Michelle Gardiner

Michelle Gardiner

37 Years Old

From: Melbourne, Australia

Living: Bali, Indonesia

It’s my birthday, so I decided to answer my own questions  <3

Me in the world: 

I’m HUGE hearted, passionate, expressive, introverted, creative, I care a lot about and am fascinated by people and anything humanity related, curious, an explorer, a sunshine seeker, a free spirit, determined, intuitive, a dancer, a dreamer,  I see beauty where others may miss it, I notice a lot, a space holder, facilitator, leader, I love bringing people together and setting the scene for magic to unfold.  I’m wise and thoughtful, sensitive, resilient, a BIG thinker, I’m driven mostly by an ENORMOUS cause in the world, by community,  I’m deeply soulful, bold in my own way and quirky.

The world of titles would include Founder/Director of The Aspire Series, social worker, coach, yoga teacher, daughter etc etc etc. I have struggled with titles for a long time and have always felt that any given title has felt like a misfitted outfit. I’m not the misfit, the title has always felt like it is a misfit on me.

I feel like I’m me, getting on and being me in the world. If I were to name a favourite achievement, it would exist in all of the times that I have been able to brush off a world that tries to convince us otherwise. Reading this back, it is my dream that this isn’t something we achieve at all. It is a given.

I grew up as an incredibly shy kid who spent a lot of time watching  the world, yet somehow having an innate capacity to gather all the kids in the neighbourhood, regardless of which house they lived in and to take them on an adventure. Growing up with a mother who was diagnosed with Schizophrenia when I was a teenager, the lines between “normality” and “living creatively” have long been blurred in my world to some degree. 

Some people reflect that something like this should have messed me up, but I disagree and find such perceptions severely limiting. The thing is that we will find evidence in the world to take us exactly where we need to go. Endless car rides listening to Roy Orbison as a kid taught me that as a woman, I had an innate charismatic power that could be harnessed, even by merely walking down the street and “anything I wanted or needed, I could have it…. ba-by!”. 

Of course, I also grew up with many many messages that opposed all of this…. And this is only some of why I am so deeply passionate about everything that Aspire and 55 are and stand for.

Yes, I often take my time coming into my own (like many of us)... and I have also learned that there is truth in the saying “the quiet ones are the ones to watch out for”.... We see what the world easily passes by and by the time we get going, we have already identified the gaps when we make our run for it!!

The story for women rewritten:

The one of possibility, opportunity and support:

“Whatever you want to do in life, create, or how you choose to live…. Know that you are worthy and held, regardless of who you are, the path you've walked or where you have come from and that everything you need to bring it into form is both within you and available for you”... 

I strongly believe that we all already have power and a tonne of resources at our disposal. It is how these are perceived and the spaces where we find ourselves that often determine whether they are fully brought to life or whether they die somewhere within us. It’s both an internal and external job, really.

The one of intuition:

“You have this internal barometer that is here to guide you throughout your life. It connects you to all parts of your being and all things outside you. It is your very own superpower to harness. It is called intuition. TRUST it and it will reward you eternally. TRUST yourself”

The one of wisdom:

“Live from your heart, soul, spirit, innate essence, express it in every way you feel called and share your wisdom. Allow yourself to be moved by who you are and what you bring to the world. THIS is true self love, my beauty”.

The one of co-existing in the world:

“Listen to the opinions of the masses, appreciate the truth of those around you…. Then tune inwards and discern for yourself. Know what’s going on in the world and then do what feels right for you”

The one about these vessels we call ‘home’:

“LOVE how you feel in your body and do whatever you need to, so that this is a priority. Your entire life will hug you all over for it”

The one of how we are with one another:

“Be a role model for other women… whatever that thing is about straightening their crowns, do that. Unless they’re a rebel who would rather have a crooked crown, then cheer her on for her fierce spirit! Open your arms to them. Be on the same team. Road trips are much more fun with a car full of buddies”.....

I remember standing at the mirror at Flinders Street Station years ago, the woman beside me was fixing her lipstick and perfecting her “face”. I told her she was beautiful before walking away. We’ve gotta do this more for each other.

IMAGINE if these were the stories we all heard from birth. IMAGINE the world we would live in!!! IMAGINE the problems that would eradicate themselves and the possibilities that would innately exist. The messages we send and receive and take on board become our everything!!

My next story:

I have crazy visions!!! Everything from being like Oprah, drawing the light and wisdom out of other people on stage, to a witch who is busy cultivating all kinds of worldly magic to a Matriarche with a global army of changemakers!

In more tangible terms, I want three communities:

My own family unit which can be as colourful and diverse as they please, whether they are from my own womb or wherever else… my concern is more about the quality of the home we co-create.

A strong connection to my local community where I am actively involved in grassroots projects. Being a part of the kind of place where you walk into a cafe and just know a bunch of people.

And my global community…. Where I help my women to own and rewrite theirs and others stories, and to strengthen their own communities in ways that hold meaning, purpose and fulfilment for them.  

I want to bring my very best to these circles of humans over and over again.

Beyond this, I made a commitment to myself as the last plane left Bali in March 2020… that I would find a way to thrive, regardless of what happened in the world or where my path led as this new and very unscripted chapter began. It’s so far been the most “creative” adventure of my lifetime and it has been far tougher than I can explain, that’s for sure. 

I also am very clear that THIS time will be the very story that I share many times over, one day. Now is the story of our lifetimes that we will all one day share.

And lastly, to live a life where I move,  expand,  learn,  love and cultivate something far greater than where we have all come from… this is what it's all for, for me.