Thursday, 10 June - Goodbye to a Remarkable Lady

On the 11 May, I had written to you from the Chiapas Highlands of Mexico on the warp and weft of life, prompted by the news that our family was expecting a new arrival towards the end of the year.

Today, I write to you from Sydney on the departure from this world of a truly loved member of our family, Peter’s mother and my Mother-in-Law, Hana Svatos. A remarkable woman with a strong will to live, she was one of the few that survived Auschwitz concentration camps. This primal force enabled her, with her husband Mikulas, to bring their 3 children to Sydney, Australia, from Czechoslovakia in 1964.

 Arriving in Sydney with very little, she was determined to forge a better life for herself and her family, making the most out of every opportunity that was available to her. She raised a fine family, of which I am now privileged to be a part of, and the contribution that they continue to make to this country and their community is Hana’s legacy. She will be remembered for her resilience, enjoyment of life, her sense of humour, readiness to laugh and belt out a Czech tune, and her ability to forgive those that did her and her family harm.

It is in times like these when we take stock of our own lives to date, shift our perspective a little, and look towards that which is ahead.

Perhaps we might rethink what we see as important, refocusing on the simple things such as family, love and forgiveness, doing a little more of what brings us joy everyday and letting go of the petty and insignificant.

Prior to our departure from Mexico, I had made certain undertaking to myself, to honour, value and respect myself by doing more of what I loved (travel, writing, and spending more time with my loved ones), and by nurturing and caring for myself more through exercise and self reflection. Due to Hana’s passing, these undertaking become all the more urgent and poignant.

What does this mean for Postcards From Millie?

It means that you will see less regular monthly meets and organized “tours”.  But you will see more e.Books, reports and itineraries on where to eat, sleep, shop and play in the wonderful destinations that I will visit throughout the year, as I explore the world and bring it home to you. And speaking of bringing the world home to you, stay tuned for my new e.Book, "29 Days in Mexico"!

On that note, I invite you to rethink what is important to you too, to take stock of your own life to date and to look towards that which is ahead. You may also want to ask yourself these simple questions:

Are you honouring and valuing yourself?

Are you expressing your passion, trusting in your life purpose and doing what you love?

Are you nurturing and caring for yourself enough?

And to Hana, we salute a life well lived and loved. We will miss you.

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