Author: Amanda Viviers

Place: Milkd

Poison: Long Black

Favourite Things: Scarf from Sydney

I heard someone say recently that the origin of the word inspire is ‘breath life into’.

This thought made me stop in my tracks, because there are real moments of inspiration when I do feel like the very breath of life has been excited within me.

When we are sick and are short of breath, that feeling of hopelessness, can be all consuming. When we are surrounded by people who are sick, we can begin to breath short breaths and take on the symptoms or the depression of their sickness due to proximity.

Inspiration, is digging deep and finding the true essence of life and the breath of an amazing creator, who wants us all to live a life in deeper conversation with him.

Having defining moments, thinking moments, creative moments, crazy moments, spontaneous moments, should not be once a year occurances. I so believe that there is inspiration in the everyday, you just have to learn how to look for it!

No matter what your lot in life is right now, there is inspiration to be found. Those moments that you cannot manufacture, but moments that you can create a fertile landscape for them to grow.

When was the last time you did something for the first time? When was the last time you went out of your compfort zone because you put yourself there? When was the last time you made steps towards seeing some of your life visions and dreams realised?

That is the land of inspiration. They are the destinations where that breath taken glance at a bigger life can be found.

Breathe deep, there is inpiration to be found, you just have to learn where to look for it!

Inspired!
A

Place: Farrell’s 

Poison: Long Black 

Favourite Things: My Utmost for His Highest- Oswald Chambers 

I have been preparing this afternoon to Host the service at Church for the first time tonight. So basically what happens, is the host get’s up and introduces the different segments of what is happening. Am a little petrified actually. 

One part of the service that the Host does is encourages the congregation to give of their finances. This part of contemporary church services has been given such a bad rep in our times from the media.  However if the critics understood the heart of the church in matters financial they would realise that it is not as sinister as the public perception of the church is. 

I give into the local church, overseas aid agencies and volunteer organisations, because I want too, not because some one tells me that I should. 

I want to live a life bigger than myself, because selfish ambition is such a small way to live my life. I don’t need all the money that I earn, and I have no problem giving it away to people who will use it in anyway they see fit to make the world a better place. 

At all the weddings that I have gone to this year, I don’t give people presents because I have too, I give presents because I want to bless the newly weds in their new start in life.

When I am out at coffee with the GTCC, I don’t pay for their coffee’s because they brought my last one and I really should repay the favour, I do it because I want to celebrate the everyday with them and for me that is done best over coffee. That’s the best way I think $3 bucks can be spent at that point in time. 

So generosity for me is not about giving into institutions because someone up the front of the organisation says that I have too. I choose to give of my finances, time and my resources to see the church expand and grow and affect many more lives that I alone couldn’t even begin to reach. 

Give because you want to, not because you have too. The way it expands the rest of your world will completely spin you out. 

Reachin out… 

A 

Place: Kym’s Office

Poison: Long Black

Favourite Things: Kym Rolle and her flowers…

We are ready to escape and drive the big, old, open, country road all the way to Rockingham. Tonight is a very important night indeed, as the Dockers are playing Sydney and I am hoping the South of Perth erupts in laughter and cheers, in response to a big win from the boys…

I have never been a huge sporting type of girl, but the Dockers and Eagles fever has taken over and I am ready for some family style lovin, coupled with Dockers success.

When things get a little stressful, when life is a little overwhelming, thats when family is so important. The drive to Rockingham, with my ipod and my bestest buddy Kym is going to be fab! Even better will be the BBQ, my uncles and aunts running around being crazy, neices and nephews, and mates all in the same room together.

Its amazing what a night away can do, the perspective is brings, the freshness it encourages is the best.

Run away with your nearest and dearest. Be random, be spontaneous, be free…

Life was meant to be lived, not stressed.

Be free, young fairies…

lovin

A

Place: Office

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: Events girls in background

 

On nights like this, what every women wants: ‘pajama’s, white wine, candle, a man and a jigsaw puzzle.’ One that’s not too difficult, but not a childs dinsey puzzle either. Something where your mind can engage in random thoughts and refresh after a big event managment driven kind of week.

Dust off your old box of puzzles or go to the local op shop…They are so cheap. Pop them on a hard bench or table top, and whenever you have a spare moment pop in a few pieces.

At last year’s rise conference, we had thousands of people through our doors, but the most memorable part of the foyer action for me was the jigsaw puzzle. People put it together over the days and nights of the conference. It was quirky, fun and so very daggy all in one. I loved it.

I could get all super-spiritual on you now, and write about; all of us and how we fit into the puzzle… but its not that intense sort of arvo!

Its just a jigsaw puzzle sort of day!Go on try it…

Puzzled?

A

Ps- watch out they are addictive

Place: Office

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: Hertime Post its!

The last few days have been completely manic! In the midst of all the pressure, this morning I went to a breakfast with leaders of the city, Tim Costello the speaker, to launch the ‘Make Poverty History’ campaign in Perth.

This campaign has been around the world and has made such a difference, but it wasn’t until I was on a panel at the Parachute Music Festival in January, that I truly contemplated this thought.

Can we, this generation truly make poverty history. With the revolutionary sounds crying through the television about the political coo in Thailand, I am so impacted by the faces of those children who smile at me from the slums of Khlong Toei Bangkok.

Bono says ‘It is not right that 30,000 kids die every day because of a 20cent per child immunisation scheme!’

I say ‘It is not right that one child die, because of lack!’

I truly am not sure that I, Amanda-marie Powell can make poverty history. But together we all can make a difference.

Tonight our team event managed the Public memorial Service for Peter Brock, and the tributes, songs and words were powerful. The hearts cry of Peter Brocks life was ‘Live your dreams’

I wonder right now what dreams remain unlived in the hearts of each of the children I encountered in the slums through lack. Not just lack of finance, lack of permission, lack of education, lack of nutrition, lack of courage.

From a young age I have always said I wanted my life, (no matter what I did with it) to inspire others to live the life of their dreams. I want to empower others, I want to make a difference and live large.

Creativity and Inspiration is just not for our own self stimulated need to achieve, for me it is all about realeasing others…

Together we can make poverty history.

Forever

A