2.12.2015
matters of the heart.
One Australian every 26 minutes passes from a heart attack.
Read that again and really let the words resonate.
One Australian every 26 minutes passes from a heart attack.
March 10th of 2014, my loving, wonderful, fit Dad became part of that statistic.
It was sudden, shocking and he was given no second chance. My Dad was a fanatic cyclist, he discovered his passion was of a two wheeled kind. He ate healthily, hardly drank and didn't smoke. He was the healthiest he had ever felt. We should have celebrated my Dad's 53rd birthday last year, and we never got the chance.
No goodbyes, just a constant heart ache.
At the time of my Dad's passing, he had just finished a race. He actually had just moved up a race grade- a goal which he had been trying for a long time. Dad was elated, and we were told one of the last things he said was "I did it! I finished!" with the biggest smile on his face.
One Australian every 26 minutes is one too many. Heart health is important and more awareness should be raised. Before losing my Dad I had no idea the statistic was so shocking. And that is what it is- shocking.
I spent the month of October 2014 cycling on my Dad's exercise bike in the hope of raising money for the National Heart Foundation. The amount of support, love and donations I received from family, friends and people I had not even met was mind-blowing to say the least. I am still so thankful for everybody who donated and offered encouraging words.
Australia's number one killer is heart disease. Heart health and awareness, regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks and living a healthy lifestyle are so, so, so important.
As is The National Heart Foundation. For more information about healthy hearts you can visit http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Pages/default.aspx or call 1300 36 27 87.
My Dad was never given a second chance. He was healthy, he exercised, he ate well yet heart disease still took him from us. My Dad was living such a full life, he still had so much living left to do. If losing my Dad and writing this post creates heart health awareness, any awareness at all I would be grateful.
I urge you not to take your heart and your health for granted.
Stop smoking. Eat healthily. Exercise. Have regular cholesterol and blood pressure tests.
We are only given one heart, start living like you appreciate that.
Read that again and really let the words resonate.
One Australian every 26 minutes passes from a heart attack.
March 10th of 2014, my loving, wonderful, fit Dad became part of that statistic.
It was sudden, shocking and he was given no second chance. My Dad was a fanatic cyclist, he discovered his passion was of a two wheeled kind. He ate healthily, hardly drank and didn't smoke. He was the healthiest he had ever felt. We should have celebrated my Dad's 53rd birthday last year, and we never got the chance.
No goodbyes, just a constant heart ache.
At the time of my Dad's passing, he had just finished a race. He actually had just moved up a race grade- a goal which he had been trying for a long time. Dad was elated, and we were told one of the last things he said was "I did it! I finished!" with the biggest smile on his face.
One Australian every 26 minutes is one too many. Heart health is important and more awareness should be raised. Before losing my Dad I had no idea the statistic was so shocking. And that is what it is- shocking.
I spent the month of October 2014 cycling on my Dad's exercise bike in the hope of raising money for the National Heart Foundation. The amount of support, love and donations I received from family, friends and people I had not even met was mind-blowing to say the least. I am still so thankful for everybody who donated and offered encouraging words.
Australia's number one killer is heart disease. Heart health and awareness, regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks and living a healthy lifestyle are so, so, so important.
As is The National Heart Foundation. For more information about healthy hearts you can visit http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Pages/default.aspx or call 1300 36 27 87.
My Dad was never given a second chance. He was healthy, he exercised, he ate well yet heart disease still took him from us. My Dad was living such a full life, he still had so much living left to do. If losing my Dad and writing this post creates heart health awareness, any awareness at all I would be grateful.
I urge you not to take your heart and your health for granted.
Stop smoking. Eat healthily. Exercise. Have regular cholesterol and blood pressure tests.
We are only given one heart, start living like you appreciate that.
Thinking of you, always x
2.09.2015
reflections.
shannon [shan-NEN] : "small, wise one"
Fast forward three whole years since I wrote a post, considered writing a post, hell! fast forward three whole years since I even signed on to this blog. I find myself on a grey and steamy Tuesday afternoon signing in and taking a virtual trip down memory lane. And how things have changed.
Particularly in 2014. Reading the About Me tab brings a lot of self-reflection, contemplation and a tinge of sadness. As a 23 year old I now love pumpkin and my boyfriend Taylor- he is no longer my boyfriend. He is my fiancé! (What a fancy and pretty word, that I secretly enjoy saying.)
2014 was a pretty terrible year to put it lightly, we lost my Dad suddenly to a heart attack and our world was turned upside down and inside out. You simply cannot empathize with someone who is grieving until you experience grief first hand, and the lessons it brings along the way. Life changed as we knew it, not having Dad around became the new 'normal' which when I think about it is the furthest thing from normal at all. Missing someone is an all-consuming emotion, making everything else in comparison a little blurry around the edges.
An avid reader and writer, the passion I once felt for the written word slowly dissolved and I struggled to finish reading a simple novel. At the start of this year, I decided to reignite the love I had for reading and set myself a goal to read as many books as I used to. That's where signing back into this blog comes in. I only meant to take a little trip down memory lane and re-read the words I had written but lo and behold I find myself clicking on the New Post tab and my fingers brushing across the keys. And man, I must admit it feels pretty damn good.
So bear with me, getting back into the writing saddle might be a little tricky when your fingers are a little rusty (and your brain is a little dusty- rhyming already?). Giddy-up cowgirl.
My name is Shannon. I'm actually quite tall and not yet all that wise. I hate writer's block. I like to write. In my perfect world, the words I speak would flow as easily as the words I put down from pen to paper (or keyboard to screen). I used to be an intern setting out to make journalism my niche. That is until, my life took a left hand turn and I found myself working and studying as a preschool teacher... and absolutely adoring it. Amid the dirty nappies and noisy tantrums, I have found children to be the most honest of people. They will bring you down to size and teach you a few life lessons in no time. Magazines and books are still my thing, I love the feel of them, the look of them and the escape I feel when reading them. I am your regular, run of the mill twenty-one year old. My clothes aren't designer and I don't have a fancy camera although I do have big dreams and the ability to put a sentence together. I have a boyfriend named Taylor I absolutely adore, a family I love coming home to and friends who are the life of the party. I think Jack Johnson and the Naked and Famous are musical geniuses and I don't think pumpkin should have ever been considered edible. I want to travel, I want to go places, I want to explore this wonderful world I live in. I think everything happens for a reason and serendipity is a wonderful thing.
---
---
Fast forward three whole years since I wrote a post, considered writing a post, hell! fast forward three whole years since I even signed on to this blog. I find myself on a grey and steamy Tuesday afternoon signing in and taking a virtual trip down memory lane. And how things have changed.
Particularly in 2014. Reading the About Me tab brings a lot of self-reflection, contemplation and a tinge of sadness. As a 23 year old I now love pumpkin and my boyfriend Taylor- he is no longer my boyfriend. He is my fiancé! (What a fancy and pretty word, that I secretly enjoy saying.)
2014 was a pretty terrible year to put it lightly, we lost my Dad suddenly to a heart attack and our world was turned upside down and inside out. You simply cannot empathize with someone who is grieving until you experience grief first hand, and the lessons it brings along the way. Life changed as we knew it, not having Dad around became the new 'normal' which when I think about it is the furthest thing from normal at all. Missing someone is an all-consuming emotion, making everything else in comparison a little blurry around the edges.
An avid reader and writer, the passion I once felt for the written word slowly dissolved and I struggled to finish reading a simple novel. At the start of this year, I decided to reignite the love I had for reading and set myself a goal to read as many books as I used to. That's where signing back into this blog comes in. I only meant to take a little trip down memory lane and re-read the words I had written but lo and behold I find myself clicking on the New Post tab and my fingers brushing across the keys. And man, I must admit it feels pretty damn good.
So bear with me, getting back into the writing saddle might be a little tricky when your fingers are a little rusty (and your brain is a little dusty- rhyming already?). Giddy-up cowgirl.
4.06.2013
4.02.2013
quiet days.
Alas, I haven't posted in quite some while - the last being just before Valentine's Day. Slap on the wrist for me. I feel as if I have been neck deep in assignments (who want's to plan a two week menu for a childcare centre - one in which incorporates five different cultures AND lists each individual recipe - not me that's for sure), waist deep in small children (this sounds worse than it is - what I mean is that I have been working a fair bit) and not to mention jetting off on a mini holiday to the Sunshine Coast with my better half. 2013 is flying by so fast I have barely had time to catch my breath. I'm one First Aid Course away from completing my Cert 3 in Children's Services and then it will be on to my Diploma (A Diploma in Journalism and Children's Services- let's mix things up a little bit hey?) But yesterday was a big wake up call- a day to stop and finally catch my breath and today has been a welcome day to reflect on that.
Last week a good friend of Taylor's tragically passed away. It was unexpected and breathtakingly painful for all that knew this person. He was only 20 years old and in the prime of his life. This person deserved to have a future, to grow old and make a thousand more memories but sadly he didn't get this chance. Yesterday was the funeral. I knew this person briefly and it was an awful day for me, so putting myself into the position of my boyfriend, and others that shared close bonds with this person is unimaginable. There was an unfathomable amount of grief in the air as tears flowed and memories were shared.
It's funny, thinking back to yesterday a certain quote pops into my head. You don't appreciate what you have until it's gone. And it's true. Life's too short not to appreciate the beautiful world spinning alongside of you. Life is too short not to appreciate the people that make you laugh and the moments that take your breath away. It's terribly cliched but it's so spot-on-the money true. Learn to let go, don't leave any important words unsaid. Hug the ones you love. Say I love you. Learn something new. Learn to love yourself.
No matter your creed, religion or culture view each morning that you wake up and open your eyes as a blessing.
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