Today my blog is about a sad subject instead of my normal ultra positive vibe. But it is something I am compelled to write about, particularly as someone who loves dogs.

As we went into lockdown 2 years ago a lot of people purchased puppies for company rhroughout the isolation of lockdown. It meant that dog breeders could charge thousands of 💸 dollars for their puppies, and there were lots of people willing to pay that largely people bought them for company, as a toy to stave off the loneliness of lockdown.

My fear at that time was that when we came out of lockdown that some people would get bored of their lockdown puppies 🐶 and that we would end up with a glut of dogs in shelters, hoping to become someone’s rescue dog. I am sad to say that THIS HAPPENED and shelters are now overrun with dogs of about 18 months old. Do the maths. Some very selfish people bought dogs during lockdown and now no longer want them. This makes my blood boil on so many levels.

When you purchase a dog, it is FOR LIFE NOT UNTIL YOU GET BORED and no longer want the responsibility of pet ownership.

I hope these dogs 🐕 in shelters find loving FOREVER homes and we don’t end up with thousand’s of dogs put down.

I pray that if you are a loving, caring person who loves 🐕 dogs you will consider getting a rescue dog 🐕. They truly are our best friends and give so much love and joy. God must be looking down on us in tears at the plight of these innocent creatures.

Dogs teach us about love. Is this something you want to learn or experience for yourself. From the bottom of my heart and Lily’s I hope so.

I thought I would take the opportunity to speak about Valentines Day. I am not expecting to receive anything for Valentine’s Day, but that doesn’t bother me, as I choose to focus on all types of love I already have in my life, and I don’t lament that I have no partner. To me Valentine’s Day should be about celebrating 🍾 everyone we have in our life, whom we love ❤ and not just focus on romantic love. I technically may not have a lover, but my life is rich with so much other love, it doesn’t matter and I am certainly not lacking in love.

To begin with I have the total unconditional love of Lily. Every time I look into ber beautiful eyes, I see eyes filled with love, trust and innocence and I fall even deeper in love with her. The love ❤ of a dog is so complete and so rewarding and she certainly is the best company if ever I feel a little lacking in company.

I also have the love of my family and I adore all my nieces and nephews in particular.

I have some amazing friends that I contacr on Valentine’s Day to let them know how special they are to me.

I have the respect 🙏 of some wonderful male friends in my life, in particular Russell, Carl, Adrian and Pat. They are such wonderful examples of manhood and I am blessed they are in my life. They are a big part of my journey and I appreciate their presence more than they will ever know..

One of my favourite love songs 🎵 ❤ is the Crowded House song Something So Strong. It is a song about all different types of love, and Neil Finn’s lyrics really celebrate love in its many forms. My one big dream in life is with Carl assisting me, that we belt out Something So Strong for Susanna on an episode of the Recording Studio, so Susanna knows just how loved and celebrated 🍾 she is. That is my absolute dream that I pray every day will come about. It certainly gives me a goal to aim for post covid. I think in this time of covid it is more important than ever to show universal love ❤ to one another

If you have any friends who by choice or circumstances are single, make an effort to contact them on Valentine’s Day and let them know you love them. A small gesture like that can mean a lot to someone who is struggling and we all can use a little love 💕 or TLC. I will be contacting quite a few prople on Valentine’s Day and I hope my reader’s will be inspired and spread some good karma, by contacting our loved one’s and letting them know how special they are to us every day of the year. Use Valentine’s Day to spread some good cheer. I know I will. Will You?.

If a loved one, be it a family member or friend has hurt you emotionally it is important to always wish them well. Yes it can be hard to act positively when we are feeling hurt and betrayed by someone we kove, but ultimately it is better to take the high ground, and be the better person, by refusing to let their behaviour damage our own karma, by acting in a way that is vengeful. I must admit I have made mistakes about this in my past so I have leared by experience to now think well of the person who has hurt me. I am not saying that you shouldn’t walk away from that relationship, sometimes it is for the best to walk away, I am saying if someone has hurt you, resist the temptation to lash out, and look upon it as an opportunity for personal growth, by wishing that person well, hoping their situation improves, and being wise enough to learn from it. Sometimes it is through our most difficult relationships, and negative circumstances that we can achieve the most spiritual petsonal growth.

Last year a thirty year long friendship came to a bitter and painful end. It was a relationship that negatively impacted on my mental health. For months all I felt for this person was grief and pain,and kept playing in my mind all the stuff I wanted to say to this person. I resisted the temptation to call 📞 this person and let them have the full effect of my hurt. I am so glad I resisted that temptation and now have a totally different attitude to it. I now hope that person’s situation has improved and pray for their well-being. It doesn’t mean I want that person back in my life, far from it, I have healed enough to pray 🙏 for their healing and well-being. Never seek revenge, it is fruitless and damaging and will ultimately bring about bad karma for yourself.

I also have a close family member that has caused me great pain and grief with their negative judgements of my life and my mental illness. I took me a long time to heal and I now try to be the better person and not negatively respond to this person when they act in a damaging way. Yes, this person has caused me a lot of emotional pain over the years, but I know that this person is on their own journey, with their own lessons in life to learn. My lessons are obviously different and I can’t force this person to grow in a way they are reluctant to. All I can do is to wish them well, treat them well, and act well. Yes asI have mentioned in many other blog posts 📫 Karma exists and we bring good Karma into our life, by acting well and wisely.

Remember if someone has hurt you wish them well. It is a lesson in life that we all should learn. Act well, and ultimately you will heal and see that person through healed fresh eyes.

Yesterday a support worker I know offered me some pearls of wisdom. I was talking to her about a true friend who risked her own job to come out in support of me, in a past work situation, in which I was being bullied and treated terribly.

This support worker was very warm and engaging and she let me in on something she always advises her children to do and that advice is to go where we are celebrated 🍾 not tolerated. These words were offered to me with a sense of empathy and understanding. How many times ⏲ in life do we stay in hurtful, unhealthy relationships or situations purely because we feel we have to, out of sone sort of obligation to ourselves, our loved ones, our employer etc etc.

I know in the past I have stayed in situations that have been totally toxic for me, because I felt obligated to certain people or certain employers. It has run me into the ground staying in such circumstances and always causes my mental health issues to flare up. What is even worse is that in some of my past jobs or relationships I was celelbrated to begin with, and then treated badly afterwards, when I showed my vulnerability, and was no longer seen as a useful asset. I know I stayed in one particular job, many years past it’s use by date because I felt obligated to this employer and needed the work for financial reasons. It nearly totally destroyed me, and if it were not for this particular friend, supporting me and risking her own job to stand up for me, God knows where I would be today.

Luckily in my last position in mental health I really had a boss who celebrated 🍾 my lived experience and made working a pleasure for me. I know how good it feels when you are in the position of being 🍾 celebrated and will no longer accept anything less, both in my professional and personal life.

My advice to anyone would be to trust your instincts and if your gut feeling isn’t great and you feel you are merely being tolerated and not being celebrated for who or what you are, don’t be afraid to speak up and get the hell out of that situation before it impacts on your life negatively. It is far more emotionally healthy to leave and walk away than endure the emotional pain or trauma that staying in that situation will bring to you. If you are worried about what you will lose by standing up or walking away, please remember that good karma generates good karma. There will be another position, another friend etc etc in your future. To the employer or friend that merely tolerates you I give you some other pearls of wisdom I was given years ago. It is Time Wounds All Heels….I guess that is saying that Karma exists in the universe. Learn to stay and love being where you are celebrated 🍾 enjoy it and put where you are merely tolerated down to life experience. If we learn along thr way that when life offers us 🍋 lemons, we make lemonade, we are bringing good karma into out life, 🍾 celebrate the enjoyment of people who appreciate you, they make life all the more richer.

Two of the most remarkable friendships ❤ 💜 I have had in my life are with Michael and Liz, who both are from Ireland, and they have both had a profound impact on my life.

Michael was a friend of mine who worked for VMIAC ( the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council) and throughout my career in mental health I worked on many projects with Micheal around out combined love of art, creativity, advocacy and healing

Michael had a profound impact on my life, and largely I would not be where I am now without his subtle guidance and support. He was like a father figure to me, as my Dad had been involved in oil painting when I was a teenager. Often I would be in the back garden of VMIAC and Michael would be painting and I would have the strangest sense of dejavue . It was like God had brought Michael into my life for a reason and although Michael passed away several years ago I still feel connected to him in some way and whenever I am facing a conundrum I ask myself what would be Michael’s advice to me. Normally I come up with a very wise answer in response and sense Michael’s spirit is very much alive in my life. I know I was meant to meet Michael on some spiritual level.

Liz too I think I was meant to meet Liz is one of three older lady neighbours I have become friends with at my current home. Liz is the one I am closest too. She has such a lovely happy go lucky disposition. I love visiting Liz at her home with my dog Lily and her dog Becky.. I could talk to Liz for hours, she is wonderful to talk too and I love hearing her accent. She has been a lovely friend to me over the past few years, and I really appreciate her support.

Like Michael, meeting Liz has got me interested in Ireland, my favourite author from Ireland is Cathy Kelly. I dream of what Ireland must be like based on Michael and Liz and Cathy Kelly write about it

. If they say home is where your heart is, then part of my heart belongs to 🇮🇪 Ireland because two of the most wonderful people I have met have been from there. Everyone we meet, we meet for a reason and I know that it was part of Gods plan that brought Michael and Liz into my life

Both Michael and Liz have made me understand the term The Luck of the Irish, because two better examples of positive, good peopke you could never meet. Both have guided me and shoewn me kindness, with a gentle sense of humour, and generosity of spirit. God bless them both for they beautiful souls.

Today I also want to write about Lani, who is my hairdresser and so much more. I have enjoyed getting to know Lani and we have become very close in the time we have known each other.

I do describe Lani as an earth mother. She is very well connected to her spiritual side. I would describe her also as a mermaid. She grew up on the beaches of NSW and feels a strong connection to the ocean. She too believes in angels and it is her dog Ruby that inspired my blog story Ruby The Angel. 💖.

Lani has two daughters, whom are now young women. It is hard to raise girls in this day and age given the existence of social media and cyber bullying. I feel for Lani as she gently guides her daughters through this minefield. Lani is a good role model for her daughters and I have no doubt that as they grow, their appreciation of their mother and all the values she is teaching them will help them to develop into wise young women with compassion and empathy

Lani is a great hairdresser and a great counsellor and advocate . She naturally gets on with so many people. I love spending time with Lani. We have some really deep discussions about life 🎶 🎵 and the fact that we were both teenagers in the 1980s. Life was simpler then. We talk about moives and the fact that we were teengers in the day that John Hughes was directing teenage coming of age movies like Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pibk.

Imagine raising daughters in this age. A modern version of Pretty in Pink would be a nightmare with social media. At least that’s how Lani and I both see it.

We both love out furbabies to bits and share the belief that our furbabies are angels. A more devoted dog lover you could not find than Lani.

I appreciate 🙏 our deep and meaningful conversations so much and hope they continue for years to come.

Lani you too, are an angel on this earth teaching us all to tread lightly.

Today I am inspired to write more about my beautiful angel lady Susanna. As my readers will be aware Susanna is my most beautiful friend, an angel, a true gift 🎁 from God.

As with most of the world, we are going through a terrible time, here in Melbourne. Our daily numbers for new covid infections are around 40,000. These shocking numbers have propelled both Susanna and I into action, and whilst we may be isolating, we spend out days texting and ringing those we love. We do this to support our loved ones, to show we are truly never alone.

Susanna amazes me. Here is a lady, whom is battling cancer, and she spends the great majority of her time ⏲ being ❤ loving and caring to all who are blessed to know her. She never complains about her cancer, if anything, she has a sense of humour about it. She jokes about her life and her predicament. She literally gives all her energy to being a positive force.

Susanna says she will always chase the rainbows 🌈 in life and always see the bright side of things. She literally is a 🌈 rainbow, a bright shining 🌟 star. She does not have a mean bone in her body, she has compassion and empathy for all. At a time like this in Melbourne, her attitude is a lesson for us all. Instead of being overcome with negativity over covid, let’s take the opportunity to be a loving support to all who we know. Take a leaf 🍃 out of Susannas book and start regularly contacting our loved 😍 ❤ one’s by phone 📱 or text and share some gentle humour or positivity. Be the rainbow 🌈 in the lives of the lonely who are finding covid just too much to think about. Start a chain of rainbows 🌈 and focus on being a positive life force. If Susanna can do all that she does, whilst going through her own difficult time, then we people should a least be able to spread a small amount of love .

It is compassion, positivity and love that will ultimately overcome this pandemic. Susanna is right ✅. Let’s all begin to chase our own 🌈 🌈 🌈 🌈 rainbows The pot of gold is the love that will grow for us all.

I’m lying here on the couch with the greatest muse of my life lying beside me.

Lily has no idea she is my muse. She is my loving, protective 💖 little dog, who is at her happiest, when she is near me, next to me touching me in some way. I really love her little body close to mine touching me, as I feel her total unconditional love for me. She is a cavoodle, who has a lot of cavalier in her. King Charles Cavaliers were initially bred to keep King Charles the first feet warm, and it is part of their genetics to be physically close to their owners This is not a negative form of neediness. It is the most wonderful genetic thing, that these dogs🐕 require to feel close to the person they love ❤ most in the 🌎 world

Lily has been a great ibpiratuon for some of the children’s literature I have written, so she definitely is my muse. She is very easy to write about and I will write more about her in the future. She is the absolute best thing that has happened in my life in a long time.

It was hard to leave her, during my last hospital stay. The hardest thing I ever had to do was leave her, when she was screaming for me, to enter the hospital. During lockdown in the hospital I was in agony that Lily couldn’t visit. One of the kind nurses suggested that I train Lily to be my assistance dog, then she could come into the hospital with me. I am seriously locking onto that .

Lily brings me so much love and joy and she definitely 💗 has a tremendous positive impact on my life . I don’t have a human muse, I have a canine muse and she brings rainbows and sunshine to my life. She inspires me to write ✍

God bless you Lily. You are amazing.

Today I had an appointment with my psychiatrist and upon reflection decided to write about him and the positive impact he has on my life.

To begin with I have not always had a great psychiatrist in my life. My past psychiatrist was not a nice person and I would often leave my sessions with him in tears. Enough said of that. Begone to negative experiences.

My current psychiatrist is a wonderful man. He is highly educated and respected as well as being respectful 🙏. I kiterally thank God he came into my life. He has counselled and guided me through the most challenging times in my life. My workcover case, my marriage breakdown. He has been there for me with a gentle caring and appropriate manner . We talk about the big things in life, like faith in God and life 🙏 purpose .

I trust him immensely and when I have to go into hospital, he is there to support me on my journey back into life. He does not judge and always is polite I think he has well developed compassion and empathy becuase his formative years wwre spent living in a poor, overpopulated country where poverty beyond what we exoerince in Australia is common. He is appreciative of the fact that through education he is able to live a great life and provide for his family. He is a psychiatrist based at a private hospital and he always looks the part. He wears suits and 👔 ties and always looks immaculate and represents the hospital well

Would I recommend my psychiatrist to other people in need. Absolutely 💯 100 per cent.

He always has time to hear whatever it is you need to talk to him about. And gee can I tell you that when you are unwell and in hospital, you really do need a listening 🎶 ear to vent and make sense of what is going on in your mind

I think that is the mark of a good psychiatrist, if you would graciously recommend them to others

I don’t need to name my psychiatrist. I only have two words that say it all..THANK YOU.

As my readers know I was looking forward to Christmas. I certainly had a nice Christmas full of goodwill and cheer.

I also was spoiled by my loved one’s. Susanna and Pat were extremely generous to me and I feel honoured to have such beautiful friends in my life. The gifts 🎁 they gave were extremely thoughtful and it is obvious they know me well.

I also got to give a personal Christmas message to Neil Finn and his family 👪 when on Christmas Eve Neil dropped online a special song for his fans, that we could leave online comments about.

I got to spend Christmas with my family 👪 ❤ 💕 and delighted in seeing my nieces home and her baby bump, as she is pregnant with her first child. Many happy memories were made on the day. I am a very proud Aunt and love my niblings with a passion ❤ 💕 💖 💙.

I had the joyful, peaceful Christmas that I was hoping for and appreciated 🙏 the little things that go along with celebrating the festive season.

I hope all my readers also had a joyful peaceful 🎄 Christmas and that Santa was kind to you. Santa was certainly kind to Lily, she was overwhelmed by 🎁 gifts and treats and didn’t know what to play with first. Lily just loves getting presents and she has the joy of a small child, that is infectious to watch.

I wish all my readers a Happy New Year and will ✍ write more as I am inspired.