About Last Night and Being Loved...

“I chose these flowers for you,” my new friend told me at dinner last night. “I had them make it up specially. I thought about your personality, and wanted to pick the colours you’d like. The yellow iris. The roses.”

Paulette is a gardener, and thoughtful and Canadian. Even though I’ve only known her a little while, she’s the kind of person you’d call if you found a lump or needed an emergency dog sitter or wanted to float a business idea and get good advice. She’s sensible. Calm. Savvy.

And she’s this: she’s good at making people feel loved.

It’s a skill, like baking or riding horses or gardening.

Of all the things I am and do, I hope I’m like that, too. It matters to me that I make people feel loved and seen. When you read my new book, you’ll find so many 10 Minute Fixes about loving people well.

• How To Be ‘the one’ For Someone (Chapter 49)

• Let’s Talk About Kids (Chapter 79)

• The Best Relationship Advice (Chapter 10)

This week I promised a giveaway — books for people who need a lift. There’s a lot of job loss right now and sickness and struggle.

Here’s what we’re going to do. (THIS IS SO FUN! Yayyyyyy! I love to give!)

If you know someone who might love a beautiful copy of The 10 Minute Fix, enter YOUR details below. I’ll choose a bunch of winners and get books to you…so YOU CAN GIVE The 10 Minute Fix to someone who might need it.

From me, through you, to someone who would love it.

Sounds like a deal, my friends??

CLICK HERE TO ENTER - WIN A BOOK FOR A FRIEND!

Love Catherine x

PS. You’re using my book to show girlfriends and mums and daughters that you love them. I cried when I got an emails like this from Sharon and Jules and Marg and Wendy and Tara this week. Right here, below, THIS IS MY DREAM. You are literally making my dreams come true. I mean that so sincerely. Thank you.

• “I ordered four copies, one for me and three for my daughters!”

• “I gave a copy to my two best girlfriends.”

• “I loved mine, so I bought three more to give away.”

Want your own copy now? It’s $19.99.

• For Canadians: on amazon.ca here.

• For Americans: on amazon.com here.

• For the UK: on amazon.co.uk here

• For my Aussies: on amazon.com.au or Booktopia.

• For free delivery (but a higher price!) on Book Depository.

There's Something I Have To Tell You...

My friends, while the world was reeling, I waited quietly, with respect. I’ve bought books and products from Americans, cried, reached out, donated. I made the decision to hold back from telling anyone about my news, because I believed the world needed to focus on others, not me. My new book quietly hit the shelves on 31 May.

Today, I’d love to tell you all about it.

When the big things feel broken, sometimes it feels wonderful to focus on the little things.

Here it is, from me to you.

The 10 Minute Fix: 100 simple ways to feel better now (Balmoral Press) — at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com.au, Amazon.co.uk, Booktopia and Bookdepository and in select Aussie bookshops.

So let me tell you about The 10 Minute Fix!

I’m pretty sure you’ll LOVE it. I write about 100 simple ideas to feel better RIGHT NOW. You’ll get lists! Easy reminders! And it’s like a mini-workbook, too, with space to jot down your thoughts.

Advance readers are saying beautiful things (bless them!):

• “It’s made me feel better about myself.”

• “Completely compelling…I couldn’t put it down.”

• “So pretty! It’s a beautiful book.”

• “A high-vibe book.”

• “Makes me feel like I can do it, too.”

• “So many books have just one idea. This book has 100 ideas. All realistic and do-able.”

I hope you’ll want to share a copy with your mom, your friend and your sister. (You might even want to leave a page open for your partner or your kid!)

Okay, today — please show me you’re here to cheer me on. This is my book where I cheer for you!

From my heart and home to yours, please enjoy my new book, The 10 Minute Fix!

Love Catherine x

PS. Next week I’ll do giveaways if you’ve lost your job, or want a copy and things are tough, or want to nominate a friend. RRP is $19.99.

• In Canada: amazon.ca

• In America: amazon.com

• In Australia: amazon.com.au or Booktopia

• In the UK: amazon.co.uk

• You can also go to Book Depository but they set their price 30% higher with free delivery.

Thank you for your support. If you can, I hope you order a copy to keep and one to give away to someone you love. (Yes, your mom or your daughter will love this little helpful book…promise!)

How To Make Today Better

Oh, my friends, here’s a simple recipe.

How To Make Today Better

1. Choose one person in your world.

2. Love them well.

3. Repeat.

That is all, and it is everything.

(There’s so much more I could write here—and I want to keep on writing—but really, I’ve said enough. This little tip will help all of us.)

Enjoy your beautiful day,

Love Catherine x

PS.

Today, I’d love to share my talented friend and cousin, Jean McCarthy, with you. Jean is so good at loving people. She’s just released a new book of poetry on rediscovery and recovery, The Ember Ever There. In Jean’s words, it’s about “leaving the past behind and embracing all we are meant to be.”

You can see Jean reading in the mountains (apparently there’s a BEAR nearby — I love Canada!)

Tell Me - Do You Love Facebook?

Well, hello.

I have a confession: I am probably the only person you know who doesn’t use Facebook.

Facebook started in 2004.

My reasons for avoiding it for the past 16 years are varied and too personal to share, but this week, a friend came over and convinced me that I’d like it. She thought I’d love starting my own Love Our Age Facebook Group, and then she rummaged around on my laptop for a moment and said this:

“Wait — the group name ‘Love Our Age’ is available on Facebook! It’s a miracle. ”

— -Sophia, who is lovely and talented at all things techie

Now, I love a good miracle as much as the next guy…so here’s a story for you about Love Our Age, why I started it and what has happened since then.

I wanted to start a blog with a name, instead of blogging at my author’s website and explaining to people that they had to go to www.catherinegreer.com.au and then sign up for my happiness blog. I’d been thinking a lot about the age positive movement and about how I planned to enjoy the middle of my life, and I wanted an easy name for a blog about being inspiring, starting something new, living life beautifully, enjoying every moment. Something for all of us, for everybody.

“What’s your blog called?”

“Love Our Age dot com.”

That’s what I wanted to say. When I searched for the website URL, LoveOurAge.com was available for ten bucks a year. Good dot com URLs can cost thousands of dollars a year.

It felt like a miracle. A $10 miracle.

So I checked on Instagram: @loveourage was available. Another miracle.

And now on Facebook….also available?

That’s my third Love Our Age miracle, you guys. I see good things coming our way!

But…you know how I always write about life being 50-50?

• 50% AMAZING, and

• 50% hard and tricky and tiring and just ALL the things we don’t necessarily want to tackle?

Well, I have a MIRACULOUS and EMPTY Facebook Group right here -- step up and take a look!. As I said, life is 50-50.

This is how I feel looking around Facebook: I am the 15 year old girl, standing in the cafeteria on Fish and Chip day with nowhere to sit because every table is full. So…if you have time, and if you would please teach me how Facebook Groups work and sign up for mine, I would be so thankful!

I’m pretty sure you guys have been Facebook partying without me for about 16 years now, so — please help if you can.

Thank you. I appreciate you! Enjoy your Friday, and let’s Love Our Age together.

Catherine x

PS.

• How are you doing out there? I keep reading the news and worrying about friends and family. Are you okay?

• My bright orange jumper is now in grey.

Call Yourself A Beginner

It’s Sunday morning coffee time, and the world is filled with COVID-19 news. So while we’re all thinking about staying in more and keeping everyone safe, it’s the perfect time to try something new.

We live in the best time in history for being in our homes during a global pandemic — for so many reasons!

Everything single thing you might want to learn is on YouTube or Khan Academy.

I want to learn to make burrata, which is made from fresh mozzarella. So on my list is cheese making! I also want to learn to sew a cape. And I’ve looked at our untouched piano for years, so it would be nice to play a simple song.

The hard part about learning something new as an adult is that we don’t like to be terrible! And we know what looks terrible (bad art), tastes terrible (a failed cake), sounds terrible (my piano playing).

Here’s the trick: call yourself a beginner. Literally say those words to yourself. As in…

• “I’m a beginner at sewing.”

• “I’m a beginner at writing books.”

• “I’m a beginner at piano.”

Give yourself the beautiful luxury of being a beginner.

Just start. You might fall in love. And you’ll definitely get better.

Enjoy your Sunday and love your age!

Catherine x

PS. Always wanted to write a picture book? I’ve published Jacaranda Snow with a traditional publisher. Then I had a million friends asking to go for coffee to tell them how I did it, and I ran out of time! So I created an e-book with EVERYTHING you need to write a picture book that you could send to a publisher. (If you want to get out of the slush pile and get a deal, these basics are critical.) Available here, on my author’s website. You can download & start now. Happy writing!

Ever Made a Worry Cake?

Last week, I hit a bump of worry with one of my teens, so I did what mothers do: I stayed up half the night trying to sleep, woke up tired and tear-y, and hoped that everything would blow over with the new day.

It did.

But while my kid was out slaying dragons, I was at home working.

(For all you beautiful strangers who don’t know me very well yet: I’m an author and a copywriter, which means I write books for love and write copy for large corporates for my daily bread. Often I work from home and go to meetings in the city.)

That day, I wrote and walked from outside back inside. I worried about my son and I didn’t text. I tried to wait.

Then I noticed we had rosemary growing and a lemon in the fruit bowl, so I caved and made my favourite cake. Because what is better than a kitchen smelling of lemon and rosemary cake?

In my world, nothing says love like baking.

This cake takes away your worry. Imagine yourself combining the fresh rosemary, lemon zest and a little sugar in the bottom of a bowl. Imagine rolling it through your fingers until the sugar mixture is damp and fragrant.

That is love. Love smells like rosemary and lemon.

You’ll need a few things:

• sugar (1 cup)

• self-raising flour (2 cups)

• fresh rosemary (2 tablespoons, chopped)

• lemons (zest and juice of 2 is best)

• Greek yogurt (1 cup)

• olive oil (1 cup)

• eggs (2)

If you have this on hand, let’s start. Line a pan with baking paper. Preheat your oven to 325F or 170C. In a bowl, mix the rosemary, lemon zest and sugar. Do this with your hands.

Inhale. Everything’s going to be okay.

Add eggs and beat until pale and thick. Use a whisk. It won’t take long.

Mix in the yogurt, lemon juice and olive oil.

Finally, sift in the flour. Gently fold it all together. Know in your heart that you are a good person. Pour the batter into the pan. It looks professional, like a cake in a cafe.

Bake for 45 minutes.

Cool in the pan.

Share with the people you love.

Enjoy your day, and love your age (and yourself). We’re all out here in the wilderness, doing the best we can.

Catherine x

Why not enjoy it now?

A few years ago, I fell in love with rings.

Seriously! Just one day, out of nowhere, I realised an important truth — I didn’t have to wait and wait for pretty things or the ‘real deal’. There’s so much fun to be had for $9 or $14 and the right attitude.

What is the point in waiting?

So I stopped, and refocused on enjoying today.

Why rings?

Because rings are what you get to see when you wear them. Bracelets, too. When I wrote my novel, aquamarine was a major symbol in the book. To treat myself at publication, I found the replica 1950s aquamarine cocktail ring above — love it!

And take a peek at these below. I wear them all the time.

So much fun.

I tried to find the aquamarine for you, but it’s sold out everywhere. But there’s a very pretty 1950s inspired emerald princess cut here!

Ready to treat yourself?

You’ll have so much fun admiring your own hands.

Enjoy,

Catherine

Love This Beauty Hack!

I promised I’d share lovely things at Love Our Age!

Lately I’ve been using a jade roller — all of $6.99 and I adore it. You know how you wake up sometimes with puffy eyes? Or you’ve had a good cry and feel ugh?

A jade roller really helps.

And if you need some serious face fixing, an ice roller is even better.

These are the two I love. I keep the ice roller in the freezer and the jade roller on my beside table. The jade seems to stay naturally cool.

All you do is roll from the centre of your face outward and up. It seems to reduce puffiness and feels lovely. You’re welcome!

If you’re interested, my ice roller is here. My jade face roller is here.

Let’s love our age,

Catherine x

So Much Depends Upon a Yellow Raincoat

Hey, it’s RAINING in Sydney!

This is such great news. We need rain so badly, and also this: it gives me a chance to wear my yellow raincoat.

Do you have one piece of clothing that makes everyone happy?

For me, it’s my yellow jacket. I guarantee you that when I wear it, perfectly respectable business people rushing around the city will stop and smile at me. Everyone says hello.

Happens every time.

There’s something about certain pieces of clothing that we love. This yellow raincoat is from Ann Taylor and it’s probably 20 years old. But every time I put it on — instant happiness for me and everyone I meet! These are the items to keep and cherish and wear over and over.

Clothes communicate so much. Sometimes they’re for us, and sometimes they’re for others. (Remember, mums…putting on a pretty dress and having your kids say the loveliest things?)

We can dress any way we like, of course, but I think this: dressing well can be a gift for other people.

Today on my way to the office, I plan to make everyone smile.

Love, Catherine x

ps. And for you, here’s the original William Carlos William poem:

Do You Have a Pre-Loved Suitcase?

Today I’m thinking about helping out. The fires here in Australia have been terrible and the response from around the world has been amazing. Thank you! From donations to heroes to something as simple as knitting for wildlife — you can learn more about the knitting project here — the world is answering the call to help our country.

But this morning I learned one more fact and it’s not about bushfires.

It’s about foster kids.

Did you know that foster kids in both Canada and Australia are given black rubbish bags to move their belongings from foster home to foster home? I’m not sure what’s happening in America or other countries, but I’m guessing that it’s similarly bleak.

Adults in this world, let’s just stop and think about that for a moment. We can do so much better.

Do you have pre-loved suitcases to donate? And will you please tell everyone you know that this is happening?

In Sydney, a young Aboriginal man, Isaiah Dawe, has started Bags, Not Bins. Learn how to donate! In Australia, you can call (02) 8396 5300.

In America and Canada, call your local Foster Care agency to arrange a drop off.

And please spread the word.

It’s a lovely thing to give.

Enjoy your Sunday,

love Catherine x

Just too tired today? Yes, you...

Hi there, lady who is feeling tired…the one who is the engine of the family train.

I see you.

You’re probably running around being helpful, sharing your thoughts on how to do it faster, fixing leaks and problems before they escalate.

You’ve thrown in some washing, unloaded the dishwasher, put the coffee on and checked that everyone’s up.

You’re thinking about when you’ll walk the dog.

If you’re lucky, there are no impossible mountains today (illness, loss, fear, lack). But still, you feel tired.

Yes, yes, life is good when we’re busy and we’re all thankful to love the people we’ve been given to love. We feel full of purpose and usually grateful that we have washing machines and dishwashers and dogs and kids, coffee to make and cars to fill with gas. All of it.

But we get tired, then it’s time to rest.

Here are my favourite rests. Free and always available to me (or to you!).

1. A quiet cup of coffee. I make my own at home and I love my long blacks from my little Nespresso coffee maker. Inexpensive and so good!

2. Standing in the driveway of our home at twilight, in all seasons. I look up at the gum trees, and the evening sky and remember to take big breaths for the first time all day.

3. Lying flat on my back on the living room carpet. I stretch my arms up and relax my shoulders (always rounded from too much writing!).

The older I get, the more I focus on what I love, and what I can control. Little pockets of rest and peace are available to all of us — usually without a price tag!

All we need to do is figure out what feels like rest. Is it coffee? Nature? Stretching? Sorting a drawer? Then do that!

Work, rest, repeat.

It’s one good way to love our age!

Catherine x

ps. This sweet cup and saucer is Shelley English bone china. I was lucky enough to inherit a set of two from a dear friend. I treasure them and think of her. xo