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A safe place to share, celebrate and unpack life's journeys.
Join us and special guests to discuss all things close to our hearts.
Podfire (00:00.332)
Welcome to episode eight of the Yearning with Lynda and Preston podcast. Here we are. New year. New focus, new goals. Nah, not really new. Maybe just freshen up. Why is it when we come in with new year, like there's a calendar year, it's like, we've got to start all over again. But is that really the case? It's like the year ends and what we're doing has to end.
And we have to start over again. It feels like as the end of the year comes, it's like the world feels like it's going to end because everyone's in this great big rush to do things and get stuff done and buy lots of food like there's not going to be any food yet next year. of a holiday. Having a holiday, which is good. What's the term they use there?
Coming into the holiday period, you sort of just slow down a little bit. It's good to slow down. Holiday mode. Holiday mode. the energy around actually ramps up. And sometimes families go on holiday and they don't relax. It's more stressful. So I think it gets back to that whole work-life balance and the world is so chaotic that we don't do it very well at all.
So we talk about holiday mode, we talk about slowing down, but we just seem to get busier and more chaotic. And a short, short amount of time to go and celebrate, whether it's the silly season or the festive season or holiday, because it's such a small, space, and to do that, we go really fast and we don't actually relax. No, and we have...
people that really struggled during those times. And we don't necessarily consider that enough. Because of the stress that it does put on families or people in general, because it's so marketed and is about spending instead of, spending instead of
Podfire (02:26.9)
spending time with each other. It puts pressure on people that are already struggling financially to even keep a roof over their heads or may not even have a roof over their head.
Podfire (02:44.588)
So it just makes a bigger gap then I think. It divides rather than uniting often.
The older you get, the more mature you stop and look around for little bit. There's a lot of that going on, isn't there? mean, you just look at Christmas. It can get very hectic. I know for our family, always worried about whether we've got presents for everyone in the family, if missed out on anybody. And I watch my wife, she does stress a little bit.
about it. Me, I probably wouldn't even give a present. it's about presents, not present. And that's the thing I think a lot of us have forgotten.
Christmas, you know, for what it is, you know, what it means. It might mean something different to many people. what, Christmas, what's the meaning behind Christmas? Yeah, I mean, they talk about celebrating the birth of somebody. I don't even know if that was the day, the 25th of December. He was born, I think he was born in September. Really? Yeah, born in September.
For some reason they bought it to December. I don't know, really all it, for what I can remember, it was all about that principle of giving. Do you think we've forgotten that, what it means? I think we have. So as much as within our family, it's about getting together and having a good feed and just hanging out. And with the adults, we don't necessarily buy presents for every adult, but we do make sure
Podfire (04:40.354)
that our kids get presents. But even they are growing up in this world of like, Christmas is about how many presents are under the tree. And you've put pressure on yourself, even if you have got the capacity, you still put pressure on yourself to have to provide these presents. And I think it's wrong. I think that if we spent more time together,
And even the food, like even the food costs a lot of money for our Christmas meals for that day. And it's great to just sit around and graze and have a big meal and stuff like that, because that brings everyone together. But even that alone actually costs a lot of money. And there's a lot of stress around it, like you mentioned. There's a lot of stress. Making sure we've got enough food and generally we have too much food, enough left over for the rest of the week.
Which is the best. I love all the leftovers because you just pick at it. But even just preparing all the food and stuff on the day takes a lot of effort for some more than others. But I think if it's, if we got back to being together, playing games, having fun, having yarns,
rather than seeing how stacked the Christmas tree is.
Podfire (06:13.132)
I don't think we could lose with that. But it's like everything, everything's become marketable and is about a price tag. Like it just continues with what's next. You've got Valentine's days, Easter. They're now coming in with Halloween here. Just seems like more days are popping up.
that is about spending money on items rather than spending time together. Imagine if we had more holidays where it was about people getting together, not necessarily families, but community, that if we had people out there that may not be around family.
but they got to be with people that care and have a yarn and you could just spend time with rather than expecting to receive.
But you know, new year, so this is covered out for our new year. Why do we look at fresh start, new year? Everything's in, the world's ended. let's, let's start fresh. And what pressure does that put on people? Like, yeah, we all want to start fresh and we want to have new goals and things like that often. Some people don't, but many do.
How do you then deal with the fact that maybe that doesn't go to plan? That maybe you set goals up for a new year and those goals may not necessarily be achievable or that something happens before you do achieve that goal. How do you deal with then, do you just go back? Do you slip back? Do you?
Podfire (08:25.452)
and just go, I can't do it and I've failed.
Or do you pick another goal? Do you then kick yourself because you're like, well, I didn't achieve that and, you know, got to have another goal. Realign yourself. Like, I think, I think human beings are really great at constantly putting additional pressure on ourselves at every turn. Like it's good to challenge ourselves, right? But how do we deal with the...
fall out of that. And I think that's where, you know, we often talk about alcohol, drugs, stuff like that, that you fall back into when you do have that sense of failure or that it's just too hard to face.
So what's gonna help me get through it? What's gonna actually make it look a little bit better? What's gonna help me in life face it?
Well, I think that's, you're right.
Podfire (09:37.526)
And it all depends on how important it is to you, I guess, your health, whether it's physical, mental, spiritual. You spoke alcohol, drugs and whatnot. What relationship do we have with those substances? Is it good for us? The impact that it's making on us, is it a positive impact or is it negative? Is it something that we need to work on? This stuff...
Simple in theory in terms of what needs to be done but it's a little harder to practice that. Because we understand, a lot of us understand what we need to do. We need to eat healthier. We need to sort of tone down on the drinking. We need to do more exercise. We understand the theory. We understand why it needs to be done but the practice is a little harder. Maybe it goes back to what we talking a little bit about, know, Christmas time.
Some people just don't have the energy for Christmas time, because, again, I'll go back to that principle, Christmas for me was all about that giving, spending time with each other and just giving something and being grateful, being in appreciation of what we already have and then whatever we receive, be really excited about that. Maybe some of us in society have forgotten what that's all about.
And again, it's about how important it is to you. How important it is for you to become healthier physically, spiritually. And I think sometimes maybe we just haven't sat down enough to figure out what it is that we need and how important it is for us because we are constantly rushing around.
Do you think we spend enough time on appreciation? Is there ever too much appreciation? What do mean? Well, is there a...
Podfire (11:47.424)
I don't believe there is, but do you think we could appreciate too much? Or because I feel like we don't appreciate enough and I feel like...
Podfire (12:02.552)
there's always something to be appreciative of, even in the darkest times. But do you think that maybe the world
Podfire (12:15.63)
thinks there's too much appreciation, I don't know. I don't know. Because I just feel like it's, I feel like we're very willing to receive and not give. But I also feel like that level of appreciation.
is taken for granted almost?
that the first thing we think about isn't necessarily the appreciation, that the first thing we think about might be, no, that's happened to me, like everything's horrible, and look at that more negative side of it, I got, so for example, I got two tickets, two free tickets or something.
Nah, they should have given me 10. Or, you know, I got this item, but gee, I could have gotten a better quality item or something like that. Rather than truly having that high level of appreciation right at the forefront.
Do we think about what we've missed when we receive? Or do we truly appreciate what we've received in that moment? Yeah, and that's the question. I think that's a great question for a lot of people to sort of delve into.
Podfire (13:52.654)
Because I always, I just get this sense that there's always that feeling of, want more. Is there an expectation? The expectation of more maybe. And maybe you left disappointed because what you expected, you didn't get it? Something different. Yeah.
Yeah, look, I'm starting to understand what you're trying to say. I'm talking round and riddles. must be because we're heading into a new year. Yeah. Maybe that's all I've got to focus on. Yeah. Being clearer. Well, look, we talk about it every year. I know, know, you know, whether it's you as the individual, you come to the start of the year, like, well, I'm going to do things a little bit differently this year. Yes. I'm going to look at what I can do better or what I can
do differently, what I can change, where I can adjust. And we're up for it. Again, the theory's there, we want to do it, then life just gets in the way. Takes a hold of us and we are dragged on that journey, aren't we? And we just set aside those things we set for ourselves early in the year. And I'm not saying everyone, people that have that agenda at the start of the year, some of them are really good at it, you know, and it's quite...
It's quite admirable to see the discipline that they have and the commitment that they continue to show.
Podfire (15:27.298)
becoming what they spoke about early in the year, you know, and they're doing it. They're being that, you know, so there are people out there that at the start of the year, set their goals all the way through the year and the expectation that they have on themselves is, again, it's quite admirable. It's very inspirational. And I think we can all look at people like that and take inspiration from it.
Good to be around people like that. Exactly, and the more time you can spend with people like that, I think it's just one of those things that indirectly, I think you gain something from just being around people like that. whether it's things that they do, the things that they say, you can take a lot from it. It's interesting.
Podfire (16:24.142)
I visited a correctional center just recently and I always feel uncomfortable going to places like that for different reasons. No, no, no real, no judgment. know, you just stuff around the security and that makes me feel uncomfortable, know, like handcuffs and I don't know why. Don't ask me why. I just, I feel uncomfortable.
every now and again I might see a family member in there, maybe that's the reason why I feel uncomfortable going there as well. But I was yawning in this correctional centre and I kind of...
You know, we look at places like that as a negative, as a negative. A lot of us look at it as a negative. But it kind of spun it a little bit. I was speaking to this group and I said to them, basically said to them, know, there's no judgement here. You're in here for whatever reason. All these people you've got around you, they're not here just to make sure you don't get into trouble.
They're here to support you in what you want in order for you to make the best of not coming back here. know, correctional centres, jails or whatever, we're looking at it as a place where we just lock people up. But there's as much as you don't want to be there, there's still an opportunity and this is what I said to the group. So there's still an opportunity for you to actually grow in here. It might not be the ideal place for you.
grow but here you can start making some choices and start making a difference in some of the things that you're thinking about. Again you've got a group of people around you. Don't look at them as people that are trying to keep you out of trouble. Look at them as people that are trying to support you to help you grow. You come in here, you can be educated, you can learn a lot of things about yourself.
Podfire (18:34.264)
You learn a lot of things about the world around you. Shouldn't look at it as a place where you just come and do your time. It was real opportunity. You know what I mean? And you look at some of the, I looked at some of the groomer, you start to wonder, what sort of life have you had? What brings you here? Not in terms of what did you do, but how did you end up here? Stigma's a huge thing, isn't it? And it like,
Often it sticks to you like glue and it's hard to shake. I think that's what plays in your mind. it's not something you can help either. Yeah. know what mean? Because if you're getting judgment from people, you're out of the... you can't control the way they think about you. But stigma is one of those things that... Yeah, I think it hurts.
hurts people more than anything else. Absolutely. I know that with our correctional facilities, people may not have a choice and they worry about the stigma for when they do come out. But then I also think about our mental health facilities or rehab and how it's hard that that's a
well, often a voluntary, sometimes not voluntary, to be able to go into those programs. But I think people hold back because they're worried about the stigma of that. And that same kind of concept, think about the great things that you can achieve while they're to be able to get through that, walk through that, come out.
with benefits.
Podfire (20:35.416)
can sometimes stop you from starting that process when it's a voluntary. I know that with involuntary, you've obviously got no choice and to try and then have a mindset that it can help you while you're there. But I then think of the people that are in that position where it is voluntary and it can really help people, but they stop because of the stigma of it. So that stigma stops them.
Whereas the people that are already in that is involuntary are then worried about the stigma after as well. But how it affects people, no matter what the situation.
Podfire (21:20.768)
And it shouldn't. think if our mindset changed around that in terms of look at the benefits, we're here to support and it can be more positive. Could you imagine it would have greater results at the end of that for all people, whether it was voluntary or involuntary through our correctional or our mental health institutions out there and programs?
that if as a society we were more accepting and supportive, then these programs would thrive more.
Yeah, and creating a space where...
Podfire (22:08.428)
It's not so rigid. know, the places like your Connectional Centres, they need to be rigid. Obviously, there's rules and there's a reason why they're there. It's to keep them safe and also keep the people that are trying to support them safe as well, you know? And, you know, we always talk about spaces where it allows people to grow and give them people choice, know, it's one of those things. Choice, I've come to realise choice is a gift for all of us.
A lot of us don't realise we're afforded it, maybe the situation we're in, we feel like we don't have a choice, but any given situation we're in, we have a choice. It's just hard to make a choice that's going to have an outcome that's good for you or an appropriate outcome if we're clouded or we're distracted by so many and we're under the influence of something.
It's really hard to make a choice then. But it's hard to see a choice too when those weights on your ankles are just weighing you down, your shoulders, and there's a whole heap of elements out of your control.
it's hard to think that you have a choice. And maybe that's it. Maybe it's that we need to promote that people have choices. Even when you feel like you don't, because often this world makes us feel like we don't have choices.
Podfire (23:46.542)
And the consequences these days, like there's really no consequence. know, whether it's a young person acting up at school, what's the consequences there, you know? Because I know some people might take advantage of having a choice and might choose to just take the easy path or the path of less resistance, you know? So I don't know.
It's one of those things I think we all have to...
what's going on here? Technology. Ziggy, left a cut that out, mate. His bum's vibrating. What was I talking about? Choice. Yeah, choice.
Yeah, even though it may feel like in certain situations we might feel like we don't have a choice, we do. We do. It's one of those things that I've come to realise. All these times I was told growing up, you have a choice. We have choices every day. And we do. I know. I've gone through stages where I felt like I had no choice.
And you've got to dig deep, but it was also the people around me as well that helped me see a choice. And that's helpful. Sometimes when we talk about this young group that we've got to connect with, know, maybe they've all been in a situation where the people around them made them feel like they had no choice. Maybe they're all in the same...
Podfire (25:40.27)
same position, same situation where they just feel like they just want to be a part of something and they'll do whatever it takes to stay a part of it. Do you think that human nature and that it comes natural that we need connection with each other? I think so, Yeah. We do. Yeah. The older I get, the more I start to realise that
We do need to keep that connection. Obviously, 24-7, being stuck in a room with somebody is probably not going to be healthy for yourself or for myself. we need that consistent connection with human being, whether it's a loved one, whether it's a friend, even somebody you don't know. You can connect with them.
We need other human beings around. And we need to nurture that but be responsible for it and appreciate that too. Now look, this one of those things, I probably would have thought a little bit longer and maybe said no back in the day. yeah, mean, imagine living on country by yourself.
It'd very, very difficult. You know, you'd have a connection with land. You'd let it open that up a lot more. But I think there's just one element, I think you mentioned it's that human element that it's always good to have around. Not always good to have around, sorry. Sometimes you can do without it, depends. But you know what I mean? We need it. We need that connection. But it could be.
knowing and feeling and understanding what that connection is with the land and with the animals and with the energy that's around you because it's not like you're completely alone.
Podfire (27:55.854)
it you might be sitting in a paddock on your own and completely not feeling that connection but there's energy around you. yeah, definitely. Yeah. And it's there. Yeah, it's there. And I think we get so caught up in our heads that we don't feel it.
Yeah. look, don't get me wrong. I think I could do without other humans. could survive. But not forever. I could not forever. Yeah, We need our time. As I say, I go in my cave. Yeah. Yeah. But there's so much that comes with having the connection with a wife.
got kids, grandchildren, I have friends, other family members, mom, dad, all of that stuff, know, and that's, yeah, that's just beautiful for me, you know. Yes, I would be able to survive without other human beings around me, but if I had a choice, I'd want human beings around me. Made your answer and all your own questions and always been right with you. Yeah.
Yeah, you'd be in trouble if you got an That's dangerous, I can't keep in my own head because the answers I come up with on my own is, you know, not so great. Well, it's good that you're on, know, because nobody can judge you.
But don't you notice that when you, you might be mulling over something that's real heavy and deep and it might be a situation that's happening. And then when you actually yarn it through.
Podfire (29:51.308)
It's not as big as maybe a thought or that there's another element to that that you don't even think about. Like to every story, there's a few sides, no matter how right you feel you are or how right people are telling you that you are in your ear and you've got, know, fight that fight and, and, and make sure that you push that point. But if you found out all the sides to the story, maybe you wouldn't.
want to fight your pointers strongly. Yeah, exactly. It fizzles out a little bit. Or, hello, in the world of media, the sides of stories that come through media are very different to maybe what's happening and all the elements that you don't hear about with that story. So imagine if it was just you and that story, what you'd come up with all on your own. So we need to be able to bounce.
all of that stuff off other people. yeah. To have those perspectives and bring it, but we also need to listen. Yep. Listen and have those yarns to hear all the sides of the story and work it through and you know, if we could learn to do that better maybe we wouldn't be having the wars that we have and. No, just understanding people a lot more, you know, I think we'd be, I think we'd be
Podfire (31:23.074)
warmer towards other human beings. If we understand them a little bit more, know, one thing that we miss a lot, think is empathy perspective. We always come from our view of what the world is like and what we've experienced. We put that in the practice and how we look at the world. But, you know, if we have a more...
say what human focus or people focus, you know, understand what it's like to be a woman, you know what I mean? So sitting down and like you said before, just listening to what women talk about and getting an insight into who they are. Young people are the same, sit down, listen to them.
and without judgement. People from other cultures, from other countries, from other nations. It's like, in theory, it sounds really, really simple. And I think it would go a long, long way to helping us understand each other a little bit more. And I think it would go a long, way to us being more empathetic, being more understanding. And then maybe we have less conflict.
I don't know, maybe we'll just have conflict anyway, but at least then we'll know more about each other. We might resolve conflict better. Yeah. I think there's a lot of unresolved conflict out there.
But maybe that's something for a new year resolution. It's about how you actually look at things rather than goals and like goals are great. But if people aren't ready to set a goal or specific goals, maybe it's as simple as a fresh mindset or to just look at things differently.
Podfire (33:38.69)
because your energy and the way you look at it has a huge impact. I don't know the details of the experiment. There's an experiment that is around love and hate and the energy around love and hate and they've proven it scientifically. And what happens is you can put all of your, so you might get two apples.
and you put all of your love and you say really nice things to an apple and try this at home. Have one apple in one spot and another apple in another spot. And you say horrible things and you like put a hate into one. And then the other one, you put love, kind words, kind energy, and those two pieces of fruit will deteriorate at a different rate.
really? The one that is getting the abuse and hate all go black and shrivel up a lot quicker than the one that you're giving nice compliments to and giving a love energy to. So there's actually an experiment that has proven the effects of your energy alone. And that is so powerful.
So if people in the world just made that their goal, it would be...
huge, would be huge. So, know, resolution could look like, does the world always think that, do you get to the new year and think, I've got to set a resolution here? Do you? I'm not one for that. Yeah, I don't really set them, but I feel that pressure of like, it's a new year, I've got to set a resolution for myself.
Podfire (35:46.126)
Where'd it come from? Yeah, I don't know. New Year's resolution. Why can't we do that at any day? Yeah, or any time It's just an opportunity for everyone to maybe consider that. Yeah, yeah. What that looks like for them. Look, a New Year's resolution, maybe they should turn it into a New Year's...
Revolution. Review or debrief, you know what I mean? Yeah. Like, it's like, I've set all these goals or I've got this resolution. What's it actually look like? Continuing to come back and look at where your life is, you know, it shouldn't be about, shouldn't be about, you know, setting goals, a New Year's resolution. I know that's important for some people.
You know, maybe we should just, again, just look at where we're at, you know, and it's like, have I actually set it in the goals that I set? sorry, have I achieved any goals that I set last year or earlier this year? And what do I need to do in order to, you know, get close to those goals? Because maybe you're not going to do it in a year. Maybe it'll take years to get something done.
you're searching for. Because it's generally the time where your phone's blowing up, right, because it's turns into everyone's to join the gym or try the latest diet and stuff like that. So, you know, in the social media world, they latch on to that. And then all you get is ads about improving yourself at that time of year.
Podfire (37:45.644)
Yeah, you're right. It's like something's wrong with you. Yeah. Yeah. I celebrate that you're wonderful and what, how you're going to make yourself more wonderful. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. But be happy with who you are to start with. That's the way we should be looking at it. I don't know. It's, I don't know, again, whether it's because I'm getting older or getting grumpier.
You start to see the world in a different way. Yes.
You have to work a little bit harder not to sort of get caught up in what's happening around you as well. And sometimes you're having to say no to certain things and having to give up a number of things that, not that it hasn't been good for you, but maybe you have to get away from it in order to keep moving forward. And for me, that's what it's about, you It's just a...
continually to keep walking forward, taking those steps forward. You know, we use the word growth and all that sort of stuff. That's great. But for me, it's about, I just want to make sure I wake up tomorrow and keep waking up the day after that and the day after that. But also, I think it's about you recognizing that you are moving forward. Yeah. Because sometimes we get caught up and don't realize that we are moving forward because we feel like we're so held back.
Well, you know, sometimes that's, in the head. Yeah, it's absolutely. Okay. So how, how, how do we, how do we recognise we're moving forward then? I think it's, it just feels like Groundhog's Day, Yeah. Yeah. Comes back to that appreciation and knowing that you've got a choice. Yeah. Appreciating where you are, even if it is the worst place that you've ever felt in your whole life. and seeing that choice.
Podfire (39:53.354)
And then in moments where you feel like you just aren't moving forward, who's around you to help you realize that you are? And that's, you know, having that right tribe around you, having your clan around you and chosen clan. Like I know that we are related and have community and stuff. And identifying the right people around you.
And sometimes the right people mightn't be there for a long time, might be there for a short time, but connecting with people that are seeing your growth, appreciating your growth for what it is. And at the times where you feel like you aren't moving forward, you know exactly who to go to in those moments.
And I have different people for those moments, depending on where I'm at or what it is or the situation. And I'm so appreciative of those people. But it's taken a lifetime to build that as well. When you're younger...
I think it's a little bit harder. Like, you know, the hindsight thing is always great, you know, but I'm sure that as we're older, there's always things that you think about when you were younger that you just weren't ready to listen to or hear to help you progress. If I had listened when I was younger to the advice that was there, but I didn't want to hear it.
I would have moved along a lot quicker and appreciated things a lot earlier in life, rather than being a breed child strong head that was too worried about stamping my own independence and being in control of my own independence.
Podfire (41:58.284)
That's life, isn't it? It is life. It is life. And as we get older, to look back and see that, I don't beat up on myself to think I've missed that opportunity. But it's interesting how you reflect on that and just think, yeah, I was a bit of a breed. If I'd listened, I might've had a completely different life, a journey in life.
And now you're talking to ones that were just like you. Absolutely. So I could totally. Is this actually helping? The next generation. But I get it. It's exactly the same way. Yeah. But I can't judge that because that's exactly how I was. And again, we just go back again. Simple in theory, it comes down to a choice. Yes. You want to take it on or not, you know, that's all part of learning.
It's a part of life, it's a part of the journey, you know, and it's some people, some people might look back on their lives and wish it was differently. know, some people might just understand, well, it's just what it is. You know, I am who I am because of what I've been through and what I've experienced. Some people just, they get stuck back there and can't seem to move forward, you know. Absolutely.
It's one of those things, know, what's gonna benefit you more? What's more appropriate for yourself? You know, we see the impact of people being stuck or regretting what's happened in their past lives or in the past and it's an impact on where they're at now. And it's gonna impact on the way they move forward. We see it lot.
We see it lot in our community, Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander community. A lot of people that just struggle to move forward because, you I don't know whether it's fear, maybe it's stubbornness, maybe it's stubbornness a word, maybe it's them being stubborn. Maybe they just feel like they know what they're doing, you know. Or maybe it's just they can't move forward because they haven't healed properly. Yeah, yeah, that's... But even identifying that you are moving forward,
Podfire (44:18.912)
You can move forward, can be hard.
If they don't have that proper healing, if we still got our scars, our historical scars, how do you, and you can't change them. Can't change it. But how do we deal with those scars to help us move forward? It's a big conversation. We're not going to go there now. no, no, no. What I was going to say is can you heal?
while you're moving forward? Isn't that the thing? Isn't that part of healing? Yeah, it To see that you are moving forward and even celebrating that. Yeah. And allowing yourself to go through the emotions. Sometimes we stop ourselves because it's seen as a weakness to be vulnerable. In actual fact, it's such a strength. To be vulnerable and cry in front of people takes a lot of strength.
And some people are better at it than others.
Podfire (45:27.074)
But it's, you know, and everyone's different in that, but I think we need to be comfortable in that and allow, stopping feelings, allow them to flow. But how do we manage them? How do we take responsibility for those feelings? Know how?
it's affecting those around us, but still allow those feelings to flow because it's important that they do. We know what happens when people don't deal and you bottle things up and you look for, you know.
happiness or a sense of happiness or calm in other ways other than ourselves.
Podfire (46:27.436)
You got me thinking now. Yeah. That's what we do. Too much.
But you know, it's a chance. think we shouldn't put in back to resolutions, put so much pressure on ourselves to actually have to set a resolution when it should be just a part of life, just in terms of everyday growth. Because every day is an opportunity to learn and see things differently.
But maybe it's just a nice reminder. Maybe the new year is a nice reminder that we forget to do that through the year and maybe it'll stimulate that in people to set their resolutions. Join the gym and diets and go to the doctor, get themselves checked out, get a new haircut, get a fresh outfit, whatever that, go move to another country, whatever that looks like.
Yeah, look, and some I heard the other day, and I hope they don't mind me sharing this, there's times where we practice and we forget the principle beyond what we're practicing. Yeah. And sometimes we understand the principle, but we don't practice what we should be doing. Is that making any sense? Yeah. You know, like, again, Christmas just gone by. That's a perfect example. What's the reason?
we have Christmas, what was the reason in the past we had Christmas? And has that changed, has the practice changed over time? The principle hasn't changed.
Podfire (48:15.35)
Or as it?
Podfire (48:19.338)
Is it about giving? Is it about celebrating each other? Is it about bringing people together that you love and just spending time with? Or is it more than that? I think maybe the focus has just changed. Because people tend to, at that time of year, it's about, well, where are you gathering, who are you gathering with?
but we got off track and got sidetracked with presence and things and materialism.
And why should it happen once a year? Or like, you know, we always talk about, we only seen you at a funeral, stuff like that.
Podfire (49:13.426)
life is so busy. Why can't we enjoy each other more, more often? Three, you're so caught up with having to pay bills and working and. Yeah, that's definitely again, that's life. Life gets in the way. We're really focused. We got to focus more because during the year we are giving, you know what I mean? But we don't seem to put
as much focus on it as we do when Valentine's Day comes around or birthdays or Christmas comes around. We need to, again, because I think we see the appreciation in it and we become more grateful, you know, understanding that we're given something here, we're receiving it in the way that's appropriate or it's meant to be received, but at the same time you're giving.
And hopefully it's been received the way it needs to be received. Make every day a holiday. Hey! But even the mindset of that though. Yeah, the mindset. Yeah. If we had a mindset of take every day as a holiday where you're balancing time with family, know, responsibilities, giving, receiving.
It all comes down to a balance, yeah. Work, life. Maybe that's my new motto. Every day's a holiday. you imagine? I don't know. Anybody that's listening now, sort of think about the year that's gone past. Yeah. Whether they were happy with it. You know, just have a little deep breath of what it's like.
of what it was like, whether you achieved anything or something didn't work out the way you wanted it to and look at continuing to do the great things that you're doing or look to change a few things to move towards your goal. So how do you reflect and review on your life? I guess? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Is what we're asking. Yeah. We don't do enough of it.
Podfire (51:39.714)
We don't do enough of it because we're so dragged along with life. So how do you take the time to reflect, review, to be able to make your new resolutions regularly? And don't be too critical of yourself. Yeah, celebrate yourself. Yeah, don't be too critical. I mean, it's good to be hard on yourself, know, challenge yourself, but don't be too critical. Yeah, there's enough of that around the world. You know, we spoke a bit on that in our last podcast and, you know,
So many, it's so easy to bring people down. It's easy to bring people down. It's easy to find faults. It's easy to find faults, we need to look to encourage each other a lot more. And I guess that's what we're doing now, to encourage you to look at where you can make a few little changes. not, we do things differently in order for you to keep moving forward, whether it's your health.
whether it's your work, whether it's your family. And they're all pretty important places to sort of figure out where they're at. Or just look through a different pair of glasses. See yourself how someone else may see you. Because we can be a bit critical of ourselves as well. Surround yourself with good people.
that see the grade in you. Definitely helps.
Podfire (53:15.086)
We're going to have a big year this year. Yeah. Every year is a big year. I'm looking forward to it. we're to move forward. Yep. And focus on the positives because as you said, there's, it's so easy to look at the faults in the world and it's so easy to judge. But let's yarn. Let's look at different sides of the story. Let's
Let's open it up and care and support each other more. Agree to disagree.
Yeah. And move forward. That does sound like a good plan. There's a resolution. The theory sounds good. It does. It's the practice now. Yeah. And we can do it. We can all do it. Well, and that's what we want to try and do through here, right? That's why we wanted to start Yarning. That's why we started this podcast. To start Yarns. To start opening up all sides of a story.
to start helping people connect and bring people together. And hopefully people feel that out there. I hope so. Because we certainly don't want to pass any judgement or say that people need to live the way we live. Yeah, exactly. Well, you know, there's a choice in that. There's choices. They can press the button to listen to us or they can just...
Flip up or down, scroll up or down, or delete. It's a choice, you know. You don't want anybody to feel like they have to listen to us. That's not the case, you know. But we appreciate it. We do appreciate it. Yeah.
Podfire (55:05.196)
So happy new year. Happy new year everyone. To everybody and let's keep yarning. Stay safe.