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Happy new year!

Posted on: January 9th, 2014 by Greg Jordan No Comments

Happy new year reader.

I hope you survived Christmas and New years eve and came through relatively unscathed, joyous even!  If you spent this time with family and friends, i hope it was enjoyable, warm and positive. If you spent this time alone, i  hope it was peaceful and stress free. Either way, it is a new year, and a great opportunity for new beginnings.

For me, daily self care is my priority. If i’m not okay, nothing else is. Not my relationships, not my work, not my music. With every new year come New year resolutions. Well intended goals to improve ourselves. But sometimes, the goals we set ourselves can be too overwhelming and soon enough, unrealistic, as we don’t follow through. It’s important to set goals, yes, but goals we can handle. Taking on too much too soon can end up being disappointing, de-moralizing, and simply backfire. Sometimes just simply being is enough. You are enough already. Sometimes just being and not taking on too much is necessary to recharge our batteries and find our direction, our passion again. Sometimes it is good to be still. Living deliberately and with purpose and passion is a great thing, but sometimes i need to just be. No fanfare, no fuss, and no monkey mind chatter. I’m not talking about isolating  from the rest of the world, or running away or escaping. I don’t mean just existing, and being on the couch 24/7 either (put wheels on that old couch and get out there if you’re relating!). I’m talking about living, not just existing, and i’m talking self care. To be or not to be, that is the question.

No need to rush into the year reader. Break down those New year resolutions if you have them into bite sized chunks, no matter how grand or humble, and just do what you can handle. No stress. Cruisin’. Take plenty of ‘me’ time this year, and remember………….it is okay to  just be. You are enough.

‘Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly’

anonymous.

Kick some arse in your own way reader, and i wish you a happy and healthy year. G.

Christmas, holiday’s, reflection.

Posted on: December 25th, 2013 by Greg Jordan 2 Comments

Hi everyone,

Compliments of the season to all. A very merry Christmas to you who celebrate it, and happy holiday’s to you who have them. It’s a happy time of year for many, and a very difficult and stressful time for many too. It’s a time where people and families get together, and a time when some of us are alone. My thoughts are with any of you doing it tough at the moment. It might feel like you’re alone, but let me tell you, you are not. Stay safe, and take extra special care of YOU this holiday season. Try to find some joy in little things.

As i write my daily gratitude list, i can sometimes struggle to come up with much. Then i reflect a bit more on what i have, not what i don’t have, and i begin to write. Waking up this morning is one thing i am grateful for. Another is the many great inspirational  people i have met through the years, and the people i will meet today.

Kick some arse in your own way out there reader.

Safe travels, Greg.

Strumarama Dec 11th, 2013.

Posted on: December 14th, 2013 by Greg Jordan No Comments
G’day everyone.
Magnificent night at the Prince of wales here in Melbourne last wednesday night. Great music, great people, and spirited, gutsy, beautiful performances from the many artists who shared their music.  The music was not Metal, or heavy sonically (except for one performer who blitzed it with an impassioned rap over a heavy hypnotic grungy riff), but that didn’t matter, as the attitude on the night was heavy metal.  I was there for ‘Strumarama’ put on by a Melbourne organization called Wild@Heart. Here’s a brief description from their facebook page:-  ‘Non-Profit Organization Wild@heART brings together people with diverse abilities or mental health challenges to work with professional artists to tell their stories through high quality arts making in music, dance, video and performance’.  Music is such a great healer and communicator. An International language. Interplanetary even! It breaks down barriers and walls, and can cut through stigma and judgemental attitudes at 2 paces. There was a huge feeling of connection in that room on the night. People shining through their music, and making real connections with the audience, as well as passers by on the street outside. Well done to Phil and all for organizing, and thanks Mick for the reminder and invite. I will now forever be yapping about Wild@heart community arts program!  I don’t recall names of all of the excellent performers, but check out Heidi Everett and  Bi-Polar bears. See you there next year. And remember….. Kick some arse in your own way reader. \M/H.

 

What does being okay mean for you?

Posted on: October 14th, 2013 by Greg Jordan No Comments

Earlier this month, I went along to an event in Melbourne’s western suburbs. It is a casual affair held every 3 months for people living with a mental health issue(s) and their support workers.

I was there in my role as outreach worker, though mainly to help with setting up the tressle tables and to listen to the folks invited to speak.

The theme of the day was ‘Recovery Happening’, and these words were arranged in a colourful display on a big spread of cloth in the church hall where it was held.

It was also ‘R U OKAY’ day, and as we sat at the tables waiting for the speakers, we were discussing ‘what does being okay mean for you?’

It’s a good question, and for some people being okay meant simply waking up in the morning.

For others, being okay meant being able to enter a shopping centre without having a panic attack, or finally feeling like they are finding a

better medication, nutrition, exercise, life balance. I was having a yap with one gentlemen (let’s call him Jim) about the relationship between medication and motivation.

Jim is living with Schizophrenia, and said he lives a full meaningful life now that he has learnt to manage and understand it.

He was saying it has been a huge challenge just to find the best balance for him with the medication dosage required to help him maintain good mental health and being able to feel motivated to follow his dreams. Jim pointed to the window and said. “Life is out there. You’ve got to get out there and get imvolved.

Take back your precious life. Life doesn’t have to be that we are medicated up so much that we are dozing off in front of the same t.v. show every day.

No. Life is out there, outside that window, that door, and we must go for it”.

Inspiring words Jim, thank you. Recovery Happening indeed!

Kick some arse today in your own way reader.

Greg. \M/H.