Monday 30 April 2012

True Courage

‎"Courage is not living without fear.  Courage is being scared to death and doing the right thing anyway."  ~ Chae Richardson

 
South Melbourne, Australia
Sometimes we drink too much; eat too much or don't eat enough; over shop and spend out of our means; watch too much television; exercise to the point of obsession; work too hard and sometimes we shut down and avoid emotions all together.       

Any habit we find difficult to control often acts as a bandaid to cover up underlying issues.  Once we face a problem and resolve it, the unhealthy habit naturally becomes easier to control and sometimes it completely falls away.  My visit to Odyssey House last week showed me that no one knows this better than their residents.  What’s important to understand about drug and alcohol abuse is that it’s only a symptom and what really needs treating is the cause. 



Courage is not measured by our ability to pretend everything is okay when we are struggling inside.  True courage is becoming aware of our issues, facing them and taking action.
That's what residents of Odyssey House are doing.  Unlike Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, they're not climbing out of windows trying to escape, they’re there because they want to get better: they had to earn their place there.  They work 9-5 and follow a disciplined routine making them accountable for their actions.  Not only are they working through issues such as those stemming from violence or sexual abuse, but they are conquering drug and alcohol abuse and all the while they’re not allowed to have sex or consume any stimulants.  No coffee to wake them up in the morning, not even a pain killer for a headache.  
To honour their hard work, for the Month of May I'll be totally stimulant free.  No chocolate, green tea or pain killers.  It’s really just a token compared to the mountains these guys are moving for themselves.  I raise my glass (of water) to the residents of Odyssey House “You guys are simply amazing!”.

For more about Odyssey House: http://www.odyssey.org.au/

If you would like to support the cause you can recommend this page below or donate here: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Sunday 22 April 2012

ADULT Slumber Party

Nietzsche said "In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play".

Richmond, Melbourne, Australia
We all know that the best part of a night out is often pre-drinks or the next morning (if we've crashed at a friend's place).  Sometimes we even wish we hadn't gone out because we were having so much fun at home.  This got me thinking...

Do we use alcohol as an excuse to have a slumber party?

Let’s look at the correlation between the things we do when we’re drinking and the activities that made up our childhood slumber parties:
Dancing – the family loungeroom is used by children around the world as a training ground for the professional development of dance moves which are later adapted to the night club dance floor in our adult lives.  Some famous moves are The Lawn Mower, The Sprinkler, The Hedge Clippers and the all-time favourite: Air Guitar!
D & M’s  deep and meaningful conversations, secrets and confessions of any description designed to bring us closer to our friends. 
Risk taking  –  nudie runs, boobie flashes, planking and other stupid stuff.

Games - Card games (eg. Snap, Fish, Strip Poker, Kings); Truth or Dare, Celebrity Heads, Board Games etc.  Throw alcohol into the mix and we've got ourselves a “Drinking Game”!
Singing- singing and yelling at the top of our lungs becomes Karaoke, sing alongs and… yelling at the top of our lungs.

Laughing till our tummy hurts - or till we (almost) wet our pants!


Midnight snacks – Lollies and chips to a child is Doner kebab or Maccers run to an adult.

Staying up late  – Having a big night was once judged on whether we were awake to watch music video clips on RAGE.  Now it's based on whether we end up at our dodgy local pub or club (whichever has the latest running liquor license).
Who said that sleeping at a friend’s place, playing games, being silly, having deep conversations, dancing, singing and staying up late were such inexcusable, inappropriate behaviour for adults that we had to create a culture based on drinking a poisonous substance to the point of inebriation just so we can use it as an excuse to …well basically, let’s face it… have FUN!
I’m not saying that we can’t have a drink when we go to a party, but we shouldn’t feel we need to drink to let our hair down and have a good time.  Even although I'm flyin' sober these days I'm still taking the lawn mower out with me wherever I go.

If you would like to support the cause you can recommend this page below or donate here: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Wednesday 18 April 2012

AFL: Macho to Mindful


“It’s More than a Game” indeed! 

Brett Kirk
AFL (Australian Football League)  was once stereotyped as a tough macho sport, but recent years have seen the influence of humanitarian types like the late Jim Styes bring a sensitivity to the game.

I was both shocked and inspired to hear that meditation, and love and compassion toward team members is not only appreciated, but practised and promoted by recently retired AFL player Brett Kirk. 

Our view of what it takes to be a “hero” is shifting as more and more people are understanding the power of mindfulness. 

Port Melbourne, Australia




One of Jim Stynes’ favourite poems says it perfectly:

The Guy in the Glass
When you get all you want and you struggle for pelf,
and the world makes you king for a day,
then go to the mirror and look at yourself
and see what that man has to say.
For it isn't your mother, your father or wife
whose judgment upon you must pass,
but the man, whose verdict counts most in your life
is the one staring back from the glass.
He's the fellow to please,
never mind all the rest.
For he's with you right to the end,
and you've passed your most difficult test
if the man in the glass is your friend.
You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,
And think you're a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye.
You can fool the whole world,
down the highway of years,
and take pats on the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
if you've cheated the man in the glass.
~ Peter "Dale" Wimbrow Sr.


Jim Stynes’ foundation “Reach” helps troubled youth improve their quality of life and fulfil their potential.  See the below link:
http://www.reach.org.au/about-reach/meet-our-founders

Thursday 12 April 2012

Stressed? Confess, Digress... Progress!

"If a warrior is to succeed at anything, the success must come gently, with a great deal of effort but with no stress or obsession" ~ Carlos Castaneda

Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
It’s fair to say that most of our stress stems from worrying about what others think of us.  Whether it be our boss, our partner, our family, friends or those special people who challenge us (also fondly known as our “enemies”); we are constantly trying to gain approval to validate who we “believe” we are and what we believe we should be “achieving” in our lives. 
When I set aside the need for approval from others and focus on approving of myself, not only do I feel less stressed, but funnily enough I seem to get approval from the people I was trying to get it from in the first place.  It’s like we were brought up in a society where everything we were taught was backwards.   I feel like I’m back in primary school and it’s Opposites Day!  "I care what other people think… NOT!  It’s Opposites Day!"  [cue children laughing].
I’m not pretending I have all the answers and I know I never will, but it’s true when they say “life is a journey”
and I finally feel like I’m enjoying the ride!

If you would like to support the cause you can recommend this page below or donate here: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Monday 9 April 2012

Successful Happiness


Southbank, Melbourne, Australia
What is success?  Success is not measured by achievements or by money, but by our happiness and our ability to love.  Love for others, yes.  But first and foremost love for ourselves.
What is happiness?  In society there’s this delusion that happiness comes from achievements or the accumulation of “things”. 
Following that model we often feel disappointed when an accomplishment or new “thing” fails to provide us with the happiness we expected.  Mostly it’s a short lived high followed by a low and frantically searching and working toward the next thing to give us that momentary hit of pleasure.  The cycle continues.  If we flip that around though and work on making ourselves happy first, then the things we want come to us.  

Recently I set my goals aside and focussed solely on inner peace and sharing the resulting happiness and peace with others.  Suddenly my outer circumstances started to reflect that happiness.  In less than 2 months I quit my job, started a new job with less hours, joined a course in production management so I can make my own films, created a fundraiser and this blog and committed to not drinking alcohol for a year.  Not only am I happy and living my dreams, but I’m sharing that happiness with others ...And I’m feeling pretty “successful".

If you would like to support the cause you can recommend this page below or donate here: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Tuesday 3 April 2012

Sober Wilder: Party Liason

Saturday night I was out until 2am without a drop of alcohol.  I danced, caught up with friends and giggled until I actually felt drunk!

Brunswick St, Melbourne, Australia
In my early 20s I thought that if someone wasn't drinking they were boring to go out with, but I wonder if maybe it's the other way around?   When drunk we are highly likely to take on one of the following characters:

* The Slury
Slur their words or just generally speak incoherently.  Unless of course we are also drunk, in which case we are fluent in "jibberish" and understand them perfectly.

* The Broken Record
Repeat the same sentence or story over and over again.  Repeat the same sentence or story over and over again [cue record scratch sound].

* The Pacifier (AKA The Baby's Dummy)
The beer bottle or glass of alcohol acts as a pacifier (baby's dummy) and the person will suck contently on their drink (even if it's empty or the lid is still on) and not engage in conversation. 
If there are a few Pacifiers in a circle they will literally sit there drinking and not talk.  These days they are likely to be tapping away on their iPhones, checking Facebook or other unsocial behaviour.  Kinda blows the theory that drinking is social right out of the water.

 * The Cradle Rock

"...when the wind blows, drunk person will rock"... back and forth and back and forth. (On the dance floor this motion can sometimes pass for a dance move).
But "when the bow breaks, the drunk person will fall and down will come drunked, VB's and all..."

 * The Personal Space-inator
Behaves like your long lost best friend even if you've only met that night.  
"I love u too man, but could you kindly get your breath out of my face."

 * The Say it Don't Spppray it!

Best mates with the personal space-inator.  Need I say more?

I'm making light of these because they're pretty funny on reflection.  Or is it that I find drunk people funny because I'm trying to justify my own drunken behaviour?   


All I know is that Saturday night was one of the best nights I've had out in a long time and the only drink I was smashing was water...

If you would like to support the cause you can recommend this page below or donate here: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6