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My goal in life is to help people to improve their health and happiness. The concept of this website comes from formal and informal study into positive psychology, mindfulness and happiness. Research into a healthy mind shows the most significant characteristic of happiness is Gratitude.

 

I'm passionate about empowering people to harness the power of their passion to improve their personal lives &/or their businesses. .

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My husband Anthony & I operate Melbourne Sports Tours which commenced in 2004 and we recently sold Outlet Shopping Tours which we had for 6 years. These business showcase some of Melbourne's best attributes and highlight some of my favourite hobbies; Retail Therapy, Travel & Sport (Including Hawthorn Football Club.) Anthony & I  have some work-in-progress blogs - SHEscapes.com and Sportoliday.com and LivingTravelHappy.com which also reflect these passions on a wider scale.

 

I have worked as a Kids Party Hostess/Event Assistant at The Fun Factory. I managed a Conversation Cafe in Japan and was National Sales Manager for Gray Line. I am a Small Business Tourism Consultant and work in the direct sales industry and am passionate about helping people to make a living while achieving their goals and living their values. We have 2 kids and a dog and there are always lots of fun travel plans and projects on the go, combining a vision for happiness, wellness and gratitude.

 

I believe, and there are many studies to prove, that a focus on gratitude, productivity and positivity will help us live more rewarding lives. Particularly in times of difficulty this focus will give us a purpose and motivation towards happiness and wellness.

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Over the past few years I’ve developed an understanding of my strengths which include creativity, connecting people and networking and my values include happiness, family, belonging/connectivity, play, contribution, productivity, gratitude and optimism. This personal understanding has helped me to develop my personal mantras which are an important part of the process.

 

I am a perpetual student. I am not an expert in Postive Psychology but I always have a novel and at least 2 non-fiction books on my bedside table. I completed a BA in Recreation and Leisure Studies in 1991 then a Grad Dip in Tourism Hospitality in 1995. I am contantly studying courses & watching websinars on writing and Positive Psychology. Anthony and I both completed a 12 month Melbourne Tourism Industry Leadership Program. Although this course is titled Leadership it really focussed on Personal Development. MTILP is a course provided by Emotional Intelligence World Wide and delivered by NLP expert Mel Neil. Enormous thanks to Mel Neil for her insights and support with developing many of the ideas behind these journals. I  have done the Business Launch program with with The Entourage and completely enjoyed the way their organisation is turning education on it's head. 

Self Help guru Wayne Dwyer introduced me to the concept that You don’t Attract what you want, You Attract what you Are. You need to go beyond just wanting and move toward being and doing. Actively being productive and motivated and grateful on a regular basis becomes a habit. Just after Wayne died I received a link to his movie The Shift. I imagine each viewer gains something different from it but to me it was that we need to work and look after our family. Do those things to the best of your ability but don’t let those things get in the way of your authenticity and the ability for 'You being the best possible You.' 
 

Two years ago I printed 20 Gratitude Journals for colleagues, friends and family. These journals were the catalyst for the ToDo-TaDa journal....which then catapulted me into starting Positively Productive. 
 

One side of my original journal reads
 “Today I am Grateful For…
Acknowledge 3 things you are grateful for every night.
Write them down
Read your 3 things every morning…or write them if you forgot at night!
That’s the energy you take with you every day.
Creat a habit of doing this” 

 

The other side reads
 “Tomorrow I will be Grateful & Happy…
Write your 5 goals for the next day
In the morning read them and achieve them”

 

After 2 student deaths at my daughter’s school, an expert was invited to help the school community. Hugh Van Cuylenburg from The Resilience Project had some amazing insights particularly around Gratitude and discovering your strengths. He also introduced our family to Smiling Mind. This a Melbourne App which I highly recommend for anyone who struggles to go to sleep or needs help to relax during the day. Listening to Hugh speak was another catalyst for this project.

I believe that being charitable has powerful psychological, spiritual and emotional well-being benefits.

Over the years I have assisted with various camp programs and volunteer organisations. Anthony and I involve ourselves in the kids sporting activities and school committees and have been involved in supporting numerous causes for which we receive great satisfaction. Over the past few years I have walked in the Women’s Walk for Cancer, a 60km walk supporting Peter Mac. Anthony and his buddies were inspired to do the same and joined the Peter Mac Ride to Conquer Cancer, a 200km bike ride. The process of training and raising money and awareness for a good cause helps you to stay motivated to stay fit, socially connected and valuable. Voluntourism is also becoming more and more popular and something we’re now becoming involved in.

 
My team for the Walk for Women’s Cancers is called Walkie Talkies. A very appropriate term for us! One of my Walkie Talkie buddies is Thought Leader, Tracey Ezard. While training/walking we talked a lot about the Power of Attraction and Gratitude and some of the ideas for these journals germinated from walking and talking along the paths and reserves in Mitcham and Donvale. 

Our Walkie Talkie Team Leader Danielle Anderson is a dynamic woman who I have 6 degrees of separation with via so many facets of my life. She is an inspiration as a friend, a traveller, a business woman and I look forward to many more motivational walks & talks together.

Family is paramount to my happiness. I married a man who is one of 6 kids. The Graces live up to their name and I am incredibly lucky to have become a woman of Grace. Thanks you to all of the Graces and VOGS (Victims of Grace we like to call the in-law-crew) for your love and support. Gargantuan thanks to Anthony for being my husband, business partner, friend and father to 2 of the happiest and most fun and caring kids in the universe.

Our families both share a common passion for The Hawthorn Football Club. The joy we receive from our Premiership winning club is difficult for some to understand. We go to training sessions, Family Days, Grand Finals, combined family Grand Final celebrations. I believe that this shared passion brings a similar connectivity that holidays and travel does. 

I have always been the baby sister to my brother Guy and sister Janette and continue to be enveloped by their care. Although always denying that I am spoilt being the youngest, in truth they have both spoilt and cared for me better than any baby sister could hope for. Their amazing successes in such different fields are an inspiration to me. One is a project manager and Captain of Industry and the high seas. The other is a massage/yoga teacher and practitioner in the Art of Living.

Hazel Scott and Derek Thompson, my mother and her partner are truly inspirational. They worked in teaching, HR and volunteer coordination. Since retiring they’ve volunteered for Peter Mac Cancer Hospital and The Cancer Council and been helped the homeless, refugee causes and numerous other causes. They care deeply about the world they live in and are determined to live their lives to the fullest. They travel the world for a few months of most years, something that I hope that Anthony and I are doing that when we’re in our late 70s/early 80s.Their emotional, financial, intellectual not to mention child and dog care support over the years has been enormous and received with massive gratitude. 

In early 2015 mum invited my sister Janette and I to Eden Health Retreat. Apart from my distress at 7 days without coffee, alcohol and technology I emerged calm, and determined to live in a more healthy and mindful manner. One of the Eden Health Coaches, Shiike Vanderwerff, led some sessions on Happiness by Intent which were inspired me to think outside the box. I have been playing with the concept of SHEscapes for a few years and this 7 days of pure bliss encouraged that concept and my focus on wellness and happiness. 

I am extraordinarily lucky to have lots of fabulous gorgeous friends & family who provide me with encouragement, pleasure and happiness. I am not going to name them as I’m sure I’d miss someone but to my Book Club Girls, Wine Tour cartwheelers, School & Uni friends, Sporty Friends, Camping Crew, Tourism Buddies, MTILP Family, Kid’s School Mates and Mothers Group crew I owe you all for your years of motivation, laughter and tears, D & Ms, kindness and love which culminate in this project which is forever evolving

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