In the lead up to International Women’s Day last month, I was a guest at the screening of a feature length documentary “I am a Girl” presented by Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West Inc.

The documentary addresses what it means to grow up as a female in the 21st century, and follows the lives of six teenage girls on the cusp of womanhood.

“I am a Girl” takes you on a journey with these young women and the issues they face, dictated by many things including religion, where they live, race and social status.

Given that I am way past being “on the cusp of womanhood”, with my teenage years far behind me…I went along expecting that I would simply hear their stories, but not relate to them…my how I was wrong!

As I left the theatre that night, I had tears in my eyes, and an empty feeling in my stomach…like I’d let these girls down by not protecting them…but above all else, it took the words of a teenage girl living on the other side of the world, to describe exactly how I feel…

A quote from Aziza – “those who have lost a mother or a father feel incomplete”…

I encourage you to take a look at this documentary and share it with your own teenage children, both girls and boys!

Regards

The five traditional methods of perception, or senses, are sound, sight, touch, taste and smell…have you ever considered what your life would be like without one of these?

At 21 years of age, while I was living in Alice Springs, I noticed I wasn’t hearing as well as I should.  For example I didn’t hear my mobile phone ringing, despite it being right beside me.

Knowing I had a problem, it still took me almost three years to make an appointment to see an audiologist.  By this time I was living in Melbourne and I remember that day like it was yesterday.

It was Monday 30th November, 1998 when my life changed forever.

On that day, I visited a suburban audiologist where I was bluntly given the diagnosis that I needed hearing aids.  A young professional woman, who took pride in her appearance, and couldn’t face a “disability”…it just couldn’t be happening!

Lucky for me I found a more caring audiologist who understood my concerns and has looked after me since that time, and still does to this day…(to me that’s testament to the notion of finding the right healthcare professionals for you).

In early 1999, I was fitted with my first set of hearing aids – at first I wore my hair long so my ears were always covered because I didn’t want anyone to know, I didn’t even tell my employer.

Some 15 years later, I’ve come to accept that this is the way my life is, and I’m more open about my hearing impairment – but I can tell you it is not easy!

I am truly blessed to have supportive family and friends – they know to look at me when they are speaking, they know I have terrible trouble in noisy situations…and they put up with having subtitles on the TV screen whenever I am around.

I will never forget Monday 30th November, 1998…but in the words of Friedrich Nietzsche…what does not kill me, makes me stronger!

…the five traditional methods of perception, or senses, are sound, sight, touch, taste and smell…have you ever considered what your life would be like without one of these?

Regards

It’s come to my attention that I have some friends participating in their own A-Z Challenge in April, called “Guess the name of The Tax Chic’s blog”…I’m thinking they might get this one right!

On 1st July, 2000 the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced to Australia…a 10% broad based consumption tax on goods and services.

Some saw it as following in the steps of our New Zealand neighbours, some saw it as the death of small business, and some saw it as a changing of the guard (so to speak) putting business in Australia as the tax collector or doing the job of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

However you saw it, GST is here to stay and the collection and remittance of GST to the ATO is part and parcel of being in business.  I understand that not all situations will be straight forward, but with good planning and proper procedures, recording GST need not be an onerous task.

It is however important for business owners to understand how the GST works and to determine their obligations under the system…ignorance is no defence, and I always prefer to be armed with more information than less!

If there are aspects of GST in your business that you do not understand, ask questions of your accountant, or contact our partner LMB Consulting to arrange a consultation.

Regards

Anyone who is anyone in the Australian fitness industry will know that Melbourne was the host of the 2014 FILEX Convention and Australian Fitness & Health Expo on the weekend.

Usually held in Sydney, due to venue renovations Melbourne was the lucky host for 2014…what an amazing opportunity to show the rest of the country our love of health and fitness?

The moment I walked into the Melbourne Exhibition Building, I was in awe.  The people, the colour and the noise was simply sensational!

But the highlight of the weekend would have to be the “Les Mills Super Saturday”!  The what?  Every three months new moves and new music are launched for the Les Mills programs (think Body Pump and Body Step among others).  “Super Saturday” was the chance for certified instructors to preview what’s coming up in Quarter 2.

If you’ve ever been to a group fitness class, you’ll know that with a lot of participants, the energy in the room rises…well imagine being in a room of hundreds of instructors as the participants, and the leading instructors up on stage – the only word to describe it is “electric”!

I’m certainly coming away from that weekend with a mountain of motivation!

What’s your motivation when it comes to health and fitness?

Regards