Don't ask if you're good enough, know that you are.

Daniel Dae Kim tweeted, on the USA making the 16 in the World Cup by goal difference, even though they lost their final game in the round: 'Whether you walk in from the front door or the back, what really matters is that you're still invited to the party.GO ‪#‎TeamUSA‬ ‪#‎WorldCup2014'

I think there's a lot in life that could use that attitude. We may feel like kids at the grown up table, at work or with friends, but if you are there, you are there for a reason. Does how you got there matter? All that matters, is that you are there.

When Steven Bradbury won his Gold medal, I used to get annoyed that he was asked to justify his win. The fact is, he did what he needed to in order to get to the final. The cards fell his way and he won gold. He won it. That is all. He didn't steal it, he didn't get given it. He won it. He didn't falter or make a mistake. He continued to do what he needed to do and he won the gold.

We don't need to doubt ourselves. There will be plenty of others to do that for us. We just need to do what we need to do, and keep doing it. We don't need to worry ourselves with the success of others, or what is expected. If we are happy doing what we are doing, that is the gold we are after.
This is from Lee-Ann Walker's wonderful blog:

I suck at...

After last week, I think I can officially say I suck at hosting the Lounge. I was so excited, I wanted to make sure I didn't sleep in. I wrote my post early, and somehow published it accidently so that when you went to find it, it was hidden...Argh!

The other thing I seem to be sucky at, is thinking of a song that fits the theme "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" (but not that song). So any suggestions are welcome - but upbeat, not mopey.

And tipping the World Cup, I really suck at that. My tips for round of 16 is soooo wrong, and I am languishing way down the bottom (with over 100 people in front of me, many of them children!)

Lastly, I have a giveaway, so head over here if you are after a $50 Big W voucher, and more of this witty repartee.

Linking up with an apology to the lovely ladies at the Lounge.

Decline (and a giveaway)

The bride looked radiant.

At seven months pregnant she had a radiant glow.

Have you ever noticed once the children come along, the word radiant disappears from the description.

She looked tired or weary. The word mess creeps in. Grubby, dirty, stains...our blessed angels can often leave a trail of creative destruction in their wake, and much of that carries with them on their clothes...

I was offered a trial of Radiant Laundry products, and as a lazy laundress, I eagerly accepted as I'm always on the scout for something to salvage our much loved clothes. Life is too short to scrub. I will soak, and wash. That is it.

So with the official laundry liquid of the AFL (grass stains, anyone?), in the No Sort variety, I washed our bathmat (don't ask me how we get it so dirty, but we do!)

Before:

After:

Thumbs up from me!

The big news, other than a lazy girl's easy washing process, is that Radiant has given me a $50 Big W voucher to give away - in the comments below tell me 'Which variety of Radiant do you most need in your house and why?' Competition closes on the 2nd July and judge's decision is final (and all that jazz). To save you the leg work, there are 3 varieties: Brilliant Whites Sharper Colours, No-Sort and Sensitive. Each variant contains Colour Guard technology which is how Radiant keeps your colours newer for longer. If you want to be super studious, visit their website.

Radiant has been running a campaign of shorts on utube where they road test their products - literally. The experiments were done for real, with the shop assistants kept in the dark until after the clothes were returned. I'll leave you with the Hell on Wheels clip, as the 200 day countdown to the Dakar has begun (I wonder how Radiant works on fesh-fesh?).  In further housekeeping, how do bloggers feel about a paintball meet up?



I was not paid for this product review but Radiant is providing the Big W gift voucher prize and I received a sample product to test drive - I didn't buy new clothes to return to shops after messing them up (because that would require ironing), I just used it on my already trashed and tired clothes and filthy bath mat!

Linking up for #Open Slather

Conversations with Strangers...

Putting money in the meter early last Saturday morning I smiled at the young man picking up his ticket and asked "Did you watch the Netherlands this morning?" He smiled "Yes, great game. Here's hoping we can do the same." Given where we were parking, it was obvious we were headed to the same place.

In the queue for coffee yesterday, I asked the man in line behind me, "So was it a goal or not?" He laughed, "I'm French. Of course it was!"

What I love about festivals of sport, like the Olympics or World Cup, there is an instant conversation starter, and a friendliness of likeminded audience, keen to talk about what they've watched. There is a camaraderie created in the city, taking to the streets.

I can go to the footy or roller derby and start chatting to those around me.  There is a really positive side to 'herd mentality' at times, and it's a bringing together of a new tribe, if only for a short period of time...

I was in a pub watching the 2007 Grand Final when the a Cats supporter invited the lone Power supporter to come and share a glass of their victory champagne, having not spoken throughout the game except to yell at the screen.

It is a shame this friendliness stops once the game is over. We go back to our private worlds, unwilling to invite interactions with the world at large. We stay in our circles, we might occasionally share a smile or comment, but not with the same enthusiasm or frequency.

So for the next few weeks, I will revel in the fun and joyful sociability of those that love the World Cup, sharing the highs and lows of a month long celebration.

This was for the prompt Conversations with Strangers, which has been postponed until next month. So as is my want, I am going a whole month early with this post.

Linking up my now somewhat out of date post on Conversations with Strangers

First of the Month Fiction - July

Going super early as taking the school holidays off to enjoy life, watch the soccer undistracted and oh, that's right, focus on the kids...

Write a story in the comments - 100 words exactly or one that is 30 or less - and then link your blog so we can see your work in its unrestricted glory.

He knew this was it. His last chance to prove himself, or it was all over. He'd been in this job a long time, and while he didn't want to retire, he knew his time had come. If he didn't make the decision, it would be a forced humiliation. There was no alternative.

He walked out under the bright lights, a deafening roar filled his ears. He smiled to the crowd, trying to imprint this vision to his memory. His moment had come. He pulled on his gloves and moved into the goal square. The whistle blew and it began.

Enjoy the break, and see you on the flipside...

Linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT

An InLinkz Link-up

Watch me.

Quick boost of positivity for those that need to hear it. I'm inspired by the Codeblack Life Facebook page who posted this: There are so many people out there who will tell you that you can't. What you've got to do is turn around and say, 'watch me'.

When your dreams seem too big for those around you, don't stop chasing it, just stop listening to the voices holding you back.

As discussed in Turbo sometimes they're just scared for you, and it will take a little time for people to come around the idea, but always remember 'No dream is too big, and no dreamer too small'.

Know deep down you are a tiny bit great!

Linking up with Thankful Thursday.

The Lounge

No idea how to solve this, so if you came looking for The Lounge link up, click HERE.

I'm old and technically stupid, so this is as good as I can manage to fix it...argh!