Gone With The Wind

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You get to spend a day inside your favorite movie. Tell us which one it is — and what happens to you while you’re there.

Growing up I loved Gone With the Wind. Scarlett O’Hara was the first stubborn, manipulative, capable female character, I connected with. She was my role model. Being a child, I didn’t notice her relationship difficulties or three husbands. I only had eyes for the fact that she could do anything she set her mind to and everyone loved her even those who hated her.

This year is 75 years since Gone with The Wind was released. Today, through Daily Prompt, I have the opportunity to become involved in this great movie and see what it teaches me. Coming from Australia I knew little about American history, the setting of this movie. It is a civil war romance and the passion for the cause was something that I had never seen before. This backdrop to the story gives it drama and purpose. Casting the main characters correctly— Scarlett and Rhett—was so important to the director that he held up production until both were available. A secret that did pay off in the end with the film winning 10 Academy Awards including Hattie McDaniel—the first African American to win an Oscar for her role as Mammie.

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Photo Credits: Google

The story theme for me was Scarlett’s determination to do whatever she had to for herself and her family. This was in strong opposition to the role many women played putting others before themselves and not standing up for their rights.

Scarlett-OHara

Photo Credits: Google

Scarlett’s strength was the focus of much controversy, but also admired by others. Unfortunately for Scarlett, she didn’t understand herself well and was guilty of not thinking about the consequences before taking action.

So what have I learnt from my time with Gone With The Wind?

  • Believe in yourself.
  • Do what you have to do, but to be truly successful consider the impact of your actions on others. You may still go ahead anyway—plan for problems.
  • Change is necessary.
  • Don’t judge a book by its cover. Support can come from the anyone at anytime.
  • Ask for what you need.
  • Sometimes you need to wait for the timing to be right. Don’t settle for second best.
  • Freedom is worth fighting for.
  • If you want something done, do it yourself.
  • Don’t give up.
  • Hard work can rebuild your life.

And lastly my favourite quote:

scarlett tomorrow

Photo Credits: Google

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/fourth-wall/

Liebster Award

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In the last week I have been honoured and excited to be nominated twice for the Liebster Award for new bloggers.

Thank you http://notestiedonthesagebrush.wordpress.com/ and http://betzceerambles.com/ for your recognition and encouragement. It is rewarding to know that other bloggers are enjoying what I write on my blog.

liebster21

The Liebster Award has German origins. The word “liebster” has several definitions: dearest, sweetest, kindest, nicest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, welcome, sweetheart and boyfriend.

It aims to discover new bloggers and welcome them to the blogosphere. Bloggers award other bloggers. Here are the rules for accepting the Liebster award:

  • Post the award on your blog.
  • Thank the blogger who presented this award and link back to their blog.
  • Write 11 random facts about yourself.
  • Nominate 11 bloggers who you feel deserve this award and who have less than 200 followers.
  • Answer 11 questions posted by the presenter and ask your nominees 11 questions.

Here are my 11 random facts:

1. I am a Leo.

2. I once ate cucumber sandwiches at Government House.

3. I write on coloured note pads—I don’t like white.

4. I have a new toy—a reflex punching ball.

5. I can’t sing but love karaoke.

6. Last year, I saw The Seekers in concert.

7. I love attending writers courses.

8. My favourite pet is a bunny rabbit.

9. In China, I like to drink Peach Tea.

10. My first house was in a coal mine.

11. I wish I could memorise my speeches

My 11 questions for you:

  1. If you wrote a book what genre would it be?
  2. Is WordPress you whole life right now?
  3. What current issue in the news are you passionate about?
  4. Do you like to get together with a small group of friends or do you like big parties?
  5. Do you prefer cities, small towns or being in a more remote area?
  6. When you travel do you like to rough it or do you prefer a hotel with all the amenities?
  7. Do you feel you really need to be in constant communication with friends on Facebook, text, twitter or other social media?
  8. Do you enjoy time to yourself, solitude?
  9. Do you need to have a special place in your home or elsewhere where it is quiet to write?
  10. Are you a romantic?
  11. What type of music do you enjoy?

My 11 Answers:

1. I have written a non-fiction book on how eating disorder recovery is possible—knowledge from a professional.

2. Not quite. I am also attempting to finish editing my book so I can publish it next year.

3. Mental health week last week otherwise, I don’t watch the news.

4. Small groups these days.

5. I would love to live in the country again but close enough to have the city services and not when I am still working.

6. Depends where I am travelling. Overseas definitely in a recognised safe hotel. I am also partial to a weekend camping away in the bush—complete with a dig your own toilet.

7. No. Most of the time I live in my own little world finding out what i need to at some stage.

8.  Yes. That is why I love writing. I speak to people all day every day at work. Home is me time.

9. I have taken over the back room but I also write a lot on the train.

10. Yes.

11. Songs with meaning to their words.

Second set of questions:

  1. Which do you find more tiresome – shoveling snow or dealing with mosquitoes and other warm weather pests?
  2. Bottled water or tap water, and why?
  3. Assuming you are omnivorous, could you live a year as a vegan?
  4. What is your favourite vegetarian meal?
  5. Baseball, football, basketball, hockey or Dancing with the Stars?
  6. Do you have a hobby or pastime (besides blogging)? What is it?
  7. If you could make a living blogging, would you leave your current employment?
  8. If you could afford any lifestyle you choose, what would it be?
  9. Television: which do you prefer – sitcoms or crime dramas? Other?
  10. What is one healthy habit you wish you could develop?
  11. Children? Or pets?

My 11 Answers:

1. I have never shoveled snow. Maybe this year on our trip to Canada I may get the experience. Mossies and flies can be very annoying however.

2. Tap water. We add flouride to it and it tastes good. Why pay for something I don’t need to.

3. No, I could never be vegan as I would struggle to get all of my nutrition being allergic to peanuts and unable to eat nut meat. There are also too many restriction on other things in a vegans life.

4. Chiili beans.

5. Dancing with the stars unless it is a major football game—rugby league, rugby union or aussie rules, not soccer.

6. Knitting although I don’t do it much anymore these days.

7. In a couple of years. I am getting to old for the commute.

8. Living in the country on the beach being a full-time writer and travelling overseas regularly.

9. Depends on the show—mostly I think sitcoms.

10. Exercising more regularly

11. Children. My two are adults now and would like a pet but if they get one it will be their responsibility not mine.

.And here are my 15 Blogger nominations—can’t count—no actually with two awards and more new bloggers to recognise I thought I would pay it forward to more. I didn’t quite have enough for 11 each. Some of my friends I have been following for some time, and some I have recently discovered. If you get the chance stop by I know they would love a visit.

http://shibumathewn15.wordpress.com/

http://toweararainbow.wordpress.com/

http://medicinalmeadows.com/

http://gillswriting.wordpress.com/

http://mybookself.org/

http://gypsysjourneys.com/

http://otterlover58.wordpress.com/

http://justplainolvic.wordpress.com/

http://tinadunksperceptions.com/

http://juliehhicks.wordpress.com/

http://crystaltrulove.wordpress.com/

http://wrinspirations.wordpress.com/

http://quinoaandcookies.wordpress.com/

http://kassafrass.com/

http://glannst.wordpress.com/

My 11 questions for you are:

1. Which brand and flavour potato chips do you prefer?

2. What is the strangest thing you have ever done?

3. What is your favourite flower?

4. What part of Australia would you like to visit?

5. What is your preferred way to spend the afternoon—blogging excluded.

6. What is the weirdest fact you know?

7. If you could have any job in the world for a week, what would you choose?

8. What is the best advice your mother ever told you?

9. What wish would you ask a gene for?

10. What two words best describe you?

11. What animal scares you the most?

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Refraction

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This week, let’s play with light! Show us what refraction means to you.

Vivid Sydney is an annual light, music and technology event held every year in May and June. It is a unique event—sometimes described as the world’s largest art gallery. This years festival highlights include:

IMG_6535 IMG_6561 IMG_6567 IMG_6569 IMG_6586 IMG_6557IMG_6592 Definitely worth venturing out on a winter night to see if you are in Sydney at this time of year.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/refraction/

Where are you?

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What’s your earliest memory involving another person? Recreate the scene — from the other person’s perspective.

I spent most of my early life living in the bush. Our home was the mine managers cottage of a working coal mine. We were isolated from the mine itself, so we saw very few people. At home was mum, dad, me (5) and sister (3).

***

My sister was always wandering off. She was the brave one. Or, as some people say, the stupid one. Anyone would think I am the oldest. I have more sense. I know wild animals are dangerous and there are plenty around here:

  • Snakes
  • Dingoes
  • Foxes
  • Brumbies—free roaming feral horses
  • Possums
  • Birds—especially magpies
  • Feral Cats

“Where is you?” I asked.

“Over here, in the long grass with my friend Sam, ” replied Max.

“Who is Sam?”

“Sam snake. Isn’t he beautiful.”

“Max, leave him. Come and play with me.”

“But look how big he is.”

“I don’t like snakes.”

“They won’t hurt you. They just lye in the sun.”

“I don’t think so, they’re scary.”

“His skin is so shiny. I want to touch it.”

“Stop” I yelled. “Mum, she’s playing with the snakes again.”

“Okay, okay. What do you want to play?”

“I want to ride our scooters”

“Go get them and I’ll be over in a minute”

“You better come or I’m telling mum.”

***

There was one concrete path between our house and the outback toilet. This was the only place we could ride. It was wide enough for two small girls to play together and expend some energy. We spent many hours in the early years entertaining ourselves with this and other activities— always waiting and hoping for someone to visit and break the boredom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/reverse-shot/

What About Me?

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Did you know today is Blog Action Day? Join bloggers from around the world and write a post about what inequality means to you. Have you ever encountered it in your daily life?

Inequality is everywhere. If you want to focus on it and not take action, you can find many reason to. But, does it help you grow? Sometimes, realising that life is unfair makes you a stronger person.

My experience of inequality came when I moved to country New South Wales. I was excited. I had never lived in the country—it looked so peaceful and they even had a psychiatric unit. I could work if I wanted to. In the country, few towns have mental health services—something I had never considered before my move.

I loved living in the country when I didn’t work. No traffic. Spending time with the kids and being in my own mum world.  Then, I decided to return to work after 12 month and everything changed. Working in mental health in the country was very different to the city. It was the most negative experience of my life. And, to top it off, the other staff had no real psychiatric experience. Some had worked on the unit for many years, but this unit was not a good example of what psychiatric nursing should be.

Its problem was leadership and direction. There was no NUM (nurse unit manager) and we shared 5 fly-in psychiatrists from Sydney—one for each day of the week—with the community mental health team. This meant they each spent 1/2 day at each site. To me, the patients ruled and this was not conducive to recovery. For the first time in my life—my job and opinion was not respected and in the end, I choose to leave the unit and work supporting the chronic psychiatric patients in the community. This made me whole again—from a work prospective until we moved back to the city.

In hindsight, my experience has opened my eyes to how difficult life is, in country Australia. It gives Shannon Noll’s hit “What about me” new meaning.

“What about me

It isn’t fair

I’ve had enough now

I want my share

Can’t you see

I want to live

You just take more than you give.”

This video was filmed in his home town of Condobolin in western NSW and includes many of the towns people. Like in the song, the answer to inequality is us deciding how we can change it for ourselves. Afterall, we have to be the one who answers our own question—what about me?

http://youtu.be/kqyIwZpr5y0

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/unequal-terms/

Perfect Job

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From your musical tastes to your political views, were you ever way ahead of the rest of us, adopting the new and the emerging before everyone else?

My sixth form English teacher wrote on my reference to leave high school—I have a unique personality. I was so proud. He did understand me. And with that reference, I got my first job—as a trainee psychiatric nurse. It was perfect for me. I had two requirements for my job. I wanted to work with people and I didn’t want to be a general nurse. Both requirements ticked. It was 1981 and most of Australia, possibly the world were not thinking about mental health issues or work, even their own. I was then and I am today, still proud to be helping people find their way through difficult times.

Today, the stigma of having mental health problems or working in mental health is broken. People realise through advertising that mental health problems can and do happen to anyone and everyone.There is more information around on how, when and where to get help. Bosses are encouraged to talk to their staff about any concerns they have and encourage people to seek help.

http://youtu.be/D4kDlcXEOwg

Universities teach more mental health content and encourage people through mental health placements to take up this worthwhile career option. Today, working in mental health, you can specialise in many areas, developing many transferable skills. For most of the last two decades, I have chosen to specialise in eating disorders, however my acute psychiatry skills are never far away.

If I had my time again, would I change anything? No. My experiences and career choices have made me who I am today. If you or someone you know is considering a career in any area of mental health, I would encourage them to give it a try. It is very rewarding helping people find themselves again after difficult times.

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http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/avant-garde/

Choices

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Untitled

Everyday we make choices.This classic Dr Suess quote reminds us that we can achieve our goals by carrying through with our choices. It is as simple as:

1. Make a decision about what you want to do and how you want to do it.

2. Use your feet to follow through with your body, in whatever way is needed to act on your choice.

3. Remember—its your choice. Steer yourself as needed and you can change your choice, any time you choose.

Who said life has to be complicated. Sometimes, it is important to remember to break things down to their simplest level.

My Creation

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All of my adult life I have had a creative side. Not arty, but creative. Initially it was my knitting. I can knit in the dark and even as a 9 year old my tension was so perfect the teacher didn’t believe that I had completed my project. She thought mum had done it for me—no chance ever.

During my training as a psychiatric nurse in the 80’s picture knitting was in fashion. So you would find me at the back of the room taking notes and knitting with 20 little balls of wool running down the aisle—to match the number of colour changes I had in my self-designed picture. Occasionally a teacher who didn’t like our class would not let me knit and you would find me asleep. Being creative and productive with my hands helped me concentrate. Something I only recently found out is actually based on fact.

neon fields jumper

Photo Credit: Google Images Example of 1980’s picture knitting

In my 30’s I learnt to cross-stitch and I enjoyed creating my own designs. The creation factor was similar to picture knitting except that you could do more intricate work. I designed and made many children’s name plaques for their doors when they were born. It puts a smile on my face today, when I would go into their homes in their teenage years and still see them in their rooms albeit now they are in a corner.

My creativity has changed hands again. Today my main creative outlet is my writing. It began in 2009 when I set my goal for that year as becoming a writer. As a result my most prized possession was born. My book. It has been 5 years in the making, although during this time I took twelve months off due to life circumstances. This turned out to be a good thing for my book, as my writing style changed and suddenly everything fell together.

It is now 12 months since I completed my first draft. My next step was to test it out. I had to give it to others to read. I had mixed feelings about this. What if they didn’t like it? Who am I anyway? I knew everyone was exited about my book and thought that I was the perfect person to write a book on how eating disorder recovery is possible as I had been working in the area for over 20 years. The answer was that I had to back myself—believe in my self. I knew my book was good, practical and factual. I needed to put it out there and see what happened. So with pride I handed it the first person. And the next. And the next. That wasn’t so bad. I even had people coming to me to be reviewers, as they wanted to know what I had to say. Now I was excited, when I saw how excited everyone else was. The feedback form my patients was the most important to me. I wanted to make sure I didn’t come across as confusing or offensive in any way. The good news was that they loved it and thought it was the most comprehensive book on eating disorder recovery that they had read. Yes—I had achieved my goal.

Getting the core right was one thing. Now I needed to ensure the minor detail—editing, order-flow were the best that they could be and that I had left nothing out. To some of my patients surprise, I did find 3 more topics to add. Now the next challenge. Getting it published. This has been a step learning curve. I sent out a chapter early to Allen and Unwin’s The Friday Pitch and heard nothing back. Initially, I felt rejected but in hindsight I understand why and it helped me take my book to the next level. At present, I am preparing my final pitches to get my book traditionally published. I now know a lot more about it, than when I first pitched to Allen and Unwin and if I have no success I realise it is the process, not a validation of my book. My plan B is to self publish next year. Either way my prized possession will transform itself from its current chunky manuscript form into a beautiful, lighter book form that can help people everywhere.

 

Mindful Exercise

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Good news — another hour has just been added to every 24-hour day (don’t ask us how. We have powers). How do you use those extra sixty minutes?

I fit most things I want to do into my 24 hour day. Being given the gift of an extra hour would allow me to have no more excuses for the two activities I run out of time to do—exercise and meditation.

While I walk daily as part of my commute to work, any other exercise program is very hit and miss. I would love to flex my muscles weekly in other ways. Options I would like to investigate include:

  • Aqua aerobics
  • Cycling in the open air
  • Resistance training
  • Swimming
  • Yoga
  • Zumba class

The other area I believe I would benefit greatly from is developing a daily meditation practice. I like walking meditation. My preference is to walk bare foot on grass or sand—connecting with nature. My reasons for this are:

  • Grounding me with the earth and its energy
  • Stimulate the reflexology points in my feet
  • Massage my feet improving circulation
  • Connecting with nature reduces my stress and quickly clears my mind
  • I love the feeling of sand or grass on under my feet—its a different healing sensation

 

016 - further along the beach still getting wet feet

Walking on the beach as a birthday treat

I believe a nice mixture of both of these activities will be a great way to spend my extra hour. They would be so beneficial to my health that I may need to reprioritise my current activities to include at least some of them each week. Both will give me more energy and creative awareness, which will be a blessing and worth the effort.

What do you need to reprioritise time for in your life? After all—this is the secret, I believe of getting an extra hour in our day. To make better use of the ones we currently have.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/twenty-five-seven/