Hard Work Made Fun

I have a passion for events, truly enjoy my occupation as I create various scenarios to create awareness and raise much needed funding for the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital.

Those of you who are or have worked in the events industry know that events aren't glamorous but it's hard work, dirty work and often you don't get to event attend or enjoy the event. This is okay with me as my favourite part of events is the conceptualisation and next is the setting up; seeing how a venue can change into your vision, how everything comes together to paint a picture. The hard work doesn't even register as you enjoy a good workout, feeling the accomplishment of making your visualization become a reality.

Working for a charity our budgets are limited so there is no such luxury as hiring additional staff to assist with setting up or the break down, however I have been fortunate with a few colleagues who pull more than their weight as well as a few friends who are working in the same industry who volunteer their time to assist me.

We work as a well oiled machine, having found a "unique" manner in which we prefer to deal with the tired feet, sore bodies and heavy eyelids late at night, once all the guests have left the event and you are left with the clean-up...

It helps that we all are vibrant, quirky individuals who like to make a "fool" of ourselves as we unwind together. But like they say, a picture speaks a thousand words, and these spoke of a thousand laughs.

The lesson learnt here is that hard work can be made fun if you stop complaining, make it interesting, create a game and get the work done.

Cautious vs Risky

Some of us live a cautious life and some of us live on the edge. There is nothing wrong with either of these, unless we take it to the extreme.

Those of you who know me, in a personal setting, will know all too well that I have lived a seemingly cautious life. I’ve always steered clear of that challenge that would push me just a little too far outside my comfort zone, always wondering about the ‘what ifs’, what others will think and is it save.

It is seldom that I just let my hair down without weighing up the possible consequences, but there are those times, rare I know, but there are those brief moments some of you have been lucky enough to see. Those moments where I just let my guard down and have fun, where I am a spontaneous queen with some tricks up my sleeve, those moments where I forget about who might be around watching. But for those of you, who have not seen that side of me, know me to be the cautious one, sometimes even too cautious.

Most of the time I don’t mind being the cautious one, being teased for being the planner or the mother hen, but just sometimes I wish I felt safe enough to just let go. To have someone else worry about the consequences, deal with the fall-out; ensure everyone stays save, that everyone is happy. For once I would like to be the one who is reckless, even if just for one night. Don’t get me wrong, by reckless I don’t mean doing something illegal or dangerous, just clean, flirty, risky fun with friends I love and trust.

So this year I have decided that I am a young, single woman and I should be out there doing all the things I dream about doing instead of putting them on a bucket list for a rainy day. I’ve ‘sacrificed’ three years getting my Diploma, five years growing in my career while spending two years finishing my Degree. I’ve reached my first milestone, my five year goal, now before I determine the next one I have decided to spend some time developing my life outside of work. Work will stay a priority but it won’t be my sole priority. I’m taking time out to find my own priorities while I still have the time and energy to do so.

I’m pushing those boundaries, seeing how far I can go, what I can achieve on a personal level. I’m planning my first trip abroad, I’m making plans to see our own country, I’m venturing out on my own, no longer afraid of being "alone", I’m having fun and I’m throwing some of that caution to the wind. I’m doing things for myself, putting myself ahead for the first time, I’m exploring the part of myself I have kept hidden from the world.

I’m having fun as I discover new things I like, new things I want to try, new places to go and meeting new people along the way.

So look out world, here I come and you better be ready.