"Your too sensitive"

"Your too sensitive for your own good".. I get told this a lot.  I was only just speaking to a friend and this very phrase yet again fell upon my ears.  For anyone who, if like me, has heard this all too often, it can make you feel that there is something quite different about you.  It's probably inherited, or has stemmed from life's experiences.  I have heard that being a "Highly Sensitive Individual" occurs in about 15 percent of the population.It means that I/We are very much aware of subtleties in our surroundings, a great advantage in many situations.  It also means that we become more overwhelmed when we have been in a highly stimulating environment for too long, bombarded by sights and sounds until we feel exhausted in a nervous system sort of way.  So being sensitive has both advantages and disadvantages.
So, I took some time to think about these advantages and disadvantages, and decided to write them in my blog - to help me understand it more, and anyone else whom happens to stroll upon this blog and feels the same.I hope that at the end of it - we will see that there are more advantages to have this trait than there are not, and that being a highly sensitive person can benefit us in many ways, in our personal and professional lives.
So, to sum up how I see the world goes like this:


I seem to be very much aware of my environment. 
Other people's moods effect me. 
Im rather sensitive to pain.
I can get easily overwhelmed with things such as bright lights, strong smells, loud uncomfortable noises.
I dont like honeycomb expresso (this is just for a laugh incase a certain someone reads this :p ).
I have a rich, complex inner life.
I am deeply moved by arts and music.
I am conscientious.
I get rattled a lot when I have a lot to do in a short amount of time.
When people are uncomfortable in a physical environment, I tend to know what to do to make it comfortable.
I get annoyed when people try to get me to do many things at once.
I try hard to avoid mistakes or forgetting things.
I make it a point to avoid certain violent movies or things I know will play on my mind.
Changes in my life can shake me up.
I notice and enjoy delicate fine scents, tastes, sounds or works of art.
I appreciate the amazing beauty of nature.
I love to hear the rain and the smell afterwards.
I make it a high priority to keep my life in order.
Better at spotting errors.
Able to concentrate deeply.
Overactive, vivid imagination.
Im a morning person.
I have a high sex drive.
I am passionate and romantic.
I am very creative.
I can truly show real empathy towards others.
I love to laugh.
I get easily stimulated by things.
I love to be touched.
I have trouble shutting my brain off to sleep.
Spend a lot of time thinking about the Universe and the meaning of life.
I am prone to anxiety.

There are so many fruits growing from the trait of sensitivity, that it makes our minds work a little different.  I hope by now that you are seeing your trait as a positive term, I know I am.  It becomes either an advantage or a disadvantage only in certain situations, but it must have a high value in many circumstances.  I use to think that if I had the choice to turn off my sensitivity with an off button, that I would immediately do so, no hesitation.  But as I have got older, although it can in some way limit my life to a certain extent - I don't think I would be without it, because I wouldn't be me, and I wouldn't be doing what I am doing now.  So, any of you out there that may be the same, try to embrace what you have been given and use it to your advantage.

Thrive in an overwhelming world :)

People Who Share

We can learn a lot from each other.  We can all share our experiences - good or bad.  Sharing your successes and failures helps others think about themselves and their lives differently.
Don't discount your experiences, don't down play your successes, and always be open when someone is asking you how you got to where you are, because who knows who you will inspire along the way.

This is why I accepted to give a speech for new students starting at Murdoch University, mainly as external students.  I was asked to 'share' my story in front of what turned out to be about 150 students preparing to make that transition into University life.

We learn from one another's stories because we can see ourselves in the choices of other people, and we can try and avoid mistakes if someone has already made them.  If you ask questions to the people you meet - and you in turn open up about the questions that they ask you - you never know what someone is going to learn.  You could be inadvertently changing someone's path.  Give back a little of your experience's when asked.

Heres parts of the speech that I made.....

"My name is Janine, and I have been invited here to tell you my story, and I’m sure all of you sat here in this room, have a story to tell.

So, here’s mine... and a very brief account it will be....

I'll start from the beginning, I am from the UK, a place called South Yorkshire.  I am 31 years old and I am just starting my second year at Murdoch.

Back in the UK, I went to a normal comprehensive school, the school leavers age is about 15, I completed my GCSEs however I didn’t really do quite as well as I could have done.  During this time my mother had a very bad stroke, which disrupted my studies rather a lot, and also, I was too busy just being a young girl at school, I didn’t feel the need to stay home on an evening and study. After my exams had finished, I really wanted to progress onto further education.    In my day you either had to have done extremely well in school to get accepted into University, or, have lots of money, I didn’t have either, so this was not an option.  However, I really wanted more out of life, so, I did a 2 years college diploma in Sports and Beauty Therapy. 

I did very well in this, I was one of the top students, and since completing the course, I ran my own very successful beauty salon straight out of college, and have always done beauty therapy since.  This really did teach me some excellent communication skills, which have been of great importance later on in life.

Although I wasn’t a grade A student at the time, I feel that it has been my life’s experiences and the fact I went to college and worked within my industry all that time that it gave me an open door into University.  I thought it would be impossible for me to do, but it really isn’t! I decided to go to University because of quite a few factors.  

Since living in Australia I have had personally, quite a rough time.  Leaving home was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, I did not really want to move here in the beginning, as all of my family are still in UK , and to leave everyone and everything I knew, and my business, was very hard and didn’t really hit me until later on, but I did leave for reasons that I wont go on about today.  Since then I have had my fair share of ups and also a fair share of downs.  Not to dwell on the past, as past is past, but I am here to share my story with the hopes that some people can relate, so share I will.  To mention but a few, I had to endure a miscarriage and also had the responsibility for caring for 2 elderly and ill family members for about 2 years, all this whilst working to save to build a house and going through my own anguishes and anxieties, which I think had stemmed from my mothers stroke, leaving home, having to deal with loss and being a carer for someone terminally ill, things build up until one day you don’t know where or who you are anymore. It was a very hard time and life just seemed to plod along.  I couldn’t see a way out. 

But one day I just realized and thought, without any help and advice from anyone else, what the hell am I doing with my life, I had been doing the same job since school and was getting very bored with it, I had achieved everything I could achieve in this industry and was yearning for something else.   I moved to Australia for a new life and look where I was…. I asked myself, what is it I am truly interested in, what, if any subject I could study, what would it be.  Well, science, in particular Environmental Science, had always been of great interest to me along with sustainable development too, however I was always under the impression that I was no way near clever enough to get in, but I had to try.  I sent off my application, which I thoroughly and carefully compiled and sent it off.  I GOT IN!  It was the single greatest and proudest day of my life.

The only challenge that I had to face was actually overcoming my own fears and doubts about my ability to do this.  As I was a mature student I was concerned I wouldn’t fit in, or I wasn’t clever enough etc.  This I now know was so unnecessary.  The fact that I stepped out of my 'comfort zone', and hey we all have them,  and also having to deal with anxiety issues and the fact I had shut myself away for so long, it was a very scary situation to be in, but I had done so well to come this far.  

My first day was great and all the worries I had had just diminished into nothing, and the fact that I had absolutely fantastic tutors really helped me to fit in with much ease and enthusiasm.  Since that day, I have achieved a hell of a lot here at Uni and now working along side some of the most inspirational people I will ever meet.  

All I can say to anyone who is wanted to further their education but think it’s impossible is don’t, because it’s not.  Test yourself, step out of your comfort zone and believe in yourself.  There is so much in life to do than to sit and wonder what if, if you want to do something, do it!  You can find a way around things in order to succeed and Murdoch is very flexible, no matter what your circumstances are Murdoch can facilitate.  Give it a go it will be the best decision you can make.  If I succeed, fantastic, if I don’t, at least I have no regrets, as life is way too short for regrets, I have learnt this through tough lessons.  If something feels good and feels right, it must be good and right.  It’s all character building and any experience is beneficial.

Whatever reason you are here for, I can guarantee you one thing, that this experience, this journey, will be a positive one! 

It is changing me in so many ways, and all positive ways too, my confidence is growing from strength to strength and I am getting involved in things I had only dreamed I would be a part of.

Being mature age is really a good thing, when it comes to study anyway, as we already have well developed communication skills, and we are here because we want to be, so take advantage of the skills you already bring with you and use them to your advantage.

There will be times when it is challenging or overwhelming, but my advice is always ask for help.  Get to know your teachers; they are the ones that will guide you.  Be sure to keep communication with them at all times, studying externally can be every different from internally, I study some units internal and some external and there is a difference, so it is very important to keep close contact.

Be sure to check your University online website everyday and also be a part of the online communities, that way you will feel part of the group. 

So if you ever think to yourself “ I can’t do this!” well, you are here and you ARE doing this, and I’m a prime example that you can.

Enjoy this journey and good luck

Thank you

Sundown is the hour for many strange effects

There is nothing I love more than to sit on the beach, watching the calm waters and the sun going down.  Some very beautiful views that I love sharing. I took this photo several weeks ago at the beautiful shoalwater beach in Rockingham, Western Australia.  I cannot resist these beauties of nature which speak through my heart & soul.  I go out purposely to take photos and to just be alone with my thoughts......

Each and every time it stimulates my emotions with its sheer beauty.   Alone, or time spent with loved ones, during a sunset, sat just few meters away from the shore, I cannot think of anything better.  I feel at total peace, I feel calm, I feel passionate, I feel alive and I feel blessed to be alive to see its beauty.

What I am also fascinated in, about this amazing natural optical phenomena, is the scientific explanation of how it occurs.  During the twilight period of the day, when the sun is in the horizon, the clear sky around the solar disc takes on an orange-yellow glow.  The colours in the red/yellow end of the spectrum dominate because the optically thick intervening air has scattered out all the blue wavelengths from the sunlight before it reaches our eyes.  Dust and other particles enhance the reddening, and the more large particles in the air mass between the sun and the observer, the redder the sunset/sunrise.  The effect can be even more dramatic when clouds are present as they add texture to the sky colour producing various shades and shadows.

As the sun sets, the sky above it glows a pale yellow.  As twilight progresses towards sunset, the twilight arch becomes pink with yellow and orange beneath.  When the sun drops below the horizon, as in my picture above, only the red wavelengths remain, the longer wavelengths that have more atmosphere to pass through.  

As twilight continues, the twilight arch slowly flattens, and the sky above darkens from blue-grey to deep blue before merging into the darkness of night.

Now, that may be of interest to you or not, but next time you see one, just sit for a moment and have a think about the amazing atmospheric and optical phenomenon that is taking place to create such beauty.

Altruism

After my last post about "Life's Purpose", and how I felt that my purpose was to help, it got me thinking about the reasons why I felt like that.
So after doing some research on psychological behaviourism's, I found the term 'Altruism'.

It is a behaviour that appears to have very few negative associations and brings people together.  It is behaviour that helps other people with no apparent gain or with potential cost to oneself.  A person who donates blood, volunteers or even risks death is displaying altruism.  It seems that many forms of altruistic behaviour are so common that we simply take them for granted, such as holding a door open, giving a stranger directions or such as yesterday, whilst walking to my car I directed a driver, who was looking for a space to where I was, and gave her my parking ticket that still had two hours left on it - I mean, why not, I didn't need it.

For a long time now, it has been debated whether any prosocial act - no matter how generous and unselfish it may appear on the surface - is truly an indication of altruistic behaviour.  When people offer money to a homeless person in the street, is their actions motivated by a pure desire to help, or are they alleviating their own discomfort. There are many theories that underpin the understanding of altruism which I have not looked into yet, but what I will say is that I believe their is a truly genuine altruism in all of us.  Humans have a natural compassion for one and other and that the only reason why they do not always behave compassionately is that society beats it out of us.  What makes people more or less likely to show genuine altruism.  I think amongst a lot of things, it can also depend on the people who you let into your life.

People seek out and spend time with others for many reasons.  Sometimes it is an interaction to accomplish goals, raising money for charity or meeting over dinner to discuss business.  Sometimes during these meetings, can influence interpersonal attraction, or a physical attraction, attracting people like magnets.  You choose to be around people for many reasons, but the main reason is because they make you feel good, and hopefully you make them feel good too.  You are more likely to make selfless acts is you are happy within yourself.

Whether or not something is "genuine" altruism is missing the point.  Even if other motives are operating, if a persons ultimate goal in helping another is to benefit that other person, then the behaviour should be considered altruism.  

Life's Purpose

I have just been listening to the plaintive cry of Bono in the U2's song, "I still haven't found what I'm looking for” which got me thinking.

I use to often think "What is the purpose of my life?" “What am I here for, I know there is something I must do, there is some thing that I am 'meant' to do, but what?”

In fact, I've heard many men and women, at some point, that don't know what they're really here for. They're not necessarily religious or spiritually inclined, but they feel a longing for that "certain something" that defines and integrates their lives.

First, I think everyone feels a pull towards some defining purpose to his or her life, no matter how much it may have become shut out of sight. You can say that all forms of life, all natural phenomena, have some purpose. There's always movement or evolution towards some kind of outcome, whether it's a tree that produces fruit or clouds that form to produce rain. But we humans become so enthralled by our daily activities, engagements and goals, that our awareness of our own unique life purpose is easily dimmed.

And there are consequences to not knowing or finding your purpose. Some people who've become successful in their work or relationships, yet feel hollow, empty or unfulfilled. Sometimes they wonder if they've been on the "wrong" path all along, chosen the wrong career or the wrong life partner. Perhaps their chosen path could be more meaningful or purposeful to them, if they let it.

I think most people retain at least a glimmer of awareness of their life's purpose within themselves. It often feels like a leaning that continues to pull at you. Sometimes it is right in front of your eyes but you don't allow yourself to see it.

Those who experience these feelings but don't pursue or fulfil them remain incomplete and dissatisfied; this is what I did myself for years. However, it's important not to confuse seeking happiness with finding your purpose. Happiness is what you experience in the daily flow of life, the highs and lows that are situational. They will fluctuate. But purpose is deeper. When you're living in accordance with your life's purpose, you view all of the above as part of what you encounter along the road. They don't distract you from that larger vision, which is like a magnet steadily pulling you towards it.

So, what is my purpose? What am I leaning to? What is pulling at me?  Well, when I was young, and I am talking when I was about five or six years of age, I had a constant vision.  It was very clear and very vivid; there was a girl on a truck, stood in the back surrounded by gifts.  The truck was heading down this long dirt track, it was so hot and the atmosphere was heavy.  After a while, the truck entered what appeared to be a small village and all of a sudden, smiling, happy children, holding their arms out and shouting with joy, surrounded the truck.  It was Africa, the truck had gone there to distribute gifts at Christmas, and that was me on the back of the truck, giving these amazing children things they had only dreamed about.

This vision has stayed with me through everything I have done up to now, and I believe that this is what made me decide to end my career and go to University to Study a varied degree including Sustainable Development.  I feel my purpose is to make a difference, no matter how large or how small, in the lives of people.

So, whats your purpose? :)

Entropy and Sustainability - An Understanding

The notion of Entropy is understood as the transformation of heat into mechanical energy.Entropy usually refers to disorder in the world.  Everyday we are dealing with entropy and we do not even realise it.Our daily life can only be sustained if we keep putting things in order and restoring the disorder which requires work, we should all be familiar with the equation W=F/D, physics 101.  If we could not sustain any order the entropy would take over creating a lot of disorder in our lives. 

If we manage to maintain all the order, then where does the disorder go?
Other people control it.  The outside world - society - deals with it on a daily basis.  The less disorder that is produced, the less energy there is required for things to be put back into place, today there is a lot of disorder and it is taking a lot of energy to control it.  This creates a lot of disorder and pollution, the disorder applies to all scales that are visible to the naked eye.  As Deutscher says, "pollution can simply be put as small particles or molecules that are somewhere they should not be" (2008, p.p 223).

This is a system that has always been happening and cannot be overcome.  Too much entropy in a closed system will equal an entropy crisis. Earth is largely a closed system, meaning that it exchanges very little matter with its external environment in space, but the same is not true of the systems within the Earth such as Earths natural spheres which are open systems, meaning they can all interact and change with the external environment.
As an example, through our ever increasing emissions, we are making disorder in the atmosphere and it is getting to the point where it is beyond our control - entropy takes over.
Entropy is maximised when particles are released into the atmosphere and then spread out, meaning particles released in Australia will spread across the Globe.

In a closed environment, temperature will always tend to be uniform.  Heat flows from hot to cold regions, this is known as energy transfer.  Heat transfer is the motion of molecules.
Our world is active and whenever an energy distribution is out of equilibrium a thermodynamic force exists that the world acts to dissipate or minimise.  The active nature of the second Law of thermodynamics is easy to grasp and demonstrate.  If a cup of hot liquid, for example, is placed in a colder room, a thermodynamic force exists and a flow of heat is spontaneously produced from the cup to the room until the potential is minimised or dissipated  (the entropy is maximised) at which point the temperatures are the same and the flow stops, the cup/room system is in thermal equilibrium.

It is shown that the entropy increase due to irreversible transformations ( or unrecoverable energy) simultaneously determines the level of fresh energy supplies of our society and the damage that it causes to the environment.  

Minimising the rate of entropy is increasing with advanced technologies and society taking an active role in reducing their own amount of entropy, is the key to a sustainable future.

For further reading:

Deutscher, Guy, 2008.  Dealing with entropy on a daily basis.  In The Entropy Crisis, Singapore, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

http://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/6684  

A fabulous documentary that sums up this topic would also be a great resource 

http://www.history.com/shows/life-after-people 

The Invitation by Oriah

Well, it has certainly been a while since I last blogged.  I had every intention of blogging once a week but for some reason, didn't. I came across this poem several weeks ago and after reading it for the 100th time, I all of a sudden had the urge to share it.  I think it needs no introduction as I am sure you will make of it what you will.Enjoy.



The Invitation

By Oriah

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you
Ache for and if you dare
to dream of meeting your hearts longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk
Looking like a fool for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon…
I want to know if you have touched
The centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bare the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day.
And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon
“yes”

It doesn’t interest me to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know or how came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me
where or what or whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company in the empty moments.