We live on an amazing planet. Miraculous wonders rest anywhere our eyes may glance. And at times I still get very involved with my thoughts and miss these wonders, I miss many precious moments of beauty and magic, moments that are right in front of me everyday inviting me to presence. That’s ok, my best changes.

During our stay at Monkey Mia we were very fortunate to be chosen to meet the dolphins, however what I want to share with you is an experience I had while waiting at the edge of the water, in a great big line with everyone else.

In the 15 minutes or so that the dolphins were swimming up and down the shore line, taking in all the humans and awaiting their tiny morsel of fish, they would often stop, roll onto their sides and somehow ‘absorb’ or ‘take in’ the human in front of them.

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to interact and experience the wonder of dolphins. There was one time I was swimming in the ocean and they appeared. I was alone and pretrified, I didn’t actually have the presence to know they were dolphins. Fins appeared, I thought they were sharks and  I almost pulled a Jesus and walked across the surface of the water to get back to the beach.

Over my life I have heard many wonderful stories about dolphins. About ten years ago, while at the beach, a young indigenous boy was rammed by a shark. Miraculously dolphins appeared and 4 of them swam circles around him while he swam back to shore. They ensured his safety. They somehow knew. Something beyond words exists in their presence and for me this day was testament to miracles.

I learnt while at Monkey Mia that the part of their brains that empathises and relates to others is the largest of any species on the planet. Apparently they also see in sonar, which means they can see through our beings like an Xray.

While i was standing on that shoreline, learning about their lives and daily ways, one of these dolphins stopped in front of me, rolled onto her side and locked eyes with me. Im not sure exactly what happened, I’m certainly not into shiny spiritual experiences, yet there was a wave of something that pulsed through my whole being when her eyes locked with mine. Time stood still and i was immersed in an intense sensation of love in my whole being. My eyes leaked as I was immersed in her presence.

And in that ocean of love that pulsed between us somehow I understood that she was made of the same love and wonder that makes the whole universe spin,

and i was too.

Little moments change us. Im not sure how. I simply wanted to share this experience with you and offer it for the benefit of all.

May the peace and love and wonder of this miraculous creature find its way to your heart today.

With love and kindness, KMF xo

The post “I know what dolphins are full of Mama, dolphins are full of magic” – Freya 5 years appeared first on Kate M Foster.

Bless her heart, she landed in a feathered nest of complete joyful sanity!

These happy glasses have been in my care since i was 20. While growing through a particularly challenging chapter of life I was treasure hunting in an op shop and found them. I promptly removed their thick dark glass and put them on. My life changed in that moment.  The lady in the op shop told me they suited me perfectly and i didn’t need to pay for them as i didn’t need the glass lenses! They were a precious gift! Life is good.

These happy glasses became my ‘instant joyful perspective’ when i lacked perspective of my own. They still sit on my writing desk next to my computer at home. Ive even taken to expressing my creativity by making ‘happy glasses’ as presents for a few of my dear friends. I like to believe my creations are a little more refined, and they are if you insert imagination!

Everyone needs a pair of happy glasses. They take the seriousness of life away. I have been known, on more than one occasion, to do my complete grocery shop wearing these glasses. I have mastered the art of cool surrender, i give a simple smile at those humans that stare then continue ‘being as normal as i can’, making my way down the grocery aisles.

The insanity of these glasses instantly gifts sanity to my life. When wearing them I remember the truth of things, i cease taking MYself so seriously and some days i even cease being a self at all!

So if you are having a hard moment, day or chapter, maybe you can find some happy glasses? Or maybe me being a fool is enough to introduce some sacred silliness into you day. Some days life is hard and messy, it doesn’t mean we are not allowed to smile or have some fun.

In finishing let me quote kermit the frog:

“Don’t take life so seriously, you are not going to get out of it alive anyway”.

Take care beautiful people and have some fun in this great big mess if you can.

With love and kindness, KMF xo

The post Do you need a pair of happy glasses? Mine work wonders every time i wear them! appeared first on Kate M Foster.

After the words landed on the page i realised it was possible all of us may like to read a few of them. They were shared in the context that somehow, in our own unique ways, we are all juggling life. We all dance with how to live a life deeply connected to those we love while also balancing our contributions and purpose…….

“Spaciousness seems to be a common dance for the feminine, our empathic loving hearts yearn to be of service to all. It’s the hours in our human days that seem the challenge. In a conversation i once shared with a buddhist nun i told her that to me, she always felt like a lake of calm. Her response offered a giggle and a sense of hope for my own life. She said most days a part of her actually felt like a duck on that lake of calm. While on the surface she was serene and gracious, under the water her little legs were paddling full steam.”

More times than not my little legs are also paddling, diligently swimming and surrendering the best i can so i too may retain a sense of balance. I look out into the world and see amazing women that inspire me, that seem to have some super human power of ‘having it all together’, and i remind myself, its possible, just like me, that they too have days their little legs are frantically working to keep life afloat and in balance.

Each of us are doing our best. Lets slow the paddle and enjoy the lake of calm whenever the chance arises. Enjoy your week beautiful people.

With love and kindness from my heart, KMF xo

The post A little excerpt from a letter i wrote this week… i thought you might enjoy this story too. appeared first on Kate M Foster.

This past week i have been reflecting on the kindness of others. I have been inundated with snail mail, cooked meals, warm conversations, friendly smiles and my husband even returned home with some wildflowers. My life is immeasurably blessed. And these blessings got me reflecting on the moments that have impacted or changed my life the most. And every single one of these moments have been where others chose to bring kindness, to show up and share generously their time, words or service.

Blessing others has a funny way of rubbing off on all involved.

Its not every week I get inundated with external worldly blessings like i mentioned above. Life has many seasons. Regardless of how it looks, i rest in the beauty of my life, i love it entirely and i intend to share this joy with the whole world if they want it!

In the everyday rhythm of living i focus on what my mama taught me when i was little. If you want kindness, you have to bring it. (This applies to most things: Happiness, love, peace etc). We need to embody what we yearn for most. We need to be the person we wish was there for us. We need to share the kindness we may love to receive, offer the support we know buoys and nourishes our life.

Because in some strange way it doesn’t matter which way kindness is flowing, the simple fact is that when someone brings it, the likely hood is that ‘kindness’ will find a way to infect almost everyone nearby. Even if i witness random strangers being blessed by others, i feel warm and fuzzy and grateful.

Have a beautiful week brave hearts. Keep sharing what you yearn for most. Planetary happiness really does depend on each of us. Now more than ever its important to remember we are the ones we have been waiting for!! Get gifting your gifts! The time is now.

With love and kindness from my heart, xo.

The post Kindness and the art of being blessed. appeared first on Kate M Foster.

Is it hard? Of course, all families are hard sometimes.

Do we agree on everything? No way, what family does?

Do we all show up when we are tired and grumpy and out of our depths? Yep. That’s courage, we couldn’t live without it.

Do we get scared? Overwhelmed? Feel out of our comfort zone? Absolutely, all of us, regularly.

You see blended families contain humans. And like all other humans on the planet we are fragile creatures. We each carry our own histories of hurts and heart breaks and dreams. All of us, without exception desire happiness and peace. And all of us would love to avoid sadness and suffering.

Do we manage happiness and peace all of the time. Of course not, and I’m not sure it would be helpful anyway. You see it is the seasons that bring change and growth and transformation. It’s the seasons that steal our leaves and scatter them at our feet. They strip our branches and then by some act of grace, when we’ve finally got to a place of acceptance on how our life really is now, that same fierce grace thrusts new blossoms upon branches, highlighting our vulnerability once again.

Regardless of how uncomfortable the seasons make us or what thoughts we have about their presence in our lives, we need them. They give us life. The seasons serve us. Support us. Encourage us. Guide us.

You see a raw diamond is nothing special. We may not even notice it. For diamonds require polishing. Lots of polishing. They are slow to submit yet once cut are profound reflectors of light and beauty.

Families are diamonds. Multi faceted diamonds.

To think we can have the light without the polishing is insanity.

Each family comes with unique challenges and blessings, so of course each family will require different tools and polishing.

For our family, communication has been the master polisher. Lots of it. More than is comfortable. Communication married to willing vulnerable hearts, clear far sighted intentions, life long motivations to support and benefit our child, and grace. Truckloads of grace.

You see communication creates trust. I’ve even heard it said that the definition of trust is communication. And with this definition, trust is never permanently lost, regardless of what has happened. Life asks from us a deep commitment to communicate, and when things are hard, to show up and communicate again. Supporting our family means regularly checking in with our far reaching intentions, communicating more than we find convenient and having courage to rebuild trust and connection in the hard times.

In families we are often very quick to jump to conclusions or judge others. We form ideas and interpretations of what things mean and can forget that first and foremost true communication begins with ourselves. Communication involves deep inner honesty and truth telling. True communication demands we show up and do our inner work. How can we ever be pillars of strength and trust and truth for anyone else if we have not made space to listen and honour our own hearts?

The most helpful and supportive learnings I’ve ever had for connecting and understanding myself and others is NVC. Nonviolent communication (or compassionate communication as it is also known) has become the foundation I’ve rebuilt my life around. When I was at a critical time of upheaval and change, in the early years of becoming a blended family, NVC, by some act of grace appeared in my life. Maybe reading this is the gentle nudge or invitation you’ve been waiting for? Maybe your way is different? Honour your guidance.

If you are interested I encourage you to google NVC. You will find countless free YouTube clips by its founder Marshall Rosenberg. There are books, teachings, retreats and more accessible all over the world. I rarely recommend teachers to others however I would not hesitate in recommending Shari Elle, a world renowned trainer I have studied with who is based in Sydney Australia. She runs regular foundation trainings all over the country. A two day time investment will change your life.

So whatever season you find yourself in right now and regardless of how your garden looks, I encourage you to take heart. To turn towards the insurmountable hills. To brave up and take time to get honest with the deepest parts of yourself.

And I assure you that with an open, willing and vulnerable heart, a dedication to learning and courage to move towards that which scares you, grace WILL find a way to move in your life.

Your diamond is being cut and polished, it is growing more luminous as you come to trust in the ever changing seasons of your own heart and life.

Take care my friend, we are not so different you and I.

Love and kindness
K xo

The post Every family is different appeared first on Kate M Foster.

It’s true, my gifts are not better than anyone else’s, and measuring myself against any other human is never going to end well. There are millions if not billions of people with greater insight, grace, compassion, wisdom, workshops, books, the list goes on.
Maybe I am foolish for baring my heart each day, unleashing my fragile revelations into the ethers to be carved up by the masses. God knows I am judged, hell I even judge myself.

The truth is this, I do have a choice. I can silence myself, spiral inwards and downwards and turn against myself….   Or I can choose to show up vulnerable, to keep getting my brave on, to continue nakedly and foolishly offering what I have each moment as the most precious gift I can share. I call it ‘showing up anyway’. Its me, raw and real and often inadequately messy yet so holy divinely devoted to serve with every cell of my being.

So don’t come to me seeking perfection. Don’t expect infallible wisdom. Rather come with all of your vulnerabilities, your questions, your willingness, your fragile messy hearts and together we can explore and remember that which we never truly forgot in the first place.

No one has life sorted all the time. We are not meant to. We are the seasons and our only job is to not turn from whatever weather we find ourselves in.

Tonight I face the winds of change. I know not what they bring. I’m showing up anyway. Fragile, uncertain, scared, doubtful, real, willing, dedicated and brave. You see a queen wears her crown regardless of weather and I’ve got that damn thing on, shiny, wobbly, visible.

I look forward to seeing you out there fellow traveller, I need you, your brave heart inspires me, it encourages me onwards. Together we’ve got this ❤️ xox

June Sunshine Coast Workshop details coming soon…

The post Scary successful shiny spiritual women who appear to have it all… appeared first on Kate M Foster.

Mother hood for me is the most challening and most beautiful thing i have ever experienced. At times the rawness of love grates hard against my naked heart and i don’t know if i can survive the vulnerability it thrusts upon me. Then there are other moments, like the thrill of dancing naked in the rain with my daughter as we wash our car or remembering the courage it took to birth my newest little girl and the support my partner offered throughout. Remembering these moments fills me with joy, the kind that saturates my whole being and i overflow with wonder at the infinite blessings in my world.

So with all life’s many colours, i feel deep and unshakable gratitude for the wise women in my family, each courageously paving the way for me to pass over the invitation to “obey and resent” and somehow find my own joy along the winding path of this sacred life. xxx 

The post It’s Mother’s Day appeared first on Kate M Foster.