I started today by posting this image into one of the groups that I am a member of on FB. This particular group is one that is for people with mental health issues. I am trying to be more positive in life and also encourage others.
When I was young I was once asked, "if I could ask God for any gift what would it be?". I must admit that this question took me by surprise at the time. Was it my place to ask God for specific gifts or talents? After giving the question some thought I prayed my knees off that I would get the gift of encouragement. I would love to be an encourager. I still think of people who have been in my life powerful affect in my life and each one encouraged me to be my best or better.
One man, in particular, comes to mind and his name is John Henderson, he has since gone to God but he was a true believer. When I was a punk 18 year old with an earring in my left ear and challenged by people when I first became a Christian about being Gay (which I'm not but it wouldn't bother me if I was). I guess back in the late 70s a skinny scruffy kid sporting an earring who had never been churched before was a culture shock. When I was about to give up on the whole thing John took me under his wing. He was an elder at the Anglican Church at Arcadia. He got me involved in Bible Study that was at his place. Now remember I was only 18 or 19 and I must have been the youngest in the group by 30 years at least. John got me to teach Sunday School, lead Fellowship, took me when he visited new people to the area or other members of the Church. He was a friend, mentor and someone to be relied on. Now, I am not saying that I will ever have the influence on someone like he had on me but I want to be someone who encourages others.
My first attempt to encourage people in this group on FB was to post this smile in the sky image. Along with this image I wrote "Hey, I hope you have a day with at least one smiling moment. What is something that you're looking forward to or would make you happy today? If anything good happens please share it here. I could do with some good news stories". I plan to continue this each day. I will let you know how it goes.
Later this morning I went to see my psychiatrist. I have never met a psych like him. I see him every 2 weeks or less if I really need it. He is someone I trust totally. Today I talked through the whole problem of wanting to kill myself last Thursday. I could hardly deal with the whole situation. As I said to the good Doctor today I have learnt more about mental health issues in the last 18 months than in the rest of life. In the last 18 months. Prior to this time my life was crap and so if things are rubbish then it is easy to understand depression but now things are good it is much tougher to understand. You see in general I do like my life. I like the house I am in, I am about to start landscaping the backyard. Ok I don't own the house but I believe that I should leave it better than I find it maybe this is part of being Aboriginal. I have the best friends that I have ever had, I go for coffee with most of them. I like my church and of course I love going to SWR. So depression for me is like someone flicks a switch. There is no cause just effect. Which shows that it is an illness pure and simple.
After I left the good Doctor I went into the village and found an op show. I am not one who normally frequents op shops but I am sure glad that I poked around this one. I really wanted a warm jacket because of the winter cold we are having at the moment. I didn't find a winter jacket but I did find a double breasted blazer that is navy blue and fits me perfectly. It was only a few dollars. This will come in very handy when I do the talks to community groups. I just don't want to embarrass mindDog in anyway and I feel that if I look shabby then it will reflect badly on them. Now I just need better shoes. It will all come together soon.
Well that was today or part of it. If I spent part of today with you thank you for your time, love and friendship.