Big Day for Kathleen

Today is no ordinary day for Kathleen. It's a landmark day...a milestone in her road to recovery.

Today was Kathleen's 6th and final chemotherapy treatment. I spoke to her right after she arrived home from the doctors. She was happy this appointment was behind her.

We congratulate you and love you for the braveheart and the patience to go through this intial phase of recovery, step by step. Like you, many are happy to return to "life", after chemo. Healing is a part of life: we couldn't heal if we were not alive.

Now, as you enter a new phase in a routine of work, homework sessions with the kids, household stuff, seek comfort in the step by step approach that you do so well. Naturally, people may experience stress as they face this period of recovery. Stress is nothing without the attention we give it. It can't survive if we don't feed it. It is the cause of dis-ease within us. Take the time you need and when you feel challenged, invest in what comforts and calms you. Ask for help at anytime, you don't have to - nor are you expected to do this all on your own.

Doctors say you may not be 100% before 2 more years. However, I challenge that. As you have experienced before, doctors speculate based on case studies and averages, and other people's experiences. However, you are extraordinary and have a great deal of faith. I believe in you.

We are what we focus on. It's important to remember that we have the power to heal, starting from our heart. Your heart will lead the way if you surrender to it. You don't need to fight anymore.

May continued peace and healing be with you on your journey in the discovery of what purpose you now have and the compelling future that awaits you with open arms and a smile.

We are all cheering for you!

with love and light, our sweet sister.

your world family x

Bondi Bounce

Couldn't go to Sydney without visiting the famous Bondi Beach. And as we had the trampoline in the boot of the car, we thought... Carpe Diem. Yes, that's right. We bounced on the beach. The only thing missing was our beach ball and a cozi!

Our friends Sasha, Danielle and Darren had a go.. Even a surfer offered to bounce after he caught a few waves, but we had to save it for next time. Off to the airport with no time to spare...

rise and shine xp

B4B Soars in Sydney!!!

We came. We bounced. We soared over Sydney Harbour...

I want to celebrate this occasion for a few reasons.

I met up with Ross Bridgeford, one of the directors of Energise for Life http://www.energiseforlife.com. It was the first time we met in person and it was so exciting to put a face to the name. Ross and his team have been with us since the early days of B4B. It was his company that sponsored us a trampoline for the World Tour for Kathleen and they've been a source of endless support and ideas. And it was so cool for Ross to experience a 'landmark b4bounce' and see what great things have come of his wonderful contribution. Most importantly, he saw what fun the kids and onlookers had with it too. Thanks, Ross again for all your support the great energy you bring to life! It makes a HUGE difference to us. I look forward to our future together in making the world a better, healthier place.

Another huge thanks goes out to David Ward and his family for showing such sporting support. They were great weekend hosts and we were delighted for them to join us for the bounce. David and his sons, Richard and Andrew all got spreadeagle shots over the harbour. May you soar to even greater heights for your enthusiastic contribution...

A big thumbs up for the interested onlookers Mark, Eliza, Mischa and Charlotte who rocked up to bounce and contributed to the cause. Well done!

Lastly, thanks for our crafty photographer (and overall wonderful husband), Christoph for your talents behind the lense and perfect sense of timing in getting just the right shot.

Love, px

Nothing Better

When I began the transition of aligning my life to lay the foundation of the B4B charity, I went through a personal transformation.

Not only did I give up a business to redirect my focus on the great task ahead, but I also realised that there was a shift in my identity and purpose, as well. It took me longer to adjust to the changes - which surprised me (or maybe travelling in 8 countries over 4 continents in 120 days finally caught up with me). Naturally, I questioned myself as to whether I was the best person for the job. Sure, the personal campaign was hugely successful, but heck I've never created a charity before.

How did I do it before? I thought to myself... Ah, yeah, I had passion in my purpose (helping my sister Kathleen and her kids). What would give me the passion again? What clarity do I need to regain my burning - this is a must!- kinda purpose again?

The answer: I just need one single mum with breast cancer. And I know that there are hundreds, even thousands out there that haven't yet found out about us. And we haven't yet been introduced to them.

This was it. I was hooked again...until a week later, when my energy started to fade and vision became blurred. What was happening??? I thought I sorted myself out and found my passion/purpose again??

Question: What haven't I got yet that I need to learn most now?
Answer: You never give something up, you must replace it with something better.

When I closed down one of my businesses, I didn't get specific on the better that was awaiting me. Fear prevented that. So in order to gain momentum again, I needed to get outside my comfort zone and take a leap of faith - a quantum leap of faith! To believe in the magic of my own creation (a simple way is hitting the create button each time i make a new blog :).

I felt like I was taking 5 steps forward and 10 steps back in my mind. I turned to my husband and said, "You know, maybe I should just forget about this. I mean, it was great for my sister, but perhaps this is where I should leave it". However, if I had only known that when I felt most stuck and totally uncertain of my path, I was just moments before my breakthough.

My husband's loving words were, "It's entirely your choice and I support you in whatever you do, however, I would be disappointed if you didn't go ahead with it." The moment of truth was before me. I began to feel small, like Alice in Wonderland shrinking in her chair. He saw in my eyes that I felt as though the weight of the world were on my shoulders. Not recognising this in me, he clarified. "I would not be disappointed in you, but disappointed for the numerous single mom's and their kids who really need the help of B4B. All their worries that caused sleeplessness would go unvalidated. Their concerns for how best to pay for bills go unaddressed. He saw them alone, with no one to turn to who truly understands their situation.

This was the Truth. The Undeniable Truth. A Universal Truth. The Truth that resonated in my heart. It's amazing in life when we face the TRUTH, embrace the TRUTH, and decide to act on the TRUTH - in that moment, our destiny is shaped.

Then, my mind searched for the other opportunties that I currently had and lined them up in front of me. When my husband asked me what else I would do instead, the words came to me...
With quiet confidence and a smile on my face, I said, "There is nothing better to do."

I mean, what could be better than helping others in their time of need? What could be better than helping to improve the quality of life for others by helping them to create a compelling future? And most importantly, what could be better that helping our 'world family' to create an empowering meaning in their experience? Individuals have far greater resources than they realise at any moment and we have the resources to help show them the way in this moment...

Alice in the chair stopped shrinking, when more of the truth in me showed up.

with love and light x

Journey to the 12 Apostles

Christoph and I drove to the 12 apostles, this famously beautiful natural landmark in Southern Australia. Another roadtrip for Bouncing for Breast Cancer. This trip is personally significant in that it relates to everything that touches my life at present.

You see, the day we left for Australia was a day full of excitement as well as uncertainty of what the future holds.

As I made the final check of the house before heading to the airport, I went into my office and thought to myself - "How am I going to manage building the foundation of B4B from Australia?" Just then, I looked up at a calender on the wall. It had a photo of a beautiful sunset on the horizon of the ocean and a beach with these giant rock formations. The quote read, "If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast" - Psalms 139:9, 10.

WOW, that really resonated with me! Funny, how relevant it is to my life as if it knew I'd be heading to the far side of the sea. Then I looked at the image on the month of July. It was familiar, yet I'd never been there in person. Then it came to me. It was a photo taken along the famous Great Ocean Road in Australia, not far from Melbourne. I quickly tore the page from the calender, locked up the house and entered the cab.

That photo/quote has been with me daily ever since. I knew it was someplace I had to go personally. I had to experience it - the glory of its wonder. Its creation.

Here's an excerpt from my diary the day we drove to visit the 12 Apostles...

"I awoke this morning and looked at the photo from my calender that I tore out the day we left for Australia. The jagged edges. The masking tape that affixes it to the wall by my desk in front of me.

I carefully pealed away the tape and folded it up again. It would accompany me on my journey to real thing. The final leg.

But the journey hasn't begun today. Nor did it begin when I received the calender as a gift in December 2005. No, it began 37 years ago. The day I was born. I was led to this moment. I was born for this moment. And I am reborn each moment I connect with that knowing. That same knowing that there is a purpose to my experience during my trip to the 12 Apostles. There is some learning I will discover, some new distinction I will gain, that will be included in my book, in my charity...in my life.

If I were to connect the dots that led me to the present, I can see all of the little episodes clearly - A conversation with Tessa (Jamie Oliver's Agent) about my book in July 05, my studies last year, Michaelangelo's statue of David, Divine timing and the season for things, Dr. Masuro's work with the messages of water, my back issues (things to slow me down), and the learning during B4B and my sister's recovery from Breast Cancer. Somehow, and how they are all interlinked."

Throughout our drive to the Southern Coast, I scribbled illegibly, page after page in my journal, I knew I was onto something. I could taste the sweet anticipation of postive expectancy. Questions and answers flowed as I travelled through time until we finally reached our destination.

It was truly magnficent. I wanted my first glimpse of the 12 Apostles to be from the helicopter ride (A first for that too!). The tour headed west along the coastline to take in some other great rock formations and coves, saving the best for last. As we made the turn eastward, I could see these great rocks from the distance. It was like coming home. I had looked at the photo from my calender each day for the past month, yet nothing was like seeing it in person.

The years that have shaped them, sculpted them, made them magnificent. The winds of time, the crashing waves, the heat of the sun on each grain of sand.

What a truly fulfilling experience. Better still, we found this great location to bounce. I absorbed this moment to share with my sister, Kathleen and her kids. Even though, we'd met our goal to help her financially, she is always near to my thoughts and heart. Everywhere I go, she travels in my heart and I am to support her in everyway she needs.

The next day, my awakening moment was the golden nugget I was waiting for.

The journey is not the destination; not the answers. It's the questions, the transcending our ourselves.

And it all made sense. The purpose for going there was not just to see it with my own eyes and to bounce, but to experience the questioning and distinctions I gained whilst writing my journal throughout the 7 hour drive there.

I dedicate this learning to my sister Kathleen. To question, is healthy. The quality of our questions always reflects the quality of our lives.

I love you, sis.

xp

On the road again

B4B has got the itch to go back on tour in continued support of Kathleen and all the other single mums affected by breast cancer.

12th August - 12 Apostles, Port Campbell VIC
19th August - Sydney Opera House & Harbour Bridge

with love, px

If the shoe fits, wear it and show it off!

I'd to take this opportunity to honour Diana Duah, our newly appointed in-house PR Officer. She's been with me from Day 1 - from the birth of the personal campaign. She is a colleague who has become a confidante and friend. She has bucket-loads of talent and I enjoy sitting back and learning a thing or two from her.

She shared something with me the other day about an exciting project she was commencing. I was WOW'd by her - it was the voice of a true leader. "Today I got my big break. I questioned whether or not I deserved it, all those questions ‘I don’t know what I’m doing,’ ‘I’m going to mess it up’ where rotating in my mind. Then it dawned on me this was not my lucky break. This was my time to execute the 6 months of preparation I had done. Once I accepted this, I realised everything is achievable and nothing is beyond my talents."

What moves me even more is that this is a voice of an 19 year old. Diana was one of my 'all star' students I taught 4 years ago at London College of Fashion. I ran into her again late last year and I was amazed at how she had grown into a dynamic young woman. She's studying Journalism at London College of Communication and is an excellant writer and go getter. I've celebrated with her every goal she's reached this year. With a high octane zest for life and making the most of every opportunity, she approached me for work experience. The rest is history.

It was clear that the B4B Dream Team had to include Diana. As she refers to Oscar Wilde, ‘The only thing worst then getting what you want is getting exactly what you wanted.’

What a lucky problem to have in Diana's case.


love and light. xp

Spilling the B4B...

During a jovial conversation over breakfast with some of my husband's colleagues, a suggestion was made to franchise our B4B idea into other areas...Hopping for Hair Loss, Leaping for Lepracy and so on...

As ridiculous as this all sounds, Diana came up with a fab idea when I told her about our breakfast nonsense. It proved that even silly conversations can ricochet into something bigger.

All will be revealed soon. In the meantime, I'd like to thank Xchanging boys, David Ward and Stephen Scott for their inspired ideas, utter silliness, and enthusiasm.

xp

The light

Kathleen has successfully navigated her way through 5 chemo treatments; only 1 more to go...

My precious sister, I have been deeply inspired as I've witnessed your courage and approach to your treatments and recovery. You went from being strongly opposed to chemo towards reaching a place of embracing it. If it was the vehicle to aid in your full recovery, you were prepared to drive it. And like a true [s]hero; you pulled up your big girl pants with fairy wings and all, put the pedal to the metal, and full steam ahead you went.

As we drive through our journey of life in overcoming mountains, sometimes the most direct routes to take are the tunnels. Even though they might be dimly lit in certain areas, we can take comfort in the certainty that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. And the darker the tunnel, the brighter the light at its end. Knowing that, how can we work with them; plan them; anticipate them; see the adventure in them, for they are a necessary part of the journey?

As I sit here, I wonder how you will honor the tunnels' end, as you enter the light once again after this life-changing experience. What do you need to do to prepare yourself? What will you take with you and what must you leave behind? How did it teach you what you needed to learn most? How amazing does your life look like on the other side? What exciting and fun things will you do and who will share them with you? And most importantly, how will you show your gratitude daily for the gift of your learnings? How will you share your experience? Will you be another cancer survivor or an even more vibrant and beautiful life thriver?

Then I think again. Must you wait for the light at the end of the tunnel if you're ready for it now? How can you now become the beacon of light that guides your way with clear focus, self-love, confidence and truer purpose? If we emit light from within, we will attract it all around us.

And then I think again. To me, to our family, to your kids and your friends, you are the light. You are a shining example of what’s possible in this world. Regardless of some of life’s biggest challenges, you have loved even more, given more, showed greater compassion and understood more. And now you deserve to receive even more love from yourself and for yourself. You see, you were born out of the light of love of God, Dad’s love, your mom’s love. From the day you were born you have lit up the lives of those around you.

Now with the same light and love that has helped us find our own path, led us to our own answers, it is essential for you to be the gracious recipient of your own inner light and love.

Sis, only when you're ready to choose to reconnect to your light within, just close your eyes and imagine yourself now walking into its golden aura. Let it shine down on you. Feel it dance for joy on your skin. Bask yourself in its love and warmth. Breathe in the healing light. Celebrate its connection to your beating heart. As you exhale, see yourself radiate light and love. Like returning home again after a long journey, you can stay there as long as you want. Welcome home to your heart.

When you're ready, open your eyes. Create a poster of it, write about it, and express it with passion and purpose, with great intention and specificity. Then watch how you - yourself -manifest the light naturally within you and for those around you, consistently.

Kathleen, whenever you’re ready, you can reconnect with your own inner light. You’re much closer than you think. It’s always been with you and it will show you the way when you need it most.

I am with you.

with an abundance of love and light - Namaste,

xxxp

It’s Official – Charity status, here we come!!!!

Hello friends and family- it’s great to be with you again. I hope this finds you well and smiling.

B4B has GREAT NEWS. We are officially well on our way to becoming a charity. The B4B bank account has been set up and we are currently building our winning team of FUNdraisers, Marketers, Steering Committee and Board of Directors. I am personally responsible with all the paperwork and learning curve in what it takes to set up a charity. Anyone interested in stepping up to be part of the heart of this progressive, FUN, and fulfilling charity, please contact us through our website http://www.bouncingforbreastcancer.org/.

I also have a confession to make. Forgive me for not sharing with you the journey from turning this heartfelt personal campaign for Kathleen into an international non-profit organisation for other single moms affected by breast cancer around the globe. For some reason over the last few weeks, I got it in my head that it wasn’t interesting to you. I thought the ground work was boring to you. Then I realised that perhaps it was me getting bogged down with it all. I needed to find passion in my purpose again, just as I did on 26th February when B4B was born.

The other day, Christoph gave me the [loving] nudge I needed. He reinforced the importance of sharing our experience so people can appreciate just what it takes to set up a charity. All the small [seemlingly] unimportant steps that are required. All the choices I had to personally make in changing my life so that the B4B benefits can continue to improve the quality of life for single mothers affected by breast cancer currently in need of financial and emotional support during their treatment and recovery.

Whilst I have been occupied aligning my life so that I can take on the role as CEO/Director of the charity, it dawned on me that many people have been looking for updates on the blog and there weren’t any. It became evident just how important the blog was to others. It became equally evident just how important it was to me. I apologise for appearing to abandon our readers, B4B family of supporters and individuals who find inspiration from this blog. From now one, our learning curve will be one we share with you – afterall, this life is all about learning, growing and sharing. And most importantly, you are an essential part of our journey. For the reason of why we are here today is because you were with us yesterday…

Honouring the little steps is just as important as the big steps. All the menial tasks are just as important as the huge successes. Every moment – every step - is important, for it leads you to where you are now.

Here's what we've accomplished in July:

• I closed down a business in order to become the CEO/Director of B4B charity.
• We set up the B4B bank account.
• We were filmed by ITV who are covering the B4B story.
• My husband and I moved to Adelaide, Australia for 3 months for his business.
• We have secured a part-time Press Officer
• We are working with Public Zone as our marketing specialists

With love and light x

Priscilla