Nine Blogging Years

November 3, 2012
by Rodney Olsen
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After a very busy few weeks (or maybe months) I decided to spend a little time catching up on some blog reading this morning. One of the posts I read with interest was 8 years of blogging at Thro’ a glass darkly. While the post is several days old, I’ve probably been reading Saija’s blog for most of that eight years so I decided to leave a comment. As I was thinking of what to write I thought of today’s date and realised that it’s a blogging milestone for me today.

I’ve now been blogging for nine years.

The first time I ever heard of blogging I thought, “What a stupid idea. Why would you want to share all your most personal thoughts with a bunch of complete strangers?”

Since that time a couple of things have happened. Firstly, I realised that I only had to share what I decided I wanted to share, and secondly, a lot of those ‘complete strangers’ have become good friends, even though I’ve never met many of them face to face.

I’ve really enjoyed the ups and downs of blogging and what you see now is rather different than the original post back on the 3rd of November 2003. I hope you enjoy what you read here and that you’ll stay with me as I enter my tenth year of blogging.

I’ve done so much in the past nine years and a great deal of the journey is available for anyone who wants to trawl through my archives.



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Remembering Radiothon 2012

November 3, 2012
by Rodney Olsen
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We finished 98five Sonshine FM’s Radiothon yesterday with a total of $169 519. Even though Radiothon is officially over for 2012, we believe the total will rise a little in the coming days.

While we didn’t reach our target of $175 000, our supporters gave everything they could to achieve over 95% of our goal. We were humbled by the continued generosity of our supporters towards securing our financial future.

If you’d still like to give you can give online, or call the 98five Sonshine FM office during the week on 9313 0800.

In the mean time, check out a selection of photos of a handful of the people I spoke to during the past week and click on any photos you’d like to see a little bigger.



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The price of happiness is less than $125 000

November 1, 2012
by Rodney Olsen
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In a study which surveyed almost 3000 Australians between 2002 and 2011 it was discovered that money can buy happiness, as long as you don’t have too much of the stuff. Once you hit $125 000 your satisfaction with life starts to slide. I guess that I should be pleased that I’m a long way from reaching the peak of that slippery slope of dissatisfaction.

Research from psychometric testing company Onetest found people who earn between $100,000 and $124,999 a year are the happiest, with 86 per cent of those earners saying they are satisfied with life.

But the satisfaction rate starts to drop for those who earn more than $125,000, and again for those who earn more than $150,000. – News.com.au

I can understand that people are feeling a little less anxious if they’re earning reasonably well and aren’t one emergency away from total financial ruin. I know that having certain knowledge that you’re able to put food on your family’s table would ease the stress levels. I also acknowledge that being able to buy a few extras for yourself and even have enough to give to good causes would make life comfortable but can money really buy happiness?

I suppose the other question is whether life is really about the pursuit of our own happiness. Even if money could make us happy, which I doubt it can do in any deep and lasting way, is that really what we’re aiming for in life?

Obviously, happiness is a good alternative to feeling miserable all the time but deep joy is something that can sit inside us during the good and bad times.

What do you think? We spend a lot of our time chasing a few extra dollars but will we be any happier or better off if we attain that extra cash? Will extra money add extra meaning to our lives?

I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have. I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little. Christ gives me the strength to face anything. – Philippians 4:11-13



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