Gold Coast, Australia
New stories update on 24 March 2012

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A Work In Progress offers real life inspiring stories on love, relationships, fun, lifestyle, goals and overcoming challenges, grief and timeless love, being happy and at peace.

QUICK LINKS TO STORIES see below:- To search the Web use search bar above. A Note for You from Graham and Bev
Eco Islanding if we don't ask, we don't get (seek and you shall find out)
Equal Rights = Equal Responsibility just give me poached eggs and hold the rules
Imagination is Free Separation - what effect on children, who to love Mum or Dad?
Leave your Mark our enduring worth
Love is Stronger than death how love is timeless and forever
My New Best Friend is your button in the "Press Here to Start" position?
Timing is Everything how do we know when the time is right?
NEW To Have or Not to Have is that a question?

A Note for You ...from Graham and Bev

We offer these true stories after walking through life looking for answers and realising that others are asking some of the the same questions. We hope in revealing part of our personal story it will inspire, give hope and courage to all to have patience and endurance in difficult times for they do pass and to embrace the good times which always definitely follow.

If we can learn to laugh at ourselves together
as we travel through the one life we have to live
on this earth and beyond.

Life has an ebb and flow ...

click here to go to web
page 7 to read on ...

Thanks to the first class people at Google for continuing to provide and update links to A Work in Progress website from their Web Search and Images.

Thanks to the hard- working volunteer editors at the Open Directory Project for listing A Work in Progress website in the "Inspirational" category of their free Directory - see link:-
http://www.dmoz.org/
Society/Philosophy/
Personal_Pages/ Inspirational/

We confirm our website is based on not-for-profit and we obtain no income from it. Graham and Bev are the only owners and don't employ staff and don't have any business associates who represent or act for us for this website or it's content.

To Have or Not to Have
...is that a question?

Its fun to get a dream car and it's exciting to finally drive it and scary at the same time.

The first week I had my new car I had a near fatal accident - a man driving 80 kms in a 50 kms zone came around the corner and tried to run me down and nearly succeeded. Luckily for me I was driving cautiously and his Ute only scraped the left-hand driver side bumper but it was so close it wasn't funny. The last couple of accidents which happened to me quite a few years ago were when my car was hit when it was parked on the side of the road and also when I had stopped at a traffic light and a car hit mine from the rear. So it was confronting and frightening to have a dangerous, near fatal accident. It was a reminder of how close to the edge we are when we get in our cars and head out into the traffic of our day. Having a car with a 5 star ANCAP rating is great but it's not going to save me from an idiot who wants to take a chance with his life and anyone else who comes across his path. He was driving that day and still does drive with his ego on his front bumper bar. I don't ever want to be like that person although, I confess, between you and me - there have been times I've gone too close to the line and have been angry with myself 'cause I know for a fact that pride always - ALWAYS - DEFINITELY - comes before a big fall and I don't want to push my luck. Life has enough challenges without becoming a target by choice.

It's always a test not to be arrogant after I hit my goals. Part of being confident and believing I can do something can also be a weakness. With God's faithful leadership and unfailing help as my foundation, I set my mind to go for a goal and purpose and then "slay the dragon" of my own inadequacies to go after it (again with God's help). The trick with success is not being impressed with what I've done but rather how I behave and who I become.

I guess my new Peugeot 308 CC with a push button drop top in 20 seconds, heated seats, heat scarf - to keep my ears warm (which is fun when the top's down and its a cold day - we all need one of those don't we?), chrome dials, alloy wheels, low profile racing tyres, 6 speed auto, 2 litre turbo diesel, 6.8 combined fuel economy, "S" button for Sports mode (which I'm too chicken to use - yet!) yada, yada,... I could go on and on but do you know what:-

It's not what I have but who I am when I have it.

I refuse to define myself by the car I drive and the jewellery or clothes I wear. I believe in looking after my "stuff" so it lasts and reduces my overheads and I like having fun, spending time eating out and relaxing especially after this last year of working hard and I've learned to take time out to give me a fresh perspective but I refuse to allow what I own to own me.

It's great to love someone but if you can't live with who they are or they can't live with who I am then what's the point? I need to be that person not only to other people but, more importantly, to myself.

Whether its something we want like a pink or blue Smiggle case with matching pen and a Whale or slap band watch (I do so LOVE Smiggle stuff) or a diamond ring or a dream car or a beautiful house. To enjoy the rewards of our own labour is also about being able to live with who we are whether we have it yet or may never have it and not become someone that we don't like once we have achieved our goal.

It's about living in hardship or in plenty with dignity and being someone who inspires others so they can believe that if I can have or do it then surely they can too and, importantly, that they can look in the mirror and be happy and live with who they become in the process.

I find the best fun is often free - swimming at the beach or maybe a sweet smelling, elegant white rose which magically grows all by itself or singing my fav song really loud. It may be an inspired smile shining in a young girl's eyes as we talk about the possibilities of tying a blue ribbon on our Smiggle bags and getting her advice on what pen to buy - will it be the one with owls or do we like dolphins more? You know - sharing our ideas - important stuff like that - and in the process teaching her how to achieve a small goal to light her way to believe she can achieve a bigger dream.

This 2012 New Year in front of me is a time to reset my sights on what comes next - where to from here? There is always more to learn and become and do on the road ahead but I am reminded, yet again, that its more important to live with kindness in my heart and a smile lighting my face rather than to look good but stink on the inside and to watch my ego and keep it in check because if clothes or cars become more important than how I behave then I am off track.

It's not what I have but who I am if I have it ... or not.

Sunrise at Point Danger Lookout, Gold Coast and NSW Border
...an inspired smile shining in a young girl's eyes as we talk about possibilities...

Never put passion

before principle.

Even if you win,

you lose.

Quote from Karate Kid II
Mr Miyagi speaking to Daniel-san

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© 2012 Copyright www.aworkinprogress.com.au. Stories by Bev D. Photos by Graham D. Website by Bev D. The Authors, Graham and Bev, assert the moral right to be identified as the Authors of this work. No part of this website may be reproduced and published without the prior written permission of the Authors. All rights reserved.

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A Note for You ...from Graham and Bev

To Have or Not to Have ...is that a question?

Never put passion before principle. Even if you win, you lose.

To Have or Not to Have
...is that a question?

Never put passion

before principle.

Even if you win,

you lose.