Entry Blogs

“Melbourne lockdown “fury unleashed”

Melbourne is a city buzzing with excitement, as soon as you leave one café an unexpected treat is around the corner. The promise of a mouth-watering meal infiltrates the senses of most, from sweet and spice to the aroma of the intense heat of curry. Precisely at midnight and every hour thereafter, fireballs of gas give a reprieve to the cold as onlookers watch with awe. The night life of Melbourne is invigorated by the pulsating music from the band. Couples walk hand in hand whispering words that are not heard by others, seeming oblivious to the those around them. It is a perfect New Year’s Eve Saturday night as it is cool enough to see the gentle breeze hit the trees, while taking in the flickering lights gleaming from the Southbank water.

Entering one of Melbourne’s finest restaurants is alluring, the waiter introduces himself ensuring confidence that he is there to meet our needs as patrons. The menu selection is vast, and as one glances through the food selection, it seems that the unwritten order that the waiter takes is for its customers to be happy and joyful knowing that the end of the year is hours away. The validation of these thoughts is asked by the person I am sharing this night with.

‘So, Lina, what do you think of Melbourne, is it much different from Queensland?’

‘I love it, I feel so alive, I forgot how to feel this way, it feels so good, I can’t seem to express how different this is. I have missed having fun, not thinking of any worries, thank you again for taking me out tonight!’

The above words echo in my mind, as that was the Melbourne of December 31, 2019. The streamers from dance floor celebrations have been swept away, the music played from the DJ forgotten as those nursing sore heads from New Year’s Eve celebrations realise 2020 has arrived. This was the year of big dreams and restored hope, an exciting opportunity to change life directions, little did I realise that life changed in directions that nobody could have predicted.

It is now August 19, 2020 and my pensive mood is begging me to do something with my thoughts. The begging voice compels me to write.

Lina, write, revise and rewrite, this is a story to write unlike anyone else can do, this is my chance to tell the inside story, let that disposition within you do something. There must be good, it is my opportunity to share hope even though I do not know what that looks like.

I am compelled with candour and desire to explain why this writing pain is begging me to tell the story of what 2020 is. The streamers of New Year’s Eve feel years ago. The next generations need to understand the emotions and thoughts of what it is like to live-in present-day Melbourne.

The change is due to what is now known as COVT-19, or Corona Virus, it has had the capacity to bring countries to their knees and throw notions of what normal life is out the window. In Wuhan, 2019 a microscopic organism formed, which has unleashed a pandemic, an unprecedented event in history, or as I name it, an event called fury. This fury is known as first and second wave destructions. This fury has killed, destroyed any semblance of what normal is. This fury has hit millions, hit countries, hit cities, it has hit my hometown of Melbourne with such destruction and devastation that all I know is this, a once in a lifetime event has changed everything in 2020. This is much bigger than one person moving states, this fury has jumped all borders and crept into all facets of society and changed the lives of all.

Make no mistake that fury has changed life, obliterated normality, crushed the emotions of everyday people and tumbled the economy as everyday Melburnian’s struggle to hold onto livelihoods. My thoughts intrude as I think of this struggle.

It did not take long for fury to change life; it came with such force that entire communities have been segregated and told not to see each other, it seems all wrong.

Many businesses have been a standing institution in Melbourne for a long time and a regular fixture for coffee connoisseurs, but to know that some are no longer standing is heart-breaking. The figures of how many businesses are closed does not show the human factor of what fury has done. Driving in Melbourne and seeing the sign that says ‘closed’ is knowing that one more family is struggling, one more family disconnected to society, one more family destroyed with an uncertain future. This thought leaves me decidedly uncomfortable.

Can it get any worse for a business owner in Melbourne? Will the sobbing of adults crying behind closed doors be heard by children? How do you explain to your children that to move forward is accepting closure, accepting defeat, accepting failure? My mask cannot hide the tears spilling down on this keyboard.

Fury does not discriminate as the fragile and most vulnerable in our society are losing the fight of their lives. Aged care facilities have become the breeding ground of despair, anguish, heartbreak, and death. The influx of daily numbers rising because the task has become for some aged care facilities unmanageable is profound. Loved ones are desperately ringing facilities to be met with no response. Families knock on silent doors to see if what is shown on the news is real. The unfathomable is knowing that at the age of 80 another person is dying without the hands of a loved one in their own, knowing their last breath holds no meaning but a statistic for some. My thoughts creep in again.

I saw that man on yesterday’s news calling to see how his mother was and then tonight, I see her face as another person which has lost their life. Behind that man I can see another woman placing a photo of her mother on a fence, she must be thinking at least someone can see she too was important. How did this happen? What if it was my father? I cannot fathom that thought. I blink with disdain for what fury is doing.

The change in daily life is clear as every Melburnian waits for 11am daily press conferences. Every conference is another opportunity to see that hope is met with disbelief that numbers have risen. The man that is providing us with all we need to know and speaks the same dialogue is Premier Daniel Andrews. The premier of this state has not missed one daily conference, as he himself now has named fury: ‘the wicked enemy’. The words he utters are almost so robotic that as someone watching the news my thoughts are intervened from his dry monologue:

You keep telling us to ‘stay the course’ but how long do we need to be doing this? Are you talking as the Premier or a man who genuinely cares? Is this nothing but politics to you? I believe you need to push your glasses up, stand a bit more upright because your hunched over mannerism is now agitating me, seriously my head is hurting as it is the same attire, maybe a change of shirt could do, we know this is serious but a smile of reassurance would be nice.

The reality though is not so comical. Numbers are real and at times one could lose focus as numbers represent people, people represent another statistic of infections and the risk of further death. To understand that one family is burying their loved ones, dirt thrown on top of the casket, voices of anguish is the reality. To acknowledge this heartache is important but knowing that stage 4 restrictions limit how many can attend a funeral is crushing, it has now become a luxury to have unlimited people at a funeral.

The daily conferences are ingrained into everyday life that sometimes one could think it is a reality show with the same people taking centre stage every day. The reality is that Melburnians are living the life that fury dictates, it is not a show, the daily conferences give instruction, rules and journalists quizzing the Premier with repetitive questions. It can be said that at 11am Melburnians share a date with the Premier, a date that holds expectation of hope, confidence, and a despondency that things have remained unchanged. All political members take centre stage including Chief Health Medical Officer, Brett Sutton. Many names have been attached to the Chief health medical officer, namely a ‘silver fox’, coffee is sweeter when his image takes over the television screen, I can understand why.

Brett Sutton you are my saviour, your ‘George Clooney’ silver tinged hair with cheeky grin makes me feel better. The way you answer the questions that are bombarded to you does not stop you from being the calm in this crazy state. When you ask every person in Metropolitan Melbourne to do the right thing, I am thinking; ‘Anything for you Brett! Is it wrong to think this way? Maybe this is the hope that I am seeking.

The significance of this position that Melburnians are facing is not lost on me but taking gloomy and depressing and changing it too something positive is indicative for what Melburnians need. Each day changes, emotions change and from all accounts, Melburnians are changing under stage 4 restrictions. Those outside of Victoria cannot understand what a night curfew means, only able to venture to light once a day and restricted to nothing but essential. The essential is work, food and care giving. Wearing a mask that suffocates breathing without human touch is not natural. As the stage 4 restrictions keep ticking by, extending further by weeks, so does the patience and positivity grind down for most. The right for freedom has escalated to protests by a select few, distressing scenes for families are apparent. Law enforcement is being savaged by civilians; children are crying as they see parents being handcuffed because of a breach of restrictions. The untold story is unfolding every day.

As an essential worker driving in the early mornings guilt is in my mind, guilt that as an essential worker driving to work means the I can escape the confinement of home restrictions, as most Melburnians do not have this comfort. The cars that travel in the lane next to me are scarce, the roads are empty, the roads represent curfew, restrictions and is a constant reminder that none of this is normal. The roads stretch out, the light flickers as rain pours down as my morning music plays, but my music does not stop from my mind thinking and wondering how wrong this feels.

This is depressing, there is no traffic on the road, I wish there were! If there was traffic that would mean some normal would return, I wonder what the driver next to me is thinking or doing for the day. I know one thing, not having to wear the mask while driving is liberating but I know that as soon as I step out of the car not only is it essential, it is law. This feels so crazy wrong, Fury, you are killing my spirit. I know I need to pull it together; I am trying but I feel as if I am failing!

The untold tragedy of what is occurring each day is that the statistics are not accounting for loneliness, segregation, melancholy moods and for some is the ultimate in despair and no hope, death by their own hands. The tragedy is that statistics show a drop of cancer diagnosis, but these misleading statistics is a result that daily physical check-ups has been postponed to virtual conferences with doctors.

Some Melburnians are getting caught in bureaucracy gone mad, as 5 kilometres means emergency dashes across borders to say goodbye to loved ones is breaking the law. Bureaucracy does not even give Melburnians the answers that they are seeking by formal enquiries of how extended lock down has occurred. One minister says they don’t know, the other puts her hand on the bible to tell the truth about the second wave source, but I simply ask myself is this important, for some it is, for others they seek the solace of needing answers. I know my mind goes into overdrive thinking of this.

What is normal? Do I care? Do I really want to know how it all went wrong? I know that now all I am seeking is the embrace of a family member, all of this is nonsensical but at the end of the day I just think, it’s done, Melburnians cannot change the past, I need to focus on the future, the desolate streets that are almost apocalyptic will change, focus on the positive.

“desolate streets of Melbourne

The positive of what fury has not been able to take from every Melburnian is strength of character. As tiresome and somewhat endless that is stage 4 restrictions is knowing that a new normal will arrive soon, this will ease the mind and body that fury has been able to take from Melburnians since March. Melbourne life is vastly different prior to fury hitting. The pulsating music, unplanned weekends with family and friends was taken for granted, but this is now different. The mental psyche of Melburnians is strong, determined and has a never give up attitude. Talking to different individuals at work is the realisation that the statement ‘we are all in this together’ is not my opinion, it is the truth of all Melburnians. The truth is demonstrated by Melburnians wearing masks, keeping 1.5 metres apart from each other, keeping to night curfews and finding ways to cope when being at home is the only option we have. Hope has been restored as my way of thinking as changed, my attitude has changed, I have changed.


I would never have thought that cutting my own hair and removing my fake locks is liberating. The nails that I thought needed to be done every 6 weeks has gone, my own nails are strong. The mask that I wear each day, well I have saved on buying lipstick, really who is going to see my lips? In saying that, I have perfected the art of making my eyes look good, I have had to maintain some dignity as that is the only physical part of my face that anyone can see. I am a female and feeling beautiful within myself is important as I take pride in how I look.

“Lina”

Melbourne is a beautiful city, full of culture and communities fortified with courage. The streets that are desolate with people will fill again. The markets that supply food will soon be occupied with customers supporting local business. The challenges faced by me and every Melburnian has not broken spirits, it is reinvigorated convictions that life will return to a new normal. The human spirit that is innate within individuals is tested in many ways and for Melbourne it has been challenging, but not impossible. The reality though is that fury will be here for quite some time and adjusting to that change is needed. Much has unfolded in Melbourne this year but one thing that fury has not taken is our individual resolve to keep moving forward. Moving forward with freedom and wrapping arms around the ones we love that we have not seen for months is hope. Melbourne has been on the receiving end of the toughest restrictions in the world since fury hit. Being in lockdown for most of the year has instilled a drive and passion to continue with 2020 and know that 2021 is brimming with hope. My final thoughts are spilling onto my page.

Hope is a wonderful thing, adversity tests character and a once in a lifetime event will not take away my spirit and that of my fellow Melbournians.

Unlike any other event in this generation Melbourne has been tested, individuals and families have been pushed to breaking point, but the buzz of what Melbourne is will re-emerge. This buzz may have been momentarily taken away, but a new revitalised Melbourne awaits to change the closed sign to open, this open sign is for all Melbournians, an invitation to say we are back in business as everyday life begins a new normal in 2020.

Written by Lina Raudino

Follow me on @nucha73637221

COVT-19 “2020” history in the making

The beginning of 2020 was another year that would be filled with joy, tears, laughter and another chapter in what we call ‘life’. As I sit here on the 12th June I cannot believe I am writing about something that I know without a doubt is ‘history in the making’.

“SIGN OF THE TIMES”

COVT-19 – an unknown term that started with a small outbreak connected to bats, which has now lead to a virus which has changed the world as we know it.

One of the key terms that has emerged from this virus to help it from spreading is ‘social distancing’. This term refers to the 1.5 metre rule when we as individuals cannot stand side by side, cannot shake hands or give a kiss to the ones we love in public. To go in depth about the virus itself can be sourced on various media outlets, my post is personal.

How can you describe something that has changed the way we live? How can you describe desolate streets that were once alive with food and people now empty? How can you explain to children that they would be learning from home and not seeing their friends in the playground? How can you go from working in an office, interacting with colleagues to working from home? – WELCOME TO THE NEW NORMAL…..

‘wearing a mask’

My personal reflection is that what I took for granted last year or the beginning of this year is heart breaking. I am so over being told what we can and can’t do that it almost is too much for me to comprehend. As I leave the house each day I now have to make sure I am wearing a mask, to reduce the risk of infection. I try and do the best I can to follow guidelines BUT let me explain to you what the mask means to me:

The mask is a representation of how I feel trapped inside. The mask that I wear is hiding the grief and frustration of loosing my basic right to freedom, my basic right to do what I want to do when I want to do it. This mask is so suffocating because it represents what the world is like now. I would like to think that as individuals we are coming to terms with our ‘new normal’ but the fact is there is nothing normal about it but what can I do?

This is what I can do: reflect, ponder, think, ask. how, why but ultimately WHAT can I do to change this? The fact is I cant change the situation that we are ALL in, I can though change how I respond to the ‘new normal’. My response, follow guidelines, take one day at a time and hope to hell that we all are responding by the phrase that

“We are all in this together”

Photo by Catarina Sousa on Pexels.com

I believe that being in this all together means that we ALL now have to accept that until a vaccine is made available that our old life is now ‘OUR NEW LIFE’.

Written by L.R 12072020. (All photos sourced through online media gallery and personal files, all writing is personal reflections from the author, Lina-R-G.

Melbourne Life – a new chapter

The decision to move to Melbourne was huge for me. I honestly did not know a couple of months ago whether I was making the biggest mistake of my life or making best decision of my life. Life certainly changes, with that you have to take risks.. for me the risk was taking a bet on myself; can I adapt to city living or stay in a regional town that was home for many years?

“Was I about to make the biggest mistake of my life?”

I’ve come to realise that no matter how old you get, you learn. I have quickly learnt that I have had to face my fears or loose myself completely. One of the biggest fears for me was driving in the city. I have the worst sense of direction, and yes, lack self-confidence to drive. I don’t know why that is, but I have had to ‘self-talk’ and just drive! I’m doing well… 🙂

My next objective was to find myself after loosing myself years ago. I don’t regret the past but I believe it has actually helped me in the next phase of my life. I do know if I had done it earlier I would not have been ready, and if later missed the chance to do so. Things in life happen for reasons that we don’t know, but I believe the reason for me, was simply ‘coming home’

“coming home”

“Home is in your heart, knowing you can fall and those you love will have your back! This does not necessarily mean ‘blood related’.

Melbourne is full of culture, it has some of the most beautiful restaurants, places and night life to enjoy. I have enjoyed since I have arrived seeing the sights of the city, bush walking, ice-skating and more. Life has changed!

One of the defining moments, or realisation was that it would be fine to be and not change or conform to what some would say the ‘city look’. I realised that staying true to myself was the key. One family member said to me earlier when I arrived that “I needed to update my wardrobe as it wasn’t the same as Bundaberg!”. It actually was difficult to hear that. I thought “what is wrong with the way I dress???” I figured out quite quickly that it was one person’s view and what mattered was staying true to me on the inside.

The inside of a person is what truly matters, It has meant that travelling 2000 km from what was once home was truly only a matter of pure geography. I always have tried to push myself and take chances and yes, like all have insecurities. The key to change – determination, self-belief and breaking the comfort zone of living a familiar life,I do believe that at some stage in life we can be guilty of this….

This chapter of my life has only begun, and I know that 2020 is a huge year. I haven’t forgotten the ones that I have left behind, in fact I miss some even more.I have secured full-time work, plan to do part-time university in March, continue re-connecting with my family, and yes nurturing a new relationship. Life is not about getting through a book in one setting, life is about turning the page and creating the next chapter in your life! I’m looking forward to seeing what the next one is!!!

“Written by Lina Raudino”

Contact me on twitter @Nucha73637221, alternatively on Instagram linsitaliaus

Finding me…

It’s so interesting that as I sit here on a Monday after thirty-odd years I am back in the place I was born, Melbourne. Sitting here I do ponder how life can go ‘seemingly well’ and then before you know it, life as I knew it has changed. The breakdown of my marriage in itself is one of the most difficult decisions to make but finding me has been a big challenge and one that I am still learning to do.

“finding me”

I know that with age things do change and sometimes that change is difficult. The simple act of ‘driving in the city’ or ‘dropping by someone’s place for a coffee’ is daunting. I don’t know anyone here, I know family but that is it. Everyone has their own life to lead, jobs that they go to and families to look after, but myself.. well only I can work out what I need to do in ‘finding me’. It is not easy at all but giving up is not an option!

I have had some unbelievable support from my family which includes those that are not blood, yes family doesn’t mean blood relatives. Over the last few weeks and months, I’ve given too much of myself and ultimately trusting too much with devastating consequences. I know what that means and as open as I am in my writing there are some things that are left better kept to oneself.

“I’ve felt like sinking but have managed through family to keep heading up”

There is only so much that people can do to help you. I’ve been given an opportunity to re-start what I consider to be a “new life”, an improved version of me, but at the heart, Lina is still that … Lina.

“The scenery may have changed, it is now time for me to find myself in a unfamiliar setting”

There are some things that I have found though. You can’t find yourself with someone else, you have to find out who you are first. I believe slowly but surely I am getting there. I know what I don’t want in life, and at my age history will not repeat itself, that I am sure of.

So, finding me is ongoing progress. Sometimes I make the mistake of thinking that in my forties I need to know it all now, but that simply is not the truth. I have so much to learn, so much to find and with perseverance, I will get there but I have to be patient with not others, but me. Never make the mistake that it is too late to make a new life for yourself, you just have to force yourself into situations that you are not comfortable in. That is life.

So, finding me, I’m getting there and I know with future posts that this process will be positive and daunting. I do know that as forest Gump said: “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are getting!” Watch this space!!

(Written by Lina Raudino)

Navigating a new life….

You cant please everyone, you cant be what others would like you to be, all you can do is be you.. easier said than done!

“you can’t please everyone, navigating a new life”

I have a reflective style of writing and will continue to do that. We all have a story to tell, we change, grow and sometimes with that fear can control what we do in our future.

I can only speak for me and purposely to be fair to all. The loss of a loved one is difficult, and those that know me will appreciate how difficult it was and still is to loose my father. The loss that I never thought I would experience is the loss of a marriage..

The breakdown of a marriage is not something that you see for yourself even though statistics show that marriage’s do indeed breakdown. I married when I was 30 and can say that I had some of the best times of my life. I enjoyed sharing my life who I thought would be as they say “my happy ever after”…

My marriage broke down. The reasons are personal and will stay like that. Being alone after 13 years is a loss that I didn’t expect. I sit here in 2019 and at 43 feel lost. Breaking up is hard enough, but not knowing what to do next is just as hard.

“who am I?” “how do I act?” “what did I do wrong?”

These are the questions that I ponder and realise it will take time. I know that I am not perfect, I have my faults, but I never regret anything in my past, including my marriage. Have I learnt from the loss of my marriage? Yes, to find who I am and trying to find a new path in life. I no longer ask, what did I do wrong.. not because I think I’m perfect but rather it is about moving forward

Moving forward includes my study, finding work and seeing what a new life looks like on my own. Will I love again? I hope so. Will I marry again? I hope so. That is what I do know. If anyone goes through a marriage breakup loss is the feeling I did not expect, it hurts, but I can say that unlike some others, we are still friends. I am grateful for that, always will be. I don’t have children, unlike others who do and I can only imagine how challenging that would be.

Social Media – the beauty and the pitfalls

I believe I am someone that has taken the time to change my way of thinking when it comes to social media. The use of it is one that you need to get your head around, we need to move with the times! This is a platform that I use to share my thoughts and write when feeling inspired.

Question I ask is; When does social media become too much?

It becomes too much when you know you feel that it is pulling you under. It becomes too much when it affects you mentally”

The degree that I have undertaken at Central Queensland University has placed me out of my comfort zone. I now use Instagram, Twitter and my social domain. I enjoy interacting with people who are real and authentic. The use of social media can be damaging when you feel it is pulling you under. Some people will say the most incredible things that can really hurt you, you learn to get a thicker skin and realise with the bad comes the good. That is what I want to focus on;

“The power of people, the power that people will get behind you when your not well, a genuine care with a great heart”

I am very fortunate that I have stumbled across the most amazing people on twitter. This post is in recognition of that.

We don’t know the stories of others, we don’t know what goes on behind closed doors, but the twitter community has become a home of sorts. I have met some of the most amazing and inspirational people.

These people inspire me everyday to live the best life I can. I am far from perfect, but that’s okay. Most will be okay with that and that is the power of the human spirit.

There are so many passions that you can follow. I follow much that is about mental health as I am passionate about raising awareness of mental health in Australia and beyond. I am passionate about writing, I am far from a ‘polished writer’ but I enjoy the freedom it gives me. I enjoy reading the blogs of others and sharing ideas and inspiration.

I am a ordinary person navigating her life, embracing social media. Social media can be so positive and refreshing but you need to know when to selfcare. If it becomes negative and affects you – de-follow, block or simply take a rest.

I am yet to tell my full story in life and when the time is right I will share it, but in the meantime I enjoy meeting people around the world. Not one person is the same. That is the beauty of embracing social media. In saying that I dedicate this post to the beautiful people on twitter who have embraced me as friends and family

Written by Lina Raudino.

What a life without Mental Illness would look like

“Feeling free without a mental illness”

Being reflective on my posts is a way in which I can voice my honest thoughts and share them with my readers. The above picture I did myself, it took me hours to do but when I see it now, I see the meaning it holds for me; freedom

What does freedom mean to me? It looks like living a life without any boundaries, obstacles and being the person I am today. It’s a powerful statement to make because, with it, the implications of what my life looks right now would be very different. For anyone, the life they are living is either ideal or one they would change.

This leads me to a subject which is personal, that of having a mental illness. Discussing what mental illness is has been discussed on this site. The real question I reflect on is that having a mental illness is a struggle on a daily basis. There are days which are good but some very bad. If it is a day with anxiety or a deep low, the thought of escaping this illness is beyond a doubt what I want;

“To be free from the struggles of the pain that the mind and body feels”

Who doesn’t want to be free from pain? Who wouldn’t want the freedom to do whatever they want without any limitations? I thought that was me, and to a degree, it makes sense that the answer would be a definite yes, but as I have grown older I have learnt so many different lessons

“you can’t change what you never knew, every morning a new opportunity to overcome pain is given”

Each morning I wake not knowing if my day is a dark place due to mental illness. I wake to the thought that chronic pain will be my battle for the day. The reality is I don’t know what each day brings, but my response to how I approach these days, are lessons I have learnt. It is unrealistic to say that positive thinking will get me through a bad day. It is what it is, but the truth is that having the opportunity to wake each morning is a gift. Sometimes it’s a gift you don’t want to open.

I do know that a life without a mental illness is one that I simply cannot imagine. I have lived with some form of mental illness since I was 10 years old. How can I imagine a life that I know nothing of? All I know is that battling some form of mental illness is a struggle that drains me some days to the point of sleeping my days away. Mental illness is hard, it rips your insides apart and is so damn painful that the tears that roll down your cheeks are endless. Imagine waking up in a dark tunnel without any light? Imagine crawling in that tunnel searching for something to hold onto so you know the day will get better. I can’t. Imagine waking up with piercing pain in your back and legs and not able to feel parts of your body. It’s my reality.

The question that my post is asking is what a life without mental illness would look like? I can only imagine it would be easier. It would be nice to wake up and know that I wouldn’t have to face any mental or physical illness.

“Would I change my life?”

“NO”

This picture represents my good days. It represents my bad days because even though I don’t smile on the outside during the dark periods I am learning something new. I have learnt that I am a stronger person than I think. I have survived the worst days and can tell my story.

I know that without mental illness I would not have the empathy for those that share the same journey. The resilience I have has made me a woman that is strong, independent and one that makes me who I am. I can’t live a life without mental illness as I know of no other. Every day is a challenge, but it is a challenge that I am willing to fight.

Mental Illness does not define who I am, it simply is an illness that I can’t imagine not having because It’s all I know. This is not a negative but a positive way that I choose to look at it. I am a courageous woman that is proud of my life, regardless of what I have.

Written by Lina Raudino.

Quote sourced from power of positivity.

My passion: Mental Health

Life is full of unexpected lessons in our life. When we start on what I call “our journey”, we don’t really know what there is ahead of us. I do know one thing; whatever we have ahead we have the ability to learn from it.

“Fear of living”

MH #timetochange

On twitter there are many # to refer to MH (Mental Health). I am one of many that has experiences as an advocate and consumer in Mental Health. To make friends with ones on twitter is a privilege and one that does not go unnoticed by me. I have an online family, one of the fortunate ones.

What does #TimetoChange mean to me? It means that in the year 2019 there is a stigma to mental health that simply should not be there. I have pondered over the years why there still is… the answer… FEAR.

Fear of being discriminated against. This simply should not be the case, but you cant change what it is unless you keep on persevering with a message of hope and reality. I could go on about statistics, but there is no reason to do this. There is not one day that goes by that you don’t hear from a celebrity, news stories or our own personal interactions with others that someone has anxiety, depression, PTSD; only three forms of mental health

Education

As I sit in a hotel lobby, I contemplate many questions, I realise that this post is of great importance to me. #TimeToChange can only be achieved if we know what needs changing. We are now living a life that knows someone has mental health issues. You can either ignore it or EDUCATE. You cant change what you don’t care to change. Sounds complicated, but really quite simple.

If you care about someone in your life who experiences some form of mental illness, do you care enough to find out more about it? Do you love that person enough to find out how you can change? Simply do you care to educate? Education is the key to change thoughts on the sensational stories that surround us. I am not here to preach, I am here to say:

LET’S EDUCATE TOGETHER

small steps are the best

I cant save the world in one day. I cant answer why mental health illness is increasing today. What I can do is take small steps in changing the perceptions that are present today about what Mental Health looks like. I can tell you that being put in a psychiatric hospital and throwing away the key with movies showing people rocking back and forth does not help. This does more damage and simply irritates me. There is more to someone who has a mental health illness than that!

As an advocate and a continuing survivor I know that small steps without the preconceived ideas above is a good start. Taking the time to look at others around us, and realising that ‘no-one is alone’ is positive. The first small step I believe ‘should be’ stating “I have a mental illness”, but is the person sitting next to you ready to hear that? Are you ready to share this? Only you can answer that! I know I am at a point in my life that if a situation arises, I will now state it. My fear is subsiding, and with that, freedom to be who I am is liberating!

Live your life

All ANYONE with or without mental illness can do is live life on your terms. Its not about pretending to be someone you are not. Life has its challenges, but living a life based on ‘what you should be’ gets old.

Anyone that follows my site knows that I have openly stated that 2019 is my ‘year to shine’. I believe I am taking the small steps to do it, and like anyone I try and do my best. The best is all you can do. Stop pretending to live the life of others

final message

Without sounding repetative, I am implore anyone who cares about anyone that comes across someone in general to ask #ruok. Are you okay? Today I am, in fact today is a great day to share my message. I will continue to spread my message of recovery and today I have decided that as much as I can, my new hashtag on twitter will be this: #TimeToChange. Why? Because if we don’t change something now, when will it ever be the right time?

If living in Australia you need to talk to anyone please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or in a emergency 000.

” don’t be afraid to ask: #ruok”

Written by Lina Raudino.

All writing is from personal insight. Photos are referenced personally.

What is the secret to happiness?

“my rose bush on my deck when I need to talk to hin”

A reflective question in a world that can be filled with such negativity that we can forget that question… I was brought up in a strict household that told me what that was, I have figured out that as an adult I have my own personal answer.

I’m not a religious person, but I am a thought-proving person, always something on my mind to say… putting pen to paper.

There are so many books that are “self-help” for diets, anxiety, illness etc, they all have a place as they provide information that is useful, but does it make us happy?

“happiness”

What makes someone happy? Is there a secret to it? Is it based on money? Is it based on power? Is it based on circumstances?

Photo by Samir Belhamra @Grafixart_photo on Pexels.com

“There is no secret”

If there was a secret we would all be happy. Who doesn’t want to be happy is the question I ponder tonight.

I know for myself I believe happiness in being courageous in the toughest of times. Being able to smile because your best friend has made you laugh. Waking up each morning and knowing that it is full of ‘surprises’ that happened that made me laugh or cry.

“my best friends, Cat and Kuga bear”

The people in my life are the ones that keep me focussed and pull me into line when I need it. Having 3 friends since I was 13 is pretty damn lucky, 1 sister and 2 brothers. New ones then have come in my life, I can’t help but be thankful for that. We need a reality check I believe as life does get crazy, we get focussed on day to day living, that we forget the small things.

Did you ring your friend tonight? Did you send a text; just to say hi? It’s the thought that counts.

I have many reasons to make me smile, friends, university, my beloved dog, the memories of my late papa. I just forget to count my blessings and not my worries. Life is what it is, don’t get me wrong, I get it! All I want to say in this reflective post is what my friend Rohan gave me for my birthday

“Written by Lina Raudino or on Intagram on linsitaliaus”

Self-care…is it important?

We live in a crazy world, that means good and bad. Crazy doesn’t mean focusing on the negative, but we all get busy

“Coffee, nothing more enjoyable than starting your day with this”

When I look at the subject of this post I cannot sit here and tell you I am a master of it, in fact, I’m still learning how to balance my life to incorporate it into my own life.

What is self-care? I have no definition from a source, I talk about what the meaning is for me. Self-care is taking care of you when you are busy, living with illness and taking time out of your day or week to focus on your needs, what you want to do that makes you smile.

“Busy at university, focussing on my goals, notice the coffee!”

The key to self-care is to realise that you need to stop and think about this is a conscious way. You don’t want to realise at the last minute that you are on the tip of a breaking point because you failed to recognise the need to look after you.

Recognising that you need to look after yourself is the greateast power that you have. Never take your own health for granted”

We are human. We are mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, we are anybody that reflects the need to take time out. It is not enough to say ‘I will go for that walk’, it’s important to do it. I preach it but I have found of late that I am not taking my own advice, ironic that I am writing this article about it. I have found that writing (even at5am in the morning) therapeutic. It’s my form of self-care, but as true as I am, there are many things I love to do when things get too much for me.

“The Beach, with music in my ears.. no greater feeling than walking with the salt air surrounding my senses, taking time out for me”

I am happy to say I have very few people that I call friends. These are the ones that I enjoy sharing a drink, coffee, laughs and quality time with. I’m fortunate that we are on this journey of life together.

“Friends that lift your spirit, laugh with you and accept you unconditionally for the person that I am”

Before I hear your inner voice say, as mine has, ‘that I don’t have time’, we need to make that time. If we don’t take the time to focus on us, we can lose who we are as people.

The key is to find what it is that you enjoy doing. I know for myself I enjoy the creative side of my nature. I enjoy writing, art, walking, music; these are mine.. what are yours?

I urge anyone that reads this article to take the time and really think and prioritise what self-care is in their life. It is so important that I took time out for a few days over the last week to catch up on sleep and reflect on what I want in my life.

I write with heart, I am no expert, but I do know one thing if we don’t look after ourselves who will? We can’t rely on others to do what makes us happy, time for us as individuals to take control.

“Find your self-care and you might be surprised at how much you needed it to be a better, healthier, emotionally and physically better person for it”

STOP – after you read this article, think about your self-care, think of what you used to do and what you can do this again or find a new self-care activity .

We live in a fast paced world, take time out for you, it really is important,

“Healthy eating”

“going to the movies”

SELF-CARE – “find yourself in a world that at times we get lost in it”

Written by Lina Raudino

Humour, sensitivity, shy, honest but courageous

Who is this person and why is it important to share these qualities? My webpage has always been open and honest and now is the time to reveal the ‘qualities, blemishes’ of the author of this site, Lina Raudino.

“No-one is perfect but doing the best to love and dream big”

Being able to have a voice is a powerful tool in a world where some cannot express themselves at all. Recent studies at university show that living in a Western society vs Non-Western is a gift when expressing yourself. Today I will express who I am, the misconceptions, my attitudes and what makes me who I am.

Those that follow me on twitter can appreciate how honest I am, that I am proud of. I am an outgoing person but painfully shy to those that don’t know me. Some say that I appear snobby in larger group settings with people I don’t know, simply it leaves me uncomfortable. In saying that if I am with a group of friends who ‘know’ me, I like to joke and express myself with my sarcastic sense of humor. I never apologise for that humor, some like it or some don’t get it, but you get that…..

Am I a sensitive person? Yes. Do I take things to heart? Yes. Have I worked on this part of my personality? Yes, but because I want too. You see, being sensitive can cause problems. I can take things to heart and take things personally when in fact it doesn’t have to be that way. I wish I could say why I am like that but I figured out that it was okay to be like that years ago. Have I lost people in my life because of it? Yes. As Cher would say “If I could turn back time”. I can’t.

I believe that with sensitivity, and humor comes courage. As many of those know who kindly follow my page know, I’m not alone in the fight of pain and mental health. I will always be an advocate that pain and mental illness does not define you.

“You define who you are, no titles do”

The truth is Lina is a strong funny, shy but courageous person that always strives to not hurt anyone. The one person who I wish could see me is my papa, but he is no longer with me but in my heart everyday…..

So, the next time you feel the need too look at someone, as previous articles state, don’t judge. We are who we are and be proud of it. Being funny, shy, honest and courageous is fine by me. I may not be the most popular person, but I am me, that is something I wouldn’t change.

I write from my heart and I wear my heart on my sleeve, I’m honest and will always do my best. You know what I call it? I call it a “readjustment attitude”.

My attitude right now is that it is fine to be me, the question I ask my readers is are you okay with that? If yes is your answer, be proud! If no is your answer? A time will come when being you is okay, you will feel how empowering that feels!

“I’ll never apologise for honesty, humour, being shy and having courage”

Stand proud….

Written by Lina Raudino.

Who has the right to judge?

There is so much that I have shared nearly 12 months ago when I decided to try and create a site that would give anyone the chance to think about life and life’s choices.

This post is very straightforward and says what I have been wanting to say for a long time; Lina being honest!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

“Don’t Judge”

There is no right or wrong in life. We are here to live a life that has been granted to us, a gift. As humans we have a tendency to think we know the best, because our “calculation on what life is about” is the right way… WRONG!

Who has the right to question anything we do? Who has the right to question anything we say?

Who has the right?

People go about day to day life and they make do with the best of a bad situation. What really get’s me going is that people judge. People assume. People are gossips.

With anything in life the ability to judge others is not our right. Am I perfect? Is any advice I give the right one? No. BUT I respect people’s way of living, talking, and decisions. I don’t have to agree with it, but I DONT judge it, I RESPECT it….

Photo by Samir Belhamra @Grafixart_photo on Pexels.com

“Don’t judge, live your life”

The right to judge is not ours, in fact the only person that can judge is you, in your life. Judging others based on your criteria not only hurts but can really damage another individual’s journey in life. The power of the tongue…”think before you speak!”

So while some go along life and gossip, thinking they know what is going on in someone’s life… STOP! How would you like it if you saw someone coming out of a car with a disability sticker and walked normally? Instant gut reaction? “Is that their sticker, doesn’t look like there is anything wrong with them!” Another example, someone who is ‘larger’ and you see them in public eating a burger and assume that’s why they are heavier? Is that right? No.

The fact is you have no right to judge the life of others. Concentrate on your own life. If people spent less time judging others, the world would be a ‘more forgiving’ place.

DONT JUDGE – Its rude, hurtful, unnecessary and simple there is no need for it.

“Don’t judge the steps of others, as we have not been in their shoes, concentrate on your own life”

So if this post has got you questions whether we do inadvertently judge others, well I’m glad. If this post still gives your thought pattern to judge others? Nothing will change your mind. I do believe though is that when you find yourself in a situation you never thought about, the one that you judged others on… well then your realise that you don’t have the right to judge anyone!!!

Thankyou for taking the time to read this post. Please feel free while this website in under re-construction to view others posts, drop a comment and I will get back to you… Your can follow me on Instagram at linsitaliaus.

Written by Lina Raudino, Photos sourced from media library and personal collection

“Take care and tell those you care about it you love them”