The hardest personal goal

What was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?

The hardest personal goal I have set for myself is to maintain good mental health, so I don’t end up in hospital again. For the past two years since my last hospitalisation, I have achieved that goal with flying colours. I am determined that nothing is going to cause me that much stress again that it makes me unwell. I have a great psychiatrist and a great support network around me, which aid in keeping me well. At present my mental health is very good.

My favourite pastimes

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?

I have a few favourite pastimes.  The first, of course is writing ✍️ this blog and my other writings ✍️.  I love spending time with Lily, walking her and taking her to visit friends etc. I also love, love, ❤️ going opshopping with Kathryn or Lani.  It is my favourite way to spend time with friends 🧡 and I also love going out for a bite to eat with friends my mum, my nephews and nieces etc.

My sister Susanna

Susanna was definitely like a sister to me and we used to joke that we were sisters.  She was definitely an angel.  Susanna’s daughter Rebekah has remained close and I consider her my extended family.

Because Susanna was like a sister, I sometimes joke that I have some Italian DNA.  Not everyone shares my sense of humour about this. I know that genetically, Susanna wasn’t a sister, but we were so close, so entwined and shared the same values, thoughts, and humour that we were one another’s sister.  I must also say that as time goes on, Kathryn becomes more like that, and it is amazing how we developed our bond through Susanna and our shared grief over her.  I believe that there is more than just genetics in DNA, and our shared experiences with our loved ones impacts upon our soul, almost like a genetic imprint,  the DNA of love ❤️ and bonds. I know that a lot of people would disagree,  but I think some people impact upon our spirituality, and our souls become one entity.  So yes, it is perfectly fine for Susanna to be my sister as we are kindred spirits eternally related.

Guy Sebastian

I have been watching the new season of The Assembly on the ABC and felt inspired to write about Guy Sebastian.   Guy is a performer I love not only for his wonderful voice and music but also for his Christian faith that I share.  I have loved his very first single since winning Australian Idol back in 2003 called Angels Brought Me Here.   On The Assembly, he sang his song Choir, which made me think about my beautiful passed-over angel 😇 lady Susanna.  Choir was written about a friend of Guys who passed away, and the meaning of the lyrics made me sing along wholeheartedly 🙏🏽 thinking of Susanna being in the Choir in heaven. Guys, music is often inspired by people or events in his life, and his strong faith shines through in his music. I wholeheartedly believe that God sends down to 🌎 earth angels 😇 in human form to do his work and pass along messages of faith to us mere mortals and I think Guy Sebastian was born with a very profound life purpose. I am a fan and feel we are blessed to have Guy.

Studying law subjects

Tell us about a time when you felt out of place.

The time I felt most out of place was around 12 years ago. I had just left a horrible job experience where I was constantly being bullied. I felt I had to leave that job for my well-being.  In between jobs I decided as a mature-age student to do law subjects to improve my advocacy for those with mental health issues.  I thought it was a good decision but I felt very much out of place. All the other law students were young,self confident and some downright arrogant. I didn’t fit in and struggled to complete the 2 subjects I was enrolled in.  This together with an unsupportive husband who would tell me I was stupid but who also wanted me to do around 10 subjects at a time so I would complete the course quickly, so I could find full-time work and he could live off me.  The reality is 3 subjects a semester is considered full-time and I was studying 1 subject and looking for part-time work.   I was burning the candle at both ends and when my marriage fell apart I left studying law to once again work in mental health and got my life back together financially and mentally.  I don’t regret studying law and had my personal circumstances been different who knows what would have happened.  At that time in that place I knew becoming a lawyer wasn’t God’s plan for me.

My life without a computer 🖥

Your life without a computer: what does it look like?

If I didn’t have a computer my life would be different and would resemble my childhood in many ways.

I would be writing ✍️ using a pen 🖊 and paper 📃.  I would probably still be writing  literature for children because that has been a lifelong dream.

Most certainly blogs wouldn’t exist so I would have to exercise my writing skills in other ways. I would probably do other artistic pursuits like watercolour painting and silk painting and embroidery etc. I would spend more time outdoors in nature and would send handwrite letters and cards to loved ones regularly.

The skill I would like to learn

What skill would you like to learn?

The skill I would like to learn is to be more of a minimalist and less of a hoarder.  I am slowly decluttering my place getting ready to move in the not-too-distant future and it is a big job because I have been a hoarder in the past.  I wish now that I hadn’t clung onto so much for sentimental reasons. I have the memories I don’t need to keep the objects.

My mindset related to writing ✍️ more

What details of your life could you pay more attention to?

I think the thing in my life I could pay more attention to is to more often get into the mindset of working on my latest book The Angel Lady.

I have the best of intentions of writing The Angel Lady about Susanna’s life as an angel in heaven. I would like to be more often inspired and focused to write about it on a more regular and productive basis.  I don’t beat myself up when I am not as regular productive as I would like.