Be Bold
Posted on by Debbie

How I’m getting my #BOLD on – May 2021 edition

Hello to all you bold and beautiful people

I’m really starting to get my bold on!

Here we are at almost the halfway point of the year and I’m really starting to get the hang of this being bold business!

My Word of the Year (#WOTY) for 2021 is BOLD, and in case you missed it, you can read my original post here – 60 years old and feeling BOLD – which sets the scene for the year!

I’ve managed to keep track of my progress in posts during January, February and March and April. It’s a great way to stay accountable that’s for sure!

Be Bold
Be Bold

How’s it going so far?

I’m loving it!

I find I’m starting to do a lot more things that I would consider as bold; I’m saying yes to new opportunities, and I’m seeing changes in my thinking. Others tell me I’m being bolder and some of my boldness is also rubbing off on them – win/win!

I’m always on the lookout for different ways to share and live my WOTY, through quotes, memes, stories and photos – it helps to keep me accountable. And I can look back in years to come, on how I made this year a bold one!

I saw this on a friend’s Instagram and just had to share it! It says everything doesn’t it?

Showcasing my bold photo for May

Each month I try to have a photo that shows how I’ve embraced my growing boldness. This month I bought a book online, simply because of its title. Do you ever do that?

When I received the book it was a glorious orange hardcover, which as you may know is MY colour! It didn’t look orange in the photo I saw, so I was quite surprised when it turned up!

And the book? Well it couldn’t have been more appropriate for my year.

Be Bold
Be Bold

I must admit I haven’t read it yet but I love looking at it, sitting on the coffee table , reminding me to be bold.

How did May go for being bold?

My words for May, spelling out BOLD, are: Bold, Observant, Library, Dauntless

I must thank my youngest daughter for the word dauntless – I just love that word! It means showing fearlessness, determination, incapable of being intimidated or subdued, intrepid, bold – all the things I want to be more of! Couldn’t be more perfect for this month.

The month of May was big but not too busy and overwhelming. It’s always a fun time as we celebrate two of our daughters’ birthdays and the third one is just 2 weeks later in early June. Gets them all out of the way in one hit, with the Mathematician at the start of the year and me at the end – nicely done.

Happy birthday girls 🙂

Stylish Queenie in Murwillumbah
Posing at Queenie – a delightfully retro Airbnb with the girls, just a few years ago before they all became mothers

Bold – I’ve bought the Bold Book, I’ve taken on the MOJO Road Trip through the month long Australian Writer’s Centre creative writing course (I did it last November and it really helped my MOJO along). I probably wasn’t as committed this time round but I still enjoyed it immensely. I’ve branched out and bought a few jumpers in new colours for me; I’ve decluttered the kitchen cupboards (mainly due to the possibility of a rodent visitor, but it got the job done); I’ve become more engaged in my Rotary Club and read heaps of new authors – so many books read this month!

I found this quote in the book Penguin Bloom, which is all about a baby magpie, but isn’t it a great quote about being bold? I can definitely relate to it and hope I can embody at least some of these words by the end of my year!

Penguin Bloom quote - bold
Penguin Bloom quote – bold

I’m really starting to embrace this new outlook and love having you join me.

Observant – One thing blogging has taught me is to be observant. I am curious, interested in the world around me and what’s going on. I’ve been doing a photography course with some friends online this month and that has also helped me in my quest to take notice of what I see, how I see it and how I can share it to maximum effect. A funny story my family still tease me about – when I was younger I was so excited and enthusiastic about something and shouted out, I’m so noticeable! I meant observant, but hey the thought was there!

Being bolder has shown me the importance of being open to new ideas and not getting too caught up in my narrow view of the world, being observant helps in all sorts of ways.

Happy Mother's Day to mum and I - sitting with cake stand and cups of tea
Happy Mother’s Day to mum and I

Library – One of the big things I did in May was say yes to an invitation to do a talk about blogging at the local library, as part of Library Information Week. Despite not many people coming along I enjoyed the opportunity to share what blogging means to me and wrote this post based on the notes I used – 10 thoughts I shared about blogging

Blogging talk at library
Blogging talk at library

Dauntless – one of the memories that popped up on Facebook during the month, was from May 2018, when I was VERY fearless and attempted something I never thought I’d do. A zip wire! Although it didn’t happen this May, I’m still claiming it as being a ‘moment’ of being Bold, I was just ahead of my time!

Now I have to tell you that I am scared of heights, edges, tipping over, cliff drops and twisty, bendy roads. These probably all stem from the accident I was involved in when I was a teenager on a school excursion in another country, where the bus we were in plunged off a winding road, over a cliff and ended upside down in the river below. I was thrown out of the window as the bus bounced and rolled down the cliff. So no doubt I’ve become a bit traumatised by some of these types of things!

Anyway, we were in England at The Eden Project in Cornwall and I knew about the longest zip wire from a previous visit. For some unknown reason I was determined to give it a go this time, and the Mathematician couldn’t believe it. He kept expecting me to pull out but I went through with it and loved it! I hired a camera for my helmet so that I would have a video to look back on and this popped up to remind me of how fearless I can be when I set my mind to it.

I have to share it with you again! Make sure the sound is on so you hear me screaming.

Make sure the sound is on!!

Being dauntless doesn’t have to be so dramatic, it can be everyday things like, saying yes to invitations to write for Marsha’s Story Chat which is coming up this month, agreeing to do a podcast interview with a friend, joining in with Denyse’s Women of Courage series, standing up for something you believe in, taking on a new interest like the photo editing course, being spontaneous and taking opportunities that come up. The Mathematician and I took off on a cheeky little getaway recently and it was wonderful!

Selfie time
Selfie time

So, that’s just some of my BOLD story for May! How did you get on?

What’s next?

I’ll continue to review my WOTY each month – what I’ve done, how I’m feeling, finding new things to add to my list and just living as boldly as I can. It’s a fabulous Word of the Year!

Out with the old, in with the BOLD.

Anonymous

Feel free to make any suggestions on how I can embrace being bold, beautiful and brave 🙂

I hope you’ve enjoyed my latest edition of Becoming Bold. I have a lot of fun writing these posts I can tell you!

I’m joining in with Natalie for her link up #weekendcoffeeshare and Denyse for her #lifethisweek link up with the prompt of motivate – my WOTY certainly keeps me motivated! Feel free to join in.

Are you feeling bold too? Tell me how you’re going, I’d love to have a chat with you.

Deb xx

Recent posts you may have missed:

You can also find Deb’s World in lots of other places – stay in touch by clicking any of the buttons below.

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Debbie in rock chick mode

Everyone has a story to tell! Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. She never imagined being Granny Debs would bring so much joy to her life! You can read more of Deb’s story here

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60 Replies to “How I’m getting my #BOLD on – May 2021 edition”

  3. I think you should forget about any future WOTY words Deb and stick to BOLD! You have embraced it and living it and you are an inspiration to us all. I know I think of you when I need to call on some BOLDness in my life. A great month for you and you are going from strength to strength – I’m so proud you are my friend. and you look fabulous too! Okay if I write too much more you won’t be able to fit your head through the door LOL 🙂 Keep being BOLD my friend. xx

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    1. You are such a super cheerleader to have on my team Sue, I love that you’re my friend too! We all inspire each other don’t we? I really don’t know how I will top this word next year!!!! Maybe I should do as you say and just keep being bold forever 🙂 Thank you so much!

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  4. The zip wire video is fantastic – that really was a bold decision!
    I think you’ve found the perfect word for you – you’re really living the bold life!

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    1. Thanks deb, I’m really enjoying it! But like everything it’s not all sunshine and roses, I’m trying hard to be positive and learn from it. Hope you’re doing well!

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  5. Hi Deb – I love how you’ve bloomed since choosing this word. It’s like you’ve given yourself permission to boldly go where you haven’t gone before (kind of Star Trek-ish). Loved the quote from Penguin Bloom and pinned it. Glad you had a fab getaway and that life is just going so well for you this year – so much better than how things were this time last year xxx

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    1. Yes I agree Leanne, it’s like I’m making sure I take the bold way instead of overthinking things. I have given myself permission and I love the Star Trek analogy! That quote really spoke to me and although it’s written about a magpie it could just as easily be about other things couldn’t it! Thanks for all your support and yes I’m in a much better place than this time last years, that’s for sure!!

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  6. I love the zip wire. We have been to Eden Project twice and I love it there. I don’t remember the ip wire, so perhaps it is a recent development. No would I have been bold enough to go on it? I don’t like heights, but I think a zip would be preferable to bungee jumping. I haven’t even been on the zip wire from Bournemouth Pier to the beach yet!

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    1. We loved the Eden Project and hopefully it is still going strong despite all that’s been going on in the world. I think it’s been there for some time. I’m not sure I could do bungee jumping either, but the zip wire was a moment of madness that I’m thrilled to have done. Thanks for visiting.

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  7. Glad your year of the word is a good fit for you. Interesting that you do a monthly review. Maybe I will do a six month review of mine which is inspire/inspiring. Not exactly sure I have been living it as well as you but we are still just coming out of pandemic restrictions so that does change the complexity of life.

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    1. Thanks BernieLynne the word is suiting me really well so far! I tend to find myself looking for ways to be bold and live up to my word which is a good way to be! It’s hard at times, especially now, to be be able to do all that we want to do , so don’t be too hard on yourself!

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  9. This is always inspiring and the joy of your approach and your adventures always comes through.

    I’m 62 and five years ago I picked up a guitar, taught myself a few chords and somehow wrote my first song. Today I’ve been in the recording studio to record my 8th song, an indie song called New Day Coming. I’m on Spotify and YouTube and loving it like mad.

    Thanks for your regular spots of inspiration,

    Paul

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  12. You certainly have had a BOLD month!
    And I love that word too – Dauntless.
    I am very taken by your library talk (you look lovely, incidentally) – it is a wonderful way to inspire others about something that is important to you.

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    1. Dauntless is such a great word isn’t it Ju-Lyn? Thanks for your comment, I was really quite relaxed in my library talk and enjoyed the opportunity to talk of my blogging experiences.

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  17. Deb, you are really inspiring. Rural Japan is a whole other planet when it comes to being bold – especially if you are a woman. Add to that a foreign woman. Yes- they are still stuck in that. But I have been gradually upping the boldness level. This may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that last time we were home in Saipan ( it will always be home to us) my daughter really wanted to get a mother-daughter tattoo. Now.. I’m not really a tattoo kind of person but I did it. No big deal in most western countries but in Japan tattoos are still rather taboo. Although things are changing slowly. For the younger folks. I’ll be 60 this year. I don’t regret my little blue dragonfly on my right ankle. The dragonfly has an auspicious meaning in Japan. They are symbolic of strength, stealth and courage. Dragonfly emblems we’re on the helmets of samurai. That’s my big bold story. A constant remitting me to be myself because it’s all I can really be.

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    1. Wow, that’s bold getting a tattoo, but a mother-daughter bonding experience at the same time! How cool is that? Thanks for sharing your bold story and I love the meaning behind your dragonfly.

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  22. 2021 so far has certainly been your year of BOLD Deb. It’s such a great WORY that you’ve absolutely lived up to. Looking Forward to reading more of your bold over the next months. Your bold posts all seem to radiate joy Deb

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  23. I love the ‘Out with the old and in with the Bold’ line. And absolutely love that you’re trying so many new things and opening yourself up to new experiences.

    I sit back and envy your enthusiasm and motivation and know I just need to get out there myself but am feeling hamstrung at the moment.

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    1. Thanks Deb, it’s not always easy and I often second guess myself but I’m trying new things and looking at the world a bit differently as a result. Sorry to hear you’re not going too well, hopefully it’s just a bit of a slump at the moment and you can bounce back soon.

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  24. You sure are living up to your WOTY Debbie! I love that you bought a book purely based on its title. LOL It’s a great looking book too and I bet when you read it you’ll find a heap of little gems in there. I thoroughly enjoyed vicariously zip lining with you – thank you! Now that was BOLD! Have a great week! xo

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  25. You sure are living up to your WOTY Debbie! I love that you bought a book solely based on its title! LOL It’s a good looking book and I’m sure that when you read it, it will be full of little gems. I thoroughly enjoyed vicariously zip lining with you – thank you! Now that was BOLD! Have a wonderful week. xo

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    1. Hi Min, I’m not sure the book has too many gems that I haven’t already heard of but I’m persevering! I’m glad you enjoyed the zip lining, it was so good to share it again :). Trying hard to be bold this year and so far I’m going OK, although it’s not always easy.

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  27. First of all, I absolutely LOVE this header image! And you are so inspiring to me with your approach to boldness.
    As you know, I’ve had a similar mission during the spring, to start believing in myself and to practise self respect and self love – AND boldness, because to me, you need a good deal of boldness to believe in yourself. The month of May for me was a month of creativity slump, photography crisis and also blogging crisis, but a break from it all, as well as another unexpected event, has worked wonders. I think I’m back to being bold!

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    1. Thank you so much Susanne, I was a bit worried about using the header but thought, hey am I bold or what? So I did!
      I agree, you do need a lot of boldness to believe in yourself, and it can be hard at times. I’m glad to hear you took a break and now feel back to being bold. Go you 🙂

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    1. Thanks very much Kirstin, I’m doing my best to embrace my WOTY that’s for sure. It’s not always easy or pretty but I’m getting there 🙂

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  30. As a fairly new retiree (six months), being BOLD–for me–is about daring to behave in ways that may be outside the norm for women my age, but more representative of who I am vs who I’ve thought I should be. For example, it’s been 99 degrees every day this week, so I’m wearing my hair in two braids–same as I did in high school. That’s a no-no for 66-year-olds, but I find myself not caring what other people may think. I used to be busy and “productive” ALL the time–a requirement for all corporate types. Now, I read novels during the day if I want to . . .I walk to the coffee shop and sit with friends for an hour in the morning . . . I hang out only with people I like. I’m not always available. I’m also realizing that part of what it means to be BOLD is waking up to long-buried dreams. That means someday, when I’m truly more awake, being BOLD will mean taking action: buying that cabin in the woods; writing that next book; taking my greyhound on a month-long road trip; exploring Vietnam with my partner; and appearing in public without lipstick–that might be the biggest stretch. So thanks for the idea, Deb, and the challenge. Sometimes the boldest actions are internal! (Although I did challenge myself to do a series of zip wires in Mexico a few years ago, and loved it.)

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    1. Wow Jenney, I love your take on being bold. Yes to waking up to long buried dreams.
      I’ve grown my hair for the first time in years and can’t wait to be able to have plaits. My daughter has fun braiding my hair when I ask her to do so!
      I also enjoy reading during the day, taking time to be ‘unbusy’ after a gruelling work life so I can relate to your thoughts here. thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with me.

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  31. WOW. Owning BOLD for sure. Loved reading this and I bet it felt good to write too. Kind of an acknowledgement of your determination and dedication to seeing BOLD work for you. WIN! I watched (and listened to) the video and it was a bumpy landing for you!! Yikes. In 2002 I did a Quad Bike ride (me doing the driving of it) on a rugged kind of dirt trail just to show myself I could. I am glad I did it…and I could show my dirt bike mad son what his Mum did!

    Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. It’s a great community that I enjoy hosting and your posts help make this so! Next week the optional prompt is 24/51 Nourish. 14 June. See you then I hope. Denyse

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    1. Thanks Denyse, I am trying hard to live up to my WOTY! Yes the landing was bumpy and I pulled up pretty quickly but I was told to expect that so was sort of prepared. That’s where the G7 is being held at the moment, I wonder of any of the delegates would go on the zip line?? I’ve tried quad biking too but was the slowest and most cautious person in the group, I’m glad I’ve done it but probably won’t do it again!

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