Along Came a Spider

I'm scared of whales. Their tiny eyes, their flappy tales. It's the size, the sound, the whole shabang. That's right: I'm scared, and completely certain they will fly up onto land and eat me. (Yeah, yeah, I know about their "tiny throats" but that is total whale propaganda! Next thing you'll tell me they're beaching themselves "by accident"!) 

There are lots of ways to deal with fear, and the way I'm working with this one is by building up my whale resistance bit by bit. I watch the Frozen Planet ads through splayed fingers, shudder at the Bluebird commercial, and grit my teeth through various other "surprise" whales. Yep, I reckon about 300 years from now, I will be at peace with their existence :)

"The greatest super power is knowing yourself, and
using your powers to create the world that you want."
- Total Blueprint for World Domination.

I understand that most people aren't scared of whales, I know that this is one of the things that makes me me, but I'm just so curious! The idea that my brain can translate an object or situation into a pounding heart and sweating palms? Pretty damn cool! 

I found a picture of a cool way to dilute a fear by making it part of your everyday life. 
Warning: If you're scared of spiders, prepare yourself before you click the link! http://www.frugal-cafe.com/public_html/frugal-blog/frugal-cafe-blogzone/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/spider-in-shoe.jpg

I'm going to assume that those guys are (humanely) stuffed or plastic... Because what an awesome way to make kicking fear's ass a part of your day! Stomp it out!*

Trying to get over a fear of whales? Spiders? Heights? Do you have a fear that other people can't understand? One that doesn't even make sense to you?

*You know, as soon as they make shoes with whales in them, I'm there ;)

Everything is possible!

Sign Me Up

This is it. 2012.
Start now. Kick off your dream world.
Make BIG plans (in 12 months you'll be glad you did).
Take care. Let go. Move forward.
Fall in love with little things.
Create. Change. Grow.
Do better. Be better. Be AMAZING. (You already are, you know :))

Live like you're hanging out the car window: fresh, joy-filled, NOW.



2012? Blink out those bugs and bring it on!!!!!

Everything is possible!

Fruitless Endeavours (aka Happy Holidays!)

When you don't eat fruit (eeeeeeeeee) Christmas pudding is usually off the menu... unless it comes via sugar-pumped, chocolate-filled completely fruit-less miniatures! Cake pops!!!!! http://sweetopia.net/2011/11/christmas-cake-pops/ (You had me at "cake-on-a-stick" :)) Love this idea! 

Happy holidays and thank you so much to all the amazing people who have supported my online adventures this year. You've helped me tackle Twitter, brave Facebook, and stumble sporadically through the blogosphere :) 

Social media has connected me with so many exciting, inspiring, ridiculously hard working people (yes, I'm looking at you!) As a (partially) converted introvert, (i.e. introvert by design, extrovert on demand) I'm suddenly part of a global community of writers and readers - super-cool! Your reviews, comments, tweets, ticks, tags, and Likes give me a wicked fizzing-feeling! 

And an especially huge thank you to the readers. I have been sent some beautiful emails (even the ones that make me cry!) and knowing that I get to be part of making your dreams come true really is my dream. Because of you, I get to do what I love most in the world, and I am so happy and grateful! 

****I'm taking a break for a couple of weeks. Happy adventuring, and we'll talk in 2012!****

Fruitless Christmas pudding, extroverted introverts, world domination in your pyjamas...

Everything is possible!

Wooden you love this cupcake?

Check out these gorgeous wood-style cupcake wrappers.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69299751/wood-paneling-cupcake-wrappers
I love the surprise combination of textures :)

Everything is possible!

News!

The Total Blueprint for World Domination paperback is now available! Soooo exciting :)

If you’d like to win your own copy, check out the Goodreads giveaway:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Total Blueprint for World Domination

by Jolene Stockman

Giveaway ends January 30, 2012.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Everything is possible!

World Changing Books

A massive thank you to Erika at Moonlight Book Reviews. Erika juggles passions, commitments, and challenges with a smile :) She also hosted my recent guest post about world changing books (and is one of the first bloggers to review Total Blueprint for World Domination!) Thanks Erika!

As readers, we walk into books with an open heart. We trust that the writer will take care of us, we let them carry us away. And whether we're entertained, inspired, or totally creeped out, we are often changed by what we read.

I was eight years old, devouring as many books as the librarian would let me check out. I loved books, but I didn’t understand how powerful and magical they could be. Then my Aunty sent me a book that would change my world. The book was thick, heavy, huge. I clutched it excitedly (a real grown-up book!) curled in a blanket, and flipped to page one.

I'd never seen anything like it. The first words were typed backwards, and the story’s text alternated from red to green. As I read, swirling images wrapped me up. I dissolved into the  movie all around me. The Neverending Story was one of the first books that showed me a secret world that was all my own, a place that didn’t stop when I closed the covers. With a main character who was shy in one world and a hero in another, the book gave me the freedom to have faith in a future that I couldn’t see yet.

Fiction or non-fiction, long or short, books can change your world. Green Eggs and Ham? Be open to new experiences. Before I Fall? Be kind. I know my life is changed when I read books, and as a writer I hope to do that for other people.

Is there a book that changed your life? Carved a crack in your world?

Everything is possible!

The Lighting Of A Fire

As a child, teachers are grown-ups that love you by choice, not birth. They help you find your way in a world far from home. As you grow, they open doors and challenge you to discover more about yourself. We learn more from who they are than the curriculum they set. We learn how to be in the world. I was lucky enough to have some amazing teachers, and they all kicked ass in very different ways:

Mrs Ellis The perfect first teacher, peaceful and wise. Mrs Ellis empowered and encouraged me, and came to my house to eat cheesecake :)

Mr Murray An artist, a musician, and a homeroom teacher. He brings his personal powers to his professional life, and thanks to him I’m still a times table whiz.

Mrs Hill From language and food, to jewellery and movies, Mrs Hill loves classical studies. She is a teacher who so fully lives her passion, she brims with the joy of the subject. Because of her, I knew I would either grow up to be a writer, or a Latin teacher.

Mrs Smith A dedicated art teacher who is able to embrace crazy and guide mischief. Mrs Smith is a cool breeze over high school stresses.

Ms Lewis A role model in public relations; professional, witty, experienced. Ms Lewis feeds  creativity, and develops super-sticky course materials.

Mr Pauling Gentle, smart, and conscientious. An ego-less high achiever. Mr Pauling knows how to cut through the gunk and make things possible.

I was recently in touch with Mr Hammonds – the principal of my primary school. He is now a teacher of teachers, and a pioneer in education. It was brilliant to catch up with him and super cool to hear that my book is helping motivate him!

Teaching is more than a profession, it’s a calling. The ability to share your own passion while being completely invested in the success of someone else? Awesome. The best teachers are role models. Teaching isn’t their job, it is who they are.

Is there a teacher in your life that helped shape your world?

Everything is possible!