State of mind...and...writing.
While it is true that writing means a great deal to me ~ it is calming, reflective, poignant, constructive, stimulating, action driven, motivating, beneficial, and relaxing (to me), I have to admit on some days it is AS important AS breathing.
I miss it when I do not write. I think about it when I am not writing. I get very grumpy when days go by and due to some very serious university commitments, I need and have to avoid this blog, and then I begin to get truly agitated. It is even astonishing to ME how much I enjoy the very basic exercise of writing.
Writing helps with your mental state, too, and can, at times, clear the cobwebs. As you write, you will begin to think of 'other things'...like a mind-map...that continuously grows, developing new ideas and ways to look differently at situations.
I personally do not think how writing can be ANYTHING, but healthy.
And, then, shocking news enters your life and the world stops, doesn't it?
Last Sunday morning I was out for a jog enjoying a delightfully peaceful morning and arrived home to absolutely dreadful news that a gorgeous and simply beautiful woman and mother took her life. I stood still. Tears began rolling down my face and I did what I always do when I hear someone has died, I sat down, closed my eyes and pictured her face. All I could do was ask 'why', but I knew why. I had received a most recent and traumatising phone call from this precious human being and she was in a very dark place. When you listen to someone's voice and you hear their pain and their distress, your mind instantly goes into overdrive thinking how you can help. After the phone call, I rang Lifeline and they were, helpful, but...only somewhat. I rang the police after I finished with Lifeline and they were far more encouraging and helpful, but this was approximately one week prior to her taking her own life, so, really - there was no help in the end. I even received a text message from her stating she was in a hospital lobby and no one would see her. NO ONE WOULD SEE HER. The system let her down. South Australia - AUSTRALIA - has to do better than this. We must. This woman had, apparently, been living in a very dark place for an insurmountable amount of time. Many people far closer to her than myself had tried repeatedly to help. So, now a family is left behind, but even sadder, a tiny little girl is forced to grow up without her mother.
I am the fortunate one to have known you...
That afternoon, Tinto and I were to join a small gathering at a local, country pub and listen to a fabulous band who used to grace our pub with their presence. We were a bit late arriving, but I decided that I wanted to be around mates, and music, and laughter, and life. I wanted to be surrounded by noise, hoping it would drown out the sadness. It helped, but it did not completely work...
We arrived home fairly early in the evening. We did not stay that long. Once we were settled I checked my phone and immediately saw something that looked a bit 'off'. I looked again and read and re-read some messages and some posts.
A Facebook friend had died suddenly. She was gone. We had only met about a year ago when Tinto and I were travelling through Europe. I am not quite certain how this wonderful woman found me/us, but we connected and she was just fun! Apparently, she had a deep desire to travel and she loved to see where we were heading and where we had been and she continued to follow us when we returned home to Australia. My new friend had a huge love for her family and friends and she called me 'Pat'...exactly as my Mother used to do. She also thought my husband was very funny (he IS!) and my grand-daughter was precious (she IS!). We had a good connection - lots of good laughs - and I always hoped that one day when I returned to the States, we would have an opportunity to meet. Now, that will not happen.
I posted on her fb page that she had a 'mate' who thought the world of her living a million miles away and that, we, collectively, should always remember that no matter the distance - or the age - or the race - we can make such an impact on another human being's life. You do not have to be in someone's life for decades to make a difference. You simply have to be 'that kind of person' who makes and leaves the impression we admire and are drawn to - kind and thoughtful. Dear Rosetta, Rest In Peace. Thank you for entering my life.
Blanco of The Roaming Stevens, always aware of the fact that every day is a day to embrace.
PS: Please excuse all typos.
I miss it when I do not write. I think about it when I am not writing. I get very grumpy when days go by and due to some very serious university commitments, I need and have to avoid this blog, and then I begin to get truly agitated. It is even astonishing to ME how much I enjoy the very basic exercise of writing.
Writing helps with your mental state, too, and can, at times, clear the cobwebs. As you write, you will begin to think of 'other things'...like a mind-map...that continuously grows, developing new ideas and ways to look differently at situations.
I personally do not think how writing can be ANYTHING, but healthy.
And, then, shocking news enters your life and the world stops, doesn't it?
Last Sunday morning I was out for a jog enjoying a delightfully peaceful morning and arrived home to absolutely dreadful news that a gorgeous and simply beautiful woman and mother took her life. I stood still. Tears began rolling down my face and I did what I always do when I hear someone has died, I sat down, closed my eyes and pictured her face. All I could do was ask 'why', but I knew why. I had received a most recent and traumatising phone call from this precious human being and she was in a very dark place. When you listen to someone's voice and you hear their pain and their distress, your mind instantly goes into overdrive thinking how you can help. After the phone call, I rang Lifeline and they were, helpful, but...only somewhat. I rang the police after I finished with Lifeline and they were far more encouraging and helpful, but this was approximately one week prior to her taking her own life, so, really - there was no help in the end. I even received a text message from her stating she was in a hospital lobby and no one would see her. NO ONE WOULD SEE HER. The system let her down. South Australia - AUSTRALIA - has to do better than this. We must. This woman had, apparently, been living in a very dark place for an insurmountable amount of time. Many people far closer to her than myself had tried repeatedly to help. So, now a family is left behind, but even sadder, a tiny little girl is forced to grow up without her mother.
I am the fortunate one to have known you...
That afternoon, Tinto and I were to join a small gathering at a local, country pub and listen to a fabulous band who used to grace our pub with their presence. We were a bit late arriving, but I decided that I wanted to be around mates, and music, and laughter, and life. I wanted to be surrounded by noise, hoping it would drown out the sadness. It helped, but it did not completely work...
We arrived home fairly early in the evening. We did not stay that long. Once we were settled I checked my phone and immediately saw something that looked a bit 'off'. I looked again and read and re-read some messages and some posts.
A Facebook friend had died suddenly. She was gone. We had only met about a year ago when Tinto and I were travelling through Europe. I am not quite certain how this wonderful woman found me/us, but we connected and she was just fun! Apparently, she had a deep desire to travel and she loved to see where we were heading and where we had been and she continued to follow us when we returned home to Australia. My new friend had a huge love for her family and friends and she called me 'Pat'...exactly as my Mother used to do. She also thought my husband was very funny (he IS!) and my grand-daughter was precious (she IS!). We had a good connection - lots of good laughs - and I always hoped that one day when I returned to the States, we would have an opportunity to meet. Now, that will not happen.
I posted on her fb page that she had a 'mate' who thought the world of her living a million miles away and that, we, collectively, should always remember that no matter the distance - or the age - or the race - we can make such an impact on another human being's life. You do not have to be in someone's life for decades to make a difference. You simply have to be 'that kind of person' who makes and leaves the impression we admire and are drawn to - kind and thoughtful. Dear Rosetta, Rest In Peace. Thank you for entering my life.
Blanco of The Roaming Stevens, always aware of the fact that every day is a day to embrace.
PS: Please excuse all typos.
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