Possible Trigger Warning: Life Update!
Happy New Year, Everyone!
I wanted to share some the positive events that I experienced throughout the past few weeks of my life thus far. I started my new volunteering role in administration, as well as in assisting other volunteers with reducing the population of the already overpopulated cats and kittens in my city. This is done by foster carers (fellow volunteers of mine) paying out of their own back pocket to not only desex these cats and kittens, but to microchip and vaccinate them as well. We are also currently trying to get as may people as possible to sign a petition to get our city's government to make the desexing process free for stay and semi-owned cats and kittens (I am pretty sure this is what the petition is about - will fact check my information.) Getting people to sign the petition was part of the promotional work that I took part in on Christmas Eve Day, as well as selling calendars. I also helped out with delivering onion and sausages on bread to customers/adopters, while another volunteer cooked the barbecue, and his daughter worked on the till. I actually would like to give the till a go next time we have a barbecue, as I have previously used a till whilst working for an actual paying job at a supermarket, which gave me confidence and speaking with customers was something that I enjoyed doing. More recently, as in a few days ago, I assisted two other volunteers with administrative tasks (data entry), which was, again, something that I enjoyed doing. We used Shelter Manager, which was a program that I used previously when volunteering with another organisation, so for me it was brushing up on my understanding of the program. Next, I will be brushing up on my understanding of using DACO. It's refreshing volunteering for an organisation where you're not expected to be vegan, and to foster cats and kittens. The volunteers are very understanding and a breath of fresh air to work with.
I woke up in the middle of the night (3 am) of Christmas Day with Rhinovirus (I was not aware that I was infected with the illness right up until a few days later when mum and I went to our local general practitioner.) I had a bad cough and felt a bit dizzy. Mum had it worse than me. Her temperature got that high she had two silent seizures - neither which lasted long enough for her to be admitted to the emergency department of the hospital. Our doctor told us to keep drinking plenty of fluids and to keep taking cough medicine as well as medication to reduce our high temperatures. Christmas Day itself was otherwise wonderful - but unfortunately we celebrated with day without my mum and dad (dad had to do on call work.) My aunt read the message that I specifically wrote for her in my card to her, which stated 'I would love to rekindle our relationship.' And you know what? She absolutely agreed with me. So we are now on the path to improving our relationship 🤗 The present that I really appreciated the most from her was a book that she bought me, which was Eddie Betts' book, The Boy From Boomerang Crescent. I can't wait to start reading it. I feel like my aunt bought me that gift knowing that I am a proud Kaurna and Gurindji woman who takes pride in her cultural identity. I follow the AFL and I barrack for the Crows, and mum and dad bought me either last year or the year before's Crows' Indigenous guernsey. It is so beautiful - I absolutely love the design. Mum asked me if it was the women's guernsey and I had to politely let her down, because it was actually the men's one she bought for me 😅 I am hoping that Christmas Day this year is much better, though, because while presents are cool, it's celebrating the day with my entire family that means the most to me ♥️
Comments
Hey @-pringles- thank you for the positive update! It's always lovely hearing from you 😊
That is so wonderful to hear about your new volunteer role! It sounds like you have been doing a lot to contribute to such a great cause and we can hear just how much you're enjoying it. What do you think has been your most favourite part so far?
I'm sorry to hear that both you and your mum came down with Rhinovirus, especially on Christmas day. High temperatures are hard enough to manage but to have silent seizures too, that sounds really scary. How did you manage with everything going on? And how are you both feeling now?
It's always hard spending big holidays like Christmas without your parents, but I'm really glad to hear that it was a great day otherwise. Big holidays like that are always better with family so I understand what you mean but it sounds like you made the most out of a really difficult situation. I also want to say well done on taking such a huge step toward rekindling your relationship with your aunt! That would have taken a lot of courage to do so you should be so proud of yourself! I also think its great that your aunt agreed too, what a wonderful christmas gift.
With so many positives going on, is there something nice you can do for yourself tonight to celebrate? 💜
Hey Courtney,
Honestly speaking, my favourite part of volunteering so far is volunteering my time in completing administrative tasks. I am not a natural born promoter, so having the confidence to talk to stragners doesnt sit well with me at all 😅 I am more of an electronic communicator than a verbal communicator - that's for sure! My next goal is to assist with adoption days at a pet store at a shopping centre!
It's funny that you mention Rhinovirus, as mum has breifly woken up from her nap to let me know that she has a temperature! She contracted COVID at the end of November last year, and once she had recovered from it, she started contracted other illnesses! I really hope that she is OK at the moment. She is alive, and I am so grateful for that. It was definitely scary watching mum have two seizures for the first time in my 24 years of existence. It was something that I had never experienced before!
To celebrate, I have been doing a bit of self care, and that is reading The Boy From Boomerang Crescent. Absolutely loving it so far! And I am sure it will be an amazing read overall!
Hi @-pringles-,
So sorry to hear that you witnessed your mum having seizures, that would be very, very scary, and we hope that she is going ok 🤗
It is really good that you are dedicating some time to self-care and doing some reading, and looking for opportunities to develop your professional skills 💛
Hey Everyone,
Just another life update:
So I touched base with my Kids Helpline counsellor this evening, and we have agreed to keep our sessions fortnightly due to my age and the fact that I will soon have to transition to a different form of counselling. I am OK with this, as I am already seeing a private counsellor. My KIds Helpline cousnellor and I discussed some ways in which I could communicate with mum better, and the ways in which she could communicate with me, someone with undiagnosed attention-deficit-hyperactive-disorder of the impulsive and inattentive types, better. She suggested that I talk to mum when she is not affected by alcohol, and I completely agree with her. On that note, I get to speak with my private counsellor tomorrow over the phone. I'd love to meet her face-to-face but my schedule is crazy!
I have another game of netball tomorrow night and I won't feel nervous until a few hours before the game starts. That is what I have noticed. And this has been happening since 2020. We get to play a nice team tomorrow, but they are also the top team! I really cannot stand it when you play social netball and there are teams full of players who take the game far too seriously, like as if they are playing professionally. That is something that really makes me anxious, probably becasue I used to be ultra-competitive myself. Playing netball is great for my mental health but its also starting to take a toll on it due to the aforementioned reason. I will discuss this further with my private counsellor tomorrow. She, so far, has taught me box breathing to help me cope. This is how it works (if you haven't heard of it): inhale (four counts), hold (four counts), exhale (four counts), hold (four counts.) I've also been doing some meditation.
Hey @-pringles- ,
It sounds like your session with your Kids Helpline counsellor was really helpful, have you been able to try any of the tips for communicating with mum yet? If you want some more tips around communication, we have some articles that you may also find helpful.
How did your appointment go today?
It is okay that you are feeling nervous about the game tonight, I know you had some concerns that you were planning on speaking to your coach about and was wondering if you’ve had the chance yet? Box breathing and meditation sound like great coping strategies to use.
Wishing you all the best for your game tonight, remember to use some of those coping strategies if you need.💜
Hey @Blake_RO
My appointment was based on talking with my private counsellor about my communication skills and how I can improve them. Thank You for providing me with some articles, I'll give them a read 😄 Yep, I certainly have given this a try with mum! I told her about giving dad the number for Brother to Brother, and she, like dad, was really appreciative for that. We also discussed briefly my three stints in the psychiatric ward in one year and how I was grateful for all of the support that she and dad gave me throughout tough times.
I decided to have to night off from netball because I had broken sleep throughout the night and then the day. I just needed to rest 💕
Hey @-pringles-
It’s good to hear that your appointment went well and it sounds like you had a good conversation with mum. I’m sure she would’ve really appreciated you telling her how grateful you are for the support mum and dad have given you. How are you feeling after having this conversation?
Do you know if dad has had a yarn with Brother to Brother yet?
I know I’ve shared Nunkuwarrin Yunti with you in the past, and I was wondering if you’ve had a chance to look at some of the services they provide and whether any of these might be helpful for dad?
Also it’s really good to hear that you put your wellbeing first and took the time to rest!
