Share your achievements, small or big!

[Beltane]

Another nice little topic to chat about 🙂

It's really important to those of us with mental issues to hold on to our achievements and successes, especially the ones over our illnesses. Each and every achievement, no matter how small you might think it is, is so important. We should celebrate and take pride in each achievement- because each one is a step towards recovery.

So in this topic I'd like us to share our successes. You can post as often as you like, every time you have an achievement or success you'd like to share (even if you think "but it wasn't that big a deal"). Yes it IS a big deal! Fighting an illness is hard work, so lets celebrate all our achievements!

When i first fought my anxiety, my very very first challenge was to drive to the local shops. And I achieved it, and boy did I celebrate. Might not sound like much to someone else, but to me it was like climbing Mount Everest while wearing shorts and thongs (i imagine). So you better believe I went home and danced around my house celebrating my success!

My most recent achievement I am celebrating is: I attended my first job interview in 3 years that i did NOT take any anti-anxiety medication whatsoever for. Every other interview in the last 3 years i've needed strong anti-anxiety medication. But after much therapy and hard work, i learned more and more coping skills. I was nervous about not taking the medication as I was so used to doing it, but not only did i get through the interview but i did it calmly and kept my anxiety well under control. I'm pretty proud of myself!

(Also I got the job- yay- but unfortunately i cant accept it due to other reasons. But I'm still celebrating being offered a job!!!)

So lets hear it! Whats a recent achievement, positive step or success you made? Take pride in it and celebrate it!!

[Just Sara]

Oh Mrs D!

I'd love to join you, but would need to take my TV and PC along for the ride (down the slippery muddy slopes if necessary he he)

All jokes aside though, what a great idea! I do actually love camping and am a keen scrub lover. Although I can tolerate most creepy crawlies, those bloody mosquito's drive me mad! This Summer will be a doozie after all this rain.

Keep up the good work to all who've posted...wonderful!

Dizzy xo

[Guest_322]

Well done one and all on your achievements 😊

Today (technically yesterday as it's now the wee hours of Friday morning):

- making headway on an assignment.

- dragging myself out of bed to get to work.

Dottie x

[Doolhof]

Hi All,

This morning we seem to have a lull in the storm we've experienced here in S.A. My achievement today will be trying to find the camping gear in the shed.

My husband is such a hoarder, he keeps so much stuff. I have to climb over it to find my things in the shed.

I have been asking him for three years to help me to clean the shed out. I ask him about every 6 months but it still doesn't happen.

One section of the shed at a time might be the way to go. I would like to get every last thing out of there and give it a good clean up.

We still have black ash over everything from the fires last summer!

When I ask him to help, he says it is too hot, too cold, too windy, it is raining, he is busy, I should do it myself!

Just having a little whinge here!

Cheerio all, from Mrs. Dools

[Just Sara]

Hi Dottie...On ya' !!!!!!!!

Mrs D...Arhh - Men!!!!!!!!!

..Dizzy xo

[Guest_322]

Thank you so much, Dizzy!

😊

[Guest_322]

Today:

- got out of bed (woo)

- have managed to somehow survive on about $20 disposable income this week (after paying rent, groceries, travel, etc)

Dottie x

[Guest_322]

Hi again,

Technically I had $40 disposable income but I wanted to save 1/2 so saved $20, which meant that I only had $20 to spend. Not going to lie, it was a struggle! 😂

Let's just say that I'm looking forward to the uni holidays so I can work more and be less broke!

Dottie x

[Quiettall]

Hi Ms Dools

I work through an agency called Australian Business Volunteers. The other agency is Scope Global. They often advertise postings or assignments on their websites. These might be for 3 months up to 12 or even 18 months. They are suitable for people who have a range of experiences and skills, and who are wanting to share those skills and experience with other cultures less fortunate than ourselves. Both agencies provide some pre-training and briefing, and provide assistance with airfares, accommodation and a basic living allowance while on assignment.

The two assignments I did earlier in the year were really good. The ne to Hanoi where I worked with poorer Muong communities in the Hoa Binh province helping them set up community based homestays was a real eye opener, in terms of how people can survive on so little money and resources.

The most recent one was a placement in the Mekong Delta where I worked with the fish industry to help them with e-commerce, to promote their aquaculture industry. The media have caused huge damage by saying that fish raised in Vietnam is polluted, whereas the truth is that the fish exported from there is more stringently controlled and processed environmentally and health-wise than our own industry here in Australia. Unfortunately the Vietnamese have a very collective mentality, but in business are very jealous of their own successes, so wont collaborate, and often under-cut each other. This has limited their ability to build a strong and viable industry and therefore the local rural villages are suffering.

Anyway I have made some very close friends there and would love to go back there and work longer term, as I feel my time there for 3 months was much more valuable than all the time I spend here in retirement.

I would recommend others seriously consider a stint in one of the many countries where ABV and ScopeGlobal work. They really do look after you and I guarantee you will come back a new person from the experience. Some other volunteers I know have done up to 17 or more assignments

[Guest_322]

Hi one and all,

- getting out of bed (my daily morning struggle)

- finally emailing about re-training that I need to complete for my current volunteer gig (I kept putting it off for ages)

- I haven't quite done it yet but I'll be going to work. Not in the mood to be at work- like many of us- but will soldier on.

Dottie x

[Doolhof]

Hi Quiettall,

Thanks so much for sharing all of this information. I will go onto the sites you mentioned and have a look. For some reason I assumed that with all overseas volunteer work you had to provide so much money up front before you could even leave Australia.

It certainly does sound like you have managed to find a sense of achievement in your volunteering!

Excellent.

From Mrs. Dools