Happy New Year

Yep its that time of year where you are being told to make resolutions, go on a diet, get fit, save more money, change jobs and all of the above by January 31st!

STOP! – Breathe and take another even deeper breath.

Here’s the thing – you don’t have to do anything that you don’t want to, shock horror!  Yes that’s right, free will reigns.

So in the plethora of information on what you are supposed to be doing, what do you actually WANT to do? Just YOU, no one else….

What have you been telling yourself that that you realise is no longer true?

How much more can you take of that relationship/job/friendship?

Why is is so hard to put yourself first without feeling racked by guilt?

Need help with finding the answer? Then email me at

janeasplin@westnet.com.au

for a free 10 minute phone call that will shine a light on whatever it is that needs to come out of the shadows.

You know its time – don’t you

Hi folks

Ok we had the diagnosis, the operation was booked and it was time to go to hospital.

What does it mean to you to truly be of service?  To do what needs to be done with no expectation of return, to do it from a place of love rather than obligation and to do it with grace? A big question and one that maybe cannot be answered until you are faced with the situation – food for thought though…

Waiting through the surgery was the longest afternoon of my life, what a Godsend my friend was who sat with me along with those who texted me sending me love and good wishes. This is a time to….ask for help…yes hard as it is for a lot of us, this is not a time to stand on your pride. I freely admit I was scared and am so grateful to those dear friends who gave me more than they will ever know.

Intensive care is exactly that – intensive. Nurses flying round, machines bleeping and such concentration on the patient. To see your loved one so vulnerable is confronting, hooked up to machines and unconscious. Its a lot to process. I am still processing it, through these posts, which I hope will get you to start thinking and preparing for the time when you have to face this as we all will.

The miracle of modern medicine has meant that Dad came through well,  he is so committed to getting well and living his life on his terms. I was fortunate enough to be able to take him to his home and stay with him for a few days to help him resettle and rehabilitate. He is making great progress.

I am so proud of the way he handled himself through all of this, truly he is amazing.

With the aging population we have I hope that some of these posts have got you thinking about what your role is for your parent or indeed what steps you want to put in place for yourself as you age.

Until the next time – keep well and love those close to you

Hello to one and all

Ok, are you still with me? I hope so as I begin to tackle the stickiest one of all. Facing a tough diagnosis. How will you handle it? What would you do?

My Dad was told he needed a quad bypass after 3 hospital stays, various examinations, tests, ultrasounds and angiograms. Visiting the surgeon who would do the operation and listening to what the op entailed and what could go wrong was deeply shocking to both of us. Dad sat there white faced and so did I, just how big a deal we were facing was so real that we had to prepare ourselves for the worst.

Now if any of you have had the donor card conversation and I applaud those of you who have, then you know what a tough thing it is to truly ‘have the conversation’. This is where you sit down and ask under what circumstances you don’t want to be brought back. Your DNR (Do not resuscitate) wishes. I cannot begin to tell you how different a conversation it is when the reality is so close at hand. Both of us had to reach down deep and face it – death.

We talked about wills, power of attorney and other such things and put them all in place. I cannot recommend to you enough that if you are in this position to truly advocate for your loved one you need to have power of attorney, should the worst happen you can legally begin the process of executing their wishes.

As tough as the conversation is, your love and respect will win out, you will want to do your best by and for your loved one.

Until next time, keep well and love those close to you