By luck of birth

I have always been aware of how fortunate I am, how lucky I was to be born into the family I was, in the country I was, to have the education I have and have had the opportunities in my life. I have grown up in a country where I never feared for my safety, I could ride my bike around as a child, spend time with my friends and go were I wanted when I wanted.

I have had a couple of holidays over the last few months which have reminded me of this in huge amounts. In October, I had an eye opening few days in Northern Ireland with my parents. And more recently, two weeks in Kenya.

Life

It is amazing how ‘life gets in the way’ of us doing what makes us feel good, what makes us relax and be a better person. Life admin takes up so much of our spare time that things that we want to achieve just don’t end up happening. Or we revert to the same old routine that we don’t discover something new. Add winter into that equation and things fall behind.

Invisible sickness

Disclaimer: I have been writing this post on and off for the last couple of months. It isn’t very long but it is about something that has taken me a long time to come to terms with and begin to be comfortable to share outside of my circle. Some references may seem outdated by the time I have posted it, but the impact of those events are still as important to remember and recognise as a catalyst for this.

Over the last few months and years there have been a sad number of losses in the music industry and in other areas of entertainment. This is not uncommon. The most recent one that hit me was Chester Bennington from Linkin Park. The thing that I find most upsetting is when comes out that the people lost were living with depression or another mental health problem. For a very short time after that there is a huge speaking out from people saying that we should talk about depression, take the stigma away from it, then it all goes quiet again and becomes something that isn’t spoken about again. I don’t know why this is.

Update: a couple of months on, there has been nothing significant to continue the discussion that occurred in the week following his death. Sadly, this is not a surprise.

Six Years

The 6th of August was one of those landmark days for me as it is the day, at 24 years old, that I left Sydney, my home, my job, my friends and family, to move to London. I didn’t know how it would turn out, if I would last, if I would even enjoy it,  if I could be self sufficient. But here I am, six years on, still here, and very happy in my decision to leap, to give it a go and see what happened.

Grandad

On Monday 3rd July we say goodbye to the larger than life man who I had the honour of calling Grandad. He, alongside with Grandma, have grown the most incredible family who I am so proud of. He taught us how to love unconditionally, to help others, how to be patient, and to see the wonder and adventure in everything.

David Allen Anderson came from Takapuna in Auckland. His family were well known in the area as they were the milkmen. He was a keen sailor and had a boat which he owned with his best friend and future brother-in-law, George. He was fit, strong and handsome.

Tracking down my inspiration

For many years, at least 7 or 8, my mother and I have been trying to track down a teacher that I had in primary school who I found so inspiring.

Why I travel

As I finish packing for another trip, I realise that I am asking myself why do I travel. What is it that makes me want to go to new places, get lost, lose things, forget things, not know the language, not know what I am ordering. Why on earth do I do this?

Lessons from my Mum

The Sunday just gone marked Mothers Day in Australia. So what else should I let inspire me in writing for this than the woman that inspires me every single day!