Eeekkkk...life is crazy!

Its all becoming increasingly 'real'...I am going to be having surgery in only 2 more sleeps eeekkk!

To say I have been a major stress head the past week or so is an understatement and a half but the haze seems to be lifting a little despite the nerves elevating.

WORK

I finished work for the year on Friday so that I could have this coming week to tie up a few personal loose ends and also to spend time with my fam'.  I am allowing myself 6 weeks off work which is stressful financially but I think is better for me personally to ensure a good recovery time.  It can always change if I've bounced back quicker and we are on the desperate side.

UNI

Last week I dropped out of uni...well, not completely only the November intake that I have been doing for the past 4 weeks.  I pretty much just swapped into the December intake which started today.  Sounds crazy yeah that I will restart only days before my op? Unfortunately though it was the best option.

I could of gotten extensions for my assignments (mind you only those worth 20% or more could be extended and there were quite a few under that which I would of had to try and get done) but it was only a 2 weeks max extension.  Basically it would of meant I was constantly running behind the 8 ball to catch up and we all know how well I cope with that...both the running and being behind LOL.

Option 2 was the one I took - swapping from Nov to Dec.  I would of preferred to re-enrol for Jan but I couldn't unless I forked out some big bucks to fund it myself and well, its Christmas and my money has been used to spoil my kids.  

Whilst not perfect it is still a load off as doing it this way means that I wont need to worry for the next 4 weeks as I have already done that part of the course.

  

Unfortunately it does mean that my exam week falls on the same week as the court contest which sucks.  On a plus though the uni is only a few blocks from court and its only for 90 minutes so I will be able to do both.  The other hurdle we will need to work around is that Aces first high school camp is also that week and I really want to be able to drop him off and pick him up.  Enough stressing about that now though we will deal with that when the time comes!

Oh have I also mentioned that it is ALOT of work...omgoodness once I am back on my feet I need to work a schedule out that will fit better as late night catch ups are exhausting.  I am enjoying it though.   I am loving learning about the different healing styles of the cultures throughout history and the challenge of chemistry is keeping me on my toes.

CHRISTMAS

Our decorations are all up - actually we did them early as I needed to have it ticked off my to do list.

When the boys were decorating the tree they said 'Mum! Did you and Mark miss a piece when you set up the tree? It looks like its shrunk!' LOL Ummm No!! Stop bloody growing up too fast holy cow!! Last year we needed to lift them up to do the star this year they can reach on their own.  Omgoodness where did the time go!

So up until Saturday morning I had been stressing about not having stuff ready for Christmas BUT after a mad dash around the shops on Friday and again on Saturday, I think I have it all under control.  We have a few things we are waiting on to arrive via post but at least its been ordered.  I am sure I will have forgotten a few bits and pieces but I will just have to send Mark down to get them.

JEFFAL

We received a special delivery from the North Pole on December 1st - a scout elf that the boys have named Jeffal (Jeffrey Alex LOL).  It's nice to have our very own Hurst-Smith-Shilling tradition.  So far he has been found in the cereal box which the boys found hilarious.  This morning he was still sitting in the tree...oops, we told the boys that as he must not of needed to go off to the North Pole to give Santa a progress report as they had spent the weekend at Glenn's - they seemed to buy it.  I wonder where he will be found in the morning?   

 

LAPBAND

Today I went in and had a whole 4mls of fluid taken out of my band.  I was so nervous the whole way to Williamstown thinking it was going to be a nightmare but luckily he got it first go 'phew'.  4mls is heaps to have out but the last thing I want after my op is to be spewing up and possibly damaging my throat so it had to be done. 

BIKES

I don't know if I mentioned that a few weeks away some arsehole waltzed through our backyard and stole Mark and Aces bikes?  So anyway without saying too much the police followed a lead that didn't have an outcome on the day but only a week later Aces bike was miraculously handed in to the police station in the suburb where the investigation was made...coincidental much?  All that aside Ace was so happy to have his bike back.

No sign of Marks bike but he was given a bike as a replacement which is almost brand new.  We feel so blessed by such a kind gesture and its a major load off not having to stress about how to we were going to find the money to buy him a new one.

HIGH SCHOOL

Ace had his first ever high school experience last week and loved it.  I was stressing a bit but the fact he gave me a kiss and cuddle in front of everyone when I said goodbye melted my heart and gave me one of those 'thats my boy' moments.  Tonight we had an info night and tomorrow is the proper Orientation day.

Unfortunately one of 'Satans' kids are going there next year which is a bit of a worry but we have spoken to the school and made them aware of "everything".  I also know a few of the staff too so they will keep an eye on Ace which is comforting. 

SCHOOL INTERVIEWS

In my madness to get everything in order before my operation I even managed to bring our parent teacher interviews forward.  I am so proud of the progress that both of my boys have made this year.  The main thing said about each of them was how they are just genuinely good, kind, caring boys and that for me is more important than grades.  Unfortunately I didn't get to do Jazz's specialised interview so it will be interesting trying to do it after the op LOL.

WEEKEND AWAY

My sister and her fam' gave Mark and I a night away as a combined Birthday/Engagement gift.  So on Saturday we headed off to Torquay and spent the night in the Peppers Sands Resort.   We went for walk along the beach and then pretty much locked ourselves away in our room.   It was so good being away from everything and just simply being in each others company.  It was the recharge we needed.

SWIMMING POOL 

Something I had been stressing over was getting the pool up for the boys (Mum's Christmas gift to them), thankfully though Glenn came up tonight and he and Mark did it together while I took Ace to his high school info night. I know I have said it before but I am truly thankful that we can all get along the way we do. 

CHIRO SESSIONS

Last week I started some pre-op Chiropractic sessions which include Low Level Laser therapy which is said to stimulate and encourage the cells to function - hence boosting immunity and recovery.  I am so thankful to Mark for organising it for me and even more thankful that it has been given as a gift.  Oh golly I will certainly be paying forward all these acts of kindness once I am on my feet again.

WRAP UP  

So anyway, that's that...I could bore you with the list of things I still need / want done before my op but I won't because as Mum my said last week, 'The time will pass anyway whether you are ready for it or not, so there is no use stressing over tomorrow'.  Wise lady that one! I am so glad that we found our way back to each other - I will never allow my pride to get in the way of what matters most ever again.  Time is something that you can never get back.

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History of Healing – Relevantly Compelling

The history of healing; its philosophy and cosmology, offers a broader view of the story of health and healing over time.  It allows us to blend together all the common threads of traditional medicine and delve deeper into the reasons as to why or how we have held onto some traditions and let go of others. Through the observation of the complexities of health throughout history, and the vast array of traditional values and approaches used in healing, todays complementary medicine practitioner can get a sense of how much complementary medicine and conventional medicine, has evolved over time.

As reflected in the lecture material, traditional healing has a deep spiritual connection which is all encompassing; self, nature, family, ancestors of the past.  It has a rich diversity that I find conventional medicine lacks.  However, despite my perception of conventional medicine being staunch in nature, I do see some advantages that it has offered both historically and in today’s common age; this has been clearly demonstrated by the successful blending of both approaches in Fijian and Samoan practice.  From my own experience, I have found that the two working together have proven more powerful than each perspective alone.

I personally view medicine (be it complementary or conventional), much the same as I view religion. When it is stripped back and dogma is removed, operating simply from a place of love, the main goal/belief is the same – to heal; to bring wellness to a person.

In saying that however, for me traditional healing is much more compelling. I believe it is the roots of the holistic way of being and is the foundation of not just complementary medicine, but of all aspects of medicine.  After all, every story has a history, a place from where it originated.

Perhaps my bias towards the traditional perspective is due to my Maori blood line; my love of nature, my bond with whanau (family), my respect of tupuna (ancestors). Our culture overall plays a big part of who I am. Why I am studying this course was reaffirmed when reading the material. I have mentioned in earlier posts that I was born into a lineage of Tribal Healers; what I haven’t mentioned is that these days, despite the knowledge and deep connection of cultural beliefs, those elders who have passed down information from generation to generation believe in the integration of the two approaches; albeit begrudgingly and if they ever knew I told you this, they would deny it!

xox LLP, Tash

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Why I’m here and What I’ve seen?

In one form or another, natural medicine has always been a part of my life.  Growing up, I fondly recall my Grandfather pointing out plants and telling me that they were good for this or that, sharing his wealth of knowledge related to Maori tribal healing techniques, which were very spiritually based; my Dad would place spider webs on my cut knee to stop the bleeding and seal the wound; Mum would grow Aloe Vera in our back yard and use it on my sunburned skin during the hot Australian summer months; long before the slip, slop, slap craze!  I too have an Aloe Vera plant in my backyard and cobwebs are left in one corner of the house; a tradition I hope that my children will also follow! 

In 1998, I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and my GP integrated natural therapy into my treatment by giving me intravenous vitamin C.  Through this treatment, I overcame a lot of the debilitating effects of CFS however, it left my immune system in tatters. Lifestyle changes were a must and even though I would often stray from the path of Natural/Spiritual healing, I have always been drawn back to them.  Most recently, I started seeing a Naturopath to help with my recurring bouts of Tonsillitis, as I had grown frustrated with my body being constantly napalmed (and my butt being jabbed!) with antibiotics, which would then see me requiring another medicine to counteract the side effects of the original prescribed medication; it was a vicious cycle!  Initially, Naturopathy was an alternative form of treatment for me, however due to the severity of the infections which requires surgical intervention, my Naturopath suggested that we take a complementary approach until they are removed.  Even though I am again taking antibiotics, the herbal mixture and probiotics has eliminated my need for additional conventional medication, as I am no longer experiencing the nasty side effects.  

So, as you can see from this brief insight into my health journey, my desire to learn more has greatly been influenced by my own personal experience.

On a professional level, I am finding that many of my clients are generally becoming more interested in taking on a more natural/holistic approach to health and well-being; as opposed to the small country folk way of thinking that has an ingrained stigma of natural medicine.  I believe a shift within my local community is occurring, as we have quite a few of our local GP’s that refer their patients to Natural Therapists; Massage Therapists, Personal Trainers, Nutritionists and yoga/meditation classes.  One GP offers acupuncture as a part of his consultations.  Recently, our town gained a health food shop and salt therapy rooms which has assisted exposure of natural therapies further.

It is my hope that by branching out into Naturopathy, that I will be able to help my clients on a higher level, by offering a package that encompasses a holistic approach of natural health.  Perhaps in the future, my GP and I will work together to combine both of our passions and increase awareness within our local community even further and perhaps even remove the stigma completely…wouldn’t that be awesome!

xox LLP, Tash

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The start of my Naturopathic Journey...

Hey everyone, 

As you may know 3 weeks ago I started studying a Bachelor of Naturopathy at the Endeavour College of Natural Health here in Melbourne. My first couple of subjects are Chemistry & Biochemistry and History of Healing. Chemistry is sending me into a mind spin as there is so much information to process in such a small amount of time before we move onto the next topic. I have no idea how the heck I am going to remember 13 weeks of material for the exam at the end of the semester...eek, lots of revision ahead of me. The History of Healing surprisingly has been really interesting. I say surprisingly as history has never really been my thing, but I am loving learning about how different cultural traditions have viewed healing and the methods and techniques they have used.

So anyway, I'm not sure if you will find this interesting or not but I thought I might share some of my forum entries with you all starting off with my introduction post, which I actually found a bit difficult to write - its hard to condense 43 years into a few paragraphs.

I'm Natasha (either pronounced with or without the 'r' sound - I answer to both, and also to Tash or Tarsh). I am 41 and 11 months and live in Bacchus Marsh which is 45 minutes from Melbourne. I am a Mum to two rambunctious boys aged 11 and 13 who are my world. I am newly engaged and very thankful for my partners support so that I can pursue this journey towards becoming a Naturopath, which I must say has me excited and nervous at the same time!

For me, the journey of holistic healing started a young age (I was born into a linage of Maori tribal healers) however, after losing my Dad to cancer when I was 16 I shut myself down completely. After a period of trials and confusion which culminated in the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 1998, seeing me nick named 'Typhoid Tash', I visited a Mind, Body and Spirit Festival and received the wake up call I needed. From then on I started opening myself up to the universal energy and reconnecting spiritually and as fate would have it (synchronicity at its finest), I would meet just the right people at just the right time or find books which contained the answers I had questions to. My thirst for knowledge was ignited. I completed my Mastership in Reiki, attended classes and workshops in Meditation, Aromatherapy (I am also a DoTERRA wellness advocate), Shiatsu, Massage, Psychic Development to name a few.

Unfortunately in 2001 my life was once again turned upside down and I started to live what some might call a 'Rock'n'Roll' lifestyle, which saw me straying from my path. 

In 2003, I fell pregnant with my first child and made a decision to once again turn my life around. He was born in Jan 2004 and in Jun 2005 his brother joined him. As the one thing I wanted for my boys was to be happy and to follow their dreams, I felt that I should lead by example and walk the talk so to speak!

One of my biggest dreams was to sing and so that's exactly what I did and performed regularly in pubs and festivals as a guitarist and singer. This is something that I loved doing, however it was not something that I found worked well for my family, so it became more of a part time thing and up until a year ago I was doing the odd gig here and there performing my original material (a fusion of country, folk with a dash of blues and pop-rock). I haven't been able to perform for the past year due to Auto Immune issues, I constantly get tonsillitis and am 'not' very patiently waiting to have them removed. I also work as a photographer now and then capturing everything from weddings to newborns.

I picked up where I left off with regards to Massage and studied to become a Remedial Massage Therapist. I also became a Personal Trainer, as my weight has always been an issue and I wanted to help others achieve the same kind of results I had with regards to weight loss (although I did have the help of a lap band - certainly not the easy way out). I also did a Cert III course in Nutrition. I am currently running my own home based business as a Remedial Massage Therapist & Personal trainer. 

I love singing and playing the guitar, photography, blogging, camping, quality time with my family and friends and pretty much anything that allows me to be creative, oh and I love my cat 'Tat' who thinks he is a dog!

I decided to do the Bachelor of Naturopathy because I felt that it would add a new dimension to my current career, because of my own personal experience of Naturopathy throughout this past year with my own health issues and to be able to support my families health and well-being in a more natural way (both of my boys are asthmatics, my partner has ongoing health issues and my Mum was diagnosed with Cancer earlier this year).

Despite the fact that my physical health is not 100%, I am happier and mentally healthier than I have ever been. It feels great to be connected to life again and to be pursing something that makes me both excited and nervous at the same time!

xox Tash :)

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