Anita Heiss's Blog, page 17
June 12, 2018
June 5: Happiness can be found through exercise
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Although it may not be the be-all-and-end-all of finding happiness, there is a mountain of research that suggests that exercise plays a role in mental and emotional well-being, and yes, being happy. I know personally that my anxiety is managed better when I exercise, and hitting the gym or the pavement for a walk or run also helps when I am in a dark place.
Today’s photo is of a message on the wall at my gym this morning. A gentle reminder of why we need to exercise, and the many benefits.
June 11, 2018
June 4: Happiness is a double-dose of exercise … all those endorphins
If you’re following my blog (or Facebook / insta posts) you might have seen that I’ve been traveling a bit, a lot actually. I slept in three cities (Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra) in five nights recently, so that’s a lot of disruption to routine for me. And the travel is tiring – you don’t eat properly, sleep properly and other bodily functions are out of whack also.
I’ve become so reliant on exercise to ground me at home, that I was relieved and grateful to be out running this morning. I felt good about life after 8km and so happily took myself to the gym tonight for a double-dose of endorphins – and that my friends, is what it’s all about!
endorphin
ɛnˈdɔːfɪn/
noun
plural noun: endorphins
any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and having a number of physiological functions. They are peptides which activate the body’s opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect.
June 3: Happiness is remembering MABO with the Mob
Today is Mabo Day and marks the 1992 High Court of Australia’s judgement in the Mabo case recognising native title rights, while overturning the doctrine (and fiction) of terra nullius that said this land had belonged to no one prior to invasion and colonisation.
Today I pay my respects to Eddie Koiki Mabo and all claimants. It was wonderful to be able to attend a tribute to Eddie Mabo with the local Torres Strait Islander community in Brisbane. There is always happiness when the community comes together with music, dance and food.
June 3: Remembering MABO with the Mob
Today is Mabo Day and marks the 1992 High Court of Australia’s judgement in the Mabo case recognising native title rights, while overturning the doctrine (and fiction) of terra nullius that said this land had belonged to no one prior to invasion and colonisation.
Today I pay my respects to Eddie Koiki Mabo and all claimants. It was wonderful to be able to attend a tribute to Eddie Mabo with the local Torres Strait Islander community in Brisbane. There is always happiness when the community comes together with music, dance and food.
June 2: Happiness is time with new and old friends
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My new friend Sue, and my friend of 10 years, Julie
Before leaving Melbourne today, I managed to squeeze in a couple of hours with two amazing women: one I met recently on my visit to the Tiwi Islands and the other I met doing publicity for a novel back in 2007. And as the world is a small place, it just so happens these two gorgeous women pictured above, also happen to be friends.
So the circle of life continues to bring staunch, smart, supportive women into my life and together we share ideas about how we can make the world a better place – largely through philanthropic projects.
Of course, we also like eating good food, drinking good coffee and talking about men – because, well we are chicks after all.
My happiness today therefore was seeing Sue and Julie, and my heart was full when I left the 9 degree city for my much warmer Brisbane.
June 9, 2018
June 1: Happiness is changing the discourse around growing up Aboriginal
What it means to be Aboriginal. How Aboriginal people are identified. Stereotypes around Aboriginality. Where we live, what we aspire to be, what we contribute to society. Much of these issues / topics have for the most part been discussed by people ‘outside’ the Aboriginal community – media commentators, academics, researchers and so forth.
But tonight at the Wheeler Centre in Melbourne, 200+ locals sat and listened to Celeste Liddle, Zac Penrith-Pulchaski and Sharon Payne talk about the above based on their own personal experiences. And to be part of that conversation around Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia, that shift in who controls the dialogue around our own lives, was empowering. For those who couldn’t make it, the podcast is now online here.
This is a shout out of thanks to the Wheeler Centre and Black Inc Books for making the the night possible, and to all those who came along to share the conversation.
An added thrill was seeing my tiddas Yvette Holt and Ellen van Neerven. Both amazing poets who came along also to support and catch up.
Smiles all round as you can see. I was one happy moderator / editor tonight.
June 8, 2018
May 31: Happiness is a Long Inspiring Lunch
Today I attended the Long Lunch (with thanks to Robert and Marian Giles) at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne. The event was designed to celebrate and recognise the incredible contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players and people to the game of Australian Rules Football and today’s lunch also shone a spotlight on some of deadliest women in the code.
Hosted by Essendon Football Club annually, this year’s event was MC’d by Shelley Ware of Marngrook fame, and the keynote address was delivered by AFL GM – Inclusion & Social Policy, Tanya Hosch. There was a powerful performance by the young group Spinifex Gum and an uplifting end to the day with Christine Anu gracing the stage in bright red and belting out some of her most popular tunes.
Like many events in NRW, it was a fab opportunity to catch up with friends from across the country, and today was no different. I managed some fleeting moments with Belinda Duarte (CEO, Culture is Life), Michael O’Loughlin (co-founder GO Foundation and deadly Swans legend) and Karen Mundine (CEO, Reconciliation Australia)
The Long Lunch was food for the soul, and I also left with both my belly and heart full.
May 30: Happiness is 250 people kicking on for Indigenous literacy
What a wonderful night at Queen’s College, Melbourne University, where 250 people gathered to celebrate Reconciliation Week and Sir Doug Nicholls Round of the AFL while raising much needed funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
This was the 3rd annual Kick on for Literacy event, and this year it was co-hosted by the Epic Good Foundation, Hawthorn Football Club and new partner, Queen’s College.
Highlights of the night included an intimate performance by the amazing Archie Roach (accompanied by Craig Pilkington), a hilarious debate on whether or not the locker room was sexier than the library (apparently the locker room one!), and lots of opportunities for networking while buying raffle tickets and bidding on fabulous auction prizes.
Massive shout out of thanks to all the talent – Aunty Caroline Briggs, Graeme Simsion, Belinda Duarte, Tanya Hosch, Campbell Brown, David Lawrence and Emma Race PLUS my friends who came along on the night to support me and the cause! And to my cousin Luke Penrith for donating a deadly pair of football boots in the Epic Good colours.
And I was thrilled to hear that one table alone registered three Great Book Swaps with the ILF – this deadly news nearly made me happier than the pics I got with Archie and Andy Griffiths – which were personal highlights for me on the night.
May 29: Happiness is working with Tam
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I’ve written about Tam (Tamatha aka The Tamster) here before. She’s a colleague of mine at the Epic Good Foundation, with the world’s most incredible laugh. She’s also top of her game in terms of professionalism. This morning’s early morning flight to Melbourne wasn’t as bad as it normally would be because Tam was coming with me to assist with preparations for tomorrow night’s Kick on for Literacy event.
We had a long “To Do” list, but Tam was all over it. And that made be very happy!
May 28: Happiness is when others listen to you…
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When I see change happening on the ground in terms of Reconciliation, it’s generally where non-Indigenous people LISTEN to us when they ask for our opinions. I am often asked for my advice, opinion, thoughts and referrals on a range of subjects, issues, topics around Aboriginal-everything, and often I provide something that is often ignored. I can’t tell you how much that disappoints me, exhausts me, and makes me want to give up being part of something I believe this country needs.
The quote above is true – and as someone who works hard to broker relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations – I am tired.
So, today’s post is really to acknowledge those people who DO listen, people like Naomi Arnold who took the time to talk to me, to listen and to share my thoughts via her Dream for Others podcast. I hope my words go some way to lessening the load for people like me whose arms and shoulders (and heart) are tired of doing the heavy lifting.
