The lovely Jeanene Kennedy-Evans, from Winederlust, a fun Canberra company which is always looking for ways to intertwine wine experiences with events, alerted me to a new series she's hosting soon called Live Your Best Life.
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She's found six local experts across six different fields, ready to share their practical tips, tricks and expertise on ways to do just that.
And there's wine at every event, McKellar Ridge and Lake George are two local wineries to have signed on early.
So in the spirit of things, I poured myself a glass of Lake George's lovely rosé and had a think about what topic I might present if someone dare ask cynical old me to talk about ways to live a best life of some sort.
I'll be up front here, the cynical me doesn't necessarily agree with some of the topics covered in this series. I'm sure it will be enlightening and fun and a super way to spend a Wednesday night. Listening to, and mingling with, smart, intelligent women is always a blast.
Week one kicks off on January 29, looking at how to market yourself on social media, then the series moves on to the topics of confidence, style, waste reduction, money and career.
One of the presenters is former colleague Bree Element who'll talk about confidence and loving the skin you're in. I miss the Breezer, although I am now enjoying my window seat she kindly vacated. I miss the sometimes heated conversations we used to have about what we both thought was important in life, whether that be at work or home.
She knew my concept of living my best life was not getting caught up, too much, about what other people thought of me. If there's one thing I've been brave enough to do over the past few years is to stop giving so much of a shit.
This is who I am, take me flaws and all. I am more than happy to admit I'm not perfect, that I could indeed be living a much better life. But sometimes it's just about getting through the day.
I completely frustrated Bree at times, not paying too much attention to likes and page hits and the number of readers, even though such things have become, sadly, how things are measured in this industry.
If something I write touches one person's life any given week, I'm happy. And I know that sometimes it does. When you stop me in the street, or introduce yourself to me at some function or event, letting me know that something I did mattered to you at least.
So pouring a second glass of rosé, I came up with a few topics I think would go down well if you bought tickets for Karen Hardy's series of Live a slightly better life than you're living now, but, really it doesn't matter if you don't end up following through with anything because you're actually doing OK. Hashtag inspo. I really don't know why I'm not on the circuit.
Week one: Be kind, and kind of mean it. It's easy to fake being kind. Say the right thing at the right time, do the occasional generous act, but then think bad thoughts about all the people you think never offering anything in return. But being kind is about not looking for anything in return, really listening, being there for people when they need you, even if it's not convenient for you. And be kind to yourself as well.
Week two: Feed your friends. Take every opportunity to gather people around your table, or kitchen bench. It doesn't have to be much. Some ends of cheese, a few crackers. Or a sit down to a gourmet meal. Feed their children too. Who doesn't love a night off. People relax around a table, conversations are had, the world's problems sorted. There'll definitely be wine at this one.
Week three: Spend more time relaxing. Busy, busy doesn't cut it anymore. Read books, take long baths, take long walks, nap. We're all so caught up by the idea of having to do something when the best thing for us would be to just stop.
Week four: Stop listening to other people tell you how to live your best life. Only you know the answer to that.
Weeks five to six: Just pour the wine and let's gossip about Harry and Meghan.
- Winederlust's Live Your Best Life Series begins on Wednesday, January 29. The six episodes will run fortnightly on Wednesday evenings through to April 8. Tickets $35 per event or all six for $175.