I first wrote this for Heart Of Nursing – an online resource for nurses. But then I realised with a few tweaks I could share it on here for the wider healthcare community, all of whom do an amazing job. Note that throughout this piece I use the word ‘healthcare workers’ very broadly. It […]
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‘Love Is Love’ But Hate Is Hate
Quite frankly, how you choose to respond to your marriage quality survey is none of my business so I’m not about to try and convince you either way. I won’t be partaking in the parade of propaganda currently moving across our great southern land – and also across the Sydney sky, as of late. Instead, […]
I Have Permanent Baby Brain But I’ve Never Been Pregnant
As a proud Synapse brain health Ambassador, I wrote this for the 2017 National Brain Injury Awareness Week to try and explain brain injury to some of my female readers (and tell them about a great promotion that was happening at the time). The promotion has ended but the rest of the story remains the […]
Aim Low To Reach The Stars
Dream big, hustle hard, aim high and reach for the stars! Isn’t that what we’re encouraged to do? Well, yes and no. Let me explain. Before my wheelchair, I did a bit of mountain climbing through my university days. The kind that takes a couple of days and often involves ropes, a harness and other […]
How To Be Mentally Strong
When I first watched Amy Morin‘s TEDx talk, I felt immense sadness intertwined with joy. Sadness because Amy has lived through unimaginable amounts of grief. Joy because I could resonated with so much of what she said about how we deal with challenges. Finally, I didn’t feel like such a nutter – someone else was saying the […]
What Australian Media Forgot In The Diversity Debate
This was originally published in The Huffington Post on – 11 December, 2017. It was republished in The Sydney Morning Herald on January 1, 2018. The senior journalist scanned me with scepticism and momentarily dropped her professional poker-face. With raised eyebrows and poorly concealed disbelief, she ushered me into the studio for filming. That […]
Critical Things Confident People Won’t Do
“True confidence is very different from egotistical swagger. When people believe in themselves and their abilities without bravado, there are certain things they simply don’t do.” – Travis Bradberry Confidence can be one of the bigger challenges in life but it’s also something you often have control over. Your thoughts and actions are […]
Top 5 Ways To Really Relax These Holidays (Without Alcohol Or Yoga)
Ahhhh! The holidays have arrived. It’s time to wind down, unravel and distress… If only you could. I want you to really recharge, refuel and restore these holidays – and every holiday season, weekend getaway or momentary lapse in routine. But… I know that’s easier said than done. There’s no denying that turning ON your […]
What It Felt Like When I Died
“Don’t be afraid your life will end. Be afraid it will never begin.” – Grace Hansen This isn’t a morbid post. I promise. Have you ever thought about what happens when you die? I hadn’t thought about it until it happened to me – twice. I mean I literally died. That’s not to be confused […]
Why Healthy Inspo Could Make You Unhealthy
When you think of women’s health and wellness, you might think of those stereotypical images. You know the ones. It’s hard to miss them, especially on social media. Health and wellness (including everything from food to fitness and activewear) all looks identically picture perfect. You might see a perfectly proportioned woman who is perfectly poised […]
Regrets Of The Living: It’s Best You Know This Now
\ If you had a second chance at life, what would you resolve to do differently? What would you regret from your past if you had the power to change it in your future? In 2011 Bronnie Ware wrote a wonderful book called, ‘Top 5 Regrets Of The Dying.’ As a palliative care nurse, Bronnie […]
How I Stayed Grateful Through My First Year In Hospital
I clearly remember the morning I woke up in the hospital and realized nine of my fingertips were going to be amputated. It was a few days after I’d been told my leg would be amputated and I was still emotionally raw from that news. I opened my eyes and saw a woman gently holding […]