When the Cheshire emerges...

I've been on this earth for a quarter of a century. That's insane. I still feel like I'm five sometimes, waiting to see what I can learn. But that's not the case. And coming back to Australia after a beautiful trip abroad, it was time for reflection. For the record I do this a bit... I am a writer after all.

If you don't know much about me you may do after reading this post. I mulled hard over how to structure this, but figure list stories are so in trend right now that I should follow suit. So here are, in no particular order,

25 Things Katina Has Learnt In Her 25 Years Of Existence

1. Travel makes life experience all the richer.
I have just returned from a trip through part of South America; after that, two very different trips to Europe/Egypt and Australia/New Zealand venturing, I've travelled enough to know there's always more to explore, always more to learn. I would not be the person I am today without seeing these parts of our world.

2. Family is forever.
I'm very lucky to be close with my family. Mum is my best friend. The people who have raised me have done a wonderful job and I hope I've done them proud.


This works on multiple levels. Despite the odd snigger or harsh remark, I've always been extremely proud to hail from Adelaide, South Australia. The city is no Sydney or Melbourne, but it shouldn't try to be because it has its own great charm. And on another wavelength, learning about how my grandparents came to make success for themselves in Australia after migrating from Greece... they have amazing, humbling stories that make me appreciate and embrace my heritage.

4. Don't try and act like your father. You'll hurt yourself.
At three or four years old you make foolish decisions. Sneaking into the bathroom during the night, grabbing dad's razor and shaving your face doesn't end well.

5. Don't concern yourself too much with who's cool or not. You'll hurt yourself.
In the 1990s you had to watch for tree branches in the schoolyard potentially being flung into your cheek... wanting to play with the boys and being rejected left a permanent scar. Only physically; mentally I'm fine, thanks for asking. Slippery paths are also not good for seven-year-olds who want to run away from someone. They cause broken arms.

6. Romance is a myth for some.
We'll leave it at that.

7. Absence from home makes the resolve grow stronger.
I have grown in such an integral way since leaving Adelaide at 22, dealing with physical and mental problems as I've adjusted to entering the journalism industry. It's not been easy, and something I don't admit easily. But I have become a such stronger person as life continues to unfold and I try to figure out what my next step may be.

8. It's easy to discover who your real friends are.
I love my different groups of friends dearly, and they know who they are. But in some instances, attitudes post-high school, travelling and moving brought out sides to people you wouldn't expect, and it was an eye-opener for me to see that even with Facebook connecting can go out the window in seconds.

9. You have to make the effort. No silver platters.
In relation to #8, friendships are double-sided so blame can never be placed completely on one side. But making an effort also concerns pursuing other things in life. Sometimes I've been slack in that, and it's something I'm still learning to take control of.

10. When in doubt, chuck some Kylie Minogue on.
She's good at making people happy. Her songs are often relatable to moments in life. I love her stuff to bits. Don't be hatin'.


11. Toilets can be dodgy. Anywhere, anytime. And to throw toilet paper in the toilet is quite the luxury.
Parts of Europe were memorable for dodgy toilet seats as a constant. Peru's squat toilets and the uncertainty of where to place paper was frustrating. We in Australia have fantastic relievers.

12. People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
It's a beautiful saying that I first heard from a friend I had in Dubbo. Unlike her, I sometimes struggle to accept it - but do understand the value of meeting every person I do.

13. Things can be different to what you might be looking for.
This is a prime example of that:


14. Some men really do have their shit together.
I've not had many solid male friends in my lifetime. But growing up, you still notice things. In the last year, I've met a number of men in very different situations. And while some have left me flabbergasted (to say the least), others have shown their absolute awesomeness. It gives me the slightest hope that I can one day land someone of that calibre.

15. Meanwhile, you think you have things sorted, but really, you don't.
I'm happy with where I am right now, but at the same time I always want something more. Is never being 100 per cent content a showing of growth and learning, or uncertainty? That I'm still not sure of.

16. Don't expect much from people - you set yourself up for disappointment.
Although I understand it, I'm still working on cementing this one. It covers friends, crushes, the lot. It's worth noting here that you don't need to be in love to have your heart shattered.

17. Be the bigger person - which sometimes means not to say everything you feel you have to.
Sometimes there are people in the world who will refuse to see your point of view. You might have to agree to disagree. Or let them have what they think is a win by not revealing all your cards. Stick it to the man, but also show some reserve.

18. Karma will get you.
You might not know why, and a lot of it is in small doses, but it's there hanging over you.

19. Mercury retrograde is real.
Astrology is something most take with a grain of salt. But I've written on Mercury going retrograde before. After a number of instances where I've travelled and encounter massive delays (including my World Cup tour which I only just discovered), as well as entering jobs with different proposals to what actually ends up happening, I'm a firm believer in this astrological phenomenon.

20. Harry Potter kicks arse over any other book series.
Seven books. One wizard. Adventure. Suspense. Fun words like Quidditch. While I will still always advocate The Baby-Sitters Club, Harry has a special place in my heart.


21. There's no such thing as a stupid question.
Journalism 101. If you need to know, you need to know.

22. I believe there is a God. Although sometimes it doesn't feel as if there's anyone/anything around.
I don't go to church much. I don't preach my religion to anyone. Though there is a part of me that is proud to believe. And sometimes it's hard when you feel completely alone, but someone - or something - is always there. It just takes a while to realise.

23. Things generally have a way of figuring themselves out; everything happens for a reason.

Lois Lane loves Superman. Superman loves Lois Lane.

Since seeing Man Of Steel last night, I've had this unconventional love story in my head.

I've mentioned in the past how I thought glamour in journalism came from fictional characters. Watching Man Of Steel was not just a solid return for the Kryptonian to the big screen (you get to read the review tomorrow), but the return of their story to my consciousness. And realising that these two could well have subconsciously been my reason for becoming a journalist.

Just look at Henry Cavill for a minute here. He rocks this cape like a boss and manages to mix gentility and extreme sexiness with little effort. It's fair to say the way he's looking at Amy Adams is how most every heterosexual girl wants to be looked at - like there's no one else in the world he'd rather be around.

Do you blame me for wanting to be Lois and find my Superman?

I know that Hollywood is king at presenting people with hope in fictional worlds. And fantastic stills like this one. I'm hopeful though, even if our reality is nowhere as idealistic - of both becoming a cool journalist and finding the hero. Not so much on meeting Henry Cavill unfortunately.

***

While I'm on the subject of Henry Cavill:


The photos don't do him justice... I didn't even think it was possible for a human to be that ripped and not be on steroids or tanned up with veins popping out. Five thousand calories a day for six months is how you get started apparently. Intense.

***
Since your mind is your own private territory, you can give any new idea a private audition for a few days.
(So I really can be Lois Lane and find Superman... excellent.)

There are some people who live 70 years, and there are some people who live one year 70 times, repeating what they're doing over and over in the name of the gold watch or whatever.

If you're looking for love it will always elude you. If you're looking for happiness it will always elude you. When you become these things, it's all you will have to give away.

Stop blaming your spouse for your unhappiness, your parents for your lack of motivation, the economy for your social status, the bakery for your excess weight, your childhood for your phobias, and anything else to which you assign blame points. You're the sum total of the choices you've made in your life.

While I'm primarily a sub-editor these days, overall I'm just beginning my career as a journalist right? I know sometimes I thought part of it would be glamorous before I started, and was inspired by seeing cool journalists portrayed on film and in books.

But even before finishing my studies I learned that it's not glamorous. I've found that writing is great and stories make me feel like I've accomplished something, but there's the romantic element intertwined with female journalists that doesn't transcend to real life. Why can't we see someone like a female Tin Tin?

This week, I've watched a couple of films with female journalists that show we work really hard to gain equality in the office and how we sometimes feel totally insecure about ourselves.

Case study #1: Never Been Kissed


Josie (Drew Barrymore) grew up a complete nerd and was treated terribly through high school, but when her job as a copy editor and her chief of staff's is on the line, she agrees to go undercover and return to the stomping ground that made her life's worst memories.

The pressure put on all journalists is extraordinary sometimes, and here she's forced to become a different person. Josie's not an actress, but with luck on her side it works. However, even with becoming popular she still faces the problem of finding the story that will save her job.

She's 25. That's going to be me in two years time. In the industry that seems like a pretty big task for someone a few years or so out of university, and in the film an absolutely crazy first assignment as a reporter... but could I be up to that challenge?


Case study 2: Bridget Jones Diary: The Edge of Reason


Another case of insecurity comes from the lovable Bridget, who gets off to a (pardon the pun) flying start when forced to skydive for a story. She's doing her best to be taken seriously in the TV industry, an area primarily reserved for those on the slimmer side.

While the focus on both films are on her quest to find love, she still just wants to be respected for her work and is fed up with doing the filler stories. At the same time, she continuously holds her head high with integrity.


Watching these characters, I think they're amazing. Not just because they're the backbone of great films, but they're females out there doing what they love - in one way or another. They're headstrong and willing to challenge themselves, but also unsure of their overall abilities and a little hopeless when it comes to love. A bit like me.

I do question myself on whether I will get to the point where I'm looked to to come up with something inspiring. Don't worry, I know films are intentionally unrealistic, but they make me think of what could be. Hopefully a career ahead in an area I'm good at and know I want to focus on long-term.


At the end of the day, at least I know I can skydive.

***
Meditation gives you an opportunity to come to know your invisible self. It will shatter the illusion of your separateness.
What's this here for?

There have been a few things that have recently inspired me to do what I've always said I'm going to do, and I'm going to do it now in my latest pledge - I will keep this blog REGULAR! One form of inspiration was a Tweet from a follower of mine who tried spruiking me to his followers. It read: "@Katiinkaa has an irregular but interesting blog..." before a link. So that means people DO read what I write sometimes. Which is awesome. And what good samaritanism too, total champ. @Noelinho, if you read this, thanks.

Now that I'm in Dubbo and settled with good Internet, I can finally uphold this idea.

Might as well start this regularity with a general update on my life as it is at this point in time... working as a journalist is a challenge every day. There are some days where everything falls into place and you bang things out and it's easy-peasy. Some where you find yourself starting well with contacts and then hitting a roadblock. Or vice-versa. And then there are days where it's 3pm and you don't have at least one submitted story. Those days are the pits.

Opposing all that, last week was the best yet. Week 10 didn't feel like a stellar week but there were major milestones. My first week of court reporting without assistance. Hitting 2.5 months and no longer being the new(est) kid on the block. And outside of work, finally uploading all my Europe photos onto Facebook. Which was a frickin' long time coming, but I follow through with these things.

But the biggest thing that affected me was realising (yet again) that you can't have it all. In this case I was very proud to discover five out of six of our front pages (Monday-Saturday) featured my stories. At the same time certain things or people in my life were lacking - for example, not being able to go properly with anyone who's followed my journey to celebrate. But you take what good you can get with gusto. And for me, the career is obviously a worthy focus right now.

For those non-writers out there, what do you think makes a good front-page story? If you had a choice what would YOU write about?