I have come to understand that we grow the most and at the fastest pace when we are placed under pressure. Just as you cannot make a diamond without immense pressure and a lotus cannot bloom without mud; so too is the way of all things. You need the difficulty, the challenge and the levels of discomfort to find out what you are truly capable of, and that is what I am experiencing right now. It's not so much unpleasant, its more uncomfortable in this new skin and I am constantly navigating new terrain and having to perform adjustments to find a new normal. In the past this would have stressed me out, but I have grown a lot in a decade and I am finding the process challenging in the most enjoyable of ways.
Not a day goes by that doesn't call upon my social and emotional skill set and my problem solving skills and it is so good! This is what I have been waiting for, and didn't even realise that I was! Back in November I recall writing a blog about contentment and desire, and it gave me an opportunity to contemplate the extremely high level of life satisfaction that I was experiencing. But, I have come to understand that without desire or drive, contentment can be the mother of stagnation, procrastination and settling for what we have, rather than seeking challenge. In short, although I loved the high levels of contentment that I was experiencing, I wasn't really growing as a person or developing any of my skills. I was just marinating in the ease of it all, which is lovely but you can spoil if you marinate for too long.
So change was what I needed but I didn't know that I actually needed it until I got it and now I feel so energise and passionate about things again. I haven't felt scared, ambitious, courageous, inventive or creative in a workplace for quite a while and I had forgotten how good it feels to be all of those things. Especially the uncertainty, that in itself is terrifyingly terrific! To not know and to need to learn again, I had forgotten the thirst and hunger that comes with that feeling and I really like it!
And so, I have started my new career. One that involves leading, learning, travelling, problem solving, listening and sharing. One that offers me a seat at the table of decision makers and contemplators and gosh - what a incredible feeling to have back in my life again. So, it is with joy in my step and a smile in my heart that I launch into this brave new world of uncertainty and welcome the road that rises before me - 2025 is going to be a steep but rewarding learning curve for me, and I am ready to take it on!

Release Date: 2024
Rating: M
Running Time: 94 mins
An adult stop-motion animation tragic-comedy; written, produced and directed by Adam Elliot. The film's plot is loosely inspired by Elliot's real life experiences and was very well received by audiences and critics alike, landing a nomination for Animation Feature Film at the 2025 Golden Globes.
Grace Pudel is growing up in Melbourne, Australia in the '70s. She's a little different and she's also very introverted, hence her love of the snail, a creature that always has a safe pace to hide. As we follow Grace throughout her life we discover what it truly means to be alive and free.
This is a touching tale that explores grief, despair and humanity in humorous and heartfelt ways. The characters are larger than life and the voice actors (Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jackie Weaver, Eric Bana and Magda Szubanski - to name a few) are perfectly cast. Memoir of a Snail is moving and original storytelling that shouldn't be missed.
FINAL SAY: Life can only be understood backwards, but we have to live it forwards.
3.5 Chilli Peppers