Today's addition to my journal :A piece by Mother TeresaAn albanian- Indian nun1910-1997
I often journal my thoughts, reflections or things I've read that have resonated with me.
Today it is this.So, in short ...
Forgive anywayBe kind anywaySucceed anywayBe honest and frank anywayBuild anywayBe happy anywayDo good anywayGive the world the best you've got anywayIt was never between you and them anyway.
The photo is of my journal where I've written this out in full. (Complete with an error!)
Reflecting is an important part of being a therapist and supervisor. Inspiration, ideas, thought process, drawings and doodles, wise words from another, realisations, fears, achievements and more can all be recorded or perhaps unpacked in journals. Free writing or free scribbles can unlock, reveal or remind us of so much.
Reading back through our journals we can often follow our journey, see our progress, recognise themes or be simply reminded of things we'd forgotten.Sometimes this can help us prepare for supervision or support our own therapy.
The...
23 years ago, on the 24th July 2002 I arrived in East Yorkshire, utterly broken, with very very little to my name, only intending to be passing through until I found somewhere to settle.I was in my mid 20's.
How very different my life is now, although there are different challenges.
I have my own home, a career, a business I love and a faith I wouldn't be without. All of which came after 2002.
When you have lost everything
In 2002 life was very painful and so very difficult, I had lost everything I loved and knew. Injustice stung daily to the core of me. I wasn't sure I could cope with life now or even if I wanted it anymore. If you know how this feels, you know. If you don't, I hope you never will.
Depression, anxiety and pain were my familar friends for more years than I care to recall. Tears and loneliness were a daily thing over and over, and...
The smallest gate in the world?!A metaphor.This popped up in my photo memories, reminding me of a lovely day.What I see in it today is slightly different to what I did then.Today I'm pondering ...Even when there's a small gate, we can still pass through and there can be joy, adventures and happiness at the other side.Today it speaks to me of challenging times, and of the reminder many have trodden a path before us and many will come after. The way forward has been made easier by them, if we realise it or not.All, pass through.
There's always a way
We never really know what's beyond a tight squeeze in life, but I do know diamonds are formed under extreme pressure.And, there's always a way.Take a breath.Look for the small gate
Look for the small gate...
I've always been a people person
I've always actively worked with people in one form or another.My first grown-up job in 1993 was as a health care assistant in an old cottage hospital working on long stay care of the elderly wards (as they were known then), often with those impacted by strokes or long-term health conditions. This was my first experience of working with brain injury. Thesekinds of wards don't even exist anymore. I really loved this job. I had so much one-to-one time with my patients to attend to their care and needs and to really listen to them.
It was here that I learned that we are all human-first, in very real ways.
I progressed to working in a brand-new build hospital working in the diagnostic radiology, the x ray department. I looked after patients' emotional and physical well-being when in the department for any kind of scan, x ray, or investigation. I really enjoyed the personal connection I had...