How things are changing

by | Jan 13, 2016 | Tales from my life | 0 comments

I have a few big changes afoot this year, both in my work and personal life. Some were scheduled well in advance, some I didn’t plan for until now, and one that has been on my dream to-do list for a long time. So. Here’s where I’m at…

Clinical practice & Health education

I have recently closed my books at Cooper Street Clinic and will not be taking on any new patients until later this year. Apologies to anyone who’s been referred to me and can’t get in at the moment. I am still available for some follow up appointments at the clinic (with existing patients) over the next couple of months, and also via Skype. Please get in touch if you have any questions.

I’ll continue teaching natural medicine students a couple of days a week – so if you’re currently studying naturopathy, nutrition or herbal medicine, I might see you in class! And, based on the combination of my availability and what contracts are on offer, I will continue freelancing medical and health writing. I have every intention to blog more regularly too, but let’s see where that goes 🙂

I may also be running some health workshops later in the year. I’ll let you know.

Other projects

I’m jumping back into postgraduate study this year, as I’m partway through an Acupuncture Masters program with RMIT. I originally deferred for one year, but ended up out of the program for two (!) because of the timing of Molly’s birth followed by the extended absence from Australia for Jon’s work. Aaanyway. I’m looking forward to getting back into it… and finishing later next year. Seriously. Are we there yet!? I’m hoping to do an internship in a Chinese medicine hospital, as part of my clinical placement next year, but for now I have to focus on learning meridians and point location. Daunting. And exciting!

Probably the most exciting thing for me at the moment is the work I’m doing on the development of an in-home health service for new and expecting mums. I can’t say too much about it at the moment, as there’s still a lot more work to be done, but rest assured it’s pretty bloody exciting. This is something I’ve been mulling over for ages – until I finally stopped dreaming and started doing (am still dreaming a lot though to be honest, always am). Right timing? Stars aligned? Yeah maybe. I just thought to myself that if not now, when? More, so much more, info about this to come in the near future.

On the home front

Last year was a corker for me, as I’m sure it was for many, and I didn’t come out of it unscathed.

I believe strongly in self-care and follow most of my own advice, you know how it goes: physician heal thyself. And I don’t know how I would have pulled up if I didn’t have good nutrition and lifestyle habits, access to adrenal herbs and stress tonics. I think my wheels would have *actually* fallen off. Or I would have cried to strangers in the street. Or is that the same thing? Regardless, I came close. The combination of an international move, a loaded work schedule, extended periods of parenting (an infant) in isolation, financial pressures, chronic sleep deprivation, all combined with the persistent buzz of modern life… well, it knocked me around.

So, this year, I’m prioritising my health and my family above all else. Something I paid great lip service to last year, but found challenging to put into practice. It helps that my baby is now a toddler and just that little bit more independent. It also helps that my co-parent and loverman has very few work trips this year, and certainly none that drag on for weeks at a time. These things, combined with eating well, taking my herbs, exercising every day (I’m like a kelpie, or for that matter a toddler, I need to be run or I get restless), going to bed early, getting regular treatments on my messed up back (story for another day), spending time with people I love, pursuing work I find interesting and fulfilling… I’m benefiting already!

While home and grounding is a big focus this year, there is also (always!) some travel on the calendar. Most of it local, down to Melbourne for workshops at RMIT or up to Qld for family events. But we may also make a big trip mid-year, to an integrative medicine conference in Germany… nothing’s confirmed at the moment, but I’m putting it out there, as I’d love to go!

And lastly, I think we’re going to become one of ‘those’ families, who are annoyingly into fermenting. I’ve been making kombucha and kefir at home since forever, but Jon’s recently announced a passionate interest in pickling. And after reading Cooked last year, I’ve been thinking about making our own sourdough. I have plenty of friends who do… so I have many mentors keen to share their knowledge. Yep.  Watch this space.

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And you? What’s on the calendar for your year?