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 Bron Maxabella.
I love Bron. There I said it! Bron brings heart, soul and some beautiful ideas to the interwebs. She takes pictures and writes stories for a living, encourages women to get #inthepicture with their kids, she’s an advocate of being #screenfree and she shares the most wonderful recipes. Her blog is an absolute delight and just like Bron, it’s heartfelt, thoughtful and generous. Bron is inspiring not just for what she has achieved in life, but the way she chooses to live her life too. Whatever way you look at it, she’s just so inspiring!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a person blessed with the most beautiful family – three bright kids who challenge and uplift me daily and a husband who adores me and I adore right back. I love my two talented sisters and my hipster brother and my wise parents and my husband’s (very large) Italian family too. No matter what else is going on, La famiglia is everything.
I’m a creative seeker and collaborator – innovation and love is what drives me the most, although I struggle to see things through. I’m more of an ‘ideas’ person and rely on others to help me put my ideas into action. Being the Managing Editor for Mumtastic suits me well.
Tell us 3 things you are and 3 things you’re not.
I’m an unplugged kind of person living a very plugged in life.
I’m a fair person who tries to be kind.
I’m short tempered and foolishly blame my red hair.
I’m not as ambitious as I think I should be.
I’m not skinny.
I’m not bitchy or self-centred.
Complete this sentence, ____________________ changed my life. How and why?
My husband.
I was terribly lost when I met him, but he found me straightaway.
What has been life’s greatest lesson?
Nothing we own can ever make us happy, only deep connections with others, daily gratitude, self-improvement and believing in possibilities can do that.
What is your biggest achievement?
Working hard to build a full-time career that allows me to be a stay-at-home mum too.
What has been your toughest obstacle and how have you overcome it?
I feel like my obstacles have been so small compared to most. A true blessing that I never take for granted. It will seem trite to say that my toughest obstacle has been helping our oldest child overcome his anxiety, but helping him has indeed been a tremendous challenge and slowly, slowly our most rewarding achievement.
Viktor Frankl says “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how.” Everyone needs a purpose, what’s yours?
My purpose is twofold: to raise good people and to do what I can to ensure that they are growing into a good world.
What are your words to live by?
“You never fail until you stop trying” – Albert Einstein. I don’t believe in ‘can’t’.
If you could have any mentor, alive or dead, who would you choose and why?
I am lucky to have a real-life mentor in Pip Lincolne. She doesn’t actually know she is my mentor, but she is.
If you could play hookie for a day what would be on your list to do?
This is my dream. I’m such a driven person and hardly ever stop. Recently I had a health issue that landed me in hospital and having lots of time to think made me realise the importance of hookie days so much! So on my hookie day, I would do as little as possible. Read in bed all day, a late afternoon walk in the bush with friends and family, dinner out somewhere by the water, trash television all night. Amen.
You give so much to others, what do you do to take care of yourself?
I think that despite what I just said above, I have a really good balance. I am lucky because my husband cares for me and the kids so much that taking care of myself is easy. Sometimes I think that ‘self care’ is just another added pressure in a mother’s crazy-busy day. Put it this way: if everyone else isn’t happy, then I definitely won’t be happy or relaxed. Seeing them right is self-care to me. I think it comes down to a daily rhythm that incorporates some downtime. I have a daily beauty regime that I am very strict about, I make sure I exercise in some fashion every day and we eat fresh, homemade whole foods at least 80% of the time. We eat around the table for every meal that we are home for. We keep a veggie patch and try to connect with nature every single day without fail. I punctuate the day with 5 minute herbal tea breaks where I focus only on my lovely cup of relaxation: licorice and cinnamon; lemon and ginger; elderberry and echinacea are all faves. At least once a week we have friends or family over to break bread and have a laugh – usually Friday night cocktails around the pool, morning tea for my gal pals, a simple BBQ with a few families or Sunday afternoon damper cooked over the firepit followed by marshmallows. These are totally casual get togethers that are fuss-free and completely achievable on a regular basis. Being with others is what life is all about.
Thank you for sharing, Bron.
Let Bron inspire you a little bit more…
on the blog
on facebook
on pinterest
on instagram
and on twitter
