In January 2021, Australian Prime Minister announced a change to the national anthem, following growing criticism and a push for change. We, Australians, will no longer sing “For we are young and free”, indicating a young and free nation, just under 250 years old, completely ignoring the people of the First Nation, the Aboriginal people, who have lived here on this land for over 60,000 years.
Author: Shain | Every Word Matters
I'm a Sydney-based father, husband, sports fan, blogger and writer. I write about the little things in life that keep us going, and the big things in life that keep us worried. Looking back at fond memories, looking ahead chasing big dreams, looking around and trying to make sense of all the madness around us, looking for meaning of what is actually happening, said and done in a very complicated world, where we have to critically analyse the events around us.
Pebbly Beach – the home of the Surfing Kangaroos
I heard strange stories from people who traveled around the land down under, without seeing not even a single kangaroo. That’s impossible, there are so many of them all across the country. What could be more challenging would be to see them close to the water. This is where Pebbly Beach comes in handy.
Jervis Bay
Heading further south to the South Coast and the amazing Jervis Bay. We parked at a lovely caravan park in Huskisson right on the beachfront, surrounded by many boomers. What striked me was the way they looked at our young children, with so much love, kindness and longing for the old days.
Kiama and the Blowhole
A hundred and fifty kilometers south of Sydney is the beautiful town of Kiama, our first stop. Shops, cafes, beaches, lighthouse (oh, there are many of them around Australia) and the don’t-miss Blowhole. The weather is nice, white clouds paint the sky, the swell gently approaches from the big open-wide ocean and as it hits the coastal rocks of Kiama.
Minimalism on the Road
Road trip around Australia – sounds good right? Absolutely. But before we can actually head off, we’re on a mission to shrink the content of the caravan by 50%. At least! Clearly, we should have made ourselves familiar with the concept of Becoming a Minimalist, way before we started packing.
Getting Ready to Hit The Road
After months of preparations, planning and fantasizing, our journey around Australia is about to begin. Well, our caravan is not ready yet, in fact it’s quite unorganized, as we’re learning the meaning of Minimalism. Final preparations before we head off for a trip around Australia.
The Great Australian Road Trip
I’m rubbing my eyes, tilting my head from side to side, pinching my cheeks right and left. Is this really happening? It’s one of those things you plan in your head for a long time, and when the time comes you just cannot believe it’s actually happening. We are about to leave our ordinary lives behind and hit the road, the great Land Down Under is awaiting, Australia here we come!
How to Publish your Short Stories
Every Writer-to-Be tends to have these doubts at some point of their journey. Am I good enough? Will anyone ever be interested in reading my creative work? Or is it all going to waste… Another obstacle we face is how to get our stories out there. Do we have to find a proper publisher like in the old days, given the chances are low to ever get published? Or are there other options in the digital world to put our words out there and give them the life they deserve?
America’s New Dawn
Like many others, I felt like these are the most crucial US elections in many years. It was time for a change, otherwise who knows what would happen next. So here we go, as of November 7, the Hope is real and the US has decided to make a change and kick Donald Trump out of the White House. Phew, it feels like the nightmare is over, a glitch in US history, a farce which was much more dramatic than comic.
Vote Him Out
Let me tell you why Trump must lose in this election. We need new Leaders, new Role Models, new Hope for our children, a generation that have seen way too many abrupt, inconsiderate and disrespectful leaders. People who only care about themselves rather than the People they are meant to lead, who have absolutely no vision, no long term plan, no care for equality, humanity, freedom or climate action.
King of Clay but NOT the GOAT
There is no doubt Rafa Nadal is the ultimate King of Clay. We got another reassurance this morning, when he thrashed Novak Djokovic in the 2020 final of the Roland Garros, cementing his place as the dominator of the red dirt in Paris, tying the grand slam record with Federer. But, are they really tied as the greatest of all time?
Jumping Out of Bed
When was the last time you found yourself jumping out of bed, excited about the new day ahead of you? Possibly a long time ago. Why is it so, that we are going through life this way, dragging ourselves to work in the morning, lacking motivation to be the best version of ourselves. Surely there’s a better way, there must be a better place for us to find, there is much more to life.
The Power of Words
Let’s talk about the Power of Words and how they can influence our lives. It might be the written word, though even more significantly those that are spoken. They may come from our parents, our mentors, our leaders. They can unite us, or divide between us. Bring peace or start a war. Bring hope or send us into the darkest times. Words. That’s all it takes.
Global Leadership Crisis
It has been quite some time since we had inspiring leaders who put the people ahead of themselves, led by example and united us all with hope and common purpose. In the midst of the worst health and financial global crisis in a century, the people of the world are looking up to their leaders for help, guidance and reassurance. Unfortunately, this is what they currently see.
Life Post Coronavirus
Imagine how life post-Covid would look like, six to twelve months forward, or possibly even further down the track. Would things ever go back to how they used to be? probably not, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, is it. Let’s have a preview on a foreseeable future and how this pandemic might change the world for good.