Author Archives: gmjc1966

I love sport, and exercising, and being outdoors. I love the taste of fresh air in my lungs. Unfortunately I have a very busy desk job that permits limited time on weekdays and usually only one day of each weekend. But whose fault is that? I am great at having good ideas about plans orContinue reading “What am I DOING?”

Last weekend, my son went to a party at the home of one of the students in his English class. He had told me about the party several weeks ago, but I could tell that he was nervous about going. I asked him why he was nervous, even though I was positive I knew theContinue reading “I can see myself – in my son”

People who know me well enough know that I am a pretty organised person and everything has a place, and everything is (hopefully) neat and tidy and I can find things instead of the stress of thinking “where did I put that?” That got me thinking recently about where do I fit in, and whatContinue reading “What is MY place?”

We all know the phrase that says “everything happens for a reason”. Whilst this might make light of someone’s discomfort during a difficult time, I believe that it is a truism that can’t be ignored or underestimated. Everyone suffers a hardship of some kind in their life, whether it be losing a loved one, enduringContinue reading “The jigsaw puzzle of life”

My son will turn 18 in just over a week’s time. You could say that at the moment he is a typical teenage male, not very confident in himself and not really very communicative when things might be bothering him. I see my son now as the identical twin to myself at the same age.Continue reading “From boys to men”

Losing someone close to you is heartbreaking. I don’t think it matters whether it was expected or not. When a friend you have known for 40 years is taken away, you (or at least I) begin to question my priorities in life. I was tossed into this unfortunate situation a few nights ago. I haveContinue reading “A little perspective”

I have been single for a long time now. My wife and I separated over 8 years ago and divorced for just over 6 years. For so long, given some of the things that my ex said after we broke up, I bordered on hatred towards her. I let that emotion fester inside me forContinue reading “Letting go”

I am not a psychologist or mental health expert but I can say from experience that feelings of insecurity and uncertainty about oneself are manifested in many ways. For me – and for whatever reason – I have never seen myself as superior to anyone else. I have a mate who played Aussie Rules atContinue reading “To be sure”

Having struggled with self-esteem and self-confidence issues for pretty much my entire life, learning to cope with life’s struggles – or even ones my own mind invented – has been a constant battle with emotions and trying to find coping mechanisms to help me survive each challenge as it presented itself. I’ve never been oneContinue reading “Attitude for gratitude”

Throughout my life, I have in various ways sought a connection with others. When I was a teenager I wanted to be amongst a group of other boys who had probably (almost undoubtedly) experienced more in life than I had and as such were in my view great to be around. And most of themContinue reading “Connection – a quest and a tribute”