Add In (Don't Take Away)

Every morning this summer, I’ve picked a few fresh raspberries from my garden.

In Australia, this is a big deal because raspberries are so expensive and people don’t really plant raspberries in suburban gardens.

This tiny ritual reminds me of my Canadian childhood on the farm, and the endless row of raspberries that my mum, my three sisters and I would pick in the summer.

Talking, two sisters per side picking slowly up the row, wearing long sleeved men’s shirts to save our arms from scratches, and the pails tied into the shirttails around our waists…that was being a sister. I learned a lot about life in the raspberry patch.

When my sister visited Sydney last year, as a surprise for me she bought and planted two raspberry canes in my garden. It was a perfect spot for them, and I was shocked: I’d overlooked even the possibility that raspberries could grow here, or that I could have them.

She added in raspberries to my life.

She added in a little unexpected gardening, too — and I was a person who always said she did not want to garden. But honestly, I’ve enjoyed it.

Adding in can be so good for us.

We’re often consumed with the idea of taking away: getting rid of bad habits, stopping the chocolate, denying ourselves.

Today, is there something you can add in to your world?

Something that gives you unexpected pleasure?

Something that isn’t too much work, but is filled with beautiful memories?

Take a moment to think. You deserve these little bursts of happiness.

I hope you find something special that you can add in.

Love Catherine x

PS. Welcome this week to everyone whose joined us lately! Want to have a look around my new website, Love Our Age?

Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale and Me

Imagine a 24 year old Catherine in an emerald green dress.

It was the 90s and I was young, and I was in a competition to win a job teaching English at a beautiful private high school on Vancouver Island in Canada. Six other teachers applied, and we were asked to teach a sample lesson to a year 12 class with members from the English Department judging our performance from the back of the room.

I taught an excerpt from Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.

Out of seven of us, I got the job.

Then glance back, ten years earlier, in Saskatchewan: Catherine at 14. Long brown hair, sitting by myself in a tiny country school library, figuring out love. I’d found a book of poetry, with one line that read:

“You fit into me
like a hook into an eye
a fish hook
an open eye”

— Margaret Atwood

And for some reason, my heart connected with Margaret Atwood’s words. Over the years I’ve read every book Atwood has written. I’ve taught her poems.

We share a publisher — Penguin Books. I wrote my own novel inspired by my favourite Atwood poem, “Siren Song.”

Last week, I listened to her speak in Sydney, my home for the past 23 years. The week before that, on a rainy Tuesday, I found a letter from her in my mailbox, soaking wet, encouraging me in my writing career.

I dried it carefully and framed it on my study wall.

I’m writing all of this to say we have no idea what will become of us.

If I could tell that 14 year old girl in the country school that I would be Australian, she wouldn’t have believed me. Or an author? She would have wanted that, but probably not had any idea how she would do such a thing.

But let’s get to the interesting part: you.

What wonderful thing don’t you know about your own future?

Though my worried mind often turns otherwise, I like to ask myself this:

To you, to me.

What is the best thing?

The best is possible. Life brings us unbelievable gifts, and pain, and lessons…and joy. If we’re lucky, we even fulfil a dream or two.

I like to believe the best is yet to come. I hope you do, too.

Let’s love our age,

Catherine x

The Little List of Control

This week, I read something so very true…and I wanted to share. Because sometimes I forget what I control and what I don’t.

Maybe this list will resonate with you.

That second last one gets me every time: “whether or not you try again after the setback.”

I needed the reminder. Maybe you do, too.

Trying again is 100% do-able.

It’s always an option: for me, for you.

Enjoy your weekend,

Love Catherine x

ps. If you want to follow along with the Instagram account above, you will find @thechalkboardmag here.

Get Into Your Comfort Zone

This past week, we stayed in Fairlight — a gorgeous suburb of Sydney — and we enjoyed this view from the loft master bedroom.

Lucky, right?

And yet, everything felt a bit off. It was tricky to get our son to high school, the kitchen wasn’t great so we ordered pizza, then Thai and made way too many sandwiches. The internet was spotty and it was tough getting to work in the city.

I tried to relax and enjoy the time away while our timber floors were being sanded but truly, I just longed for home.

And I had to laugh at myself — because I am always jumping up and down and encouraging everyone to step OUT of their comfort zones! I tell this to myself all the time.

All the magic happens outside our comfort zones! That’s where we grow and learn. And we feel happier when we’re growing, even if it’s challenging.

But…I was unproductive.

So here’s the funny thing:

As much as my brain loves new things — and as happy as I am when I’m learning — sometimes our comfort zones are fantastic.

We can be productive, feel safe, and get things done.

So today — take a little time to think about where you’re at. Do you need more comfort? Or are you ready to grow?

For me right now it’s comfort. I’ll be at home in my trackies, drinking coffee, writing tons, watching the rain.

I am so grateful.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Love Catherine x

I Learned This From Hockey...

As a kid, I watched my older brother play — and to be honest, I wasn’t much interested in the game. But recently I read an old quote of Wayne Gretsky’s, and it applies to everything we’re trying that’s new.

What is it about new things that brings out our fears?

Not good enough, or talented enough. Not experienced enough. Don’t have the skills and don’t know how to do it. It’s probably not worth it in the long run. I don’t want to look stupid…

And then I saw Wayne’s old quote.

There’s no quicker route to failure than failing to try.

What’s my mantra now?

Make honest things (not perfect things).

Try.

Because what if it’s fun? And what if you make something wonderful?

Let’s love our age,

Catherine x

Image source — hockey legend, Wayne Gretsky

You Are Not The Problem

Today, join me in a small shift in thinking.

So simple.

There is a problem. Yes?

You may have contributed. You may have even started it. The responsibility may be yours.

Regardless — this is true:

We get this mixed up all the time.

The person becomes the problem.

It’s not true.

The problem is the problem — and it’s best to start there.

You are an imperfect, loveable human — like everyone else. Most of the time, most of us are doing the best we can. So enjoy this day for everything it has to offer.

Separate people from problems.

Let’s love our age and live beautifully.

Catherine x