Life is Like Running by As Katie Sees It

Not trying to be the modern day Forrest Gump, I decided life is more like running than it is a box of chocolates this morning….

Life is like running. The harder you work, the more you get out of it.

Life is like running. Just when you think you can’t do it anymore, a breeze arrives, you see the horizon and get a second wind of energy.

Life is like running. Some days have steeper hills than others, this just means you appreciate the view from the top even more.

Life is like running. Some people are sprinters, some are joggers; each is no better than the other, so never compare yourself.

Life is like running. If you continue on the same track you’ll get bored. Mix it up a little and get out of your comfort zone to see results.

Life is like running. Some people’s journeys are shorter. This doesn’t make them any less valuable.

Life is like running. Everyone trips at some point. It’s how you recover that’s most important. Laughing it off makes the run home easier than sulking and feeling foolish.

Life is like running. If you push yourself and leave nothing on the table you’ll feel better at the end and be pleased with your efforts as opposed to always wondering if you could have done better.

Life is like running. Sometimes it’s nice to be alone but it can be lots of fun to run with others for motivation or social reasons. Be sure to do both every now and then.

Life is like running. Be sure to watch where you’re going, or you’ll run into a tree. Trust me. I speak from experience. This is especially detrimental if you’re running with a pram!

‘As Katie Sees It’ is written by our guest blogger Kate Filipovic – wife and mother of two Mr R 9 and Ms H 7. She is an accredited Thermal Performance Assessor focusing on sustainable home design and has studied Interior Design. She never leaves after a coffee at my house without moving a vase, a cushion or furniture of some kind!

Deb’s Story

“Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us. You have given me inspiration to enjoy my kids and myself more”

Deb is a stay-at-home mum. She has two children in primary school. She is part of the Parent and Friends Group and contributes to classroom activities where she can. Deb describes herself as a “perfectionist”. She keeps her house clean and tidy, “in-case anyone just pops in”. She is fit and healthy and ensures her children attend extra curricula activities such as soccer, dance, swimming and music. Deb always feels that she “isn’t quite as good as others”. She is shy and anxious around others and she wants to give her children the best in life that she can. After completing my program Deb stated her amazement that she felt calmer and somehow better at parenting.

Scott’s Story

“I didn’t come to the course for me, I came to see what I could do differently to my children to help them. I am so glad I hung in there and saw it through. I am so glad that the focus was on how I do things, which I now do very differently – thank you!”

Scott works for a multinational company and sees the world as highly competitive. He wants the best for his family. He puts in long hours and finds it difficult to switch off when he is at home. He is very demanding of his children regarding their academic standards and their sporting success. He rarely gets to take his children to their sport’s training and when he does he tends to sit in his car on his phone either working on emails or just zoning out on social media or games. He finds sitting and waiting for them a “waste of time”. When he started the program he was initially reluctant to focus on his own health and wellbeing as he believed it was irrelevant to his children’s wellbeing. He now interacts with other parents at training and feels a lot more relaxed when he talks to his children. He is able to leave work demands until after his children have gone to bed or he deals with it the next day at work, spending more quality time with his partner.

Laura’s Story

This is the story of Laura. Laura is 7years old and in her 3rd year at school. She has been identified as a struggling student. She finds it difficult to come to school each day, not wanting to leave her mother and join the class. She is quiet, withdrawn and needs a personalised learning program and team to help her access the classroom curriculum. She has anxiety and learning difficulties. Laura’s father completed my Oxygen for Parents Program held at Laura’s school. He joined other parents to work on their levels of connection with themselves and their families. He wanted to help his daughter succeed at school and in life. He learnt to meditate, to disconnect from work before he got home; how to mindfully interact with Laura and to develop mindful communication with his wife and family. During a Program Support Group meeting held to discuss Laura’s progress the teachers commented on changes in Laura that they couldn’t explain. They didn’t think they had done anything differently to cause these changes. Laura was connecting to her classmates. She had started to contribute in class and was tackling learning tasks she had previously avoided. It wasn’t until the Deputy Principal overheard Laura’s mother, Selma, talking to the reception staff it became clear what had changed. Selma wanted to pass on her thanks to me for running the program that her husband had attended. She made the statement “thank you for giving me back my husband and my children their father”. The Deputy knew that this was the key to Laura’s newfound confidence and resilience. In working on himself, his family had also gained the benefits and Laura was a different child – confident, happy, connected and learning.