Have you ever been camping?

Yes I have been camping but not for a very long time.  When I was a teenager, the family used to go camping 🏕 at Jamieson up in the high country here in Victoria.   It is very quiet and picturesque there,  near where the movie The Man From Snowy River was filmed.

It my late 20s, I went on an interstate camping trip that took in Adelaide,  Alice Springs, and Uluru.  Uluru is particularly amazing, and I believe everyone should see it at least once in their lifetime. Alice Springs is so interesting and quaint. It was the last trip I took with both my parents as my dad sadly passed away a few months after it. It was the trip of a lifetime.

When do you feel most productive?

I feel the most productive in the morning after a good nights sleep,  a good breakfast,  a shower, and a walk with Lily.   I am happy,  alert, and contented and feel ready to deal with everything the day will bring.  It is my favourite time of day.

What are your favorite emojis?

My favourite emojis are the praying hands and the angel emoji of the smiley face with the halo.🙏🏽😇

Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

Today’s topic has got me thinking. The last time I took a risk I don’t regret was working on my last peer support position at Burnside PARC ( Prevention and Recovery Care ). Out of all the peer support positions I worked in, my role at Burnside PARC was definitely my most fulfilling and rewarding.  The staff were wonderful and treated me well, the psycho social principles of a PARC fitted in with my own values of recovery and empowerment.  I left Burnside PARC a few years ago because after 16 years of working in mental health, I was extremely burnt out.  I definitely hold no regrets about my time at Burnside PARC.  I think I did my best work there and look upon it as a great time, and I left on good terms.  Sometimes, taking a risk pays great dividends.

What makes you nervous?

What makes me nervous is when I am asked to do public speeches,  particularly about my mental health issues.  In  my past role as a peer support worker in mental health, I was often asked to write speeches and to present these speeches at conferences and workshops related to mental health.

I must admit I did enjoy writing ✍️ these speeches, as I love writing so much, but I was always a bundle of nerves when I had to speak at conferences and the  like.   It was always part of my role to do such, but I never really liked that aspect of the job.  I must admit I did enjoy the art exhibitions I helped to arrange and was most comfortable when I was involved in the creative process,  either writing or creating art myself. If I could just be involved in the writing behind the scenes, I would be most happy.  I guess that’s why I love writing a blog.   I get the freedom of writing ✍️ and presenting my writing to the audience without having to actually stand up before an audience and speak.

How do you unwind after a demanding day?

The way I unwind after a demanding day is to have one small glass of wine with my evening meal and have a cup of herbal tea whilst I sit on the couch 🛋 with Lily on my lap gently patting her.   We are so beautifully bonded, and she certainly is my own private little therapy dog.

How do you use social media?

How do I use social media? The answer being that I don’t really use social media.  I am not fond of it. A couple of years ago I was on Facebook but haven’t used that platform for about two years.  I found it to be not all that nice and feel there is no confidentiality or privacy on Facebook.

The closest I come to using social media is by ✍️ writing this blog, selling my writings on ETSY and regularly watching YouTube clips and often commenting on what I watch, if something has impacted positively on me.  I certainly don’t need Facebook to make friends, as I am easily able to make and keep friends without the aid of social media.

Jot down the first thing that comes to your mind.

The very first thing that comes to my mind is the hope that the weather dries up soon so I can take Lily for her morning 🌄 walk 🚶‍♀️.   It has rained overnight, and the ground is still too wet to walk 🚶‍♀️ a dog, and it looks like it could rain again soon,  so I am waiting for it to clear before I venture out with Lily.

Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.

The first time I met Kathryn stood out in my life. We were strangers who met at  Susannas’ mothers funeral. We were drawn there by out mutual love for Susanna, who at the time of her mother’s passing was battling cancer.

I don’t remember what started our conversation, but I think Susanna may have introduced us, and we both expressed how beautiful Susanna looked on that day. Kathryn was easy to talk with and paid me an enormous compliment,  that being that by working in mental health as my recent past career, that I had fulfilled my life purpose by God and now could just enjoy whatever life brought my way.  It was a comment that stayed with me, and I could tell that Susanna was glad that Kathryn and I had met.  When Susanna herself went into palliative care, I managed to contact Kathryn, and we supported one another throughout our own difficult time of Susannas passing.  As I don’t believe in coincidences, I know that it was a God thing that Kathryn and I met as we both dearly loved our angel lady Susanna.  So yes, there was a time that a serendipitous encounter with a stranger led to something positive.

Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

The best decision I ever made was in my late twenties when I decided to use my experience with mental health issues to help others with similar experiences by working in welfare. This course was so empowering, and I learned so much.  It opened doors to my career and gave me a solid qualification for the work I did later in peer support in mental health.   It helped me to grow as a person,  increasing my knowledge and helping my empathy and compassion for people to grow.  I learned not only about mental health but also about other aspects of welfare, like child protection, gambling, and drug and alcohol abuse.   I became a better and far wiser person, having gained all that knowledge.   I definitely put everything I learned in this course to good use in my career in mental health.