The most challenging time of day…..

Now is the time of day I find the most challenging. Early evening to late evening. It is at this time that I most miss company.  Sure, I have Lily, but in the evening time I sometimes feel lonely for human company.  It is the only time I feel lonely, and normally, I love my independence and value that so much. I don’t miss my marriage, but I do miss having someone around at the end of the day to chat to and share my day with.

How I cope with this loneliness is to listen to music 🎶 🎵 either on the radio, or I watch clips on YouTube or iView. Some days are harder than others and I have only just decided to now use this time productively by planning what I want my next home 🏡 hopefully at The Haven will be like. Planning my move and also writing ✍️ and visualising what my place could look like.

At the moment I am watching Antiques Roadshow and am daydreaming about beautiful Antiques and planning the angel theme for when I move.

I will now try to keep myself occupied at this time,  so I will overcome nighttime loneliness.

A Children’s Literature and Music Shop

If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?

I know in the past I have written about owning a children’s bookshop,  but now I would also have that shop stock music 🎶 for children as well. I would sell music by The Wiggles and other children’s musicians.

I would also have a section of that bookshop dedicated to fantasy,  fairies angels etc and stock merchandise like ornaments and little toys related to fairies 🧚‍♀️ and the like

I would have storytelling sessions and face painting to make the experience of visiting this shop very special.  It would be a shop for the young and the young at heart ❤️ recalling the wonder and innocence of childhood.

A,Compassionate and Empathic Heart full of love.

What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?

I know the last time I answered this post i wrote about never leaving home without my handbag 👜 purse 👛 and phone. They are material objects.

Today I want to focus on the non-material things that I carry with me forever.  I carry a heart ❤️ full of love for my fellow humans and definitely for Lily.  I wear my compassion and empathy with me, like a permanent tattoo on my arm. I carry with me kindness and gratefulness and look for opportunities to express this daily.  When I am out walking Lily or at ALDI,  or with loved ones I strive to fulfil my purpose by God and treat everyone as my equal.  So yes there are things I carry with me all the time that are far more precious than material objects.

My birthday

What’s the most money you’ve ever spent on a meal? Was it worth it?

The most expensive meal I have had was a few weeks ago when I had steak at my favourite Italian restaurant Itahlia for my birthday, before that the most expensive was at the Hard Rock Cafe.  I normally don’t believe in spending a lot on meals, but I did enjoy the fine dining that was included in the package of the cruise I went on.  I dream of being very well off so I could experience Vue De Monde here in Melbourne,  but realistically that is a pipe dream.

Disability is not ugly, or fragile or a broken part of life.

I’ve just been watching Kurt Furnley on the ABC.   He is an Australian paralympian.  He is outstanding and listening to him has got me thinking.

I have a mental illness,  schizophrenia but I refuse to see myself as disabled and I would not change my life or my journey in any way.  I refuse to see myself as damaged or inferior in any way.  My reality at times may be different to the mainstream,  the so-called normal or average population,  but really who wants to be just average, just so-called normal when you can be considered interesting and resilient and strong, by being different.  I am an individual and although I may be considered not normal I like who I am because I am unique and by being unique I challenge the stereotype of what a so-called mentally ill person is and what I can achieve.  ✍️ Writing a blog has been empowering for me in ways I would not have dreamed possible 4 years ago.  I feel valued and resilient and my voice matters.. I don’t consider myself disabled anymore. I have a voice.

Spending time with Lily

Describe one habit that brings you joy.

The habit that brings me the most joy is to spend quality time with Lily every day. From when she first rises to when she goes to bed I try to spend a lot of time giving her attention. She rewards me by giving me love by the truckloads.  She is my favourite thing in the world 🌎.  I love taking photos 📸 of her when she lets me.