Sister's defined
Friends doing life together; coming alongside to help; colouring our lives with laughter fun love and hope
"A best friend is a sister destiny forgot to give you" - unknown
Celebrating Life: Sister's Tips
Oprah Winfrey says "the more you praise and celebrate your life, the more 
there is in life to celebrate."
Ever feel like you're living your life from one exciting event to the next and forgetting all the days in between? I do! In fact, I still can't believe we're half way through 2007! I don't feel like I've done anything, which of course isn't true but it's funny how when we forget to appreciate each day and live it to the fullest our lives can seem so boring. So you've probably had people tell you to make the most of each day... but how are you supposed to do that?
Here are a few quick tips on how you can celebrate life and make every day
memorable!
Make the sacrifice and wake up 5 minutes earlier than you usually do. Try and get out of bed so you're not tempted to fall asleep again and take some time out to focus your mind on the day ahead. Plan what you’re going to get done, put on some happy music and you will find that the rest of the day feels energetic and you'll be motivated to go the extra distance in everything you do!
Take opportunities that are thrown at you to follow your dreams! Too often we think because we're still young those opportunities will come around again when we're 'older and can make more out of them' but that's so wrong. Take the opportunities now! Don't underestimate yourself and be spontaneous!
Identify what you want to do in life, write it on a list, stick it on your wall and every time you achieve something, tick it off! This doesn't have to be things. In fact, it can be as simple as learning to save for a totally cute jacket you've seen at Sportsgirl or as complicated as learning a new language. Then make sure you treat yourself when you've achieved your goal!
Surround yourself with happy people! The support you will get from positive friends is invaluable and soon you'll all be celebrating each moment in life together!
Drama, fights, gossip comes and goes. Don't let it ruin your day. Put life in perspective.
Live life like tomorrow is your last. It's amazing how much more you get out of life when you don't just sit back and let life fly past!
Celebrating is great fun and is often very exciting! Even celebrating the small things is a great way to stay optimistic & positive about life and helps encourage our friends and family. It's important to remember that it's also normal if life doesn't always seem like a big celebration or if we don't feel like celebrating.
Checkout the websites and contacts below so if things get tough for you or your friends, you already know what to do and how to help!
These websites have great resources and info that is especially designed to help young people. You might find just what you were looking for!
If you or a friend need to talk to someone right now, you can contact:
Lifeline: 131 114 (cost of a local call)
Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800 (free call, for people under 18) or their online service is available at: http://www.kidshelpline.com.au
To access information about more services go to:
Otherwise try contacting your local community health service - look up the yellow pages (www.yellowpages.com.au) for services in your area.
"Dear Diary" - Gemma Sunderland, Age 15 
28th July
Dear Diary,
My heart has being thrown into a million pieces. When I try putting the pieces back together they just get trodden on. Or the pieces I find are not my own so do not quite fit. If I were to keep that them who would I be? The pieces I do know, own and understand keep me from doing that. They keep me from making the "wrong" decisions. But sometimes I question whether they really are "wrong". But then I get confused and everything looks the same. I get more and more scared. I get less and less confident. I feel more and more lonely. I feel as though I keep making this process so much harder and longer for myself. I'm on a pursuit of happiness...I want the happiness that I find to be solid and true and enduring. But then I wonder is finding happiness a journey? In a way I believe happiness is a choice, a decision that we have to make. It's so confusing.
Love Gem
July 29th
Dear Diary,
Even though in a way I feel like I'm falling apart every moment of the day, I know I can't. I choose to be strong. I choose to smile. Thinking about all the choices people make everyday is amaz
ing. The number is infinite. I used to wonder why do people act so down and upset and think that life is so crap all the time. Yeah situations might be hard but why can't they just look for the happy things? There might not be many but there is so much to find. The beautiful sunsets, the laughter of a child, the smile of a person. They all make a person gooey inside, even if it is for a moment. People can have a dream and fight for that and isn't that worth it? I always thought that a person could choose to be happy and it would all be okay. But I guess it isn't until you are in that situation that you realise how hard that is. I've being realising more and more how much more encouragement you need. I wish I gave people more encouragement in their times of heartache or grieving or sadness. It's hard to be brave and make the choice. I know that now. But I'm still going to try; I know that following my dreams is worth it even in the hard times.
Love Gem
1st August
Dear Diary,
So in a way I feel that each day gets harder, but so much easier all at the same time. I don't understand how that is but I know it's true. I chose to be happy today. I chose to put that big smile on and I chose to help those people today. I even found myself being brave enough to go out of my way and help someone today. It was hard, but it sure was worth it. Knowing there has to be something more to this life and that this isn’t where it is meant to be keeps me hungry to make it better. It even gives me strength to face what happened and to try to talk about it. I keep trying to push the loneliness and the fear out by the loudness of my world. But I know I have to make it all quiet and talk about what happened. I also know that although writing about it here helps, I may also need to chat to someone face to face. So that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to tell someone. I might not be able to shout it out to the world yet, but I think I might be able to whisper it to my closest friend and then even talk to someone who might be able to help me a bit more like Mrs Murray (she's the only nice teacher I know). I just get the feeling that everything will be okay, even if it takes a bit, it will be okay.
Love Gem
SISTER'S FASHION TIPS
Celebrating the Life of Winter Fashion!!
GUESS WHAT? YOU ARE A BLANK CANVASS...
LIVEN UP YOUR PIECE OF THE WORLD WITH YOUR VERY OWN STYLE...
SO... WHATCHA GONNA PAINT?
I don't know 'bout you, but the fashion queen in most of us adore this whole winter fashion thing! And this season, so many stores are representing well! There's loads of great stuff, and it's even pretty kind to our bank balance - if we just do a bit of window shopping research first!!
Things you gotta get in your wardrobe this winter:
Boots boots boots! It's what so many of us girls crave about winter. This time the ankle boots are the top style... but check out the longer ones too... great with those skinny jeans that are trying desperately to hold on in the fashion style pages for another season!
Hats - and lots of them! So many shapes and styles. Check out some of the top trends in hats this winter.
Scarves: the short neck scarf, the mega long skinny, so much choice - oh and don't forget the headscarves too!
Leg and wrist warmers: oh yeah, they are making a comeback!
Leggings with... well it seems anything goes: shorts, dresses, skirts, under 3/4 pants...teamed with the right coloured leggings and you're done!
Bomber jackets, military jackets: either 3/4 or loooong is the hot ticket this season.
Army theme is back in: you can find pants, jackets, shoes, hats, anything... wear it with black, white, the right shade of green and you will be stepping out like the best of them!
It's not winter without layers!! This is the perfect time to experiment with your creativity and to get extra wear out of those cool summer things you found just at the end of the warm season... throw them together with a long top under it, jackets, waistcoats, gloves, scarves... try different colours with different prints... step out, that's half the fun!!
HEY, DONT FORGET TO LOOK IN... The back of your mum's wardrobe - you never know what you can revamp, or put under something else for a bit of unique style!!
FRONTLINE FASHION TIP FOR THE BRAVE CHICK IN US ALL...
(not for the faint-hearted!)
Grab your leggings and wear them under 3/4
cargos/jeans/pants and pull them out just a bit at the bottom to add a bit
of layering intrigue - it's a whole new look! Experiment with matching it to
the colour of your tops or jackets or accessories...
SISTERS BEAUTY TIPS -
Give your girlfriends a relaxing hand massage!
Here are a few simple steps you can try on a girlfriend, your mum or even yourself!
Remember it's a RELAXING massage... firm is great - not too hard or too soft - ask for feedback about what she likes.Try using hand cream or moisturiser - it makes it easier to massage and
enhances the pamper : )
Start on the left hand, use both of your thumbs to make small circular movements on the back of the hand moving from the knuckles up toward the wrist, repeat 3 times
Then repeat this step again but this time massage up the arm toward the
elbow, then slide back down, repeat 3 times
Next, support your friend's hand with your other hand and do the same circular motions on each finger moving from the knuckle down toward the nail.
Turn her hand over so her palm is facing up, use the same circular motions again using your thumbs to massage the palm of her hand. Then, massage up toward the elbow and slide your thumbs back down to the palm. Repeat 3 times.
Now repeat the steps above to massage the other hand.
Sister's Care - Dr. Wari
Hi my name is Wari Allison. I am a doctor and work as registrar in emergency medicine in a Sydney Hospital. I love God, love life and I am passionate about people living life healthily, happily, and successfully!
If you have any questions about your life, feelings, girls stuff, family, friends, or things happening at school, write to Dr. Wari at sisters@shinegirl.com.au.
We will post your questions and Dr. Wari's response so keep an eye on this space!! (And, we
