My life has been touched by some uber amazing women whose passion for life and the way they choose to live it have really inspired me. Some are bloggers, some are not, their lives are all different and they are all special. I feel honoured and privileged that they are sharing their stories and sprinkling a little bit of their awesome right here. May you be wom-inspired!
Meet Beth Macdonald.
Do you remember a few months ago when Sue featured in the She’s So Inspiring series? The inspiration runs strong in her family because today, her daughter Beth is on the blog and I’m so excited about it, I want to jive with a jelly baby. Squee! If you don’t know who Beth is (where have you been?) she’s a blogger extraordinaire. She’s also an expert party thrower, clever cook, fantastic sheet folder, sea change thriver, heart follower and a domestic goddess. She’s inspiring for so many reasons, not least because she can clash bed linen like a boss.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Beth Macdonald, I’m a Mum of 3 girls aged 8, 6 and 5 months who lives in a small village in the Southern Highlands of NSW. I’m a blogger at BabyMac where I write daily about our life in the country. We moved down here 5 years ago from inner city Sydney and my blog is a collection of all the things that I love: our quiet country life, all things to do with the home, entertaining and a little swearing in between.
Tell us 3 things you are and 3 things you’re not.
I am neat and tidy.
I am greedy when it comes to food.
I am easily pleased: a good nights sleep, pretty flowers in a vase, clean sheet day, a nice meal, empty washing basket. It doesn’t take much these days.
I am not very patient.
Complete this sentence, ____________________ changed my life. How and why?
The move to the country changed my life. We completely jumped in the deep end making the move without knowing a single person, 2 small kids, leaving all our friends and family behind. Sometimes the best things you will do in life take the biggest risks. Nothing good ever came easy. Now we have the most amazing life: a beautiful home and garden, my husband and I have been able to work from home and we are surrounded by amazing people in our small community least of all in the prettiest part of Australia! We’ve given ourselves a gift that makes us all very happy and will create memories for my girls that they will have forever.
What has been life’s greatest lesson?
For me, it’s been to listen to your heart. That Roxette was onto something. I’ve been unhappy and been able to turn things around. Really listening to your guts, your instinct to what makes you happy, unhappy and making changes no matter how hard. I called off a wedding knowing that it wasn’t right. I’ve left jobs knowing how unhappy I was. We’ve packed up our family knowing that we could be happier doing something else, being somewhere else. Really listen to those niggling thoughts that keep coming up…they won’t go away until you make a change. Our subconscious knows what’s going on at all times…tune in and listen. The answer is always there!
What is your biggest achievement?
My blog I guess. I used to work in an office, emptying garbage bins and making coffees. The fact that I can now work creatively through my blog – I’ve learned how to write, how to take a photo, it’s something I love to do and the fact that I can make a living from it, while being at home and being a Mum? It’s pretty bloody good don’t you think?
What has been your toughest obstacle and how have you overcome it?
For me it’s always with myself. Self sabotage is my number one problem with myself. Whether it’s in work, or when I’m trying to be fit and healthy or something with the kids my negative self talk always creeps in. I have to be aware when it comes in, listen to it and try and talk myself out of it. It’s hard and it’s exhausting and SO annoying, but I get there most of the time. I try and be kind to myself…treat myself and talk to myself like I do with my girls. With love and encouragement. Being a grown up is HARD and we are all doing the best we can every day. And most of the time it’s pretty bloody good.
Viktor Frankl says “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how.” Everyone needs a purpose, what’s yours?
What are your words to live by?
What my Mum always taught me…to thine own self be true.
If you could have any mentor, alive or dead, who would you choose and why?
I’ve always admired Stephanie Alexander for her creativity, the work she does with kids and teaching others through food. She’s worked damn hard too. I’m not afraid of hard work.
If you could play hookie for a day what would be on your list to do?
A long lunch in the sunshine with friends and family with excellent food and booze and happy children.
You give so much to others, what do you do to take care of yourself?
I’m HOPELESS at that. I try and do things that make me happy: write, take photos, cook, sweep…all simple things that make me happy in small ways (and usually can be used for something/someone else as well) always looking for ways to kill birds with stones and all that!
Thank you for sharing, Beth.
Let Beth inspire you a little bit more…
on the blog
on facebook
on pinterest
on instagram
and on twitter
