I graduated from college ten years ago last Tuesday. I was 31 graduating. My class wasn't big. Within our class there was a group of five of us, all very different but yet with lots in common. We minded each other, guided each other, encouraged, supported, cajoled each other for four years. We ate lunch, went for coffee, had debates, took notes for each other if someone missed class. It was a wonderful wonderful experience and summed up for me the rich experience of being a full time student, as a Mature student.
We all moved on and live in different cities etc. we kept up some contact but lost contact as we all got jobs. However, we linked in for key times, holidays, weddings, having kids, bereavements etc
On September 16th it was ten years since we graduated. A bittersweet day for me as it marks one of my greatest achievements and also marks the day a loved one took ill unexpectedly, and died shortly after. She died far far too young so this time of year brings a melancholy as it is.
So I was devastated yesterday morning to get a call from one of my college 'team' to say that one of our dearest pals had died. It was completely unexpected and he had not been ill. Just sudden instant illness. How absolutely unjust and devastating. The remaining four of us spent the rest of the day and today linking in with each other, texting and long calls. The connection, the friendship instantly rekindled.
Alas our dear pal is gone, far far too soon. So farewell wonderful man. I will remember you for your intelligence, your insight, your awareness, your smile, your strength and your vulnerability . I remember your wicked wicked sense of humour, your laugh when a chuckle overtook you and stifled the end of your sentence.
Cheerio for now lovely man, see you on the other side💕💕💕💕💕💕
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Friday, September 19, 2014
Lottery day dreams.
I have spent many an hour daydreaming about winning the lottery. Sometimes l feel it very strongly that l will win, i feel so sad when the staff in Centra check my ticket and say...not a winner.
When l was pregnant with my first child l went through a lot of nights where l would wake in the early hours and sleep would escape me. i was too tired to read. one night/morning l decided to plan what l would do with a big lottery win, in the event of me winning it.
I felt like having a plan for the windfall would take some of the shock and stress out of the situation.
Now l genuinely would give bucket loads of it away. But to be fair l always said if we could pay off our mortgage and had nothing left over that would be a godsend in itself.
Then we could give huge amounts of the cash to charity. Local, national and international charities.
There are so many charities dear to my heart this would be a dream.
I made the dream very real. I set up my own charitabe foundation and this in itself would provide a job for life for myself, my husband and some of our lovely friends.
I made a list of charities locally. As a social Worker l am aware of huge gaping holes in terms of service provision for the most vulnerable members of our society. The same goes for nationally.
on an international scale there are charities l donate durilng the year, but especially at Christmas.
It is a day dream l love taping into. The thought of helping those who devote their lives to helping others. The thought of being able to effect positive change is a truly wonderful experience.
As a Social Worker you can give your life to trying to help individuals, groups and families. Some clients are resistant and do not want your help, other families have heartbreak that can never be changed so you work towards acceptance with them. Other work you do requires services and funding that simply does not exist.
So to win the lottery and to be in a position to help a family modify a home for a wheelchair user, or pay for a hoist, or help a family pay for relief nursing, or to help a community have the funding to create a new playground, build a youth cafe, a centre for mothers and children, extra services for hungry and homeless, provide appropriate social activities for addicts in recovery...well to be able to do this...now that is priceless
Internationally to be able to help with schools for children, provide teachers, to provide school supplies, to train locals to be the teachers in their own schools, to provide a family with the means to feed themselves, to provide a family with alternative energy ideas such as harnessing solar power to run their homes. the stuff that real dreams are made of
When l was pregnant with my first child l went through a lot of nights where l would wake in the early hours and sleep would escape me. i was too tired to read. one night/morning l decided to plan what l would do with a big lottery win, in the event of me winning it.
I felt like having a plan for the windfall would take some of the shock and stress out of the situation.
Now l genuinely would give bucket loads of it away. But to be fair l always said if we could pay off our mortgage and had nothing left over that would be a godsend in itself.
Then we could give huge amounts of the cash to charity. Local, national and international charities.
There are so many charities dear to my heart this would be a dream.
I made the dream very real. I set up my own charitabe foundation and this in itself would provide a job for life for myself, my husband and some of our lovely friends.
I made a list of charities locally. As a social Worker l am aware of huge gaping holes in terms of service provision for the most vulnerable members of our society. The same goes for nationally.
on an international scale there are charities l donate durilng the year, but especially at Christmas.
It is a day dream l love taping into. The thought of helping those who devote their lives to helping others. The thought of being able to effect positive change is a truly wonderful experience.
As a Social Worker you can give your life to trying to help individuals, groups and families. Some clients are resistant and do not want your help, other families have heartbreak that can never be changed so you work towards acceptance with them. Other work you do requires services and funding that simply does not exist.
So to win the lottery and to be in a position to help a family modify a home for a wheelchair user, or pay for a hoist, or help a family pay for relief nursing, or to help a community have the funding to create a new playground, build a youth cafe, a centre for mothers and children, extra services for hungry and homeless, provide appropriate social activities for addicts in recovery...well to be able to do this...now that is priceless
Internationally to be able to help with schools for children, provide teachers, to provide school supplies, to train locals to be the teachers in their own schools, to provide a family with the means to feed themselves, to provide a family with alternative energy ideas such as harnessing solar power to run their homes. the stuff that real dreams are made of
Dreaming
Dreaming
I dream of being me.
The me I've always wanted to be
I dream of setting myself free
Exhale Relax and ease into being
Stop worrying, thinking, weighing up and analysing
Stop fretting about the what ifs and maybes
Go gently with confidence to the place in your head you are longing to inhabit
Surrender to the peace, it will wash over you like a soothing balm
Drown out the harsh sounds and disapproving voices, the tut tutting that penetrates the whimsical
Dwell in the softness, the spontaneous, the gentle pace of mindfulness
I dream of being me.
The me I've always wanted to be
I dream of setting myself free
Exhale Relax and ease into being
Stop worrying, thinking, weighing up and analysing
Stop fretting about the what ifs and maybes
Go gently with confidence to the place in your head you are longing to inhabit
Surrender to the peace, it will wash over you like a soothing balm
Drown out the harsh sounds and disapproving voices, the tut tutting that penetrates the whimsical
Dwell in the softness, the spontaneous, the gentle pace of mindfulness
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