When I found out about the “50 Greatest Photographs of National Geographic” exhibition at the Waikato Museum, I knew that this was the perfect opportunity to restart my creative journey. I was excited to discover some of the most iconic images ever captured through the magic lens of a camera.

In order to seize this new year; to begin anew, we must be ready to make changes to our lives that are brave and courageous and have a positive impact on our well being and the well being of those around us. It is now, as a new year folds out in front of us, that we must take stock of the year that was.

We’re back! The Seed Waikato Bloggers are excited to be writing again. To get the year started, some of us are reintroducing ourselves, and sharing our hopes and resolutions for 2019 with you.

From all the Seed Waikato Blogging Team, this is our Christmas Card to you. Thank you for reading. We’ll see you in 2019.

There are so many things we need to fix in this world, that are not humanly possible to change. But why can’t we do something more to help something that surrounds us everyday?

The millennial generation is a young one, and we are building this plane while we are flying it, our stereotype will no doubt change and shift as our generation grows, sometimes we will be met with negativity, sometimes indifference, sometimes excitement. This is the magical thing about being a Millennial, we really can be apart of the change we want to see.

At the center of this bold new world is finding unity in diversity. Unity and diversity. Two words that completely contradict one another in a literal sense. So how can both of these ideas co-exist? How can we find that balance? How do we make sense of this proverbial yin and yang?

Recognize the circumstances you were situated in when you were forming - the patterns, responses, ways of existing that you need to unlearn to show you that there is more to life. You are worth taking the time to begin to understand the patterns. You are worth doing the work to slowly, delicately, rewire them with grace, and you are more than them. There is so much more out there.

It’s almost the end of the year and things are getting busy as we get closer to 2019. We start thinking about holidays, Christmas and one of the most stressful parts…. Gifts!

Last year, I shared with you my favourite kind of list: The Book List. Now, 2018 is quickly drawing to a close. Summer is (sometimes? almost?) here. There are holidays and festivities coming up. It’s time to start some new habits, or rekindle some old ones. It’s time for reflecting on the busy year and all its ups and downs. It’s time to read.

When we speak we’re not always looking for someone else to tell us the answer. We’re don’t always need to be told people know what we’re talking about. We’re just looking for someone to listen. To connect on a deeper level. To truly hear us.

You may be envious of jealous of the lives that you think that others have, but if you talk to anyone for long enough, they’ll show you their scars. We’re all struggling just as much as you are. Maybe if we were all open and honest about how much our lives suck, we wouldn’t all have to pretend that everything’s good all the time. And all it takes is to just look around.

In the nine months since I got an Instagram account, I’ve learnt heaps about myself, about the creative process, and about people. I’ve written things I didn’t think I could write. Seen stuff in ways I couldn’t have predicted. It’s been a conversational journey. And the ride is far from over.

It’s risky, rewriting your story. You've been living according to it. This is all you know. But the unknown is worth seeking - it is a place of someone returning, of mutual healing, of security. A place of knowing that your wounds are worth loving.

One woman's march would rattle the very foundations of the structure, it would cut through the stale air of the government building, it would cause heads to turn, it would change the world. What should have been another day at the office, was suddenly shattered. It was shattered by the click of one woman’s heels.

I have felt vulnerable to people’s criticisms for being odd and different. However, vulnerability should not be hidden since it’s a demonstration of opening up and showing our authentic selves to others. It may be hard sometimes to show our differences and even our weaknesses, but we should all feel happy and pursue the things that matter to us. After all, it is through vulnerability that deep connections are created in relationships, which generate empathy, trust, and understanding among our loved ones.

The world is filled with 7.6 billion people. 7.6 billion creative brains all unique in their own
way, even if they don’t know it yet. One soul out of the billion has now found where she
wants to be, and what she wants to do with her life. She has found one way of expressing herself. It is through blog writing.

I hope people can turn their hunger for change into being empowered to make things happen themselves. And I hope art, and imagining and dreaming the world to be different, holds a place of importance in that process. 

I'm a twenty something that is made for deep connection and embracing the messiness of life. Through words, I want to wake up others to do the same. I often think of life in seasons. Seasons of letting go, of embracing the mess that is life, of chasing after things, of rest. Seasons of being really human.

When I think of a leader, I envision someone who not only inspires people, but also uplifts others by bringing out the best in them. With vision, leadership, and drive, nothing is impossible. No matter how hard life outside of the bubble might be, everyone has a gift to share with the world.

Wellbeing is no fad, it can’t be. Not if we want to continue living a life where we are all comfortable. But what is fundamental to this conversation is painting a bigger picture. A picture that extends outside of our well-being bubbles. One that includes community and nation, one that includes everybody.

Once your head and heart align, a kind of synergy happens. Your motivation picks up because you’re living and breathing that thing. Working late nights becomes easier because you were thinking about that thing anyways. Your hard work now has fun mixed into it.

The truth is, the only thing separating these people from yourself is effort and time. If you see a problem with this place we live in, you probably can see the solution, too. As our city expands faster than ever before, we still have time to decide who we are, and who we want to be.

Kia Ora! it has been a while since I have typed out one of these blogs and as you can see its because I've had a bit on. Since my last post I have had the birth of my daughter, changed jobs and moved twice; once to Alex's parents, and second to Australia.

My name is Guillermo (Yes, I know it is difficult to pronounce!), but my friends call me William. I was born in Caracas, Venezuela and when I was eleven years old, I moved to Quito, Ecuador. Attending the Seed event “Finding Purpose in your Playground,” made me realise how much my life has changed since I left my home country.

I’m the first to admit I’m a go-getter. A big dreamer. A doer. My laptop is on 24/7, my cell phone is glued to my hand. I’m juggling a million and one things on my to-do list, and I thrive on it. And whilst I will be the first up in the morning and the last to bed at night, I also make sure I make time for self-care.

When I first began this blog I made some promises. I promised readers "poetry, playlists, book reviews, mindful travelogues, creative events and opportunities for the Waikato’s young writers, readers and listeners." It's been nine months since that first post (woohoo!) and I think this blog has delivered on all those promises, except one. So it's about time that #LivingLit had a travelogue post, and Seed's #wellbeingmonth is the perfect time to do it. So let's get going!

Looking back, its quite ironic that, at age 12, I decided to devote myself to a career where I would sit in a dark room all day asking the patient whether what they are looking at is better with “1, or, 2?”