Reach for the stars

The idols I grew up with are stars in their own rights, but reaching for the stars points to our ability to reach for our goals, be brave, be bold, no matter what.

And so Im sitting here on my tv watching the voice with Guy Sebastian, Delta Goodrem, Boy George and Kelly Rowland. I saw something on screen and felt compelled to reach out grab my phone and message Boy George via Instagram. Wow for starters that we can do this, whether the message gets to him or not.

What I saw for myself around what I saw for Boy George is that he is this amazing role model, among these other amazing artists but there is still an inner voice that gets in the way, even for someone who seemingly is at the top of their game. And he represents someone who has overcome so many challenges but in some way these challenges make him who he is today.

“When I watch you on the voice I want to share something with you. You are not less than. You are amazing. There are many unique people and all the coaches on the voice represent the unique voices. I’m just learning to see people and the things that stop them. I have caught you watching Kelly with some kind of conversation about being less than and I know that’s not who you are but it’s the conversation that holds us back and stops us. The inner voice in our head. Xxxx “

It got me to thinking that through out our lives there are a number of people who leave an impact on us for whatever reason. While these are idols who come from tv, video, movies and music, is there much more to learn about what these people represent for you and what you want to dedicate your life to be about too? Are they clues?

There was definitely always something about them that led me to keep following them, their careers and their life journeys.

​Growing up I replayed Grease, mesmerised by Olivia Newton-John for her singing and also for her story. An Australian making her mark in the world through her acting as well as her singing.

In following her career, as an adult I feel moved by her humanitarian ventures more than her acting or singing now. Her commitment to humanity in what she provides to help others to recover from cancer even though she suffered from cancer herself, it is her selflessness to help others that inspires me.

I reached out to Olivia on Instagram when my sister was creating a project around PCOS and she hosted a no lights no lycra dance session. I shared a message with her via Instagram.

I guess that was the first time I realised I can actually reach out to whomever I want to, whenever I want to. This world we live in is actually more accessible and connected than you know and despite my not reaching these idols right in this present moment, I know one day something will happen because I have big dreams and ideas in store waiting for partners to forward the difference I want to make in the world and who knows these idols might be the ones to help me and partner with me.

I still love singing the grease lightning mix and it’s also been the key to discovering I love singing and music.

Next is Jamie Oliver. We watched him as a family, at home from that first episode of The Naked Chef and that was pretty much it. He was real, authentic, fun and accessible.

What I was inspired most by was Jamie’s commitment to growing disadvantaged youth through cooking. His commitment to humanitarian ventures shines through both the fifteen restaurant and Jamie’s ministry of food.

When his ‘empire’ looked to be falling down I reached out. Again, via Instagram. Here is what I shared:

“I read the article about the rise and fall of your empire - im sure you’ve hired experts all around you. I have been my mum’s branding expert from a young age. With every single element you have touched YOU were the brand. The people want to experience YOU - either your cooking or your presence. It’s the same for my mum. The distinct difference of you versus others is you want to make a difference to the world. Mum does too. I’ve tried to tell mum when you set menu prices you need to cater for all budgets, everyone deserves to eat out and have a special experience regardless of how much they earn. I’ve also shared that when we cook for ourselves we get bored so its the same for our customers. I believe people did not see the value in paying $ for pasta. I believe people wanted to see you and or eat your cooking (of course you cant be everywhere). Integrate your business so you can hit multiple initiatives with one stone ie your book launches at your restaurants etc and create special events.

Also it’s probably time for a movie as you have achieved a lot and please dont let this bump in the road impact you as we watched you from the beginning and you’ve been part of our journey - you are my go to whenever I want to find a recipe and my kids now have the pleasure of watching the naked chef. Your gold is making the unaccessible accessible! Keep your head up!”

Here is what I can leave you with. When you ask someone for what you want you have to be brave enough to reach out and just ask the words. You have to keep being brave and keep asking in more than one way til you get there. What you really want for yourself, for your life and for the world is not out of your reach.

As I tell my children now you can be anything you want but you don’t have to be just one thing. That’s why it is so hard to answer the question what do you want to be because it’s not just one thing.

I want to be like Boy George - brave enough to be unique and brave enough to overcome all of my barriers and challenges.

I want to be like Olivia Newton John - brave enough to sing on the world stage and give back to the areas of humanity that don’t work.

I want to be like Jamie Oliver - brave enough to be myself, discover and harness my hidden talents and give back to the areas of humanity that don't work through my hidden talents.

See these are clues and crumbs and the only way I got here to this place and this kind of thinking was through a platform that helped me see that in being more of myself everything I’ve ever needed is right inside me.

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