The last few days have been different. Different for all sorts of reasons, but mainly different in the emotions that I have been feeling.

It has been a period of time that has highlighted the different extremes that we are exposed to in everyday life.

On one hand, we have the terrible news of the mass killings in Norway. One man, Anders Behring Breivik, took it upon himself to end the lives of 68 innocent people in Utøya, with a further eight dying in the bomb attack in Oslo. This took the total number of fatalities to 76.

Norway came together as one on Monday night to mourn the senseless deaths of these 76 innocent people.

100,000 People gathered in the capital for a march and vigil led by the Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg.

Then, on top of this we hear the saddening news that Amy Winehouse had also died. Now, I was never so much as a fan but perhaps an interested bystander of her music.

However my sadness has nothing to do with her music, her fame or her public profile. I am saddened by the simple fact that a young lady lost herself in the fame and glory that she was afforded.

A young lady that obviously struggled with her life, where it was and what it was about. A young lady whose only coping strategy seemed to be a lifestyle that was only ever going to cause her more harm than good.

Once again a very saddening situation.

On the other end of the scale (and on a much a brighter note- especially as an Australian!), we heralded the newest Australian sporting success story: Cadel Evans and his 2011 Tour de France win.

Cycling fan or non cycling fan, this is an outstanding result, an insight and an inspiration of a Never Give Up attitude (I could go on forever about this, but I wont!).

Also on the sporting front, we had Casey Stoner’s fantastic result in the US motorcycle GP at Laguna Seca.

Stoner’s passing of current World Champion Jorge Lorenzo on the 27th lap of 32 was amazing. The win has allowed

Stoner to stretch his lead in the overall standings.

In Jeffery’s Bay South Africa, current surfing world champion Mick Fanning (Australia) finished runner up to South African Jordy Smith in The Billabong Pro Jeffery’s Bay, with another Australian Joel Parkinson finishing third. This result has catapulted Joel to the top of the 2011 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tittle rankings.

Then, we had the awesome result from the Australian Men’s 4×100 Freestyle relay team at the World Swimming Championships in Shanghai, China. It is the first time the Australian’s have won this event since 2001. The Australian Team were never really considered gold medal favourites, but someone had obviously forgotten to explain to the team of James Magnussen, Matthew Abood, Matt Targett and Eamon Sullivan that they couldn’t win.

A little closer to home, the Newcastle Knights, for the first time in the club’s history, have kept an opposing team scoreless in an away game. The Knights were able to secure a much needed 18-0 win over the Cronulla Sharks and as a result, see themselves back into the top eight on the competition ladder.

So as I said at the very beginning of this post, right now I am a person of mixed emotion. My thoughts are with the people of Norway as with the family, friends and fans of Amy Winehouse. And on the other hand I am excited and buoyed by the ongoing phenomenal success of our Australian sportspeople.

Certainly a time of differing thoughts and emotions but a reminder that life will come at us in all different ways and at all different times.

All we can do is live it to the best of our ability, never accept things are as they are, continue our quest for better, be thankful, and be appreciative and respectful for both the opportunities we have and the people we get to share our lives with.

And as we do.

The Journey Continues!

P.S Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife Joanne.