Women of Courage Series. #50. Anon. 63/2020.
A series of blog posts on Denyse Whelan Blogs to be found here from mid-May 2019: Wednesdays: each week until the series concludes in 2020.
Here is the introduction to the series.
Courage is strength in the face of pain or grief. It’s doing something that frightens you. We face situations that demand courage every day. These situations provide us with choices, and the way we respond to those choices determines our future. Dayne Shuda.
Anon, who is 60, and I first met via social media and then, totally uplanned, in person. Just a quick catch up but it was good. When I asked Anon sometime later if she wished to share her story as a Woman of Courage she replied “yes”. That said, this story may not be ‘as in the five questions’ but it is ONE woman’s story and done her way! Thank you Anon.
As with others who have shared their stories anonymously, there will be no replies from this Woman of Courage, but I know she will be reading with appreciation.
- It changed me in many ways. Prior to this happening, I probably thought I was somewhat entitled to a particular lifestyle but what could have been a very negative situation, proved to be a huge turning point in my life.
- I learned just how strong, capable & self-sufficient I was. I was friendly with the neighbours but didn’t typically socialise with them, as we mostly had different values.
- When my youngest child was 2yrs old, I attended the family law court to obtain a divorce & the following day commenced my first day in the very first intake of college based (now university) Nursing education.
- I excelled in this environment, especially on practical placements/6wk blocks within various hospitals around Sydney’s West.
- At the end of year 2, the college asked me to consider returning there as a lecturer once I had attained my degree.
- Through-out these years my ex-husband, had maintained a close relationship with our children & me, whilst working on getting himself together.
- As I was to learn 20yrs later, he had quite a few demons from his childhood, none of which were of his making but which are things we now know a lot more about. That was over 30yrs ago now.
- We managed to get back together, many people we met in later years have no idea we’re actually divorced.
- Unfortunately I never finished my 3rd year of nursing, I had a major seizure, which was never explained but I think I was simply trying to do too much.
- I did however, go on to a very exciting career, in which I travelled the world for many years.
- My ex-husband & I seem to have a somewhat envied relationship which makes me think to myself… if you only knew.
- I do say to people, we’ve had our fair share of bad times, we were just lucky to get ourselves back on track but I doubt they’d ever imagine just how bad things once were.
- There have been many bumps on the road in my journey, the worst of which concerned my children.
- These things really rocked me, not to mention them.
- Things that I thought might initially break me but in reality they only made me tougher, stronger and more resilient
There is nothing that frightens me these days.
Thank you Anon. I do hope that sharing has helped you as readers will see what happened over time.
Denyse.
The following information may be helpful to you or another. These are Australian-based.
Your Family G.P. can be a helpful person to listen and make referrals.
Gambling help NSW. Here.
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636
Phone 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) for 24 hour assessment, referral, advice, and hospital and community health centre contact details
Qualified Psychologists can be found by visiting https://www.psychology.org.au/FindaPsychologist/
Australian Counselling Association is on 1300 784 333 to find a counsellor
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