Together we fold.

I am luck enough to be part of a fantastic group here in Kapiti Coast called Kapiti International Women's Group.  Through this group I have grown, learnt, laughed and sometimes been close to tears!

Until a few years ago I had never been part of an all women's group, then while living in the UK away from family and with 2 small children I was invited along to Lichfield International Women's Group.  It was great and something that I looked forward to every week.  Getting together with women from all over the world, learning about their cultures and making great friends in the process.  When we returned to New Zealand I felt strangely detached  - I felt like I was home and at the same time, never having lived here with young children, felt that I was a new comer to this land.

Having searched for a group of International Women to join and finding nothing I begun our own group to provide friendship and support for women from any nationality living on the Kapiti Coast.  It has definitely been an up and down journey however today would have to be one of the highlights of the ride.  Motivated by the disaster in Japan one of our members decided to create a fund raiser by making and selling origami.  We will be making washi eggs, boxes and stars to sell at a local market with money going to 'Save the Child' fund.

Today we came together from all walks of life and with children of varying ages to learn origami.  It was fantastic to see us all there together working for a single cause, chatting happily and folding while the children played.  Once strangers in New Zealand and to each other we are now becoming friends who can rely on each other and band together to help other women across the Pacific.

Five Happiness Tips

This is taken straight from Chet Day and I thought is was so good that I needed to put it on here for you all to read too.

The following tips on how to be happy are so simple-minded, you may be tempted to not try them.  That would be a major mistake because these techniques were scientifically documented and verified by a British "happiness team" whose expertise spans philosophy, public policy and economics.

Here are five steps to happiness that the team identified:

•Plant something and nurture it.
•Count your blessings -- at least five -- at the end of each day.
•Take time to talk and have an hour-long conversation with a loved one each week.
•Phone a friend whom you have not spoken to for a while and arrange to meet up.
•Give yourself a treat every day and take the time to really enjoy it.

I don't care how busy you are, you can find a couple minutes in your day to try these five happiness tips. 

So do it, by golly!