Posts by Sue Watson

“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.”  Roy T. Bennett This week’s topic is happiness, and this quote really highlights that we do have choices each and every day.  I…

“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” Warren Buffett This week’s topic is growth and like plants, we can all stagnate or thrive. As part of my social work professionalism (and mental health accreditation), I need to undertake thirty hours of continuing professional development each and…

“We have more ability to make changes in the world than we can imagine if we have the courage to try.”  Liya Kebede This week we are discussing affirmations and for me, this is a way of boosting my self-esteem and assist in changing my thoughts.  This is really important when I feel low, and…

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. We must learn the lessons taught by the mistakes of others. We must recognize our own shortcomings.”  John F. Kennedy This week we are exploring gratitude, or the art of being grateful.…

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change, that lives within the means available and works co-operatively against common threats.”   Charles Darwin The Oxford dictionary states that adaptability is “the quality of being able to adjust…

“You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world’s happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.”  Dale Carnegie…

The agentive mind is not only active in nature, but it seeks out dialogue and discourse with other active minds. And it is through this dialogic, discursive process that we come to know the Other and his points of view, his stories. We learn an enormous amount not only about the world but about ourselves…

“The biggest lesson I learned this year is to not force anything; conversations, friendships, relationships, attention, love. Anything forced is just not worth fighting for, whatever flows flows, what crashes crashes.”  Amanda Rose I found this quote recently and it really resonates with me, and I thought it was well worth sharing and I have…

“Your life will be in order when disorder ceases to bother you.”  James Pierce I am back from a two week break for the festive season and life is certainly calmer after Christmas and the New Year.  Whilst I did not leave the region, I did manage to take some down time, and this has…

“Don’t worry about the pressure or the responsibility. Just live in it, have fun, and when everything seems to be going right, just stay humble and remember your family.” Roman Reigns This week’s conversation is about worry or worrying and this quote is a timely reminder as we are nearing the most stressful time of…

“I would tell my younger self that there’s no shame in asking a teacher for help, telling a friend that you’re uncomfortable, and that [anxiety issues] is just the same as falling down and scraping your knee.”  Lena Dunham I started writing a different blog today and realised that it was too negative, so began…

“Being brave is not as easy as it looks.” Simone Elkeles This week’s discussion is being brave, or bravery and I have been thinking about this over the past week.  In my mind, bravery is a conflict of two emotions occurring at the same time.  Be brave despite a difficult situation.  To be certain, I…

“Courage is what preserves our liberty, safety, life, and our homes and parents, our country and children. Courage comprises all things.” — Plautus This week’s discussion is courage and at times, this can be difficult for us all.  Especially when the price/prize is important to us, and we are emotionally attached to this. A friend…

“Confidence isn’t optimism or pessimism, and it’s not a character attribute. It’s the expectation of a positive outcome.” — Rosabeth Moss Kanter This week’s discussion is about the power of positivity.  I like to think that I am (mostly) a more positive person.  A glass fuller type, rather than the half empty and I tend…

“… what you learn today, for no reason at all, will help you discover all the wonderful secrets of tomorrow.” Norton Juster Being curious is a great motivator for learning.  I am having a little break from mosaics due to a wedding in the family of my studio.  I saw an advertisement last week at…

“Truly successful decision-making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking.” Malcolm Gladwell This week’s discussion is about the art of making decisions and at times, this can be difficult for us all.  Approximately twenty years ago, I made a huge decision to apply for university as a mature aged person.   It was a…

“All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible.”  Orison Swett Marden This week we are discussing goals, and at times I need to write down my goals in order to work towards completion – even if it…

“It is how we create firm boundaries and allow others to know who we are and what we value.” John Earle I have been attending a conference this week in my backyard for rural and remote allied health professionals.  It has been great hearing about the work that many people are doing and unfortunately, I…

“Here’s the truth about grief: loss gets integrated, not overcome.  However long it takes, you heart and your mind will carve out a new life amid this weirdly devasted landscape.  Little by little, pain and love will find ways to coexist.”  Megan Devine Grief and loss are not only the death of a loved one…

“A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.” William Arthur Ward This week’s discussion is about balance and for me, this means a balanced life in which I try to align with my values, my work, my family and leisure.  This assists…