Luckily for me I have never had a serious asthma attack, although I have had to get along to the emergency department on more than occasion to get my breathing under control.

I remember sitting in the emergency department as a teen during the early hours of the morning, having a nebuliser and seeing this little girl who was having one too… she was so small they had to get her a special oxygen mask as the standard kid's ones were too big.  I remember feeling so sorry for her as it is pretty scary when you are struggling to breathe.

As I have gotten older my asthma symptoms have definitely gotten better and I would say that I now have my asthma under control.  The Asthma Foundation has a quiz on their website that can help you figure out if you are managing your symptoms or not.

The two main drawbacks of having asthma for me would be that I always need to take my inhaler with me everywhere I go, and the cost involved of going to my doctor and the chemist a couple of times a year to get prescriptions.

This week is Asthma Awareness Week and runs from the 20 - 26 May.  Today is Balloon Day.  This is the Asthma Foundation's opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges associated with having asthma in New Zealand and also to raise much needed funds so they can help 'keep our kids out of hospital'.

To help:

Text PUFF to 469 to donate $3
Call 0900 4 ASTHMA (0900 4 278 462) to donate $20
Donate online here

I have been very fortunate over the last few years to experience a few once in a lifetime moments. My trip to Adelaide on May 8 -9 was no exception.

I attended the "National Achievers Conference" where one of the key note speakers was Sir Richard Branson, who needs no introduction.

I was lucky enough to have a front row seat, along with a backstage pass for a meet & greet and photo opportunity …. Yes, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

As Sir Richard is a well-known sufferer or dyslexia, he was interviewed by a local journalist to keep him on track, give him the ability to articulate and to express his thoughts as clearly and concisely as possible.

Here are my top 'takeaways' from his chat - right before my eyes:

Screw it - let's do it

Look for the best in people - "praise people".  People flourish under praise.

Put a very high importance on team and make sure your team 100% believes in what you're doing

Get someone to run your business day to day, which gives you much more thinking time

Use yourself to put your company on the map, you've got to stand out

Have fun - make a positive difference to people's lives

Make people smile - it's worth doing

Most of your time is at work - make it enjoyable!

Treat people well - you get buckets back

I carry a notebook wherever I go - to write down ideas, thoughts and suggestions from other people

What brings success:

Surround yourself with great people
Be a good listener
Listen to as many people as possible

If you fall flat on your face - get up and have another crack

Nothing beats just getting out and giving it a go

Think about where there is a gap - improve things!

Don't go into business just wanting to make a lot of money

He also spoke of his island paradise - Necker Island - where he "pulls up the draw bridge" to let his hair down, relax and get fit.  It is where he thinks about the bigger picture and plans the future.

"Have you got a Necker Island or somewhere similar?"

The final questions Sir Richard was asked was what was the best advice he has ever got?  His answer did surprise me a little!

"Spend a year making up with all the people you have fallen out with"

Now there's a challenge?!?

I really did feel that day I had Lived boldly, and had a BRAVEday!

(premiums based on a male and female, both 40 year old non-smokers)

Although we don't have conventional families, and we may not keep in contact as much as we probably should, there is a fundamental understanding between us all that we have each other's backs.

International Day of the Families (15^th May annually) was brought about by the United Nations Programme of the Family to stress the importance of having healthy and happy relationships with your relatives.

Dean recently went to a conference in Adelaide and heard Richard Branson speak - he said that the best advice he ever got was "take a year to make up with all of the people you have fallen out with".  Perhaps you could take the opportunity this Wednesday to reach out to some of your family members - a phone call out of the blue may just make someone's day!

The sacrifice, the hard work, the non- stop 'doing' - being a Mum is a full time (unpaid) job.

I'd like to take this opportunity to say 'thanks' to my Mum.  We've had our moments for sure (particularly when I was a nasty teenager), but I love her dearly and she has helped me become the person I am today.

When I was very little she was my first friend and now that I am an adult I consider myself extremely fortunate to have her as one of my best friends.

Happy Mother's Day

I have put together a list of 10 foods that you either need to eat in moderation, or avoid altogether:

1. Nuts: are high in fat.  I was surprised when I read the back of the packet that a serving size for nuts was only 25g.  I measured this out and it equates to only a small handful of nuts.  So, while nuts are good for you, be careful not to eat too many as they are not good for the waistline.

2. Yoghurt: can be high in fat and sugar. Although a good source of calcium, full fat yoghurt is high in fat and depending on what flavour you choose can also be high in sugar.  When eating yoghurt the best option is to choose a low fat option, that way you still get all the benefits without all the sugar and fat.

3. Cereals: can be made with highly refined grains which retain few nutrients and are loaded with sugar.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day so make sure you read the nutritional information to find a cereal that is low in fat, sugar and salt and high in fibre.

4. Sushi: can be high in fat and sodium.  The main thing to be careful of when eating sushi is not to add too much soy sauce as this is full of salt.  Also be careful of the fillings in the sushi you choose, stay away from fillings that have been deep fried.  Don't forget that the main ingredient of sushi is white rice so make sure you have sushi as a meal, rather than a snack and be aware of how many pieces you are actually eating.

5. Fruit Juice: is full of sugar.  Even if fruit juice does not include any added sugar, the natural sugar levels are high.  You are better off to eat a piece of fruit, as it is not only lower in fat but the fibre fills you up for longer.

6. Canned Fish: such as tuna or salmon are good protein choices and can even include Omega 3, but make sure you choose the ones in spring water or brine as those in oil can be high in fat.

7. 'Low Fat' Foods: just because a food is low in fat, does not mean that it is low in sugar or salt.  In saying that, not all 'low fat' or 'fat free' foods should be avoided.  Some 'low fat' foods can be really good for you, such as reduced fat dairy products.  Just keep in mind that if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

8. Muesli Bars: can be full of sugar.  Some muesli bars can contain as much sugar as biscuits, so make sure you read the nutritional information to find one that is low in fat and sugar.

9. Olive Oil: is still oil and is high in fat.  Although it is better for you than butter or some other oils, it doesn't mean you can add lots of it.  Again moderation is the key.

10. Crackers: can be high in fat and salt.  It is important when choosing crackers to read the nutritional information so that you can choose a cracker that is lower in fat and salt.  It is also important to read the potion size, in some cases this may be only 2-3 crackers.

My advice is to read the ingredients on the back of the packet to make sure you know what you are eating - remember that ingredients are listed in order, so if sugar comes first, that is what you are eating most of.  Also check out the serving size, if you have a 100g packet but a serving size is 25g, then split it into 5 smaller packets so you don't overeat.  And lastly, you can have a treat, but consider it a "sometimes" food, not an "everyday" food.

Let us know if you have any other foods that you think should be added to this list…

For the first week of the school holidays (10 days to be exact) Dean, Ashlee (Dean's daughter) and I toured around the South Island in our hired motorhome.   I can't recommend this enough - it was easy being self-sufficient and driving is a great way to take in the sights with the added benefit of flexibility.   (It did take a couple of days however, to get used to living in a small space).

Our whistle stop tour took us around most of the South Island

Whew, 10 days really did fly by!

I'll let the pictures tell the story….

(if you are unable to view this video, please click here to watch it on YouTube)

If you're thinking of doing a trip perhaps now is a good time to start making plans - "….life's too short to wait…", not sure who said  this but it is so true.

We've heard it so many times that it has become cliché. Most are concerned with the bottom line and profit margins, and instinctively make self-preservation a priority- here at BRAVEday we are committed to ensuring that we do what is most beneficial for our clients - ALWAYS.  In a world that is full of "what's in it for me?" it is refreshing to be part of a team that prides itself in consistently striving to put their clients first.

The combination of all of our values results in doing what is right for our clients.  We strive to ensure that every decision we make is in their best interests, regardless of what the result means for us.

When it comes to the colour green, studies have shown that by having more greenery in the workplace employees are more relaxed, less stressed and generally happier when they are at work.    It seems simple really, the 'greener' (that's colour and nothing else) your work environment is the better it is likely to be for you, even though you may not realise it.

This has got us thinking at BRAVEday, and we have a few plans under way to 'green up' our office.  One of the best tips we have seen so far (apart from adding more plants which is an obvious solution) is to hang wallpaper in strategic positions that depicts plants / trees etc.  The beauty of this is that studies have shown it is just as effective as having live plants when it comes to creating a relaxing, de-stressing environment.

Having live plants in the office offers several health benefits including;

• Improving the quality of the air in the office (the natural process of photosynthesis absorbs carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen into the air)
• Plants also absorb pollutants and provide clean air

At BRAVEday we have quite a few plants (but we still need more).  A new addition is fresh flowers each week which may not offer quite the same benefits as plants but they are lovely to look at and definitely bring a little bit of nature's beauty inside.

The best place to sit at our office is outside looking at the lush tropical garden - unfortunately we don't do this enough.

How do you feel about green?

During the latter years of Bill's life, the numbers attending these reunions declined as the members passed - and despite the best intentions of their families, the last LRDG Association reunion was held in 2008 after the passing of its president Mr Basil Greenstreet.  However, the legend lives on with the LRDG Preservation Society having over 400 members on Facebook.

The LRDG was one of the first Special Forces formed, and the predecessor of the now widely known Special Air Service (SAS).

The group was formed in 1940, and although it was part of the British forces, the majority of its group was made up of New Zealanders.  Their role was to act as scouts and gather intelligence to report back to British military headquarters.  They also carried out various successful strike operations, the most famous was an attack on the Libyan town of Barce.  There is no doubt that the LRDG had a huge impact on the Desert War.

Bill was always extremely selective in the information he shared of his time in North Africa, Egypt & Libya, and those tales were always of the mischief they got up to.  We can only imagine the real encounters these brave men faced, and the experiences they had.

I feel privileged to have known Bill, and I am grateful I was given the opportunity
to have been part of his life.  ANZAC day for me is a day of remembrance.  It's about acknowledging the sacrifice that many individuals have made, and continue to make, so that we can live our lives in safety.

Tell us what ANZAC day means to you…