Wednesday, 13 August 2014

Self directed improvement in life


A large part of what we were taught in coaching classes is that CHANGE is never as powerful or lasting as when it is self directed. In this day and age whereby you can literally find evidence or some kooky study on why you should do this, that and everything because it is good for you, where does one start?

Our environment is liberally over-saturated with information. We are now able to be everything we can dream of. You can get formal or informal instruction on how to do or be anything you can conceive of. How do we then use coaching to help someone?

First and the hardest bit is realising that you can NOT help anyone who is not ready. You can lead the cow to the water but that Daisy isn't gonna drink it just because you want her to. The same concept applies to change in anyone's life.

We wait.

Life has a funny way of teaching you the same lessons over and over again until one day, bored and fed up of the groove you've dug in your life, you need change. That will be the right time to act. Not before.




Tuesday, 12 August 2014

Cruising, our way!


Check this out! Scenes like this are why I am attracted to cruising as a way of vacationing. Coupled with the fact that you only unpack and pack ONCE and get to travel to a selection of destinations, I'm sold!

So far, out of the 5 cruises we have taken, there's only been one disappointing one. I've learnt that cruises caters to different crowds and you better do your homework to find out that you are agreeable to their target audience before booking.

Cruising tips :

1. When you board, book or reconfirm your shore excursions and dining times. The last thing you need is to turn up for a nonexistent excursion or miss out on a booked and paid for tour.

2. Dress appropriately for your tour and weather. I have seen one brave (not very smart) girl on 5 inch platform heels tottering on cobblestone roads.. NOT a good idea!

3. The food onboard will be plentiful. It will be good ( if you're lucky). As such, treat mealtimes with respect. Dress up and dine. Enjoy your food and wine. AND desserts!

4. Skip the lift, take the stairs. Even if you do not wish to hit the gym, all the walking around a huge cruise ship helps burn the calories you consume onboard the cruise.

5. Make use of the library! Instead of lugging heavy paperbacks or an ipad, take the time to curl up in your balcony with a cup of hot tea and loose yourself in fiction.

6. Spend smart. Little expenditures add up, especially when no cash is involved. Bring your essential medications, toiletries and sunscreens instead of purchasing them on board. Have your coffees when you are ashore and get in a bit of the local culture thrown in for free!

7. Mingle. Seeing the same faces over and over again while on vacation makes it easy to bond. Exchanging pleasantries and stories will make for a pleasant time onboard even if you never see each other again after the cruise. (This is the norm rather than the exception)

8. Use the kid's club! Allow your children some time to mingle with other kids and yourself, some adult time to snooze or booze.

9. Lastly, enjoy yourself, you're on holiday! Live a little! That said, I will leave you with just some of the fantastic meals we had on board...