Hi there and welcome!

I’m Min – mum to three young adults: twin boys (27) and their younger sister (25).  I am also proud mum to a ruby Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – Ava who is 8 years of age and as of February 2020 – two tabby foster fail rescue cats (I blame COVID) – Axel & Amaya.  I’m married to ‘The Tennis Player’ and we all live on the beautiful Moreton Bay in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

The Min story

I’m the eldest of five siblings, four girls and one boy!  My real name is Marguerite with Min being my nickname.  I was named after an Aunt who I never met.

I have a corporate background. I started my career in Secretarial and Personal Assistant type roles.  I eventually moved on to roles in project and policy work before shifting to roles around strategic planning, corporate governance and project and program management.

I functioned for a lengthy period of time living and working with chronic stress (it had become my normal) – trying to do it all and be everything to everyone! My last workplace had an unhealthy work environment.  One particular incident at work brought with it a realisation that I deserved better, so I walked away from the corporate life in the middle of a work day in May 2012, a changed person. Since then I have realised that important lessons are learned through adversity and that climbing the corporate ladder is not the be all and end all!

First Blog

I started my first blog in September 2012 as a way to help rediscover and heal myself. I knew nothing about blogging. I started out doing a 365 Grateful Project – posting a photograph a day of something I was grateful for. This helped me to reconnect to life and ignited a love of photography.

Photography

In October 2014, I graduated from The Photography Institute with a Diploma in Professional Photography and soon after launched Marguerite Louise Photography (reclaiming my full name).  I thought that I would make photography my new career and business.  I love photography but I realise now that I allowed myself to get swept up in the excitement with all the other students and didn’t really understand myself at all.  Photography is my creative outlet, an activity that provided me with freedom from the expectations of others.  It stops the busy thoughts in my mind and allows me to be present, as my focus is on my subject and capturing it in a way that pleases me.  In trying to make this love of photography a business, the joy, peace and freedom went out of photography for me.  So, I have shelved Marguerite Louise Photography for now and a lesson has been learned: ‘listen more closely to me and don’t allow myself to get swept away by the excitement and dreams of others’.

Write of the Middle

Feeling the need to draw a line in the sand and move forward from the past, I decided on a fresh start.  On 4 November 2014, I launched my new blog – Write of the Middle – Snaps, Crackles & Zen with Min.

When my world changed

In the very early hours of 2 December 2017, my life changed forever when I lost my Dad.  Though I have experienced extreme sadness at the loss of relatives, including grandmothers and uncles and my father-in-law and mother-in-law as well as acquaintances, it wasn’t until the loss of my Dad that I fully experienced what grief is.  I have been truly blessed and privileged to have this wonderful gentle man as my father. 

Stuff I’m passionate about

I’m passionate about:

• Health and Wellbeing – particularly for middle-aged women!
• Self Investment – ways and means to obtaining balance of mind, body and spirit
• Mindfulness – a way to live more in the present moment!

So what’s with the blog name ‘Write of the Middle’?

On 31 May 2014 – I turned 50. I figured I had finally hit middle age, so I am now on the Right side Write of the Middle … in this journey called life.  There is a little play on the word Right which is switched to Write to represent my writing here on the blog yet it also signifies that I will be writing about life on the right side of middle age!

‘Snaps, Crackles and Zen with Min’ explained!

Snaps = my love of photography and the many images I am sure to share here with you.

Crackles = the ups and downs (‘cracks’) that appear during middle age and in life in general! These are often best faced with a laugh and a cackle!

Zen = my passion for living mindfully, my desire for obtaining optimum balance of mind, body and spirit and my passion to help others invest in themselves!

with Min = well I think that part is self explanatory is it not? haha!

Gems of Zen

In late January 2019, Zen Tip Tuesday (#ZTT) was born when I threw open the doors of my blog to guest posters from across the world in order to hear from a wide variety of people with various areas of expertise, experiences and perspectives on ways and means to achieve a sense of zen!  Here’s where you can see all the ‘Gems of Zen‘ we have so far.

Want to keep in touch with what I’m up to?

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I look forward to getting to know you. Please do make yourself at home and have a good look around. I hope you enjoy your visit!

Ciao for now,