As an honorary Life Member of the Australian Dragon Boat Federation I will definitely be dock-side! I’m excited at the prospect of seeing 2,500 dragon boat athletes from across the nation thrash their way through the waters of the Docklands, for the coveted title of Australian Dragon Boat Champions.

When I first became a dragon boat paddler almost 14 years ago, the sport was still very much in its infancy here, with little general public awareness and even less media interest. It is due to Dragons Abreast, the breast cancer survivor movement of individuals post breast cancer treatment paddling dragon boats that the sport in Australia has spread to so many regional areas of this vast country.  Whilst Dragons Abreast may have been the vanguard in regional Australia, the clubs today are thriving entities embracing whole of local communities with paddlers ranging from juniors through to great grand dragons in their late 7o‘s and even 80’s. Dragon boating is the fastest growing team water sport in Australia and, indeed the world and this is no doubt to its wide appeal and accessibility to all age ranges regardless of fitness levels.

The fast and furious racing action combined with the colourful spectacle of majestic dragon heads surging across the water to rhythmic beat of the drums has captured the interest and imagination of both the public and the media. There is no more visually dynamic sport on, or off, the water. Okay, I am biased!

Spectators at Docklands will be treated to lots of eye candy from our premier men and women, be amazed at the fitness of our over 60’s category of racing and generally admire the spectacular prowess of pure muscle power, grit and determination which powers the majestic crafts as they race for the finish line with only a dragons whisker separating the positioning. I sincerely hope that Melburnians will come along and witness the extraordinary carnival atmosphere that surrounds a Dragon Boat Championship event – it is not very often that dragon boat racing of this calibre takes place right in the centre of a city.

Dragon Boats Victoria’s Organising Committee (working in partnership with the Australian Dragon Boat Federation) for the 2012 Australian Dragon Boat Championships, promise us the largest turn out ever this year, in both elite athlete competitor numbers and in spectator numbers. It is the first championships event to be held over 5 days (Sat. 31^st March – Thurs. 5^th April) – testament to the growth and popularity of the sport.

 Docklands will be rife with Dragon Fever! 2012 is the Year of the Water Dragon in the Chinese calendar and the sport’s rich Chinese origins will be honoured with spectacular opening and closing ceremonies. I hope Melbourne is ready because the Dragons Are Coming – in their thousands!!

The Dragons are Coming to Melbourne 31 March - 5 April 2012 http://www.dragonboatsvictoria.com.au/nat/

Michelle

My time revolved around Sasha’s orientation schedule, Dragon Sisters’ commitments, a grader fiver’s (my niece’s) holiday expectations, grandparents and catching up with friends and business associates. It was a challenge finding accommodation to meet the criteria but a roomy apartment was located at the last moment thanks to Trip Advisor at Burleigh Heads beach and fit the bill perfectly: spacious enough to set up Dragon Sisters work stations, entertain friends and family, accommodate Grandma’s nana naps and most important of all close to the university.

The quietest time of day to be at computer was 6 am before the household and mobile phone sprang to life. Except one morning when my 10 year old niece found me and badgered me into an early beach expedition. We meandered along to Burleigh Heads, took a swim, sipped a café latte at the beach front café of the local surf club, and enjoyed a sparkling start to the day. It was good for the soul. Sometimes a 10 year old knows what you need, better than you do!

Sasha’s entry to Bond was regarded as a family affair and achievement, with grandparents, aunt and even little cousin, all plying her with advice and items deemed essential. We were all eager to tour her new seat of learning and snapped photo’s like a posse of avid foreign tourists! There were last minute mercy missions procuring and delivering supplies to Sasha’s uni digs and technical call-outs to sort out her computer. Friends made offers of Mum-in-absentia support. No 17 year old has ever started their university career with a more comprehensive entourage and support network! Thank you one and all!!

Naturally the phone kept ringing and the emails continued to roll in (I’d be worried if they didn’t!). By performing our very best juggling act we managed to kept to the Dragon Sisters schedule and met commitments, even if we did often work at unorthodox hours, but if you want to go beach combing with a lively 10 year old, and attention to family, it’s a small price to pay.

I may have touched down in Darwin yesterday with my eyes hanging out of my head on match sticks, but I don’t think it would be much different if I was keeping regular office hours. The difference would be that my family would have seen far less of me and the last 10 days would not have been packed with memorable precious times.

I feel blessed to be able to enjoy my family and friends whilst doing work that I love. That has got to be the best work life balance!

Michelle

PS Photos are on my Facebook page

Drenched with sweat after completing my kitchen fairy duties (frying spring rolls, cooking pastries of several varieties) there was no alternative to don my bathers and plunge into the inviting, cool waters of our pool. I floated in bliss, sloughting off the aches and pains of the day and hours slaving over the hot oven. I was surrounded by the sounds of modern music, a multitude of accents  (provided courtesy of my sons friend) and as I floated, eyes to the beautfully clear Territory sky,  I realised how little things have really changed since I was 17.

At 17 I was finishing school in the UK, having been forced to flee from war torn Lebanon, and started on my next adventure – a move to London. I had grown up in the Middle East and these music remixes that I heard this evening in Darwin and the accents that surround me – are not that different from those sounds that floated through the airwaves of Radio Lebanon and the Voice of Peace. Yes, I used to go to sleep with a radio under my pillow (no Ipods in those days!)

Yes, I might be living in a completely corner of the word BUT some things never change – things like HOPE! These young people are on the fabulous cusp of their lives – family and tradition are the cornerstones. I am proud to know I have played a very small part in the lives of these fabulous young people who are proud to call themselves Territorians and Australian.

The world is indeed same same but different and the biggest difference is that they are in what is indeed the lucky country.

Michelle

I pulled out a bunch of higgeldy piggeldy piled t-shirts and began to fold them properly – yes, I must confess I do not always put things away as neatly as I should – images began to play in my head – scenes of when and where I had bought the shirts.

The memories were mostly great ones, although some of them were not my finer moments – like when I managed to splodge curry laksa down the front of one – the stain never comes out! BUT the prevailing memories were all of the nice experiences and ‘special’ moments. Like the magic of being part of the first Internationally Abreast team (2001 shirt from Jones New York), of paddling down the Ord (2004 much too large blue T-shirt), another Jones New York shirt brought back memories of the Telstra Business Awards in Melbourne as I’d worn that one to make the mad dash back from Shanghai for my interview.

When the my shirts get too old and worn they become dusters, so my memories still surround me. They may be old ones, just like my duster but they are each very special and in the same way as the duster polishes up the furniture,the memories polish up my day to day living and remind me of where I have been.

This brings me then to the issue of how we need to always remember to work at relationships, be they business, social or our kids. Life happens – it runs past us – but we need to live in the moments. My t-shirt pile was full of ‘living moments’ – I hope yours is too!

It’s okay to be busy – but only as long as you take enjoyment from what you are busy with! I am fortunate that I never really know what my day will bring – each phone call is so varied and I am very privileged to meet some wonderful people as I go about my daily business.

It’s been rewarding to read the emails this week from our workshop attendees who tell me they’ve been putting in practice the tips they’ve picked up.

The weekend is here and mine has begun with a family dinner – just the kids, myself and our dog under the table as she was terrified of the firecrackers being let off around the neighbourhood as everyone celebrated Territory Day.

After dinner I have returned to work at my desk as my projects are not quite complete but in the next room is the sound of my son and daughter enjoying a game together, a dog curled under my chair – we are together as a family and we are each enjoying what we are doing.

The message here is that we must always take the time to enjoy the moments we are in – no matter how busy or quiet we are! Enjoy each moment because it can never be recaptured once past.

Michelle

Jacqui did not disappoint – she was passionate, articulate and very down to earth as she presented a workshop on Success and what components need to be present to achieve success.

I also met up with several women I had not seen for many years – which is always a great bonus We exchanged news of what we were each doing since last we met.

I find that more and more often I get asked how I ended up doing what I do today.

My answer is always simply this. I gave a lot of thought as to what I wanted to do. I came to the conclusion that I really did not want to go to work for someone else, or take on a long term contract. I knew what I did not want to do. I also knew what I really enjoyed most of all – and that is helping people to achieve the best outcomes – just as I have done through Dragons Abreast with those travelling the journey with breast cancer.

Over my lifetime to date I have had some incredible experiences and this has helped me develop so much further within myself on so many levels. I have met and been able to be a part of the lives of so many incredible people and this has reinforced my believe in how special is the human spirit.

Everyone has an amazing capacity for learning and developing – however, not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to have opportunities or the right mentors come their way. Many do not have the opportunity to ever meet someone who can help them – or they do not know where to begin to ask.

Dragon Sisters was established with a the view to being accessible to all women – to those who are most in need of services but are, for many reasons unable to access them – these reasons may be financial, time constraints or distance. SO although this is definitely a for profit business – because I have to eat – it is always about people first. It is what makes me happy – it is where my passion lies and I choose the projects and clients that I agree to work with on the basis that it is fulfilling work for me.

As the years have gone by, and especially over recent times, things have evolved so that Dragon Sisters is involved in a lot more business to business work – but the thread is the same right the way through – we make our clients look good. They get the kudos and they are empowered through their experiences with our services to take those next steps in their business.

It’s not a magic formula and it is not a charmed life – the secret ingredient is passion for all that we undertake.

Michelle

I was going to spend the time catching up by writing to friends that are long overdue a note from me, this was also my  plan at Christmas and at Easter- but it never happened! Time is marching by and today is the last day of the long weekend and there is no way I am going to be able to get everything done.

I then had a light bulb moment (yes, I am a slow learned, I know people have been blogging for years!) – a blog would solve some of my problems. Most people are on the internet – but not all on Facebook. I tried running a blog once before but it was not set up in an easy format and made it hard for people to interact by posting comments.

This blog is going to be taking the format of a journal of sorts but not quite. I plan to blog about what I am involved with at any given time – this means it will cut across business and personal aspects as well as include Dragons Abreast which is my charity of choice and something that I am very passionate about. I’ll be sharing thoughts on a variety of topics – all things that are important to me.

For several years now I have grappled with keeping each area of my life separate but have now come to the happy conclusion that I am who I am because of all these areas of my life – so I am embracing them all together.

I hope it is going to prove a great way to keep in touch, share ideas and generally reach out to each other across the globe.

So whether you are a business associate, a long time (or new) friend or a member of Dragons Abreast or a Dragon Sister, I do hope you will let me know what you think of my blog as I go along.

Michelle