all – Annie's blog

I am not so middle class

Posted on March 21, 2016July 1, 2016 By Annie

A few weeks back, I went to the hairdresser to get my hair fixed. It needed badly some attention. I usually go very early so I can get the cut and the colour done before I go train. Yes you read it, I get my hair fix and I go train Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. That’s the way it is. Only this time, there was a big competition – The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam hosted by UAEJJF that afternoon and for once I was not going to mess up my hair straight way.

Sitting on the chair getting my hair done, chit chatting about nothing, the hairdresser asked me “So are you going out tonight?”. Me replying: “I’m going to a Brazilian Ju-Jitsu competition to see my instructors fight and to support them”. There was a pause… a blank stair… “Oh really, ok. Will you plant flowers this year?”. Wait… What? Planting flowers? What are you on about? Oh my… right there and then it dawn on me, I am not so middle class. I assumed she knew about the sport as for me it is a given. She clearly didn’t know what I was talking about. BJJ is so out of her own world, why would she ponder on it? I realised that most of the women of my age who have children don’t do what I am doing, practicing the art of Brazilian ju-jitsu.

So that afternoon, I went to watch my instructors from Roger Gracie Academy competing. One in particular that I was looking forward to see was the World Champion, Yas Wilson.

I am so grateful to have her as my instructor. She is the very first female receiving a black belt from Roger Gracie. She is an amazing fighter and has competed against big names in the BJJ community like Mackenzie Dern. She went on to win the silver medal on that day. She is a mother like me and his running her own gym. She is not so middle class either 🙂

What about you? Are you not so middle class?

I want to hear your stories, add a comment or email me!

[Video] “Bohemian Rhapsody” cover version by Randy Coleman

Posted on January 22, 2016January 22, 2016 By Annie

What an amazing rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody” performed by Randy Coleman . What do you think?

Chatter be free!

Posted on December 1, 2015December 3, 2015 By Annie

There was times in my life that I couldn’t hear myself. I couldn’t hear what I was really thinking. The chatter in my head was extremely loud and unorganised. When I realised that and I took decided to listen to what I was thinking. It was an eye opener! Oh boy that my non-sense thinking was burying the insights!

The first steps of acknowledging that’s what was happening, it help me reduced the noise significantly. I noted what I was saying and when. I analysed the relationship between the thoughts and what was going on in my life and I discovered direct connection to the low and high moments. This chatter was pretty distracting or should I say not helping me focus on what is the most important: being here and now with an overview of the future.

There was one problem though, quieting my mind was never my forte. I practice meditaiont but it is not always working. I needed something more effective. If my thoughts are affecting how I feel, how can change them when I suck at quieting my mind?

One day it dawn on me, I cannot change my thoughts, there will be always thoughts. What I can do is choose them:

What if I let them be thoughts and not give importance to the ones I don’t like?
What if I let them free and only let the ones that I like stick?

Like my great friend Caroline would say:

“Listen with nothing on your mind”

Not giving importance to the thoughts I didn’t like, I can hear “Me”. I hear the insights that helps me in various spheres of my life. Don’t get me wrong, the chatter is still there but I am better at recognising it. It does not take me a long time to let the thoughts free so I can get back to a more peaceful mind with insightful thoughts.

That guy I don’t know but I say hi to every day

Posted on September 18, 2015September 18, 2015 By Annie

Every day, I cycle to work and every morning I meet the very same guy cycling to wherever he is going. I am waiting on the corner to cross the road and at that exact moment, he will pass me. At first we didn’t greet each, just stared. Then after a few months, it became a simple nod. Now after a year, it is a full hi. That very moment only last for a few seconds… and yet like clockwork, we are the same corner at the same time for tiny few seconds for the past year…

I’m forty and I feel fabulous!

Posted on September 10, 2015September 18, 2015 By Annie

I am forty and I feel fabulous. I want to say it out loud, I want people to know. I have heard many people saying that at forty, it is the beginning of the end. I always found this statement quite odd but I couldn’t comment, I was not forty yet. Now I am and forty feels great. I feel more alive than ever, it is the continuity of my life with gained insights and wisdom. How great is that.

In my 20’s I was bold and loved taking risks. I was doing anything I wanted, when I wanted. I enjoyed it but I was not always grounded. I was anxious most of the time. I felt that I needed to push for things very hard to get where I wanted to be. I had great moments and I had really terrible ones.

Then the thirties came, the time when I built my life foundation. Faithful to myself and following my gut, I moved to Ireland, met my soulmate, had an awesome boy and together we re-defined what we life means for us and how do we want to go forward. My thirties were a voyage of discovery and introspection which led me to where I am now.

At forty, I am grounded, more confident than ever, still bold and liking to take risks but with clearer meaning and intentions behind the actions. I feel blessed and I am grateful. Bring on the years!