Sunday Selections #599

 

 

 

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. 

Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image. 

The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 

 

The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

 

I usually run with a theme. This week for a change (not) I am taking you with me as I wander our garden not long after first light.  Spring is most definitely here now.  

 

The camellias weigh the branches down, and these are in rather than over the bird bath.  The birds don't seem to mind a bit, and wattle birds seek nectar in them.  Some day I will be quick  enough to get a photo of that.  I hope.

The sulphur-crested vandals are out in force.  My pump action water pistol is permanently loaded and lives besides the front door.

 This daffodil glowed in the early morning light.

Some of you will remember that a large pot-hole wreaked significant damage on our car.  The problem is so widespread at the moment that our local government is paying compensation in some cases.  We have our application in.

I hope you all find colour and nourishment in your week.

Words for Wednesday 14/9/2022

 

This meme was started by Delores a long time ago.  Computer issues led her to bow out for a while.  The meme was too much fun to let go, and now Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast. 

Essentially the aim is to encourage us to write.  Each week we are given a choice of prompts: which can be words, phrases, music or an image.   What we do with those prompts is up to us:  a short story, prose, a song, a poem, or treating them with ignore...  We can use some or all of the prompts, and mixing and matching is encouraged.

Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog.  I would really like it if as many people as possible joined into this fun meme, which includes cheering on the other participants.  If you are posting on your own blog - let me know so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud.  And huge thanks to those of you who come back, sometimes time after time to cheer other contributors on.

The prompts will be here this month, but they are being provided by David M. Gascoigne

This week's prompts are:

1. Laboratory
2. Devoted
3. Ridiculous
4. Happy
5. Tenderly
6. Sick

 

And/or

 

1. Encouragement
2. Diseases
3. Formidable
4. Unruly
5. Vaccine
6. Cricket

 Have fun.

 

 

Sunday Selections #598

 

 

 

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. 

Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image. 

The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 

 

The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

 

I usually run with a theme.  Today's post is much more light hearted than yesterday's.  Huge thanks to those of you  who commented.  It is a subject very dear to my heart and I worry that I am beating my own drum too hard.  

Last week we went to a kite festival.  The festival, run in a nearby town, was cancelled by Covid last year and the year before.  It was a cool day, a grey day, and a windy day.  We were promised BIG kites that didn't fly.  Just the same we had a delightful outing.

 I hope your spirits are lifted this week.

Out of the Shadows 2022

 

Today, September 10th, is World Suicide Prevention Day, and the start of World Suicide Prevention Week.  I spend time in the dark places myself and know both how fast and easy the plummet to the bottom can be and how very hard it is to see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel much less climb out again. 

Most of you know I do voluntary work with Lifeline Australia, a telephone crisis line.  Almost everyone who rings those lines with thoughts of suicide has at least a degree of ambivalence.  I, and all the other volunteers, will work on that ambivalence to keep the caller safe for the moment/the day and to help them see and consider other options.   Lifeline believes that suicide is often preventable and that the start of the journey to safety can be only a phone call away.  It is often a long and painful journey but should never ever be one that people feel condemned to walk alone.

Here in Australia suicide is still the leading cause of death for people aged under 44.  More people die from suicide each year than are killed on the roads.  Sadly the numbers of people we lose to suicide are rising again.  Which, given that I suspect suicide is under reported, is scary.

Not only does suicide take its toll on our young, there are other groups who are over-represented in its tragic ranks including (but not limited to) our indigenous population, the LGBTQI community, people with mental health issues, farmers, tradesmen, the unemployed, and the military.  Sadly we lose more of our military personnel (serving and veterans) to suicide than we do in the theatre of war.  While we still lose more men to suicide than women, the numbers of women who die to suicide is climbing (an equality I don't want). 

Our suicide rate isn't the highest in the world but the rate in Australia is above the World Health Organisation's (WHO) global average.

In 2011 Lifeline began  national suicide prevention walks - 'Out of the Shadows and into the Light'. The walks begin before dawn and continue into the growing light.  It remembers those lost and those bereaved by suicide, with an additional focus on raising awareness.  The symbolism of starting the walk in the dark and progressing into the light of a new day means a lot to me.  Some centres start their walk later (ten or eleven) to attract more people and publicity.  I can see why, but am glad that our walks start in the dark.

I don't think that all suicide is wrong.  However, it is such a final decision that I hope it is not the first option considered or tried.  And, as a solution to a temporary problem, I do think it is wrong.  Right or wrong it is always a tragedy.  A tragedy for the person who had, or believed they had, no other options and a tragedy for those they leave behind.  And the ripples from that tragedy encompass a lot of people.  Research shows that each time someone suicides, there are up to 135 people affected.  In addition there is strong evidence that if someone close to you dies by suicide your own chances of taking that path are dramatically increased.  

I couldn't attend the first walk, but have gone on all the subsequent walks. Last year covid cancelled the walk.  Sadly covid did nothing good for the numbers of people we lose to suicide.  

 

This year the walk was on again and started from the National Carillon. Queen Elizabeth II opened it more than fifty years ago and it sits on the recently renamed Queen Elizabeth II Island which was particularly poignant today after her death yesterday.  This morning I headed off again before dawn, grateful for the opportunity.The dread disease slows me down, ensures my gait is uneven and is painful.  The issue is much more important than I am.    So I walked.  Slowly just as I do every year.  Stopping to take photos.

There were brief speeches.  Some of the names those lost were read out - which I find moving.  No longer nameless, but identified and missed...  There was also an acknowledgement that there are names we do not know, which doesn't diminish their loss.

 

This morning we were also given a song.  A song written the talented performer and tagged as a favourite by someone later died by suicide in the studio in which it was created.

 

Tears were shed.  Tears were shared.

Come walk with me, through the cool dawn, into the hopeful light of a new day.

The empty chairs from other years have been replaced with candles to symbolise the light(s) lost.  Some people carried a candle with them as they walked. 

 

 

RU OK day is also celebrated in World Suicide Prevention Week.  A  simple question we should be asking family, friends and colleagues every day.

Some services and links which may be useful for Australian readers include:

Lifeline 1311 14

Beyond Blue

Suicide Call Back Service