Simone Yemm

WHERE HAS ALL THE EMPATHY GONE?

There are few things more comforting in this world than feeling understood and accepted. I am not sure if the world has more or less empathy than it used to. But I find that as I get older, it seems like there is less around. Now, that could be because of the personal journey I have walked, or simply because I’m ageing and I look around in search of it more than I used to. But whatever the reason, empathy is something that is becoming as rare as rocking horse shit. Perhaps it always was and I never noticed before.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Since last I wrote, I have aged a whole year. Quite literally. I had a birthday. I am now 59 years old. Where that fits on the spectrum of “old” completely depends on where you’re currently standing. To my two-year-old granddaughter, I’m just a few short steps away from the grave. To my elderly patients at work, I’m just a youngster who is full of life and verve. From where I sit, it looks awfully close to 60. And I do not like the sound of that at all. Not one little bit.

HAPPINESS

Who doesn’t love a touch of happiness here and there? It is such a soul-quenching joyous thing. I used to think the pursuit of happiness was the point of my life. But I have learned differently. It is a beautiful thing to have in the moment, but a life spent searching for happiness is a life spent living elsewhere and not in the moment. Happiness is found in moments – and they are fucking beautiful moments to cherish and hold onto. But everything passes in life. The heart-warmingly good, the bad and the very, very ugly. Life is a conveyor belt of emotions. It never stops and you really can never tell what’s going to be on offer on any given day.

MY PINK IDENTITY

So folks, I had a new experience on the weekend. I went to the Pride Parade. Dressed in pink. Well, kind of dressed in pink. I was actually dressed in a black jumpsuit with a warm pink jacket because it’s now the only pink thing that fits me but it was a hot Hobart day so it was a little bit sweaty marching down the streets. But it was worth it. It was my first ever outing as somebody who no longer entirely identifies as straight. But I don’t identify as anything else either. Maybe my identity is pink.

MY OPEN DOOR LIFE

For nigh on fifty years I was like most people – very quiet and private about my personal life. I barely shared my inner world with myself, let alone anyone else. But now I live my life like the door to my house is wide open and everyone can see inside. And there are reasons for that profound change. Let me see if my humble words can explain a little bit.

May 13, 2017

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CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

For anyone who hasn’t noticed, I have been struggling. Struggling with the concept of recovery. With freedom. With any kind of belief […]

May 12, 2017

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AN UNNATURAL STATE

Relax! Huh?! People keep telling me to relax, take a bit of time out, chill! My massage therapist flops my arm around […]

May 11, 2017

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MYSELF

Self-care. It’s the buzzword of the 21st century. I guess because a lot of us suck at it… There are over 242 words […]

May 10, 2017

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MIA, MIA, MIA

I need to binge. I want to binge. I’m going to binge … says Mia … Why? … whispers Reason … Why? We do […]

May 8, 2017

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I DREAM

I dream that one day I will be freed from the shackles of anxiety’s chaos. Freed from the pounding heart, shallow breaths […]

May 7, 2017

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CONFESSIONS OF A DISORDERED MIND

Sometimes I worry that the reason I struggle with recovery, is I don’t want to recover. And sometimes I worry that the […]

May 6, 2017

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UNEXPECTED IDEATION

Some days I want to live. Some days I want to die. I’m not suicidal – not anymore. Or not at the […]

May 4, 2017

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DEAR DEPRESSION…

… I thought you’d gone away. I thought we had a little chat and I told you we can’t be friends any […]

May 3, 2017

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THE GIFT OF PRAYER

My private convictions do not stretch to organised religion or belief in a deity. I do however, have very strong personal spiritual beliefs. Religion […]

May 2, 2017

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WORST BOYFRIEND EVER

He wants me. He needs me. He loves me. He sounds interested and knowing. He rejoices when my heart is singing. His […]

May 1, 2017

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LOVE IS A SPLENDID THING

How easy it is to love. How hard it is to be loved… At the risk of repeating myself too many times, I […]

April 30, 2017

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THE STARVING CHILD

Today I awoke to the sight of little brown furry ears resting on my pillow, peering out the window at the rising […]

April 29, 2017

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BODY BEAUTIFUL

I have a body. As I said once before, it has served me faithfully all my years. I have been blessed with strong bones, good teeth, a great immune system and most excellent health. I am indeed extremely fortunate.

April 28, 2017

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FINDING STRENGTH FOR RECOVERY THROUGH FATIGUE

My fatigue is back. It went away for a while. I didn’t miss it. Good riddance, I thought. Then it came back. For fuck’s […]

April 27, 2017

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EXERCISING MY WAY TO GOOD MENTAL HEALTH

Exercising regularly changed my life. It toned my body, turned fat to muscle, allowed me to enjoy the great outdoors, gave me a safe […]

Simone Yemm

BEAUTY CURRENCY

WHERE HAS ALL THE EMPATHY GONE?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

HAPPINESS

MY PINK IDENTITY

RESOLUTIONS

WOBBLES & SPIRALS

GRIEF AWARENESS WEEK