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.

What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?

My favourite holiday was my cruise around New Zealand, seeing such things as Milford Sound, Akaroa, Wellington, and Auckland.   It is such a lovely genteel way to travel, and I like that food is included, one less thing to consider each day you travel. New Zealand is my favourite country, I love the countryside and the scenery and people.  It is such a peaceful quaint country, and the people are warm-hearted..

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.