Today’s horrible news about the Pacific earthquake and tsunami had me glued to my computer for the latest updates. New Zealanders checked their emergency kits and discussed what impact waves less than a metre high could have on our shorelines, all the while being horrified by the stories coming in from our neighbouring countries.

At the time of the ‘big Tsunami’ I was working for an aid organisation so I had a way to practically lend a hand and I’m so glad I did because without making it all about me – feeling helpless is awful.

We still don’t know the details of what happened today in Samoa and Tonga. We are a lot further away from the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Indonesia and Nepal so it’s easier to distance yourself from the bad news.

It’s times like this where it’s important to act if you can. If you have faith, please pray. If someone isn’t coping with the news please be kind. If you’ve got a little bit to give, please do – there are some trustworthy organisations that can make a massive difference, especially if they can get in there with a good amount of resources right away.

It’s day three of Daylight Savings Time and I AM NOT COPING! Yesterday morning I had to multiply my morning coffee dose and my eyes stung like they usually only do when I have to get up at 3:30am for an overseas flight. At 9pm when you are supposed to feel wide awake and reap the benefits of an extra hour at the end of the day I felt like I’d been awake FOREVER!

I may be one of the worst, but I know I’m not the only one struggling with changing the sleeping patterns. I has made me notice how the ‘niceness filter’ has worn very thin, so I find myself reading status updates thinking “why do you think I would care about this” and “don’t complain to me!” If I have been unsympathetic, I apologise. If I’m not back to my normal self shortly, you have my permission to remind me to turn my humanity switch back on.In the meantime, feel free to take a wide berth.

I’m not saying that venting isn’t a great thing, but I can handle it a lot better if you do it with a bit of humour.  The platforms that are available to us for expression have enabled everyone to have a voice – which I think is really cool. I do wonder though, if people consider how they come across.

I’m a strong believer that social networking is about engaging with people, not just broadcasting. While it’s not kosher to spam people with products or sales, I do feel sometimes (especially when I’m tired and unsympathetic) that there’s a bit of emotional spam going out into the ether. I think there is a difference between sharing what’s going on and dumping on people.

This isn’t a rant at anyone, but just a question – have you thought about the people on the other end of your message? I have a feeling that there are family members, flatmates and workmates who are getting off more lightly than they used to, because rather than being confronted or hassled about their behaviour, your friends  or followers get the vent instead. In some ways this is cool, but I think that there are times, especially if it’s an ongoing issue that it’s probably a good idea to deal with the actual person, rather than getting into a (very public and discoverable) habit of slagging them off.

I both love and despise sarcasm. It makes me laugh, but it can be a nasty little tool to belittle people too. The problem with the written word is that it’s all too easy to misinterpret someone’s words. This is something I try to be aware of when I’m a bit angsty. If I was the right kind of geek I would invent a world-wide sarcasm font or an ‘I’m just joking I love you really’ symbol that is better than that infuriating but essential winking smiley face.

There are things like pounamu (jade or greenstone) that should always come to you as a gift. In New Zealand at least this is the culturally this is the correct way to acquire pounamu and (I think) bone carvings. I have my dad’s pounamu (see photo), which was given to him as a gift in Kawhia where he lived the last years of his life as the eccentric English painter and one of the biggest personalities of a small town. It’s one of the few things of his I have, so it is a treasured possession.

Yesterday while having a birthday brunch with friends a gift of scorched almonds was given. We joked that like pounamu, scorched almonds is something that you must only receive as a gift. While this isn’t official, have you ever bought them for yourself? Maybe the reason they’re so wonderful is that they’re a rarely eaten treat – for me they’re synonymous with Christmas, one of the afternoon snacks you eat even though you can barely move after Christmas lunch.

There are probably other things that should only be received as gifts, but at the other end of the scale, there are things we only receive as gifts that we could totally buy for ourselves. I think that there are too many things we love but never do or have because we don’t know how to treat ourselves. I’m not saying our lives should be all about self, but something I have learned is that a treat can be as good as a holiday as far as self restoration goes. Big treats are lovely, but if you are lacking funds or time, then there are small things you can do for yourself like a bubblebath or breakfast in bed.

It’s really important to relax and have fun. If you’re a really busy person you may have forgotten how to chill out. Here are some of my favourite ways to rejuvenate my soul with fun – ranging from the free to the ‘this is nice but had better not become a habit’.

·         Going to the zoo – only a fool would want to be serious when feeding animals (this is not just a pastime for children).

·         Taking holidays away from home – I’ve been to Sydney this year already, my never ‘overseas trip’ will be to Waiheke Island. Just as fun, but not as damaging to the wallet (especially because there are less shops).

·         Pampering/personal maintenance – a haircut, a very occasional manicure, or even doing my nails myself is relaxing. Thanks to the generous people at About Face in St Lukes I have a facial I’m very much looking forward to.

·         A scheduled  night home – not because you have nothing to do, but because you want to get in your trackies, pick up some Pad Thai or make cheese on toast and collapse on the couch with some mind-numbing TV or a favourite DVD that makes you happy every time you see it. These times are gold.

·         Going for a walk somewhere beautiful – if you don’t have time to drive to your favourite beach, do you have time to go to a park or garden? Fresh air is good.

·         A special piece of jewellery – I brought myself a lovely watch to celebrate a job a few years ago. Hmm, might be time to get the strap repaired so I can enjoy it again.

Really, I think the miracle that happens when you have these moments that that you are taking time to breathe. You just can’t think about serious things when you’re having a bubble bath with candles and a glass of wine. You can’t consider work timelines when you’re talking to your hairdresser and I find that serious concentration is required when painting my toenails that makes my mind perfectly blank. Ooh look, a pony!

Being an adult is overrated. Blessed with a youthful countenance I spent all of my twenties thinking I should be reinforcing my intelligence and professionalism with demure dress and sensible haircuts. The effectiveness of this was about as limited as my ability to carry the plan through for any period of time.

The young face was useful when I used to do youth marketing for World Vision – it was easier to fit in during school visits and get the kids on side, but I’m grateful that I was never asked directly by a teacher where my uniform was.

These days I prefer think that people who assume I’m younger than I am just think I’m incredibly smart for my age, but I’m fairly certain I’m deluding myself. I’m loving working in a fun environment – I think if you can laugh with people it builds relationship which means you can collaborate much more easily. A benefit of working in the arts is that finally people seem to get my jokes much more than other places I’ve worked. Quirks seem to be accepted or even expected – this totally makes life more interesting. I think it also creates an environment where ideas can be born and moments of genius can occur.

I’ve noticed people talking about childhood favourites lately and as time goes on I’m loving rediscovering some of my favourite kids books and watching what we called ‘animated films’ (which sound much flasher than ‘kids movies’). I have a very smart friend who watches cartoons every Saturday morning without shame and I’m pretty sure most social sport is really about getting a run around ideally with a bit of rough and tumble. I don’t think we are regressing, I think we are just remembering how important fun is for the soul. I will never be too old to love the Chronicles of Narnia. Never.

I spent ages a few nights ago enjoying all 19 pages of The Munchblog created by my hilarious friend Dianne Tanner who is living in London and sharing a room with ‘the world’s greatest mini lop rabbit’ http://charliemunchblog.tumblr.com. If you think you are too much of an adult to enjoy this, I suggest a dose of un-growup pills followed by time in the rubber ball room at Burger King – that is if the fun police haven’t taken them away…