ONE DAY YOU WILL DIE
Life is short. What would you do if you had just one more year to live?
It’s a scary question for a Life Coach to ask, but it’s well worth considering every year or so to help check that your life is on track. It’s a life-affirming question because it helps focus on what really matters to you and what you want to be doing with your life.
There might be something that you have been putting off for years; something big or small for example, taking up drawing, buying a dog, hiring a camper van, or travelling the world, or just reconnecting with an old friend. The question highlights what’s important to you.
Thinking it through for myself, I realised that I’ve known for a while I need to improve my flexibility and balance. I’d like to practice Yoga, but I’d always come up with reasons why not. For example, ‘men don’t go to yoga’ - ‘I don’t have the right clothes for it’ - ‘too expensive’ etc. Recognising that life is short, I enrolled in a yoga class.
You might want to stop doing something. We all have things we'd like to change; little things like cutting back on TV, doughnuts or social media, or bigger things like improving difficult relationships. One client I worked with was a kind and gentle guy at home and with friends, but he told me that at work he was the opposite. He was rude to customers, unhelpful to other staff, and generally a prize-winning grump. With life coaching he realised he was suffering from work ‘burnout’ and was not behaving like the person he wanted to be. He eventually found a new job. Although it did not pay as well, it was less stressful and gave him space to be kind and gentle and behave in a way consistent with his overall values.
What answers come up for you?
I’d love to hear from you and I offer a free introductory life coaching session. Contact me now to schedule a chat. Steve Brown, Hibiscus Life Coach. www.hibiscuslifecoach.com... 021 264 2506
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Warnings about scams
This Fraud Awareness Week, we’re reminding everyone to stay sharp and look out for the warning signs of scams to stop them before they start.
Here’s what to watch out for:
🔍 Unrealistic offers or promises of easy money that are too good to be true
🔍 Pressure tactics: Scammers may rush or threaten you to act immediately.
🔍 Requests for personal info: Be cautious if you’re asked for bank details, passwords, or sensitive information.
🔍 Unusual payment methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
🔍 Unverified contacts: Emails, calls, or messages from unknown or suspicious sources.
How to protect yourself:
✅ Stop and think before sharing personal details or making payments.
✅ Don't click on any links until you know that it is safe.
✅ Verify the source: Contact the organisation directly using official channels.
✅ If something’s not right, it's OK to hang up, walk away, ignore it and move on.
If you wish to report a scam, contact Police on 105 or report it online via 105.police.govt.nz/use-105.
🎉 Pre-Loved Kids Market 🎉
📅 Saturday, 30 November
🕘 9 AM – Midday
📍 Orewa Community Centre
✨ 45 stalls packed with quality kids' gear, including:
👕 Clothes, 👶 Nursery furniture, 🚲 Bikes, 🧸 Toys, 📚 Books, and more!
💰 Why pay full price? Shop sustainably, snag great bargains, and help keep waste out of the landfill.
👨👩👧👦 Bring the family along for a fun morning of shopping and savings!
🌿 Support sustainability. Save money. Find treasures!
👉 Tag a friend who loves a good bargain. We can’t wait to see you there!