R U OK?

Today, in Australia, is it "R U OK? Day"

R U OK? is an organisation whose main aim is suicide prevention. Today they are encouraging everyone across the country to ask their families, friends and colleagues a very simple question; "Are you OK?"

They have a fantastic page explaining how to start a conversation with someone you are concerned about, and how to support them through the conversation.

They also have a list of numbers if you have serious concerns for someone who might be in crisis.

I have been touched by depression a few times, but only mildly.

Without the concern of my family noticing a change in my behaviour, and asking me if I was OK, I might not be the person I am today.

So, I'm asking - R U OK?

Who will you ask?

 Please, if you are concerned for someone in crisis, or need urgent support yourself, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

  

  

{images from here and here}

Ten years ago...

The New York skyline - before and after

The question used to be, "Where were you when JFK was shot?"

Now it's, "Where were you on 9/11?"

I remember. Exactly. Like it was yesterday.... which is a little strange, because I don't always remember my yesterdays.

I was working in a call centre in the UK. It had been a busy day, when all of a sudden the calls tapered off and then stopped completely.

My colleagues and I looked at each other and wondered if there had been some sort of phone failure.

Then one of the supervisors (the only ones who had internet access on their computers) let out a horrified gasp, "There's been a terrorist attack in New York... I think they've blown up the World Trade Centre!"

We all huddled around her computer trying to read the small font, to see the pictures, to make sense of what was happening.

At 5pm, there was a mass exoudus from the office. I went straight home and turned on the TV. For the next few hours I sat glued to the set, with tears streaming down my face and my heart breaking.

I watched and re-watched the scenes unfold; the planes, the explosions, the smoke, the collapse.

I watched people throw themselves out of the building. I couldn't believe what I was seeing; I couldn't imagine having to make that choice.

I thought about the people in the building, those in the levels above and those in the levels below. I thought about the families of those in the Towers; not knowing where their loved ones were, if they were safe.

I couldn't (still can't!) imagine how those people who were trapped felt. Uncertain, to begin with, of what was going on and then completely aware of what had happened, and what was to come.

Eventually, emotionally exhausted, I turned of the TV and cried myself to sleep.

September 11, 2001 - a day that has been etched into my heart.

The day the world changed forever.

Where were you when you when the World Trade Centre was attacked?

{image from here}

Gratitude

A while ago, I was pretty down in the dumps.

It's not the first time I've been there. But thanks to counselling and a gaining a Certificate III in Holistic Counselling, I know my mental-self pretty well now and I can read the signs that all is not well in "Melissa's Brain"

So I let one of my Besties know that I was not in a good head space, had a vent, and then booked myself in for some counselling

My beautiful friend took on board everything I had said, and because she was about to go on an overseas adventure, she sent me a care package. (Yes, she is that awesome!)

In that care package was a Gratitude book from kikki.K, one of my all-time favourite shops.

It took me a little while to get around to writing in it. But two months ago, I decided to make a start; I decided to start looking at life with a more positive attitude.

Now every night, before I go to sleep, I reflect back on the day and write down three things that I am grateful for.

I am ALWAYS grateful for my Little Monster, and the smile he brings to my heart. The same can also be said for Husband.
(Although they are also both very capable of making me want to pull my hair out!)

Most days I know exactly what I am grateful for, and I can fill up the page within minutes of putting pen to paper.

But it's not always so easy. Sometimes and I get the first two, and then I have to turn to Husband and ask him what he thinks I should be grateful for.

Other times I can sit there for a good 20 minutes before I have written a word.

It is those times where I struggle, that I think I gain the most benefit from the book. Because those are the days where I have to really reflect.

I have to look back at my day, and if nothing big jumps out at me, I have to look back at the smaller things in my day.

Last week I posted about having a pretty lousy day. That night as I lay in bed, book on lap and pen in mouth, I could not think of a single thing to write.

I decided that for that day, I was grateful for:

• Getting a seat on the bus into work
• Eating my lunch in the sunshine
• Having a glass of wine with dinner

Hardly mind blowingly insightful or deep. But momentous in that I was able to find three things to be
grateful for on a very shitty day.

Gratitude is a skill that I am slowly learning, and one that I am pleased to have. Because now I can see the more positive things in my life, and no matter how big or small I know that I will always have something to be grateful for.

How do you find the positives in your day?

{images from here, here and here}

A Father's Day post

I may have mentioned it before (I do tend to repeat myself!) but I am a very lucky lady.

I am blessed to have three men in my life that I can call my Fathers; my Dad, my step-Dad and my Father-in-Law.

My Dad lives overseas and my step-Dad is on a well deserved holiday, so I won't be able to see them on what Husband calls "The Best Day Of The Year".
(I will get to see my Father-in-Law for a hug, thankfully, and I can't wait to see his face when he reads the card I got!)

This Father's Day, as I watch Husband and the Little Monster laugh and cuddle and play together, I want to share my gratitude for these wonderful men; so I am dedicating this post to the father figures in my life.

They have loved me and supported me through all sorts of crises (real and imagined - I'm looking at you 15-year old tormented drama queen self!)

When I have reached a cross roads, they have all held my hand whilst I made a decision. They have offered advice when it has been most needed, and have never tried to force me to make a decision before I was ready.

Between them, they have celebrated all of my triumphs in life; from taking my first step, to passing exams, from ending a relationship and moving half way around the world, to giving birth to my son.

All three of these men love me unconditionally, and all three of these men have helped me become the person I am today.

Without them, my life (I!) would be very different.

So, Happy Father's Day gentlemen. Thank you for all that you have given me and for everything else yet to come!

{image credit}

The perfect end to an otherwise ordinary week

This week at work was not my greatest, but thankfully it is almost over - and I am looking forward to a weekend with Husband and the Little Monster.

Just in case you happen to live under a rock, this Sunday is Father's Day.

It's Husband's second one, and I'm am so excited about getting the the Little Monster to wake up his Daddy with a big kiss and cuddle.... or by his zombie walk (his little voice saying "baaaaiiins, baaaaaiiinnns", coupled with the flailing arm/swaying walk , cracks me up every time!).

We are hoping to get out of the city for a night, or at least for a day!, just to have some good old fashioned family "down time" in the clean country air.

However we spend this weekend, it will be full of love and cuddles and family.

What a lucky girl I am!

{Image credit}

What are you up to this weekend?