Onwards and Upwards No. 8
Hello my healing team,
I hope this update finds you well.
We currently find ourselves in sunny Pambula on the south east coast of NSW. It is a gorgeous little place, but it has a slight sour taste in that it is the last stop of our holiday. The caravan park here is quite large. It is a treat that it is set right up against the beach, but the best aspect is the packs of kangaroos bouncing through the place. There are also ducks walking around, unaware that the park residents are eyeing them off for Christmas dinner which is just a few days away ;). Ahhhhh the serenity.
Over the past week we left the Blue mountains and landed in Sydney, then shot south down the coats to Broulee then Pambula. What an amazing place the Blue Mountains is. Every mountainous outlook seems to have a jaw dropping vista, and there seems to be a thousand walks, with each of them uncovering another gem. Whilst most of the tracks are established with steps or boardwalks, you still feel as though you are in the middle of nowhere as you see numerous lizards running across your path, fresh water crays abound in the pools of the streams and the forest grows largely uninhibited.
Sydney was great fun. We caught up with my uncle and aunt, my brother Jerome, his partner Josie, and his fabulous outlaws. We were out of the caravan and into normal beds for the first time in a month. Glorious!! Jerome and Josie have just moved into their new pad in Paddington, so paint brushes were flying left and right as the renovations were being completed in earnest. As you experience with all renovators, you arrive at their house at the agreed time to spend the first hour cleaning up painting equipment only get to the promise of “I’ll just finish this last skirting board”, then spend the next two days talking about the endless opportunities for renovating improvement. Ahhhhh….I was that person not so long ago, and will be again soon I am sure.
Now I sit here by the beach typing out my last update before Christmas and I begin to contemplate our rush into the ‘Silly Season’. I have recently read a couple of great emails and Facebook posts talking about how the most important aspect of Christmas is ‘being present’ as opposed to ‘giving presents’. With the year we have had, that totally resonates with me because more than ever, I treasure the opportunity to be present.
I also think about people who are not feeling so flash at this time and what we can do for those people. I reflect on all the support that I have received over that past 10 months and how there were times when I needed propping up, or to receive reassurance and comfort, not only from friends and family, but occasionally from strangers (many of which whom are now part of my healing team). It made a huge difference to my recovery. So I urge you to hunt down that person or people that is struggling and jump in give them a hand. Set a goal for yourself! Stop for one minute today, perhaps now, and think of someone who may be unwell or struggling a little, then do something for them. That something may just be giving them a call to say hello. Or it may be you going and doing something to help them, to lighten their load. Can I recommend, rather than asking them ‘what can I do for you’, make suggestions for things you will do for them. When you are a person in need, you actually feel bad making suggestions for ways people can help you. You feel as though you are imposing. However, if someone offers you something specific that you can use, it is far easier to accept.
Did you know that the hormones serotonin, dopamine and endorphins are released when you receive love and support. Oxytocin, also known as the ‘cuddle hormone’ is released as a result of physical touch. These are the same hormones that are critical for healing. And with this, I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Please stay safe!!
Take care
Geoff
