The online musings of Tim O'Connor

What is love? I've been pondering that question and reading up on it a lot lately - who knew that this great emotion we all feel had so many varying definitions, and at the same time was so undefinable. It seems there are more definitions out there of what love ISN'T than what it actually is, and lots of conflicting opinions. I cobbled together this definition from what I know and what I've read and what seems to be agreed upon by others like me who've tried to define it. When I look at this definition, it makes me realise that some things in my life that I thought were LOVE really were not at all. It's made me realise that true love is deeply selfless, and being deeply selfless is deeply hard most of the time. It's made me see that love is easy and effortless and difficult and hard all at once. Love is our greatest emotion and our greatest challenge. It is simple and complex, both at the same time. It is universal, individual, personal and mysterious. I'd love to know your love definition, friends? xx #whatislove #love #loveisallyouneed #loveisallaround #loveistheanswer #lovequotes #instalove

There is no bravery in walking the easy road. Courage and bravery are cultivated through fear. When you walk in the direction of what scares you, you harness your inner courage and the more you lean into your fear the more you discover how deep your own well of courage is. In my experience, as big as the fear is, your well of courage is deeper. But you will never know that walking the easy road. You gotta take the scary road. When fear is rising, lean into it, don't back out of it. Only then will you discover your courage, and only then will you discover how much good stuff lives on the other side of fear. #inspiration #inspirational #fear #bravery #courage #leanin

At the beach. @meegswhiting is thrilled (at West Beach Esplanade)

Radelaide gangsters (at Nth Adelaide)

It's freaking early. (at Virgin Australia Terminal Brisbane Airport)

Early morning flight means toastie from the @virginaustralia lounge. #theseareafewofmyfavoritethings (at Virgin Australia Lounge Brisbane Airport)

There's an old African proverb that says "Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt". In other words, you cannot give what you do not have. For many years I thought putting others needs before my own was the right way to operate, but that always ended in me devaluing myself in order to be what someone else needed me to be. I thought it was selfish to love myself and selfless to focus all my love on others. But really, I was just a naked person handing out shirts. I'm learning that when I fill my self with love, when I give myself what I need, then I create within myself an abundance of true love that I can share with others. It's not selfish to care for yourself, be kind or show love to yourself. If you can't love yourself, you cannot fully love others. If you don't help yourself, you won't be able to help others. Fill your self with love and you will have more than enough love to share around. #inspiration #inspirational #love #loveyourself #naked #tshirt #africanproverb

Here's something I wish I had known ten years ago. Funny how often we act without knowing our true intention; we know what we are doing but we don't understand why. Knowing the why is EVERYTHING. In a broader sense, when you know why you are here, it helps you decide what to do with the time that you have. WHAT we do is really not half as important as WHY we are doing it. Know your motivation. Understand your intention. For many years I felt very focussed on the WHAT's in my life. I found identity in the what's - what I was doing and not why. Then I started delving into the WHY - why do I do what I do? When I asked WHY, I discovered that my function in life was to empower, enable and inspire. It gave me a WHY for every WHAT. Everything I did made more sense, and a few things I was doing fell away because they didn't make it through my WHY filter. Ask yourself WHY, and the WHAT will take care of itself. #inspiration #inspirational #life #why #what #intentions

I was reading a study recently that said the vast majority of people with high levels of hopefulness have experience with significant adversity in their past. Their struggles gave them the chance to cultivate resilience and believe in themselves. When life throws us a curve ball, it's tempting to fall in a heap and cry and say "why me?". But the curve ball didn't come to kill us, only to grow us. Each life challenge that we bravely face and navigate teaches us that we are resilient and and made of durable stuff. We can weather the storms. Don't resist the struggles - lean into them, get learning, start cultivating. This is where self belief is made. #inspiration #inspirational #life #struggle #adversity #hope #resilience

#peace #tranquility #beauty #brisbane #queensland #australia (at New Farm Park)

My friends, if you haven't read #bigmagic by @elizabeth_gilbert_writer then I implore you to stop whatever you are doing right now and run down to your local bookstore and nab yourself a copy. It is quite simply one of the most inspiring, insightful, funny, moving and meaningful books I have ever read (and I've now read it twice in the last month). This book now goes where I go, just in case I ever need to refer to it, or take inspiration from it. It is my handbook for life, and I intend to make it the standard gift I will give at all future birthdays! Liz's insight is just so startling and captivating. Every page is filled with gems of wisdom. This book has changed the way I look at life and think about creativity. It has permeated my work and my thinking. You simply must read this book. Thank you Liz Gilbert for putting pen to paper, for saying yes to inspiration and for giving the world this great gift of big magic. I am forever grateful xx (at New Farm Park)

The cast of #legallyblonde are getting whipped into shape for their first dress rehearsal at the @bris_powerhouse tonight. Show plays from Thurs to Sun this weekend. You should get along if you're in Brisvegas and see the emerging musical theatre talent this city has to offer. (at BRISBANE POWERHOUSE)

Went along to this tonight. Gonzo stayed in the car. (at Government House, Brisbane)

Grover is operating the sound desk for #legallyblonde @bris_powerhouse @themuppets

Gonzo needs a coffee @ciboespresso #gonzo #themuppets @themuppets

Gonzo at New Farm Park #gonzo #themuppets @themuppets (at New Farm Park)