I was listening to a kōrero on TED this afternoon and a woman was talking about self responsibility and it made me think, “what does tino rangatiratanga mean to me? What does self-determination mean to me?”
For a long time now, I’ve been of the mind that I am 100% responsible for my happiness – me, no one but me. And I started thinking about this when I was 19 years old and have been on a journey of self-discovery ever since. But I know now that in any moment I choose, in any moment I decide where my life is headed…
We are so used to blaming external things or people for the way our lives are and yet we are always in control of our happiness – always!
So where is this leading?
I believe healing begins within, I am responsible for the future that I create and there is nothing outside myself that will sustain my happiness. Only I can do that. And that word sustain is very important!
Koina tāku kōrero mo te wā – that’s my kōrero for the day!
For those of you who have just tuned in, I am painting a rock a day and today is Day 3 – Jan 3rd!! And it’s my nephew’s birthday today so this rock is not for sale but will instead be sent to him. And I’m going to tag him in this photo and he’s either gonna say, “shame Aunty, or “cool Aunty!” Haha!!

17 he is – oh to be 17 again! All my old school mates will have a few stories to tell at that age – but of course I was the straight one!
Just as a side note, I’m also painting a rock for a good friend of mine who is in Arizona whose birthday it is today! She asked to have a rock for her birthday and in exchange she wanted to give me one of her works of art. Rachel is also a photographer who works in alternative photographic processes and pinhole photography and I will be SO honoured to have another of her works in my home! You can check her work out here – it’s beautiful and very thought provoking. http://rachelwoodburn.com
Oh and the rock for the day that is going to my nephew – here it is! You’ll notice two different designs, that’s because I painted both sides – not sure why, I just did! Rā whānau ki a koe e taku iramutu xo

Stay tuned for more rocks as I continue to paint a rock a day – 362 rocks to go!! 🙂