What I learnt from my 12 days in New Zealand

New Zealand is a country of a small population and thus things move slowly there. However, maybe that is not such a bad thing. It seems to be that people from New Zealand take their time to really appreciate what they have been given in this world. The earth to them is a place that needs to be respected, loved and cared for.

While on a boat cruise in a place called Doubtful Sound being surrounded by the earth’s greatest gifts, nature itself the people on board were asked to switch off from life. We had to go outside onto the deck of the boat and sit silently for five minutes. 

During this experience for one of the first times in my life I actually got to listen to the sounds of birds, waves, waterfalls and the boat we were on just gently moving in the water while taking in the fresh air and scenery around me.

People today are so plugged in to the technology we have to communicate with that sometimes I think we forget how to talk to one another face to face. Most of us are so caught up in getting the latest upgrade in a phone or computer or iwatch, the latest piece of fashion, the things in our lives that we think are important. If we took all of that away could we still exist?

I’m sitting here typing this in a room surrounded by all stuff. Stuff no one in this world needs but wants.

I’m Emma known to be sentimental and a keeper of trinkets, messages, cards and I have done my fair share of “retail therapy” a way of saying “I feel bad about my life I’m therefore going to buy some stuff in order to fill this void.”

It’s safe to say I will never be a minimalist.

However, I came into 2016 wanting to use less technology. Because I think that it can take you away from yourself, your life and what a person can really achieve in their life-time. I cannot escape technology it’s the 21^st century after all. All I’m saying is that this year I’m challenging myself to leave the house without always listening to music. To wake up and not check facebook or my email but to replace that with a drawing, a piece of writing or to read and to go bed and do the same.

If people only live once then I figure it’s time to actually live and not be plugged in to a wall all the time. 

Also I went in a Helicopter and climbed a Glacier!!!

"Always remember that you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think" - A.A Mline, the Author of Whinnie the Pooh. 

A new day ahead

Drifting out the window

As thoughts go

By

A coffee in hand

Brunch on the table

Writer’s block

As the clock ticks on

Relaxed breath

Awaits

As time slips away

Now the rush settles in

Bags packed

Uniform on

A planned routine ahead

As I board

A rumbling tram

Motions are set

Moving forward

Music playing

Book being read

Those last hours of play and work

Hath arrived

As I serve snacks

Belonging to the afternoon

Hand out activities

Tick off names

Giggle, laugh, act out silly

Help with behaviour,

Manners and study

Day turns to night and parents bolt in

Tidy and clean

Packing and organising

A day to the close

Back I go

Towards my rumbling tram

 For home

Greeted by a meowing cat

Demanding for a

Pat, food and love

A meal upon the evening hour

 In front of the small screen

Before time comes

I stumble along to bed

Sleeping and dreaming

Of a new day ahead.

When your heart speaks

The trees go by me as

Though I’m going

No where

They are taller than

My dreams

Will

Ever reach

As I stumble through their

Leaves on the

Ground

I seek what they have

In this

Ever-changing world

A path laid out

F or them

As they have been

Planted

As I listen to my heart

I hear what it

Says

In taking each step with

A

Readying pace

A stride that takes

All that it needs

To be lifted

And to grow

Where it stands

Where footsteps left have

Been pondered

And followed

In knowing my path

Is there waiting for

Me

I will choose strength, love and courage

As my fellow

Travellers,

My guides and

My light

As it is your heart

That holds

Your stories

Treasures

And dreams

Once it speaks

You will know

What it is

Saying

Emma Phillips

01/01/2013

Dirt, Dust and Sun

In Melbourne town

Things seem clean

Footsteps walk the

Unbroken path

The familiar road

And the heart that lies here

Closing my eyes

I see another place

In it I picture

Orange Dirt,

Dust

And

Sun

I can already smell the bush,

Feel the heat and hear the

Quiet

Something creeps into my mind

My eyes open and I see

The unknown

That lies ahead

“Don’t go” it says

It might be easier

To take a different path

Resist adventure

And stay

Wait for another voice

Resting on your shoulder

Whispers closer

Still

“It’s time”

Anxieties awaken

As such time draws

Near

Landing safely

With exploring eyes

The sun hits as you see

You’re here

Travelling through a world of

No where

The destination soon

Comes closer

Upon arrival

You picture yourself

In a child’s paradise

A peaceful place

Home for the six weeks

In which you have been

Given a task

The weight of that

Privilege

Soon takes hold

You know you

Can do this

And are eager to

Begin

A classroom

Awaits

Through

Children’s grins

Days now have

Truly

Gone by

Disbelief of accomplishing

Such a challenge

Children respond to you

For you

A gift that cannot be bought

A gift you give back

In realisation

That you now see them

For them

The bush is seen in

Their skin

Through their eyes

In their home

The dirt, dust and sun

Was there all 

Along

ADVENTURE WON!

Now back in cold Melbourne town

The warm paradise

Of Pigeon Hole days

Are seen through

Photographic memories

A distant place

Where a piece of my heart

Will always

Belong

Love and All

Tears down my cheek
Don't do you justice
Those tear drops 
Fall into my mouth 
As though 
I'm swallowing pain

I crawl towards the floor
Into my own arms 
Because there is no one else
There

I want to sing and scream 
Your name to 
Allow you 
In

But take a breath 
and wait

For the sun to rise
And direct me
Somewhere closer to 
Your heart

Allowing me to remember
Who you are
And who we are
Even if I cry to 
Miss you

Somewhere you are here
Your presence
Guidance
Friendship 

Love and all