I love to talk about what's going on in our lives, mine and yours. In my newsletters, I focus on those things that bring us joy, as well as the tough stuff that comes with being human. Through Memoir, I write about some of my hard life experiences including dealing with family addiction and the struggles of finding a sense of place. I write about the importance of connection in building resilience and finding joy and peace in our daily lives - insulating ourselves from this sometimes crazy world. Share your email below to receive the newsletter every two weeks.
Is it really hard - or is that what we've been told?
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Dear Reader Is it REALLY hard?Why do I think things are hard? I started this sentence with one thing in mind, then thought of another, then another - all things I think are hard. Lately I've been remembering my friend Mina. Mina taught me a lesson I sometimes remember. When she was a little girl, her parents brought her to Dunedin to visit us. We decided to walk up Baldwin Street, officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's steepest street. It has a maximum gradient of 19 degrees (or a 1:2.86 ratio). Here's a photo to show what this gradient means in 'real life'. We set off to walk the approximately 350m to the top of the street, Mina holding hands as we walked up the steps, happily counting as she went - 1-10 in English, 1-10 in Farsi, and 1-10 in German - all the way to the top. While we were a trifle tired by the time we got to the top, Mina caught sight of Neil, who had walked ahead and ran to him. Mina didn't know it was steep. She didn't know it was hard. She was enjoying the walk and enjoying our company. You can see from her face that she's just excited to be with her friends. And you can see from this photo the steepness of Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world. I've come to realise thinking 'it's hard' is a learned experience. Because Mina isn't unique in how small children haven't learned yet that things are hard, sometimes too hard to perservere. Today I saw this on YouTube. I turned the sound off to get a better sense of the efforts and achievement of this little fellow. I would never think I could lift this tyre - never in a million years! Maybe if I used my lungs like he's doing I might! But this little chap had no doubts. He wanted to lift that tyre. He wanted to roll that tyre. He did it! Bit like the little engine that could. "I think I can" is a great mantra. These three little examples are a great reminder to us all that our limitations are often those we set for ourselves. Are all things possible?I don't want you to think that I think we can do everything we wish by changing how we think about it. We recently watched a documentary called 14 Peaks - Nothing is Impossible. Nepali mounaineer, Nirmal Purja (Nims), embarked on an 'impossible quest to summit all 14 of the word's peaks over 8,000 metres in seven months. He called his quest: "Project Possible." Nims had a mindset that he could achieve his quest. He trained, he gathered his team, when funding wasn't forthcoming, he and his wife mortgaged their home to help him set about achieving his goal. This documentary is well worth watching. If only to show a mindset worth emulating. Some notable quotes from the documentary that are inspirational for me include: “I have to compete against myself to be better than who I was yesterday.”
“Giving up is not in the blood, sir.”
“Whatever the situation is, we have to stay in control.”
"I have to push my limits to the max. Sitting tight, waiting it out and living in the past, has never been my thing."
And what about this for me?I have to admit that this last quote is one that I've had challenges around all my life. "Living in the past" has certainly been a major stumbling block. "Why will it be any different now?" Limitations are not only physical. Emotional limitations are often as debilitating. Last night I was despondent, feeling hopeless about the state of the world - "Why are we humans all over the world doing this to each other?" was my soul's cry. I'm grateful I can talk to my husband about the way I feel. Hearing the words I say often is enough to help me change the thoughts which then change the feelings. Knowing he's there for me and doesn't try to convince me why I shouldn't feel the way I do helps more than I can say. This morning we had a brief discussion about what little things we can do to make a difference. Hope rekindled, heart warmed again, and I'm back on track wanting to live to 140! Today's inspiration from my daily thoughts brought a smile to my face: If you would stop analysing everything and just look for things to appreciate, you would live happily ever after. And today, I see so many things to appreciate, from the warmth of the sun on this winter's day to a walk around the park followed by coffee at our favourite cafe and a catch-up with friends, to a lively chat with our neighbours who have sold their home and are moving into a retirement village. So much to appreciate. Mind thoughts and my prior belief in limitations are now reset. I'm hopeful that we (humanity) can make meaningful change, lift others in ways that perhaps only we can, and remember that there's always a rainbow after the storm. We are not alone in wanting change and an outpouring of love for each other, regardless of where we live, who we are, what systems we live under. I can't climb mountains, not like Nims Purja - but I can climb my own personal mountains, slay my personal dragons, put to rest the limiting effects of the illusions of past events and be better today at what I do than I was yesterday. Looking forward, not backwards. Eye Health UpdateFinally, with regards to my over four months trials with my sight, optimism reigns supreme! The last couple of days have confirmed that I am ready to have my eyes tested for a new prescription! Wearing my old glasses is like being aware it's time to see the optometrist. I've made an appointment and next time I will have an update on what she thinks the progression has been. And her recommendations. Maybe I'll have new glasses soon. Maybe not. What this past few months has taught me is to be patient with my body as it heals and give it the very best treatment I can - whether it's professional, dietary, or that famous old faithful - self care. I've learned a lot and I'm grateful for all those who've been on this journey with me. Thank you! With love Why I Write - for you and for me too. Some stories come from lived experience, like navigating my son’s addiction and the long road of recovery. Others are shaped by imagination, like the cozy mystery I’m writing, set in a small café where trust is both tested and rebuilt. Some of my life stories still bring tears. Others make me smile. And many are filled with memories that warm my heart. I write for anyone who’s ever carried a burden across generations, and for anyone who longs to heal forward. My thoughts for Living Life in 2025 and beyond: "My religion is kindness" Dalai Lama “Cast your bread upon the waters and it will Doris May Payne - my mother "Life is a Daring Adventure or Nothing" Helen Keller “Write it on my heart that every day is Ralph Waldo Emerson "Remember that sometimes not getting “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave [person] is not [the one] who does not feel afraid, but [the one] who conquers that fear.” Nelson Mandela Read past Newsletters and, if you enjoy them, www.StephanieHammondAuthor.com FOLLOW ME
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Hi! I'm Stephanie Hammond
I love to talk about what's going on in our lives, mine and yours. In my newsletters, I focus on those things that bring us joy, as well as the tough stuff that comes with being human. Through Memoir, I write about some of my hard life experiences including dealing with family addiction and the struggles of finding a sense of place. I write about the importance of connection in building resilience and finding joy and peace in our daily lives - insulating ourselves from this sometimes crazy world. Share your email below to receive the newsletter every two weeks.
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