On Sunday 26 May 2019, I attended my second WOW Women One Day Event in Shepparton. I have sponsored the event both times, and the format has changed slightly each time. There was much more of a fundraising focus the first time, but the second time was a shorter day and more focus on the women. There was a raffle both times, for fundraising, but less promotion as that being the main purpose this time.
Over a high tea, about 200 ladies listened to the speakers. The token male, Marcus Pearce, talked about health; Kim Morrison spoke about happiness; and my mentor Tracey Sofra spoke about wealth.
Kim went first, and gave us all a very practical way of developing self-love, with very practical examples, including the personal example of her own son. From self-awareness, being the first step, we can then put in place a self-care practice. That self-care practice needs to become a discipline rather than a short-term practice. Self-discipline breeds self-control. Having self-control gives us self-respect, and self-acceptance or self-love. And so the cycle continues.
I was very impressed with Kim, and bought her book, The Art of Self Love.
Tracey was the second speaker, and I’m already a big fan of Tracey – I am in her WOW Women group, and she is my financial planner. Her book is Finding Financial Freedom.
After lunch, we heard from a panel of successful ladies in the Goulburn Valley, and then we had Marcus to finish us off for the day – on happiness.
Marcus has studied many people who live to a ripe old age, in a health way. He has been a vegan himself, but has come to the realisation that diet is not the answer to health. He says there are eight keys to happiness and a long life:
- Having purpose in your life; doing what you love, and loving what you do.
- Moving; not necessarily exercising, but certainly having more movement than sedentary behaviour.
- Having a social life; making time to social can boost self-esteem and make you feel part of a community.
- Nutrition is important, but not the sole focus. It is about wholefoods, and eating intelligently.
- Family life and close bonds.
- Never stop learning and problem solving.
- Spend less than you earn.
- Having faith or a spiritual practice that helps you to have a sense of belonging in the world, and helps you to have perspective.
This, along with a couple of other things that have happened this week, have made me decide to re-commit to having an exceptional routine and rituals in my life, for self-care and happiness.
