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

Today’s topic again got me thinking about the many people who had a positive impact in my life, but Michael Fleming came utmost in my thoughts.

Michael, when I knew him, was just beginning his role at VMIAC the  (Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council) as an advocate.   I had been working in a few peer support roles when he came into my life, initially as an advocate, mentor, and artist and later as a really good friend and father figure.   Michael had his own experience of mental health issues and was well thought of because of his respectful 🙏🏽 nature.  We worked on so many projects together, mainly art based, as creativity can be so healing and empowering.   Michael always treated me with the utmost respect, and I thank him for his guidance throughout my career in mental health. Before Michael was an advocate, he had been a very good chef and I feel that he is now in heaven cooking dessrts in Susannas  tearooms, as  he at one stage was head dessert  chef at The Windsor here in Melbourne.  When he passed away, I was sad for his loss, but grateful 🙏🏽 for the impact he had on my life . Everyone comes into our lives for a reason,  some only for a season and some forever more.

What does freedom mean to you?

Freedom to me means that I have the right to live my life as I choose.  I am blessed that I live in Australia,  a country known for its freedom.  I am a woman who, by choice, lives on my own in many countries that would be frowned upon. A divorced childless woman would have low value in some societies.   I am lucky to live in Australia because of the freedoms and rights of it citizens.

What is your career plan?

My career plan is to further my writing ✍️ through writing this blog and also write more children’s literature. 

What was the last live performance you saw?

I have not been to a live performance in a long time initially because of covid, but more recently because I just can’t afford it.  It is a luxury I really now can’t afford.

The last time I saw Neil Finn was at Melbourne Zoo Twighlights with his son Liam..  I think this was the year before covid. I really haven’t been able to afford any concert since then, but I am hoping I get to see the legendary Cold Chisel later this year. The cost of living means I can’t afford to pay to see a live performance.

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

The job I would love to do for just one day would be to be the owner and manager of a specialist children’s literature bookshop.  That would be my dream to be surrounded by the children’s literature I absolutely love.  It would be like heaven on 🌎 earth for me .

What are your favorite brands and why?

Today’s blog topic is an interesting one and I am by no means a brand ambassador.   I really had to think and I found myself thinking of The Body Shop and its future.   I can recall hearing on the  radio news here in Australia that The Body Shop in the UK had gone into voluntary receivership and that the future of the whole business worldwide 🌐 was in jeopardy.

The Body Shop is my favourite toiletry and make up Shop. I love their range of products,  particularly their body butters, lip balms, fragrance, and make-up.   Their range contains a lot of natural products, and they don’t test on animals any of their products.  I like their commitment to the environment by providing refills of some of their products.  Their products always smell amazing.  I have a particular interest in The Body Shop here in Australia because Susannas daughter Rebekah manages one of The Body Shops here in suburban Melbourne.

I gurss I am writing this post to help there be an interest in The Body Shop, interest enough that my readers  might buy some of their products either by visiting a store or buying online.  I think The Body Shop deserves to survive and ultimately thrive because their products are great and their ethics are outstanding.

List the people you admire and look to for advice..

There are quite a few people I turn to for advice,  the most common being my Mum and my oldest brother Peter

Amongst my friends I trust and turn to for advice are Russell, Adrian and Liz.  They are long term friends who I trust implicitly.  Russell , in particular,  is a quiet , thoughtful person who is not reactionary,  meaning he thinks deeply before giving any response.   He is quite amazing, actually.

The other person I admire and  trust for advice is my psychiatrist, who is an absolutely brilliant man and speaks gentle words of wisdom.

I am blessed in my life with several people who I can look up too and turn to for advice

Do you vote in political elections?

Yes I do vote in political elections.  I live in a democracy here in Australia and see voting as someone I do towards keeping Australia the great nation that it is.

What gives you direction in life?

The main thing that gives me direction in my life is my faith in God and my life purpose. 🙏🏽. I believe that I have been put on this 🌎 earth to make people better understand mental health issues by being a good role model.  With every decision I make, I ask myself what answer will bring me closer to my life purpose and what alternative takes me further from my life purpose.   If I think this way, I normally find the most compassionate empathic answer to the decisions I make.  I also think of Lily when I am making life changing decisions and consider what will be the best option for her. So yes my faith in God is ultimately what gives me direction 🙏🏽 in my life.

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

The quote that I live by is the  quote “Life is what happens when we are busy making other plans “.

John Lennon made this quote and I believe it is a line from his song 🎵 “Beautiful Boy”.

How true is that quote.  Everything in life happens in Gods time,  regardless of what we plan.