What has been your highlight today, no matter how big or small? Come share 🫶

@Shaz51 Hello my friend. How are you?

Hello @Cuddlebear

sitting here listening to all the rain we are getting

how about you my friend xx

@Chasingsunsets , @PeppyPatti , @rav3n , @AuntGlow , @Kashmina , @heartathome , @AlwaysMyself , @Dimity

Does the rain bring out the tropical frogs where you are @Shaz51 ?

can hear the frogs @AlwaysMyself but cant see them 😁

Not really the most interesting highlight of the day but

This early afternoon, I got a notice from the supervisor of the crisis support organisation I’m volunteering at of his concerns about me continuing to be on service all because the way I handled an interaction with a help seeker that was being rude to me over 2 weeks ago doesn’t fall into practice on what we’re meant to do at that organisation.

He said this:

”Unfortunately that approach just doesn't suit practice - and again I understand doing what you need to do to protect yourself - considering the on-service concerns and everything else we've talked about, I just don't feel it's best we continue with this, [my name].

And we've now gone back and forth on [peer support program name] multiple times so I'm not even sure if you want to do that - it's becoming a bit too messy and I'm sure it's quite draining for you as well.”

Honestly, I'm not necessarily upset about the thoughts of possibly discontinuing my time volunteering at this service because knowing myself personally, I don't think I was ever made to be able to do and pursue any employment/work or volunteer of any kind, especially in the long-term. Even my own father who I don't have a good relationship with is the same..he never wanted to pursue any sort of employment/work or volunteer of any sort and has been on the DSP (like I am) himself for...who knows how long.

I wish my mum would just let me be and don't have any wishes or hopes for me to be able to get a job or something...

@AlwaysMyself @Cuddlebear @ENKELI @AuntGlow @rav3n @Jynx

Hey @Blackcloud , how do you feel about it coming to a conclusion with that service?

I've made the decision that I can't re-enroll for my volunteer work commitment next year because I need the flexibility to withdraw when i need to and not have a 22 week commitment block. I've been doing this volunteer work for 3 years. However I plan to ask to still be involved as a "fill in" volunteer for when people are sick or on holidays/unavailable - i know we use them every year and they are really helpful to have available, but its not a weekly commitment and its OK to not be available.

I was discussing a week ago how i struggle to be able to work "consistently" whilst also not declining physical and mental health. I think it is under-recognised that some of us are able to work, but we need to be able to vary and scale our work around our health needs (including moods). That might mean sometimes i can work 20 hours, and sometimes i cant work at all! Or maybe I can only work 5 hours.

There are some jobs that allow this flexibility, but not many unfortunately -- especially ones where you dont have to commit to the dates/times far in advance!

I encourage you to consider what sustainable work/volunteer might look like for you?

Its OK if it doesnt fit the mould of societies norm!

For example, on these forums I know i can scale up or down how much time i am available to support others. Im not a "volunteer" here in any sense other than all of us members are here voluntarily lol. But i still see what i can give here as a way of volunteering my time and lived experience to help others. But its totally within my control as to when and how much and which topics 🥰

@AlwaysMyself You’ve raised a great point here! I think the part about you asking to still be involved as a “fill in” volunteer despite not being able to volunteer with them consistently despite doing it for 3 years definitely sounds like a great idea! Yeah it can be a pain if I have to re-enrol if I wanna come back to it like in years time after leaving… Though I’m not sure if this crisis support organisation really allows that type of thing… 🤔 I’m just more worried about continuing on with providing crisis support, as interacting with customers/clients/help-seekers even when helping them through their tough times in the moment isn’t my strong suit.

i definitely agree with your point about about scaling our work around based on our health needs - it’s definitely something that’s widely under-recognised and sadly really rare in the employment world 😞

I really appreciate your response, friend! it’s definitely something I can think about! 😊

I reckon as a community we'd be pretty lucky if you @Blackcloud informally wanted to use the skills you've learnt and you now-available-time to informally volunteer on the forums when you feel up to it and on non-triggering posts 😉😉 😁😁🥰 volunteer work doesnt have to be formally a recognised volunteer 😉.

Glad i can give some food for thought to mull over. And know you dont have to sit alone in the process either if you dont want to.

And there isnt a right or wrong - you know you best. And trial and error to see what works is also totally valid.

Hello @Shaz51 @AlwaysMyself @Chasingsunsets @Blackcloud @Cuddlebear @tyme @rav3n @AuntGlow @Jynx @Ru-bee @Bunniekins @Dimity @Kashmina @heartathome and all forumites here this Wednesday afternoon. I hope your day has been going well for you. I’ve really appreciated reading all the different highlights of the days for all forumites- very different and unique but still important and valuable as well. Well done! My support button hasn’t been working at times which is why I haven’t been able to support any posts- sorry!

It’s a hot day here in regional Victoria where I am so I’ve been knitting another kids jumper and watching the cricket on TV - Aussies are batting and it’s currently 7/274 with Carey and Starc in batting. I’ve also had the aircon on and have had a catch up session with my carer peer worker this afternoon as well.

I’m sorry I’ve been absent from the forums over the past week- stressful rental property situation with the property manager from hell including a Vcat hearing last Thursday which was delayed until this Friday for various reasons, including not enough time and our property manager not understanding the documents that were given in evidence by our lawyers. As this, there’s a chance this next hearing could be thrown out as she’s stuffed up the legal requirements for the law she’s trying to get us evicted on and the next hearing won’t be until mid January at the earliest. We have lawyers so that’s also helping us with this hearing but it hasn’t stopped her from sending vcat things to us at 11:30pm at night and trying to use misinformation to get her own way with trying to evict us, including arguing against previous vcat orders made against her which we won and which she won’t accept. Definition- incompetence 101 as a property manager! This ongoing stress has caused me to struggle big time with my mental health to the point where my schizophrenia symptoms have returned and other mental health symptoms have also emerged because of the stress causing me to seek an emergency appointment with my GP this afternoon to seek treatment. My relationship with my housemate/best friend has also been affected as we’ve been under immense stress and pressure because of the property manager and her Vcat hearings so it often hasn’t been a nice place to be at home for the both of us. I’ve been talking to my carer peer worker who has been wonderful with advice and support over the past few weeks and he’s been able to let me vent to him which has been a life saver for me. Roll on 2026 for a less stressful year!

My highlights for me over the past few days have been:

- Finishing off a knitted kids jumper and sewing it up

- Using my self care strategies to help me deal with my current life challenges

- Logging into my uni and selecting my classes and preferred class times and days

- Doing my laundry

- Watching several episodes of Gossip Girl on my phone and trying to finish them by the end of the month (only 2.5 seasons to go - about 53 episodes left!).

Tonight is watching more cricket on tv and chilling out!

Take care!

Judi9877

Hi @Judi9877 , lovely to hear from you. I'm so glad you've got the continued aupport from your carer peer worker, and also that you made an appointment to chat to your GP and extra support and treatment during this stressful time and reemergence of symptoms. Also that you've been able to engage in self-care! Go you!! 🥰😍😊 I wonder how many jumpers you have knitted in total in your life? Over 100 yet?