It’s 2019 and I’m finally doing my first introduction post that will start me on my journey of more new beginnings.

I am a mature … yes, really even when the 60s are the new 40s in the greater scheme of things, where life changes in the blink of an eye.

I have worked hard all my life, even with my Dad while still at school .. holiday times were very infrequent. I grew up in a small country city in Nthrn NSW & at the age of 16 was given 3 days to start work in Sydney as an apprentice Carpenter. From there, it was ‘thrown into the fire’ with work. Initially, for my marriage and 4 loving children but as divorce has it, one must continue & work harder for the money to raise my eldest child, a daughter from 13yrs of age and still provide child maintenance to my ex & the 3 boys.

I took my first leap of travelling after getting my first passport at the age of 60 as a form of celebration to an age that came so very fast. Where did I go first? New York of course .. with other stops built around my 7 days there.

Las Vegas, Grand Canyon (4 days) & after New York, Hawaii (4 days). The trip was a blast!!!! I took my younger brother with me to help change/ improve his life. All that expense but little change unfortunately. The trip was amazing & really showed what it was like to have a real holiday and see life differently. The following year, 2017 was a heart year … literally … My youngest brother by 7 years had a cardiac arrest & virtually died instantly. He was fit & healthy & I saw him the night before as he lived 2 doors up with his young family. He helped many people with his organ donation such as he was .. a committed surf lifesaver after work. His death exploded the family dynamics as it would normally with such a tragic outcome. At the same time, I was in love with a beautiful woman much younger than me & she got me through his death. Unfortunately, she imploded simultaneously, as I was the same age as when her Mother passed away & she felt not to be with someone who was a potential ticking timebomb. Weird, but everyone has an escape clause, I guess. To this day, I still think of her often & wonder where & how she is.

This woman changed my life, as did my brother’s passing. She engaged me into undertaking Landmark Forum (life changing outlook). From there, I read The Power of Now & A New Earth to reinforce we all have wings & to accept that things happen & life means we take one step followed by another. The last sentence here enabled me to stop “over thinking” and with a quick draft plan I stopped working, bought a plane ticket to Cambodia, stayed 2months there & then hopped to Hanoi, Vietnam & travelled all over Vietnam down to Ho Chi Min in 2.5months. My family were beyond happy for me and could not believe (including me) that I had done all this totally on my own, backpacking with no real set itinerary for 4.5months. I continue to stop working but that may change at some point .. but it will be MY choice.

Considering, I have been slow on getting a blog site up & running I might (unless I receive negative feedback) do some blogs on my past, but recent travelling experiences & of subjects that hopefully help others. I have a new trip planned soon with my eldest son so stay tuned for this .. it is going to be beyond amazement!!! I can take constructive criticism so I look forward to any feedback or requests to improve my blog site.s

A phrase, & my life theme I came across during my reading stated something like this “If I am not the hero of my life  … then who in the hell could it be?”. From this, keep making steps in your life .. If this oldie can do it so can a lot of you.