Have You Made Your Mental Health Promise?

How often do you make promises? How often do you promise to do something for yourself? A big part of Mental Health illnesses is making sure that your needs are met. Most of the time though, we let our needs slip to the bottom of a very long list. It is time to make a promise to yourself, to make your Mental Health a priority. You can do that right here!

With World Mental Health Day on October 10th, it is a great reminder that occasionally (or perhaps quite often), we should be checking in with ourselves to make sure we are taking care of ourselves.

If you click here to check out the Promise Wall you may be astounded by a number of things. Firstly, the extraordinary number of Mental Health promises already recorded on the 1010 website. Also, the diversity of promises people are making concerning the needs they have identified to assist their Mental Health. Lastly, the people listed are as diverse as the promises, showing that Mental Health is a common concern across the board, and I am sure that I recognise a few familiar faces on this list.

Here is my promise:

As you can see, your promise doesn't need to be anything huge, as small changes or promises to concentrate on a task can make a difference. You can make your own Mental Health promise here

Once you have made your promise, it can be shared on Facebook, Twitter or on your own blog like I am, so that those around you are triggered to consider their own Mental Health needs too. Let's face it .... we all need a prod occasionally. You have the potential to change someone's life just by posting your own promise.

The Chance To Escape And The Chance To Win

I like to travel to places far away, and step into the shoes of the locals. While I am there, I like to experience different tastes and try new things; sometimes all in the same day. Of course, I can do this regularly and on a reasonable budget. Many would say that I live quite a dull life, but if they could see what I see when I get lost in the pages of the books I read, they would see that I am busy with adventure, passion and keeping up with the many characters I come across.

Reading books has been a huge part of my life since I first learned to read.

Books have taken me far and wide, introduced me to the most fascinating people, and have been able to capture my attention and imagination until I have forgotten where I am.

I would like the same experience for my children ..... and your children too!

Bookworld has the most amazing competition centred around the Middle School books by James Patterson.  

Middle School-Get Me Out Of Here , is the second book in the series, where Rafe Khatchadorian sets about trying to find his place in the new school as he enters Grade Seven. 

In Book 3, Middle School-My Brother Is a Big Fat Liar, Rafe's sister Georgia Khatchadorian is next to start at the school, but her brother has certainly made a name for himself, leaving Georgia to prove that she is not like him.   

Middle School-How I Survived Bullies Broccoli And Snake Hill is Book 4, and Rafe is off to Summer Camp. He is in for a few surprises and makes new friends. 

Simply purchase either Book 2, 3 or 4 to be entered into the competition.

It's that easy!

What is the prize? I'm so glad you asked.

By purchasing either Book 2, Book, 3 or Book 4 from the Middle School series, you are entered into the draw to win a 5 night Gold Coast family holiday valued at $4000.

Also, your purchase qualifies you to receive Book 1 from the Middle School series for FREE - Double bonus!

Just click on www.bookworld.com.au/middle-school to enter.

Check out this link to Zagame's Paradise Resort, where you could be spending five nights with your family (flights, meals, daily activities and entertainment for the kids included in the prize) Plus VIP passes to Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, and Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast!

Enough said!

Hop on over to the above competition site to enter now!

 

Disclaimer : This post was in collaboration with Bookworld.

The Liebster Award

Adventures of a Subversive Reader nominated me for a Liebster Award!

So what is a Liebster Award? The award is given to support and recognise up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers (on their blog) or likers (on their Facebook page). The word “Liebster” apparently has German origins and is reported to mean sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. By following some basic rules (answer 11 questions set by your nominee, write 11 questions of your own and pass the award onto 11 other bloggers to answer) it enables readers to get to know new bloggers and connect with a wider audience.

1. What was one of your favourite books as a child? Naughty Amelia Jane, Enid Blyton.
2. Do you own a e-reading device? Do you like it? I just got a Kindle Fire HD, so it's a reader/tablet. Liking it so far.
3. Do you belong to your local library? Do you visit it? Yes - I visited a lot when the kids were little. I don't visit as often now I am back at work.
4. What is one of your favourite books now? Lucky Man, Michael J Fox. It is such a touching and honest insight into his life as an actor, as well as his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and how it has changed things for him.
5. How many books do you think you own? Way too many to bother counting
6. How do you shelve your books? Subject, author, title, colour? By subject
7. Have you ever seen a movie that’s better than the book? The Tree, written by Judy Pascoe. Made into a film in 2010. I found the book a little hard to relate to the characters. The film brought the characters to life, and interpreted the story well.
8. Have you ever learned a different language? In High School I studied German from Grade 7-10. In College, I chose to study Japanese.
9. If a publisher said they’d publish any book you wrote, what kind of book would you write? It would have to be about my life and family. It is the only topic I would be confident to write with full knowledge of the subject.
10. What author would you like to meet? Stephen King - I used to read a lot of his books. He has a very vivid imagination.
11. Have you got a book recommendation? Unbearable Lightness, Portia de Rossi. I love biographies about real issues and how people dealt with them (if you couldn't already tell). This book was an eye opener into the disease of Anorexia and Bulimia, as well as the Hollywood scene.

Now here are my questions. They are based on a few topics from my 2012 To Do List

1.   Did you plant anything this year? If so, then what?
2. Do you participate in any volunteer programs for your community?
3. What is one challenge you have set yourself this year?
4. What is a realistic task you would have liked to have done this year, but won't get around to doing?
5. Do you celebrate the holidays with enthusiasm (ie Easter, Christmas, Halloween) or do you cringe and hide?
6. Do you do any online puzzles or games?
7. What has diet been like this year? Any changes or new likes?
8. What have you started and not finished?
9. Do you tackle jobs around the house or pay someone else, and why?
10. What is something you enjoyed in childhood that you would like to do as an adult?
11. Do you prefer to read, write or watch?

And my nominees for The Liebster Award are:

iSophie
Mumma Needs Coffee
Simple Loving Thoughts
Coal Valley View
Oh, the places we will go

Pinterest Interest - it is infectious

When something becomes popular on the internet, it spreads like wild fire. Pinterest has been around for a while now, and I have been using it to get ideas about things I'm interested in.

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.
Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. To get started, request an invite. (as appears on the Pinterest website)



One of my favourite boards is my Mental Health board, and I wanted to share some pins with you.

. You are welcome to come over for a sticky beak.

Those who inspire me

I have read some really good blogs lately and felt the need to share.

The following have a way with words.
yes dear!  Angela is also a Tasmanian girl. She has written a beautiful post about the role of a father.

we heart life Carly has created a beautiful blog that is uplifting and deliberately positive.

seven cherubs  Naomi writes about parenting and her busy family. She has started a GREAT link up which encourages you to learn about your "cherubs" and record important information.

maxabella loves Every week I join Maxabella for the wonderful "Grateful for" link up.  It is lovely to spend a moment each week thinking about what you are grateful for, and realising there are many on the list.

picklebums  I just loved this post from Kate, about how even after 3 children, credentials in Early Childhood, experience working with children and many hours of reading parenting material doesn't give you all the answers.

the things I'd tell you  Melissa (what a great name!) started her blog to record all the things she would tell her Mum, if she was still able. Melissa is a passionate blogger who covers a broad range of subjects, and shares her own struggles as well.

winter love 
Natalie is a single Mum who writes about the beauty in her life which includes her beautiful daughter.  Natalie was one of the reasons I was inspired to start my own blog.

I hope you get time to check these bloggers out and enjoy them as much as I do.

Enjoy the ride

I know we all like to have a whinge. Me included.

One of the great things about blogging is discovering other people's blogs. Some of these people I have come across in my short blogging life are nothing short of amazing.

Two in particular come to mind.
They are both women who write incredibly well.
They are both women who see such positive things around them and have lovely, inspirational things to say.
Both women are suffering from debilitating illnesses.

Yet ... they inspire ME and remind me that the world isn't all bad.

So I thought it only fair to share their blog links with you. If you haven't already come across these amazing bloggers then I encourage you to take a look.

Meet Melissa at thethingsidtellyou
I blog about all kinds of things - children, family, mental health, women's rights and issues, autism, grief and loss, chronic illness, all things beautiful, books. (taken from The things I'd tell you)

Meet Jess at 91 Odd Socks
These are just my reflections. Reflections of a 19 year old Australian girl fumbling her way through Chronic Illness, and learning to see just how pretty every single day is. (taken from 91 Odd Socks)



So, the next time I feel like having a whinge or feel that life is treating me unfairly, I hope to think of some the lovely things Melissa and Jess have shared on their blogs.
I hope you enjoy their blogs too.

Ode to O

Oprah has been a part of my life since first becoming pregnant, eight years ago now. I didn't really have the time for her before then, being a full time employee. But then she entered my life, and she brought out the best in me.

I know she has a lot of critics and I guess she is "just doing her job", but it is the passion and emotion she puts into her work, and the way she shares her views that I admire. She was one of the first to make me sit up and look beyond myself, at myself, and question the way we live life.  Before this point, I had been going along in life in "automatic", plodding along, doing whatever was fun and thinking life would take care of itself. BIG WAKEUP CALL! Preparing for parenthood gave me a kick in the pants and Oprah has grounded me and helped since.

I have spent many episodes either in tears or grinning from ear to ear, depending on the content of Oprah's show. She has made me feel proud by things she has said, even though they weren't about me. She has also "wowed" me with her generosity and love of sharing. I remember her saying on many occassions "if it is worth doing or having, then it's worth sharing".

She has dared to prove many wrong over the years that she could do the job, and infact, was the presenter to try things on television nobody had done before. It has been to her credit that she now has her own magazine, her own production company, she has discovered talents like Dr Phil and Dr Oz, she was the first on day time tv to present her audience with gifts, and she has shared details of her life openly to the world.

I will miss Oprah, but I'm sure we will be seeing re-runs of her show for some time to come. I really can't see Oprah sailing off into the sunset to live "the quiet life". I'm sure she has much more to say, more things to share and much more inspiration to give.

Here are some of my favourite quotes.

As you become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the first time around.
Oprah Winfrey
Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.
Oprah Winfrey

Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.
Oprah Winfrey

Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.
Oprah Winfrey

I don't think you ever stop giving. I really don't. I think it's an on-going process. And it's not just about being able to write a check. It's being able to touch somebody's life.
Oprah Winfrey

I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes.
Oprah Winfrey