Is my life today what I pictured a year ago?

Is your life today what you pictured a year ago?

In most ways my life is what I pictured a year ago. I feel that as I progress and write ✍️ this blog, it hones my writing ✍️ skills for the other forms of writing i do.

I was hoping a year ago that I would be living at The Haven by now,  but the building 👷‍♀️ of it isn’t completed yet and I am still on the waiting list.   It isn’t far off being completed,  so hopefully by this time next year I will be enjoying life in my new abode, wherever that maybe.

My friendships continue to blossom and I am grateful 🙏🏽 for the presence of my loved ones

Life on the whole is good and changes in my life happen in baby steps.  Everything happens in Gods time.

My thoughts about the Bondi Massacre

Today i am grieving for my homeland Australia.  A couple of days ago we witnessed an act of absolute inhumanity and terrorism in a part ofAustralia that is world famous. It is distressing for most Australians because we are not a racist or violent country. I am saddened and grieving for those impacted by this massacre.  However I also believe that our media television stations should not be broadcasting this massacre for hours on end as it adds to the hysteria and impacts people’s mental health negatively.  The constant focus on this tragedy does no good for us as nation to heal and move on from this event so close to Christmas.  We need to be focusing on coming together as a nation based on peace and love and humanity, particularly at such a religiously significant time.  God would want us to mourn and greve the loss of life but he would also want the world 🌎 🙏🏽 to come together and celebrate the fact that our saviour lived. Christmas 🎄 is a time to bring peace, love and goodwill to the world. Let’s focus on what we can learn from such a massacre and come together to bring peace to this troubled 🌎 world.  God bless you 🙏🏽 all and bring peace to you 🙏🏽 all.

One thing I hope people say about me.

Tell us one thing you hope people say about you.

There definitely are things I hope 🙏🏽 that people say about me. I hope they see me as an empathic,  compassionate,  creative and honest person.  I think my experience of mental health issues has made me a better person with an empathic compassionate loving ❤️ heart.  My life purpose is to help people with mental health issues to be better understood and I think to a large extent I have achieved that.   I am not ashamed of my mental health issues and believe that people with nothing to hide, hide nothing . I am an open book when it comes to my life story, and hope that by writing ✍️ my honest life story, in this blog, helps to have mental health issues better understood.  I use my creativity to express honesty and truthfulness.

Have i performed on stage or given a speech

Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?

Yes I have done both. I have performed on stage and done public speaking.

As a little girl of about 5 years old I was doing ballet and tap dancing 💃 classes and I performed at a big concert where I was given the award for having the biggest smile. I also did a bit of drama in my first year at university and performed in a concert as part of my assessment

As for public speaking I spoke at a lot of conferences as part of my role as a peer support worker.  At the time I was very career focussed and saw giving these speeches as part of my life purpose,  to change the 🌎 world in relation to mental health.  It was very important work at the time and I was really well thought of,  but I am glad I no longer have to give speeches.  I now continue my life purpose of changing the world 🌎 for people with mental health issues by writing ✍️ this blog.

Favourite activities or exercises

What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?

My favourite exercises are definitely walking 🚶‍♂️ Lily and dancing 💃 to my favourite music.

My favourite activities are spending time with Lily,  opshopping with Kathryn and Lani,  going out for a bite to eat with family and friends and definitely writing ✍️ this blog, or my other writings ✍️.

Lily is my best therapy

A lot of my readers would be aware that I live with mental health issues and that I have a dog called Lily.

Lily often shows me why she is the best therapy ever. Most days I manage my mental health well, but certainly Lily is a huge help in keeping me well. Yesterday afternoon and early evening I was having some negative thoughts and feelings,  some dark thoughts and feelings and Lily must have sensed that because she has stayed right by my side. Today I am being kind to myself, and Lily is staying close to me,as I focus on staying well. I manage the day to day symptoms of my illness very well, and I think having a constant companion who is there just to love ❤️ and support you helps.  Dogs are intuitive and sometimes I believe they are psychic 🔮.  Lily knows me so well I love her dearly and I am so grateful for her gentle,  loving,  faithful  nature. She makes it easier to handle life. God created Dogs for a reason, they are humanity’s best friend and Lily is a huge part of me maintaining good mental health ❤️.  She keeps me well and on the right track..

Worrying about things i can’t change

What could you do less of?

I definitely am too caring at times and I am learning the hard way not to worry about things I have no control of. In the past I was a worry wort but have learned over the past few years that nothing is worth worrying about so much that it impacts on my mental health.  I get better at this as time marches on. We live and learn, experiences bring wisdom 🙏🏽.

Positive events over the past 12 months

What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?

Firstly I would have to say that over the past year I have enjoyed my writing ✍️ skills and have felt challenged and inspired in writing ✍️ this blog and writing more of The Angel Lady.

My friendships,  in particular my relationship with Kathryn has gone from strength to strength over the past year. I am so happy that Susanna brought Kathryn into my life.

My relationship with my family and in particular my mum has grown over the past year. Mum seems more accepting and proud of me over the past year and definitely she isn’t as judgemental about my mental health issues as she has been in the past. This can only be a good thing. I think that by reading 📚 my blog she learns a lot more about me and what makes me tick. Again this can only be a good thing.

Hopefully in this following year I will move into The Haven and will start a whole new chapter of my life