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The art of dealing with the unexpected

the art of dealing with the unexpected

Celebrating another lap around the sun
In:CelebratePositive

Celebrating another lap around the sun

May 30, 2018May 28, 2018

May is the month of celebrations for our family. For me it has always been a much-anticipated month. As a child it was all about MY birthday coming and I was convinced that the magic of autumn turning the 100-year old Elms that lined the street where I lived in Canberra into a golden yellow was nature’s way of preparing for my special day.

Photo of Grant Cres, Canberra – Credit Grahamec (via commons.wikimedia.org)

When we moved to tropical Queensland I think that was my biggest disappointment. There was no change to the season, no heralding of May…the anticipation was all but gone.

I share the month with both of my parents who have birthdays on consecutive days in May. But May started to get a little more hectic when I started dating Craig also born in May and THEN we decided to set out wedding date slap dab in the middle of both of our May birthdays so we could celebrate for a week every year. Having kids, then added to the crazy, throwing Mother’s Day into the mix.

My house pretty much looks like a florist right now! Not that I am complaining!

Since losing a friend my vintage a few years ago, I am grateful for each and every birthday I see in – because it is a blessing denied to many.

Those who know me well, know that I have been 37 for over a decade now. My mum was 35 till she was 50, so I figured I would do the same. Many tease me about being in denial, but I am not. I am just not a big fan of the number four. To me it is such a “meh” number. It can’t even work out how it should be drawn – some people draw it closed and pointy, others draw it “open” like some odd headless stick figure with an arm pointing skyward! There are no lovely curves AND you have to lift your pen off the page for it! The pain of it!! So – I am skipping the fours and I’ll jump straight to 50 when it is time to! Judge me all you like. This is me. Ha!

I know it is cliché but I really do want to make each day count. There are days that I do that better than others of course, but I try to live each day so that I have no regrets. If I am not happy with how a day has gone, I do my best to make amends where I need to or make the next day a better one.

Late last year after connecting with a business mentoring community I was challenged in my thinking on goal setting and invigorated like never before to back myself to use my experience in the law and in life to see if I can’t bring some change to my “world” and to leave it a slightly better place. Three weeks later, I started writing this blog. Posting to the sound of “crickets” I thought, yet now I am surprised at getting feedback from the other side of the world and as I type I am humbled to say my posts have been read over 6,300 times in just 6 months.

I am madly writing a “how to” book in the hope that I will have that written and published by November this year. With it, I hope to spread the message to law colleagues and the community generally, that there is a better way to resolving wills & estates inheritance disputes than starting down a court battle pathway. I am genuinely passionate about helping grieving families navigate, what is already such a difficult time, in a better, less painful and less costly way.

For the last few months I have seen midnight more often than not. I am at times tired, but my bigger goal gives me the energy to keep going.

If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you. Steve Jobs

I do want to leave my “world” a better place. I want to make a difference. I try to do that daily in my life as a mum to my two kids, as a wife to my hubby, as a neighbour, as a friend and as a boss. The key, I think, is living in a way that aligns with the things I value the most. I put family first and I value relationships above material things. I want to do right and make right. I love to try new things and to see things from different perspectives. I try to encourage and build up, I cheer others on. Sometimes I do ok, other times I screw up. But most of the time I am contented knowing I have given this thing called life my best shot each and every day.

I had a conversation with a friend over the weekend just gone – about how hard it has been for her to watch her strong and capable father, age and now suffer with the daily pain of an incurable cancer. Yet she took comfort in knowing that neither she, nor he, nor their family will have regrets when he breathes his last. Not just because his suffering will end and his eternal life will begin, but because nothing has been left unlived or unsaid. Love has been shared freely, openly and often. Family holidays and overseas trips have been enjoyed with an ever-expanding family of grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Life has been long and full and overflowing with the good things that outshine the bad.

A life well lived is a legacy in itself.

Try and leave this world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate, you have not wasted your time but have done your best.

Robert Baden-Powell

As I mark having navigated another lap around the sun, I am grateful for the life I have lived so far, and I am excited for the days, weeks, months and, God willing, years ahead.

How about you? What plans do you have to leave your “world” a little better?

better, big picture, birthday, celebrate, legacy, values, vision

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Hello

I am Zinta Harris. I live in Brisbane, Australia with my husband of 25 years, Craig (known by most as Harry) and our two children Teja and Zigi. I am a specialist wills and estates lawyer by day and inspiration seeker by night. I help Australian families navigate the legal fallout after the loss of a loved one in a calm and compassionate way. My mood is better after a daily double shot coffee and a glass or two of bubbles. I get my energy from people. My superpower is encouraging others. It is my sincere hope that this blog will encourage you. I hope it gives you a chance to chime in with your experience or to feel part of a community that has walked through a valley and made it through. Read about me

Check out my new book! “Rest in Peace” – how to manage an estate dispute without inheriting heartache

https://resolveestatelaw.com.au/

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The work we do in Estate Administration often take The work we do in Estate Administration often takes us across the world. Having a Latvian speaking lawyer means that we sometimes work with Latvian clients! 

Receiving these traditional goodies from the other side of the world made our week! ❤️

#latvianlawyer #estateadministration #internationalestates
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Today is Australia Day, Survival Day, Invasion Day Today is Australia Day, Survival Day, Invasion Day, Day of Mourning. As a non-indigenous Australian I acknowledge that today is not a day to celebrate. 

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land where I live and work - Meeanjin (Brisbane) – the Turrbal peoples and the Jagera/Yugerra peoples and I pay my deepest respects to Elders past, present and emerging on this difficult day. 

As a daughter of immigrant parents whose land was stolen and who took refuge and built a new life in Australia - I stand with indigenous Australians today. 

Yet I am torn between thankfulness for all that living in Australia means to us - and mourning with you on what this awful date marks for you. 

I wish we could find a new date - unconnected to events that represent an unwelcomed occupation of this country - as the date for Australia Day so we can celebrate all that we are as one united country. 

#australiaday2023 #notthedatetocelebrate #invasionday #dayofmourning #survivalday #noprideingenocide #alwayswasalwayswillbe #changethedate #changethenation #ulurustatement
✨LAST CHANCE✨ If you are a wills and estates ✨LAST CHANCE✨

If you are a wills and estates lawyer, financial advisor, mediator or psychologist tired of seeing families battling over inheritance - come and join the next cohort of professionals getting trained in the new collaborative model taking the estates world by storm! 

Join others who are flying in from across the country to do both trainings (Core Skills and Advanced) face to face in Sydney on 2 -3 & 4 February 2023 at The College of Law Australia's new campus!

This will be the ONLY face to face training running in Sydney this year and registrations will closing at 11:59PM AEST today! 

The program teaches the unique Collaborative Practice model developed for the pre-death and post death contexts with a particular focus on multi-party and multi-capacity facilitations unique to estate matters. Coupled with practical role play training in an estates “mock file” role play series, you will receive comprehensive training for the Wills and Estates contexts not offered anywhere else!

Click this link to book now!
https://resolveestatelaw.com.au/collaborative-training/
First day of highschool for Zigi! @teja.harris off First day of highschool for Zigi! @teja.harris officially only starts tomorrow but the legend wanted to hang our with her little bro today to help settle him in! 💕

It might have something to do with that snazzy new senior's uniform she now gets to wear starting grade 10! 👔

Zigi said he was scared and nervous but he was super keen to get dressed and ready this morning! 😬

He was sad to have to take his rainbow nail polish off yesterday so we hid some glittery toenails in his shoes and his funky hair cut under his hat! 🤫

Out the door by 8am - a brand new school morning routine for us - that gives me an extra hour every day! 🙌

Bring on 2023!💥

#firstdayofhighschool #newschool #schoolday #downsyndromeawareness #newroutine 
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Did you know? ✨Before making an application for Did you know?

✨Before making an application for probate there are 7 things that a will should be checked for. 

✨If the original will can't be found, probate of a copy of the will can be applied for but only in certain circumstances. 

Want to learn more? Read our blog - link in bio. 

Need our help? Book in for a FREE 15 minute clarity call. 

#willsandestates #lawblog #blogginglife #willsandestateslawyer #whattodowhensomeonedies #estateadminstration #lossofalovedone #griefandloss #griefsupport #griefjourney
Sending out good vibes to those who are facing som Sending out good vibes to those who are facing something new this week! ✨️

It's a big week ahead for us as we 
👩‍🏫send kids back to school
💫get ready for our Sydney training and
👶count down till our first REL baby arrives! 

Thank goodness there's a public holiday in the mix! 🇦🇺

Who else is feeling the need for hope and strength this week? 👋

#mondaymotivation #mindsetmonday
#newday #newhope #newstrength 
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#lawyersofinstagram #lawyerslife #lawlife #lawinspired 
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#probate #compassionatelawyer
#choosecompassion #bekindalways
#zintaharris
#dailyquotesforyou #wisewordsoftheday 
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#perspectiveiseverything
#havehope
Here's to surviving the first week back at work! ☕️🎉🙌
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Facing another big week ahead trying to chanel some back to school energy as we enter a new chapter of life with both kids now highschoolers! 👩‍🏫🎒📚
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Are you on top of the back to school prep or have you left things till the last minute? 🤪
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Sending out good vibes to all Aussie parents this weekend!💕
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#firstweek #saturdayvibe #chillaxing #backtoschoolagain #energyneeded #preparationiskey #parenthoodmoments #sendinggoodvibes 
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#lawyersofinstagram #lawyerslife #lawlife #lawinspired #lawyering 
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#resolveestatelaw #brisbanelawyer #brisbanelife #brisbanebusiness
#probate #compassionatelawyer
#choosecompassion #bekindalways
#zintaharris
In the next two decades we are going to see the la In the next two decades we are going to see the largest transfer of wealth from generation to generation in Australian history. 💥

We have all heard horror stories about how disputes over inheritance can destroy families and their businesses while hard earned inheritances are diminished paying legal costs. 💔

Sometimes making a will isn't enough to stop this. Nor is choosing not to a solution. 😪

What if I told you there is a way to manage inheritance  conversations (pre death or post death) without starting a family war? 💫

Want to know more? Head to the Australian Association of Collaborative Professionals (AACP) website where you can find brochures specifically designed to outline respectful methods to manage wills and estate disputes and family inclusive estate planning. 

Checkout the links in my linktree for more details!

#collaborativeestates #collaborativepractice #teambasedresolution #Inheritance #willsandestates #legacyoflove #abetterway 
#lawyersofinstagram #lawyerslife #lawlife #lawinspired #lawyering #lifeofalawyer
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#resolveestatelaw #brisbanelawyer
#probate #compassionatelawyer
#choosecompassion #bekindalways
#zintaharris
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