My first outing in WA

1
87 followers

Hello and Welcome

I would like to begin by telling you about myself, and what I would like to do in the here and now.

I came from an ordinary family with typical middle class values and ethics. I was always expected to get married and have children. That is what women did.

I trained as a general nurse and did get married, and then I trained as a landscape designer and had my own business. I worked with my husband and had three fantastic kids. When the landscaping business folded due to the economic downturn, I added more training to move into psychiatric nursing.

Ten years go past and I have three children and a husband who had ten jobs in those years, some he took on a commission basis, which meant at times I had to work longer hours and overtime to make ends meet.

Of course there is a happy ending, but just not then. Remind me to tell you the happy ending.

The time is the beginning of the Internet going viral and affairs and ‘hook’ ups were rife. Being loyal and trusting I did not even entertain the idea of that he would partake of the opportunities but he did and within 12 months he had left the country.

So here I was at 39, with three kids (2, 5 and 9), living in a rental property and no car. There is a saying “… nurses are always employable”. Illness is catchy.

So with the help of my mum, who lost dad 10 years earlier, it was head down and b*m up, telling myself to get to work, and that is what I did.

I have operated in many forms of mental health nursing from over the years, mostly in the acute sector, in emergency departments and community crisis teams, and in the prison systems. I have had team roles as a clinician, manager roles, executive roles in the tertiary health (hospitals) and primary health (general practice and community usually non-profit) settings.

Hard but very rewarding work, and it has been an honour to be part of the lives of those who have lived experiences of mental illness, both the individuals and their families and loved ones.

My goal was to raise happy health contributing adults, who are kind, resilient and socially aware. I am proud to say I did that, and they continue to make be proud, as they are now 22, 24 and 29.

In 2014 I was diagnosed with stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The song “Knock, Knock, Knocking on Heavens Door” (great song in any version) came to mind because stage 4 means it is in multiple organs. I was 4 days into a new job when I received the diagnosis and I had just purchased my own home at 57 years of age by cashing in my superannuation.

After the first session of chemotherapy it took 6 days for my hair to fall out. I was devastated. There needs to be a group that is hooked on their hair, a self-help group. My vanity is my hair, I would get my hair washed and blow-dried every week. Let me tell you I give ‘good hair’ – seriously good hair. It was there one week and totally gone the next. The day it began falling out it was a stinking hot day in Melbourne. I was going home, driving on a freeway with my window down, running my hands over my head, removing long tresses of hair out the window, letting the wind take it away. Those poor drivers behind me, I still think about it today, and chuckle

By May 2015, I had finished all my chemotherapy, and my hair started to grow back. I waited for the epiphany, and waited and waited and when it did not come, well... it was back to business as usual.

Fast-forward to October 2016 and I lose a long time friend of 35 years to cancer. It was an awful time and she was such a great friend to lose. As nurses we gathered round to nurse her at home. I miss her terribly to this day.

Her gift to me, well - I am still speechless. My dear friend Chris B left me a large bequeath from her will. The gift she gave me, she gave me my epiphany.

For the first time in such a long period, I had air around me to breathe, literally breathe.

My focus now is not on illness. I still nurse to pay the bills but I work casual shifts.

Now is my time to work on my own personal development and build an income for retirement so that I can have time to work on my art.

I would also like to help other single mums who find themselves in a similar position to myself.

I have rented a little space in a studio to paint. I work in oils, and the atmosphere is amazing as it is filled with wonderfully creative people and it is such a delicious epidemic. That is my place to work on my flow, and my niche.

I have studied two levels in wellness coaching (based in positive psychology) and would like to maximise that with an online presence.

I spent 3 weeks in Paris over last Christmas and into the New Year. It was my first time there and something that was always a dream - my friend made it a reality. It is a spectacular city and I want to return and do more traveling - maybe a travel blog for the over 55's.

I have often taken risks to improve my family’s situation. None of them were successful. Many of them a scam, but sometimes – “desperate times called for desperate measures. Wealthy Affiliate just seems right.

So the happy ending – I can breathe and with that ability I can see new horizons and possibilities. I am going to make the most of my potential. Courage and daring are coursing through me. Thank you for reading this to the end. We can journey together – une autre foi, oui? (Another time, yes)

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Recent Comments

4

Interesting.

Moving story. You are a survivor. It is an honor to know you

Thank you - I am chuffed for your thoughts.
Please stay in touch

I know it is long but I hope it is interesting x

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Create Your Free Wealthy Affiliate Account Today!
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Core “Business Start Up” Training