PS. I'll work on the raunchy!

I woke up this morning in Melbourne with filtered sunlight through the blinds on my face and I wondered if it would be cold today. This is part of my daily routine – I’ve had this thought every morning since waking in Melbourne (for those of you wondering – the answer is yes, today is quite cool).

There was something else on my mind, a friend, a colleague and an inspiration. I am lucky enough to not only have met Tina Jensen but to work with her and I learn from her daily. Not so much about philanthropic organisations (one of which we work with together) but about life, hope and being consistent in an inconsistent universe.

I came to Melbourne when all of my dreams had ended, when hope was just about lost to me and all I had was the unwavering concept that ‘this’ could not be ‘it’. If life was not going to change around me, then I would change it. I came to Melbourne to lose myself, and to reform as a leaner, stronger and possibly saner Yvette. Prior to going to Melbourne I had more then one person advise me that I would meet someone who would set me upon my next path. I hadn’t really expected it to be true but since meeting Tina I have been thinking furiously and my feet are itchy…

How is it that day after day I could wake up with all my dreams of who I wanted to be, with that invincible strength that we always have in our youth – missing? How is it that it could both be taken and then in just conversing with Tina be returned? I don’t really know. But I am grateful that in the daily conversations I have with Tina she gives back to me a piece of myself. Perhaps give is the wrong word. She helps me discover that it was never actually gone. She is an illuminator. I am not convinced that she doesn’t glow in the dark.

My journey is just starting, within the next few months I will no doubt move onto the next adventure, possibly the greatest journey of my life and the reason why I felt brave enough to do it lies in the hands of a woman who set out some time ago to change the world, but whose own path has perhaps taken a few twists and turns unexpectedly (some of which I’m eternally grateful for).

So I could’ve written this and thanked Tina for what she has changed within my life but Tina, I don’t think that’s what you need. You don’t need another person to tell you how much you have impacted their life. You don’t need someone to provide you with a job, or a husband, or a child. Though perhaps these things may be nice….

What you need is to be challenged in return. You have stories within you that could change the world – stories of lives you have experienced in some of the most horrendous and beautiful villages all around the world, and from your very own backyard.

So here is the challenge Tiny Dancer – weekly, I want you to post a note of a story. I will match you, story for story. This week – you are my story and how you have changed me. Next week? Who knows it could be the man who sells me my weekly coffee….

Start this weekend, tell me a story of hope within the dark and continue to light me up and everyone else…

Always.

Being challenged.

Accepting.

You bloody ripper!