Home day curse?

I’ve done my back. Well actually the issue is more in my hips and it is very much improved from Wednesday but….

First time this year I had some free time our puppy broke his leg

Second time I got majorly stressed out

Third time I couldn’t walk for 2 days

I’m sensing a pattern I am in no way impressed with. But then again these things are meant to come in threes so I should be ok now, right? Right?!?

Life however is good

I’ve been really enjoying A Place to Call Home although it has also challenged my beliefs around homosexuality – the treatment of a man in this series because of his sexual desires is horrific

I’ve caught up on my wordpress feed, so much good stuff – I think my next challenge is to read a non-fiction book perhaps one by Neil Postman

I’ve handed in all due assignments so far – this week will be the big challenge though with my first lengthy essay.

All three of my teams won their games today – be warned netball related post on my mind

I love my kids and family – what more can i say 🙂

Hope you’re weekend is going well, preferably less the aches and pains I’m experiencing but also full of love.

 

It’s nice to touch base, God bless

 

ps Feel free to share a tidbit from your life – I need all the distraction from study I can get!!

My Vote

It’s election day in Australia tomorrow. I’m one of those weirdos who love elections and gets excited about numbering all the boxes under the line on the senate paper, but sadly not so much this year.

My big decision this week was dropping a subject, and although I knew that it  was the decision I was going to make I still spent all week overthinking it, especially when I got grades back which were much better than expected. It’s the right decision – I want to be available to support my Mum, to prioritise my family and I’ve committed to school council. Plus I’ve been enjoying my job a lot more recently so the drive to do something different is not so great even if I don’t like the idea of extending study for another year.

Back to politics – each of our two major parties are much of a muchness as far as I’m concerned. Normally I would spend a fair bit of time researching but I just havn’t had the energy this year. My electorate is a pretty safe liberal seat, the only exciting thing is that the paper reported Nick Xenophon’s party may actually come close. I’ve become disillusioned with the Family First party by their lack of response regarding refugees and the Greens candidate is just an outsider. Labor had me a bit excited with a local candidate for once and their commitment to unfreeze medicare rebates which directly affects my job. I also support their position on education and implementing Gonski so was very tempted.

In the end both my upper and lower seat votes have been mostly influenced by their position on gay marriage.

Happy Election Eve Australia. We are lucky to live in such a great democratic country.

 

Breathing Space

It’s been awhile in between posts. I was busy with end of semester assignments and it was tough. I got stressed. And my uncle killed himself.

 

There was so much more I was going to write, life has been busy as always and everyday brings new things to reflect on/stew over/praise God for but…

 

I’m on a 2 week mid-semester study break and considering dropping out of studies for a bit to focus on my own mental well-being. If it happens I will recommit to a blog a week or maybe to take pressure off, once a fortnight. Until then – enjoy your Friday night/weekend/wordpress reading.

 

ps to anyone that reads this it means a lot, feeling connected and heard is what I love about the world of blogging

 

 

 

Just a normal today

Today was just a normal day in as much as each different day can be…

I was home mostly which was lovely and pretty well up to date with study. Dishes were done and the sky started out too cloudy for washing. It was just me and my son. Plus I didn’t check facebook until this evening (big achievement).

Tidied up this morning especially the kitchen table. Made a to-do list, although didn’t check it so more things to do tomorrow.

Tried really hard to make time just to play with my boy. Managed to clean the lounge room while playing cowboys. Got distracted about sun finally peeking through while playing cricket outside but came back after putting on a load. Had cuddles and read a book.

I seem to remember spending more time on the floor with my older daughter but while I would like to make more time for my son I also appreciate that I have more direction now and it makes me feel good to get housework-y stuff done (i.e. I swept the floor!). Now to find the balance. Struggle to spend more than 5 minutes playing though.

Finished off some work notes, planned my calendar and realised I’d need to do more work.

Had a counselling session as part of my counselling study. We are looking at Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and working on my values. It’s been a bit hard as I don’t feel I need counselling right now, life is mostly good but it’s part of my course. Feel for my counsellor who has to work with me and add skype and bad connections to that….well enough said! Today’s session was pretty ok though. Felt I got to tell more about myself, the counsellor commented on a theme of people in my values (career, education, recreation, fun, spirituality, community). Next week we’ll look at relationships I feel I may be putting thinking about that off.

Washing out and into town. Was hoping to catch up with a friend which didn’t work out but for me a good thing as did some more of my college readings. Picked up my daughter from school. Dropped into the bank. Hearing appointment for daughter – it actually made me quite proud, she was answering the audiologists questions and being quite independent. We will be getting a FM system for her to use at school. Errands down the street, including walking and somewhat minimal complaining!

Home, unpacked groceries, brought in washing, cooked tea, ate tea, reader and piano practise with daughter (first time I’d sat with her at piano, she’s obviously taking things in well) bedtime.

Finished my readings, did the quiz (100%!). Really up to date with study now and another home day tomorrow. Think I’ll start a novel tonight.

Just a normal day….

 

ps Just to add that last totally normal parenting moment – my son peed at the dinner table – ahh the joys!

Study, work and housekeeping

I’m working on my first written assignment for uni today (Freud’s psychoanalysis anyone?) so unfortunately not a lot of energy or motivation for much else – although I am contemplating heading to bed soon with a novel, need to get some additional references before I allow that though and time is running out!

Life is busy. I say that every week, but every week its true. This week there was extra tiredness following a super awesome wedding reception. I also had three days of work, not full days but enough to make me feel like I had been working three days straight!

I also had a catch up with my boss…

Everyone time I meet up with my boss I walk away realising I don’t really like her. Well no it’s not so much I don’t like her because I have massive respect for her and her business but we just can’t seem to connect and work really differently. Good thing I work remotely so catching up is rather rare.

So really a good reminder of why I’m studying and trying to change direction. Also good that I have a holiday just around the corner!

My husband also kept telling me the house needed cleaning. I agree quite wholeheartedly but take exception to being told when he could just go ahead and do something about it. I am working really hard to stay on top of the dishes, shopping, laundry etc. and he never appreciates that effort. Urrgggh

Time just disappeared last week. Let’s hope this coming week  has enough available so I can finish my assignments, go to my appointments, see my clients, get ready for our holidays and maybe squeeze in some of my to do list, hmmm….

What’s been keeping you busy lately?

Ooops blog failure

My aim for this blog is to post at least once a week, but looking at my stats today it’s been 8 days sine my last posting – ooops.

Today feels like a Saturday for me. My first day ‘off-ish’ since I last posted. Life is quite busy, and I still have to catch up on the dishes from a roast lunch with friends on Sunday!

Last Thursday I went down to the big smoke for an interview….and I got accepted into a Masters course on Counselling. Feeling pretty excited but as my husband keeps kindly reminding me – I will have to somehow fit the study in!

On Friday I was interviewed for a research study by a Phd in Philosophy candidate – was different to what I had expected but a pretty good experience. I also had to rush my daughter after school to her ballet studio for her uniform fitting, thank goodness we got there when we did, the line after was looonng.

Saturday was cricket and pool party, Sunday church and visitors.

Then Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I worked and it’s already Friday again – still havn’t finished the dishes but getting oh so close and on the positive side, I had a nap ysterday.

So yes life is busy – but good 🙂

 

Which way next (Part 3)

…For the last 2 years I’ve been wanting to change career direction….

I kind of decided in 2014 that my current job wasn’t the best fit for me and started to look into some other options. I started thinking about studying social work. It’s an area I’ve always been interested in but at some stage in my high school ‘working out what I want to do’ days my Mum encouraged me to pursue other areas – (at least that’s how I remember it) I think she believed I needed more real life experience and I thank her for that because as a 17 year old I would have been a very naive social worker student.

But I figure now I’m at least a little bit more world-wise and went to talk to a new friend who is a social worker. She pointed me in the direction of an occupational therapy mental health position in community health being advertised at the time. Awesome idea, different field without having to study- I put in a lot of effort for the application and interview preparation and it was a great experience BUT I didn’t get the job. I was definitely lacking experience despite working with veterans with PTSD. I did get a contact with one of the panel and he has since pointed me in the direction of some great resources but I was rather devastated at the time.

Okay a lot devastated, after a lot of reflection and you know life I decided to take it as a sign a) that I needed to do more short courses/online education etc.   to prove/follow my passion in mental health  b) maybe God was shutting the door for me working in mental health, I’d also applied for jobs in this area straight out of uni with no luck. I spoke with another OT and realised there are different levels of mental health care ie severe/emergency, moderate and given my own mental health issues perhaps helping people with more moderate level mental health concerns would be a better fit. It was great to once again feel there might be a job out there for me in the mental health field.

I started looking at degrees in mental health. And then I got sick again – how could I possibly ever help anyone else experiencing mental health when I can’t deal with it myself? Despite the horrible lows I made it through the other side and while doing a course with a life coach was asked what do I want to do – the answer was counselling, it felt unscripted just straight from the heart so that is the dream I want to follow this year. Hopefully it will lead me to a new job where I can work in a team and combine my passion of engaging people with helping them.

What are your goals for 2016? Or for your career/study? Any advice for studying counselling?

ps Just wanted to say thanks to people who are following, such a good feeling to know my thoughts are being read. Reached 50 likes this week 🙂