Wonderful Weekend.....

i.anton via flickr

This weekend has been really, really good. The weather yesterday was fantastic and I got to spend the whole weekend with my lovely husband and my little man. One of the best things I did was go back to St John of God hospital (see last post) to give them some cup, plate and bowl sets to use in the mother and baby unit (makes it a bit more like home when you aren't eating off hospital plates and trays or using plastic cups etc). This is the first in what I hope will be many donations/gifts from my little family to the unit. I had a great chat to the two nurses who were on duty (I knew them from my time there). They were so grateful and genuinely amazed at the gifts. I have to admit that I was a little bit nervous about returning to the hospital as I hadn't been there since the day I was discharged. But any worries I had completely disappeared once I started talking to the nurses. They told some of the women there that I was living proof that there is life beyond St John of God and that you can come out the other side of postnatal depression. It must be really rewarding for the nurses to ever see anyone once they leave because I don't think many women go back (which i completely understand). But its nice for the nurses to see what a difference they are making to people.  I'm so excited because they asked me if I would like to come in and talk to some of the women and I would absolutely love to. I know from my own experience that just having people who understand what you are going through and who you can talk through things with is so helpful. 

It really saddened me to hear that the unit has not been full due to the current financial climate. There is hardly anywhere for people to get help as it is, and it kills me that the only place that is an option can't be accessed by people. My dream is to be able to raise enough money to pay for women to stay at the hospital. Its a big goal but I will get there. Its all part of my desire to 'be the change I want to see in the world'. If you feel passionate enough about doing something, just get out there and do it. You only need to start with tiny steps and eventually these will all add up to make a huge difference. Even if you can make a difference to one person in this world then that is fantastic.

The work of your heart,

the work of taking time to

listen, to help, is also your gift

to the whole of the world

Jack Kornfield

You have found 

true joy and happiness

in life when you give and 

go on giving and never

count the cost

Eileen Caddy

P.S. Sadly, I finished Shantaram last night. I wanted it to go on forever and ever....