Om Shanti

I love how relaxing it is practicing yoga while my 2 year old blows the recorder outside the bedroom door.

Coffee With Mary Kay

I recently had a facial makeover with a local woman who is a rep for Mary Kay Cosmetics. In my ignorance I had never heard of the brand but I was totally surprised at how great it made my skin feel - it has been uncharacteristically neglected after two years of motherhood and pregnancy, always being outdoors living on the farm, lack of sleep, dehydration and just general laziness.

As we shared life back-stories over coffee and cosmetics it occurred to me that it wasn’t really about just buying a lipstick, but rather about the female relationships and bonds formed through these events - not so much about making that American Quilt but about personal tales woven like tapestries in between. Steel Magnolias are alive and well and living rural NSW.

This remarkable woman’s story was inspiring and encouraging and reminded me of how grateful we have to be for what we have, even in the face of adversity. It has been a major struggle for me some days living where we do. Lack of culture and convenience aside, it gets bloody lonely. I know that I am not the only person to feel this way simply because I live on a property in the middle of nowhere - more of us are living alone, often in cities, working long hours and feeling a palpable sense of isolation and disconnection. Needing to have some 'tribal bond' is a very primitive and deep rooted part of human nature and perhaps that is what makes us want to reach out. Making friends can be difficult so as much as I have never been a group kinda gal, I have to say that I am thankful for social support networks for bringing people together, offering the hope of friendship and communication, even to have a laugh and possibly enrich someone's daily life just a little. Thanks Mary Kay.