What’s the oldest things you’re wearing today?

Today’s topic has got me thinking. Today everything I am wearing is a different stages of being old.  I don’t have any new clothes

I am still wearing the clothes that Susanna gave me for my 50th birthday, nearly 6 years ago and the oldest thing I am wearing is my white gold cross ✝️ and necklace that I bought with my Grandmother’s inheritance that I have had for over 20 years and I never take it off.

These things are part of my very DNA and carry a lot of meaning about who I am in this world 🌎 and what I value. Wearing things Susanna gave me makes me feel very loved and attached to many good memories.  What we wear tells a story about ourselves.  Wearing sentimental things makes me who i am, and remembering the feelings attached to these is part of my self-worth and self-esteem. I don’t mind the fact that I don’t have a lot of brand new clothes,  I am wise and don’t constantly need new things to feel good, rather I like the familiar and comfortable feelings of my clothes that are part of good memories.  I am grateful 🙏🏽 for these and will wear them until they are threadbare because of their meaning.

Are you a leader or a follower?

The last time I answered this blog topic, I answered that potentially I was a leader, particularly in my career in mental health. I was a role model.

If I am a leader it is because of the guidance of some fantastic people who saw my potential and nurtured that in me. Probably the first person to notice my potential and the most influential on my journey would have to be Mr Guppy.   If he hadn’t nurtured me and made arrangements for me to attend Strathmore Secondary College I wouldn’t be here today. He was absolutely remarkable and the earth is a little darker and colder without his guiding light.

There were many people at university whom I associated with that nurtured my potential and shared like minds. Pam Macintyre, who lectured in children’s literature, definitely impacted on my desire to be an author, and two fellow students, Tammy Walsh and Gabby Harrison, were kindred spirits.

Susanna encouraged my writing ✍️ skills  as does my wonderful psychiatrist.  In fact I would have to confess without the presence of my psychiatrist I would not be writing this blog.  Just like Susanna my psychiatrist goes about his work quietly and is very humble.

In my career in mental health I received gentle guidance and TLC from Michael Fleming.  Again the world 🌎 is a darker colder place without Michael’s gentle and creative presence.

So yes, I am a leader,  but I became so through following the guidance of some particularly wonderful people. God has plans for us all, and the people he brings into our orbit are not by accident.

Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.

As I think about today’s blog topic, I realise I don’t want to write more about Susanna and Michael, etc. Instead, I will focus on someone who helped me several years ago when I first left my marriage.

When I left my marriage and moved to Sunbury I was in the depths of despair over the ending of my marriage and I knew I had to find work,  to get myself back on my feet financially after my husband had caused me a lot of debt.  I was having trouble getting out of bed every morning 🌄 and found it hard to face the world 🌎.  I knew I had to find work, and to that end, I went to a local service that found work for people with disabilities.  I had a wonderful worker there to whom I confessed about my difficulties with facing the world . She was wonderful, and she taught me to fake it until you make it.  She taught me to do little things that made me feel I could face the world again, eg, spraying a little perfume every morning,  putting on nice clothes and a little makeup. She taught me that if I tried to present to the world as a functioning successful woman, then ultimately, I would become so and wouldn’t have to fake it anymore. And you know what. She was right. With this ladies help I put myself out there and found the best job in mental health that I ever had and within months I became happy and contented and was able to put my marriage break-up in the past and move on a much more happy and enlightened lady. So there it is. Fake it until you make it. A philosophy to live by with the right support and attitude.

What’s a job you would like to do for just one day?

The job I would like to do for just a day would be that of the owner of a children’s literature shop.  It is my all-time fantasy job.

List the people you admire and look to for advice…

There are several people I look to for advice. To be very honest, Susanna, when she was alive, was my greatest and most loved confidante.

Other people I look to for advice are Adrian and Russell,  both are very good men and have a lot of emotional intelligence. They are the men I admire the most.

Friends I turn to are Lani, Liz , Kathryn, and Sherree, particularly when I am talking about women’s issues.  They are all compassionate and empathic. I think in female friendships there is a sisterhood that means we look out for one another and can be relied upon to support our fellow sisterhood. I totally trust these women and know their advice comes from a good place.