, but she smiled graciously anyway, as any good housemate would.

Deb has been a personal trainer in the past, so I put the offer to her first, knowing that she was over the whole personal trainer gig, I asked if she would be willing to help. However, she was busy with other commitments, she declined but suggested to look online for self help training programs …I raced to my PC looking online, feeling overwhelmed at the idea of following some main stream program that did not necessarily suit my needs and knowing that I needed people interaction, not a written program that I found boring and difficult to follow. A thought came to me! Who was that guy that I met at the business seminar I went to in October? He said something about him and his business partner coaching and teaching people to run…

I scurried through my notes from the seminar, as I knew he wrote his name and website down for me and found the gold ticket, so to speak, it was Chris from brewstersrunning.com! I looked at the site and as always went straight to the ‘About Us’ tab to find Shaun Brewster and Chris O’Driscoll. These guys were clearly knowledgeable, qualified and even experienced ultra-runners. So here it began, me writing a carefully written email to see if these guys would help me out.

Less than a half hour after sending this to them, I receive an email back from Shaun:

Hi Donna,

Let’s do it!

I’ll call you tomorrow to discuss it further.

It would be our pleasure to help you and the thousands of people that you will help.

Looking forward to working with you.

Shaun Brewster

Wow! That was quick!

The idea of running a marathon was not even close to my plans for a fun run to raise funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital. This idea came from Shaun in the first phone conversation that I had with him, before he even met me in person and saw how I even walked, let alone run. I thought this guy was crazy, but at the same time I could sense his enthusiasm and willingness to help me and I was appreciative of that.

The words that have always stuck in my mind from that phone conversation with Shaun are “Donna, anyone can run a marathon, it’s all to do with your mindset.” These words have stuck like glue in my mind for the last 11 months.

So as crazy as it may have sounded to my family and friends at first, when announcing that I was going to run a marathon in October, 2012. This was a belief that I held in my mind that I could and would be doing. Bring it on!

So I shared my plans with my good friend Steph who is a super creative woman and more knowledgeable at social media ‘stuff’ than I am. We had worked together on a fundraising project in the past that she had created so I knew she had experience to help. Steph was very excited and even emotional when I told her and gladly hopped on board the RDR team journey, being the chief photographer, social media queen and incredible support and friend. Thanks HEAPS Steph!

So began the roller-coaster journey of the Run Donna Run campaign.

Brewster’s Running has been incredible with their support, coaching, advice and friendship. I will be forever grateful for their belief in me, especially to Shaun for helping me through even some tough personal challenges along the way.

Many of you know the reasons of my challenge. Yes, it is a HUGE personal challenge. It was also to raise funds for the RCH that I will be forever grateful for (saving me from the serious life threatening condition I was in from the stroke and diabetes type 1). My parents were told by doctors that I would never walk again.

The goal was to also use my story to encourage and inspire others. I of course had You as another reason to keep going, the wonderful support from all that followed my journey and encouraged me along the way, I just couldn’t let you down.

Brian and Eli

Another special reason to do this challenge was for my brother Brian, my brother who was always so encouraging of everything I did including my marathon challenge, sadly passed away in March this year from cancer, he was so brave and fought to the end. You may have noticed I wore a black arm band on marathon day and had BRIAN written on my arm, this made me strong and helped get me across the line. I was crossing the finish line for Brian. I miss him every day.

As any marathon runner would know and I hear this a lot, running a marathon is a mental game. There ups and downs, but I was so lucky to have a wonderful team with me Shaun, Chris and John, who I will be forever grateful to have in my life. We also picked up an amazing woman along the way in Albert Park, Athena who stuck with us, thank you also. There are too many words that I cannot even put together in this blog, to acknowledge my appreciation for their efforts on the day. I am saving it for them personally.

The amazing support along the way on the day of the marathon, I need to make special mention to. These are the people who ran alongside me through some tough times, both for me and the crazy weather 🙂 or those who waited to see me pass on the track: Neil Sjostrom, Annitta Macauley, Thomas Macauley, Neetha Nambiar, Will Woods, Laura Scott, Rebecca and Scarlett Hughes, Carla Campisi, Matt Morrison, Peter Iorlano, Carolyn, Matt, Flynn, Oliver and Isla Tiley, Enisa and Trevor Kasar, Kate Jayne and Abbey O’Driscoll. It was wonderful to have your smiles with me even through all of that crazy weather.

The end result was amazing for me. Running on the MCG has always been the image in my mind on the day and even when training for those 11 months to keep me motivated. I JUST made it before the cut off time in 6:53:15 (cut off time being 7 hours) but I did it!

The Power is in Me

There were an awesome bunch of people who waited there for me including family, friends and even my new extended family of RDR supporters, it was amazing and I will be forever grateful for everyone’s support both on the day and all who have followed me online. Thank you! Thank you!

So, getting back to the original question? “What next?” I am still pumped and on a high from my achievement. I will still keep running, as I always say “there’s always room for improvement” and I want to better myself.

I haven’t set another huge challenge yet; I think I still would like the time to enjoy this moment before rushing into something else. I hope you can appreciate that.

I still have media interest even after the event and am being asked to speak at different events, which I love to do, as I want to encourage others to ‘Do!’

The fundraising hasn’t ended; I have a goal to raise $50,000 for the RCH ‘Wish List’ and this I will continue to do. You can help by going to http://rchfoundation.com.au/donna_campisi No matter how small or big your donation, it all is greatly appreciated.

The RDR website and facebook page will still continue to give you updates on what we are up to as well as let you know of any events that come up.

The message through all of this just in case you haven’t heard me say “There’s no such thing as can’t…” and “The Power is in YOU.”

Forever grateful,

Donna