Don’t Compare Yourself To Others

I was at our family reunion a couple of weeks ago which was a wonderful time to catch up with the family, but was also highly emotional as the last time that most of us had been together was dad’s funeral the previous April.

During the course of the weekend, I was talking to one of my older cousins who had been going through a rough time of it. I told her that given what she had been dealing with, I shouldn’t really be complaining. She looked at me and said “never compare yourself to what other people are going through. You have every right to feel the way you feel and you have every right to talk about it.”

She made a very valid point and one that I’m still thinking of three weeks later. How often do you talk to people and find yourself thinking that your issues are so much smaller than the person you’re speaking to? I know I do as I hate to think of myself as a burden to others.

We are all at different stages of the journey and no two journeys are ever the same. Making connections, whether face to face or online can make all the difference. One of the greatest gifts you can give someone who is struggling is a non-judgemental ear to listen, a shoulder to lean on and time for the conversation to take place. Speaking from experience, you never know how much it can truly help.

A Proud Mental Health Soldier

---

 

This morning, I had the honour of being named as an ambassador for the mental health charity Soldiers United. As a result of this, I have decided to change the focus of this blog to being a means to help break down the stigma of mental illness and to encourage conversations around this issue.

But in order to do that, I feel that I should introduce myself (or re-introduce myself as the case may be) and share my mental health story with you all.

My name is Megan Gaukroger. I’m 42 (well….almost as my birthday is in December) and I was born, raised and currently live in the gorgeous town of Inverell, Northern New South Wales Austraila where my family has resided and run a business for close to 100 years.

For the most part, life has been pretty sweet for me. I grew up in the aforementioned country town, went to good schools and got a decent education before leaving town and spending not quite ten years in Sydney, residing in glorious Coogee Beach. In 2003, I returned to Inverell. In 2009, I  finally achieved a long-held dream of going to university to undertake a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology/Sociology) and graduated in 2016.

Well…that was until the shock suicide of a dear friend which pretty much blindsided all who knew him. I had seen him a few days before and had no idea what he was planning. On top of that, in the space of the following six months, my adored 96-year-old grandfather, my uncle and father all passed away quite suddenly.

After spending 3.5 weeks with my father on life support, I was diagnosed with severe depression, anxiety and PTSD. I remember thinking “How the hell can I have PTSD?? I’m not a soldier and have never seen combat!!” But as my mother gently reminded me, not only soldiers and those who have seen combat have it and if anything, she would have been surprised after the preceding nine months if I didn’t have it.

My mental health journey has only really begun in the last 18 months although my doctor thinks my anxiety issues have probably stemmed from childhood. It is a battle I face every day and make no bones about what a battle it has and will probably always be. My greatest wish is that people could and would understand how bloody hard it is to drag yourself out of bed, plaster a “smile” on your face and pretend everything is ok when you are truly dying inside.

It is my fervent hope that this blog and my posts on social media will open up the dialogue surrounding mental health and the stigma attached to it.

 

#letsbattlethistogether

 

 

I’m Back!!

Hi everyone….

Sorry for the lack of updates but I am in the process of revamping this here blog and starting afresh. I have a whole slew of new ideas which will hopefully mean updating and writing the blog won’t be such a chore and making time to do it will be easier.

I hope you are all well and I hope to be updating you soon!!

Humble Apologies To You All..

Greetings friends.

My sincere and humble apologies for not updating in a while but life has been speeding past at a great rate of knots and I have only just found time to sit and update. But never fear, I will make sure I update semi-regularly and will hopefully not leave such great gaps in between posts in the future.

Update to come….

Apologies for the long-winded rant folks, but as a life-long cricket fan, I need to get a few things off my chest.

People have been messaging me all day, both on my phone and on Facebook, looking for my response to the events of the last 24 hours that have unfolded in Cape Town. I have stayed silent for most of the day while I formulated my response but I feel now is the time to make them known.

To say I was truly sickened by the footage splashed across my social media and all major news broadcasts was a massive understatement. I had been following the live-stream on www.cricket.com.au but had gone to bed before the dramatic events occurred. I woke up and went straight to the laptop to see what I had missed overnight when I saw the headlines. Much like Michael Clarke’s reaction, as I read the headlines, I thought that I was still asleep and had to have been dreaming.

In cricket, the charge of ball tampering is on par with a bowler being called for throwing. It is, for want of a better word, cheating and not to be taken lightly. Cricket is and has always been an example of fair play and sportsmanship, for the most part. The Baggy Green Cap is the symbol of all that is good in the game…or it was until today. Those who wear it are seen as being role models and examples of fair play and I fear the reputation of the Baggy Green has been tarnished forever.

I am now left wondering how we explain what happened to Noah who loves his cricket and Steve Smith. He has no tolerance for cheating or bad sportsmanship, but I fear that this may turn him off the game he loves for life. I guess we’ll just wait to see what happens and his reaction to it

I am truly ashamed to be an Aussie cricket fan and am considering whether or not I will follow this team again. I look forward to seeing how the authorities will deal with this. As an ex-umpire, there is nothing that I hate more than cheating and poor sportsmanship.

I await the next few days with anticipation….

Enough Said!!

International Women’s Day 2018

REPOSTED FROM MY FACEBOOK PAGE.

On this #InternationalWomensDay, I want to take the opportunity to show the world how this amazing young lady inspires me every single day.

She is funny, quirky, bold, outrageous forceful, stubborn to the point of frustration (particularly for her big brother and parents) spunky, sometimes cranky, never backward in coming forward and you always know where you stand with her. Even at her lowest moments during her recent cancer journey, she always took things in her stride and was never low for long.

At the age of “almost but not quite” four, you know your place in the world and I along with everyone, you meet are in awe of you. I am quite sure that you will grow up and be a fine scientist like you hope to be and that you will always rid the world of cancer like you said (but no pressure if you don’t) You may be the youngest of 38 in your tribe, but your wisdom and strength amazes me.

Liberty-Jane Eliza-Rose. You, along with your Big Brother Ba are the reasons I have hope for the future. Even though we are over 32,000 kilometres apart, know that I am always there for you and love you to the moon and back several times over. I am so proud of you and all you are and will become.

A Question To Ponder

via Are writers crazy?

New Year’s Wishes From Me To You.

While 2017 has been a year that for obvious reasons I would rather forget, it has also been filled with many blessings that I am truly grateful for. Trips to Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane provided time away from the usual and a chance to create many wonderful memories, taking control of my physical and mental wellbeing has me feeling better than I have in years and the chance to reconnect with family and friends have all been highlights.

I have no idea what 2018 will bring aside from a possible relocation from Inverell to Brisbane (God willing), more travel–to New Zealand and around this great country of ours and the chance to reconnect with new and old friends. No matter what happens, I look forward to the adventure ahead and whatever it may bring.

To those who have been a part of my life during 2017 (and those that were not), I wish you all peace, love, understanding and laughter for 2018. Thank you for being such a wondrous part of my life and I hope it may continue for 2018 and beyond.