Finding my Voice again

by Cherise Holt, Nurse, Australia

In the past I listened as my relatives described me as a girl who could ‘talk under wet cement’, meaning I was Little Miss Chatterbox. I know that I was a lovely, gentle little girl who could chat to anyone and I can see that this was their observation based on the huge change in me. Throughout primary and high school I had become very quiet and shy.

Inside I felt hurt and defensive by this comment, like I was somehow less than I used to be, and I had created my own story to back up the reasons for my change. I had taken on responsibility for others from a very young age and I began to think that a part of being responsible was keeping your worries to yourself. I was internalising my own worries whilst taking on those of others. Continue reading “Finding my Voice again” →

Getting Honest about Alcohol

by Julie G., United States

For many years I had what I felt was a strange and challenging relationship with alcohol. I first started drinking as a teenager, when I went to parties at friends’ houses. The first time I drank, the rush was so new to me and felt so ‘freeing’, that I overdid it and got sick. I have been thin all my life, and it never really took much to overdo it, no matter what I drank. One would think that would help me put a stop to drinking ever again, but it didn’t. The feeling I had of being ‘comfortable in my own skin’, to open up and not be shy, seemed to be worth enough that I came back to alcohol again and again all through college and beyond. I had a lot of fun, and I also overdid it a lot and got physically sick and hung over a lot.  Continue reading “Getting Honest about Alcohol” →

Best Night Out Ever!

by Zoe Sherrin B.Bus, B.Nat, Lismore Australia

Recently I attended The School of the Livingness/Universal Medicine end of year celebration. It was an amazing night of people coming together, having so much fun celebrating our-selves and each other.

There was a diverse array of performances, all special in their unique expression: from classical singing to ultra cool and funny rapping sisters, to an all male choir, plus other awesome singers, musicians, songwriters and presenters. Each performance so different, yet had the common thread of expressing their true self. As an audience member it allowed me to feel the freedom of expressing the truth of me. I had so much fun listening, sharing food and dancing. It felt great (and funny) to ‘strut’ my moves on the dance floor, to dance with no self- judgement or feeling that others were judging me. Continue reading “Best Night Out Ever!” →

Thought for Food

by Frank Tybislawski,  Brisbane, Australia

I would like to share what I discovered through my recent sessions with a local Universal Medicine practitioner.

While I knew my diet was quite good, I had to admit that how I digested and reacted to the food was irregular. It seems like a simple process, one we have lived with (one way or another) since day one, yet food can be an issue throughout one’s whole life. I knew what tasted nice, I knew what didn’t taste nice, I knew what reacted with my body, so why then did I feel so up and down after eating? There had to be more to this and I needed to examine what that was, and why. Continue reading “Thought for Food” →

Self-Love and Inspiring Love in Another

by Gina, Brisbane, Australia

Often self-help workshops can be perceived as being money-spinners. Well, recently, for $5, I attended a presentation about Women’s health. It explored how women’s often punishing schedules, juggling a myriad of roles including carer, mother, partner, employer or employee, are affecting their overall health and well-being. The presentation proposed the consideration to self-nurture and self-love as a possible means to address vitality, energy levels, and feelings of overwhelm.

The example given was to consider how much time we spend getting ourselves ready in the morning. I realised I got dressed, cleaned my teeth then brushed my hair whilst my car was warming up and the garage door was being opened. At the same time, I had been having huge issues with getting my 3 1/2 year old daughter dressed; she refused to do it herself or let someone help her. Recently, we’d been leaving the house with her in her pyjamas because it all just got too hard. Continue reading “Self-Love and Inspiring Love in Another” →

Re-Connecting With Mum and Dad

by Jennifer Smith, Registered Nurse, Maclean NSW

I have just come home after spending 9 days with my parents, younger brother and Panda (the family dog) in my childhood home. This is the longest I have been with them since moving out over 20 years ago. Over those 20 years, not only has there been physical distance between us, but also a distance had been created with our relationships. Not through the fault of anyone. We had all just let it happen that way.

For me, I had made my life so busy with travelling and socialising with friends initially, and then finally it was all about work, career and making a business. Whenever I went to Sydney for anything I would try to “fit in mum and dad”. I would go and have a meal at home or a cup of tea – always just a pop-in visit. I was too busy doing a course of some description to improve or better myself, or improve work prospects. I had such a drive to improve and impress.

Although I knew my parents well, they almost seemed like strangers at the same time. What I didn’t realise until recently, was that by distancing myself from them, I was doing that to myself.  By keeping so busy with all of this doing I was making a stranger of myself to me, too. Continue reading “Re-Connecting With Mum and Dad” →