WEBVTT
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Welcome back to this week's episode of Unapologetically Imperfect.
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I would like to begin by acknowledging the dark people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is filmed and recorded.
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I pay respect to elders past, present, and emerging, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal terrorists and other people watching and listening today.
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I acknowledge that this land is and always will be dark country.
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Trigger warning.
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For this episode, I'm going to talk about self-harm and suicide.
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So please, look after yourself.
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If it's something you can't deal with, I advise you to skip this episode.
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And if you have little ears listening, I do suggest that you move them away.
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Welcome back.
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My apologies for my absence.
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I needed a couple of weeks just to regain focus and just take a bit of a break.
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But I'm back and we're ready to go again.
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So episode 12.
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I'm Shell, and this is my story through my eyes, through my experience, and what I've learnt.
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And I hope there's something in it that you find that helps you as well.
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So have you ever had one of those days, weeks, months, or even years where you feel everything and everyone is against you?
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Kind of like this.
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This day has been terrible.
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And when those times come, how many of these thoughts and questions have crossed your mind?
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What's the point of trying?
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Why do I even bother?
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Does anyone actually care?
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Why am I here?
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Would anyone even notice if I disappeared?
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Why is my best still not good enough?
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I know I've certainly had these thoughts and questions, and many more that you don't want to know about.
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If you've ever listened to any of my previous episodes, you know a bit of my story already.
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And if you are listening for the first time, welcome and allow me to fill you in.
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Hi, I'm Shell.
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I'm 42 years old, I'm an only child, and I come from a broken home, where I was regul regularly subject to emotional and verbal abuse, mostly from my dad.
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This podcast isn't designed as to be a oh woe is me, nor am I begging for sympathy or pity.
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My heart behind this podcast is to share my story and my own experience in the hopes that it will encourage you, the people watching and listening.
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So going back to my opening question about having a bad day and the thoughts that can creep in.
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I've been there on many, many, many occasions.
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As I mentioned before, I'm an only child.
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And home life was far from happy, unfortunately.
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School also wasn't great.
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I was regularly bullied by other students because of my size, or because I like school and always tried my best.
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You know the whole goody two shoes thing?
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That was me.
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I felt extremely alone and often questioned my worth, my existence, and my importance in this world.
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At the tender age of 11, not once, but twice, I got to the point where I didn't think I could handle it anymore.
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And I honestly didn't genuinely think anyone would even miss me if I was gone.
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I had a plan.
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My primary school was on the Great Western Highway.
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I had to walk down the footpath of that highway.
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And my grandparents lived just off it.
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My auntie passed away just over at the railway station across the road from it.
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My mum worked at the shops just in front of where I was.
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And walking home from school, I decided that I was done.
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I was gonna step out onto that highway in front of an oncoming truck.
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And I don't mean just a little truck, I'm talking a big semi-trailer.
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Legit thought it was the only way that I could escape.
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But both times I was stopped by something or someone.
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So my story didn't end there, obviously.
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But life continued on.
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There are a few more good days here and there, but no matter how much I tried to be happy or get over it, as I was often told, I couldn't shake those intense thoughts.
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On the outside, things appeared pretty good.
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But the reality is on the inside, I was so lonely and in tremendous turmoil.
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It was about age 15 by this point.
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And more and more the thoughts of why am I here?
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What's the point?
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And would anyone seriously care if I wasn't here anymore or not?
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They crept in and they overtook my whole life.
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Morbid thoughts.
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I know, I apologize.
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But that was my internal battle.
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24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Things were pretty dark.
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And probably the darkest they've ever been for me.
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Whilst I didn't verbalize how I was feeling or what I was thinking, I remember going to bed one night and honestly thinking, I really don't care if I don't wake up tomorrow.
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I'm done.
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Years of bullying, abuse at home.
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I was done.
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I I didn't want to do it anymore.
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I didn't think much about it, obviously, and began drifting off to sleep.
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But little did I know that that night was going to be a huge turning point in my life.
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I had a very vivid and real dream.
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And remember, I hadn't told anyone about what I was thinking and feeling.
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That night, I dreamt that I was watching my own funeral.
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Not on TV.
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But I was right there in the church watching my own funeral unfold.
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The church was one I was attending at the time, and I legitimately could see my casket.
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I could hear everyone talking about my story of my life.
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I know this sounds really weird, alright, but just hear me out.
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The room was filled with over 750 people who were all very clearly upset.
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There were family members, my friends, from all stages of my life so far, my youth leaders, girls' brigade friends and leaders, and even people from Fire Brigade who I hadn't known since I was a kid.
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But I could genuinely see their faces.
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Like super clearly.
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And from somewhere within the dream, as clear as you can hear me now, I heard the words.
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See, you are valued, you are loved.
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And you sure as heck would be missed if you weren't here anymore.
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I woke up after that dream.
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My mind was blown.
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I remember crying out to God saying, I am so sorry for having those thoughts.
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And I lay in bed sobbing.
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No one knew.
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Beauty of being an only child.
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You don't have to share a room, so I was able just to let it out.
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I did end up falling asleep again.
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But I remember waking up the next day feeling lighter and with a new understanding of what I was actually destined here for.
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Although it did shake me.
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It shook me up a lot.
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And there was no coming back from that dream in the sense of I couldn't go back.
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I had to go forward.
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So here we are, 2026.
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And obviously life has gotten better.
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And hey, surprise, look, I'm still here.
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And while I still have some down days, I'm constantly reminded that I am here for a reason and I can make a difference to others.
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I've realized that the little that I can give can make a difference.
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A smile to a stranger passing by, that might be the only smile they see all day.
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That encouragement, however small or insignificant it might be or seem to me, could make the absolute world someone else.
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Didn't wear it today, but I have a hoodie.
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And it says you matter, just here on the front with a heart.
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And on the back, it says this.
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Dear person behind me, the world is a better place with you in it.
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Love from the person in front of you.
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The world is a better place with you in it.
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Let that just sink in for a minute.
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Or anything like it, remember, the world is a better place because you are in it.
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Doesn't matter where you come from, how smart you are, you can make a difference.
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I'm reminded of the story of the eternity word.
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I don't know if you've ever seen it, but it's about a guy called Arthur Stace, and he was completely illiterate.
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And he had a piece of chalk, it was all he had in his hand.
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And he went out into the streets of Sydney and he wrote the word eternity.
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I'm pretty sure it was the year 2000 that word appeared on the Sydney Heart Bridge on New Year's Eve.
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But that word went all over the place.
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All he had was a piece of chalk.
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And yet so many people found encouragement in that.
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So what you have to offer really could make a huge difference in someone else's life.
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And don't take it for granted.
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You might go, oh I'm not that smart, or I'm not, you know, I don't have this, I don't have that.
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Great.
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What have you got?
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What's something little that you can use that can encourage someone else to show them that they matter?
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The world is a better place with you in it.
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And you have a role to play.
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Your presence is a gift.
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So use your gift and be a blessing to others, encourage others.
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Two quotes I have heard of my entire life, and I do keep them close.
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Is what goes around comes around.
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And treat others the way you want to be treated.
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What goes around comes around.
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Fairly simple words.
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Meaning what you put out has a way of coming back to you.
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And treating others the way you want to be treated.
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If you want to be treated with respect, treat others with respect.
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If you hope that when you're down, someone would pick you up.
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Help someone who's down.
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Buy someone a cup of coffee.
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Sit down and have a chat and actually stop and listen to them.
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You have something that you can give that's going to help someone else.
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But it was the wake-up call I needed.
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Let me just say, whilst I have had moments now as an adult where I've thrown my hands up in the air and gone, stop the world, I want to get off.
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That's not because of feeling like I couldn't go on.
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That was because my borderline personality disorder makes things very, very intense.
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And at times the only way I feel I could escape it was just to end it all.
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It wasn't that I wanted to die like I did when I was younger.
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It was more a case of I just need a break.
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And anyone who suffers a mental illness, I get it.
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It wasn't that I wanted to die as an adult.
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It was just I needed the break.
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I just I couldn't see any other way out.
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Obviously, now I am sitting here in absolutely stunning weather and location.
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And through my correct supports, I'm a million percent better than I was.
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Am I cured?
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No, never will be.
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But I'm in a much better place.
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I know how to deal with things now.
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Whatever you have, you can encourage.
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We all have the ability to smile.
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Whether it be an actual smile or just with our eyes.
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We all have the ability to do something.
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Because the world is a better place with you in it.
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I need you to hear me.
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The world is a better place with you in it today.
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And it's easy for us some days to go, oh, man, life's great.
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Not a care in the world.
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You know, just cruising, just chilling.
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But the reality is life can change in an instant.
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Where I'm sitting at the moment on this riverbank should actually be part of the river.
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But because we've had some epic floods out here in the past few years, the whole location has changed.
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Technically, I should be sitting in the middle of the water, but as you can see, I'm not.
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Things change in an instant.
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So you might be having a great day, a great week, a great month, or a great year.
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But it can change like that.
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And you need to be prepared.
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What would you want someone to do if you were having a bad day that you could do to help someone now?
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We are very powerful people, human beings.
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We don't need weapons of mass destruction to cause damage.
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Nor do we need great experience or a lot of money or anything like that to help someone else.
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Like I said, a smile.
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Maybe you've got a friend that needs a hug.
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It's pretty cool.
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It's pretty cool that we have those sorts of skills in our hand 24-7 that we could use them to help someone else.
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Sometimes when people are really down, and speaking from my own experience here, but it's hard when people are really down to hear words of encouragement.
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It's hard to hear.
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You are wanted, you are loved, you are enough.
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But sometimes being shown can break that little instance.
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Does it have to be perfect?
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Nope.
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Does it have to be professional?
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Nope.
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Just something.
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Something little can make a difference to someone who's really struggling.
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Unfortunately, when you get into that headspace, the ears turn off.
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The ears genuinely turn off.
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Because all they can hear is the internal dialogue that is so loud.
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I'm not worthy.
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I'm not valuable enough.
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I can't do this.
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I can't do that.
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I'm useless.
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It honestly becomes so overwhelming.
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It's all you can hear.
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But being shown something, being shown.
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I tell my students at school all the time, like, guys, you've got to remember everyone comes with a story.
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And everyone's fighting a battle you know nothing about.
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We all come to school with something each morning.
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So we need to be kind.
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It's amazing how many of my stage three students resonate with that.
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They get it.
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So stage three here in Australia is year five and six, so upper primary.
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But we don't know what someone else is battling.
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So we might be having a great day.
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But someone else might not be.
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Opening a door for someone, giving them a smile.
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Just something.
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Something that shows them that, hey, you're valuable and you're worthy of my time.
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Or my effort.
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Besides my dream, it was people showing me and showing up for me that got me through those hard times.
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I didn't realize it as much as a teenager, but I do definitely realize it and recognize it now as an adult.
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And I'm forever grateful.
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So wherever you're at today, the world is a better place with you in it.
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And each day is just an opportunity to be your best self today.
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Especially as we're all on our journey.
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Because it's the best way to be.
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Until next time.
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Welcome back to this week's episode of Unapologetically Imperfect.
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I would like to begin by acknowledging the dark people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is filmed and recorded.
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I pay respect to elders past, present, and emerging, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal terrorists and other people watching and listening today.
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I acknowledge that this land is and always will be dark country.
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Trigger warning.
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For this episode, I'm going to talk about self-harm and suicide.
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So please, look after yourself.
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If it's something you can't deal with, I advise you to skip this episode.
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And if you have little ears listening, I do suggest that you move them away.
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Welcome back.
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My apologies for my absence.
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I needed a couple of weeks just to regain focus and just take a bit of a break.
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But I'm back and we're ready to go again.
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So episode 12.
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I'm Shell, and this is my story through my eyes, through my experience, and what I've learnt.
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And I hope there's something in it that you find that helps you as well.
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So have you ever had one of those days, weeks, months, or even years where you feel everything and everyone is against you?
00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:17.280
Kind of like this.
00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:20.000
This day has been terrible.
00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:49.040
And when those times come, how many of these thoughts and questions have crossed your mind?
00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:51.920
What's the point of trying?
00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:54.159
Why do I even bother?
00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:57.200
Does anyone actually care?
00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:00.000
Why am I here?
00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:03.760
Would anyone even notice if I disappeared?
00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:08.080
Why is my best still not good enough?
00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:14.159
I know I've certainly had these thoughts and questions, and many more that you don't want to know about.
00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:21.280
If you've ever listened to any of my previous episodes, you know a bit of my story already.
00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:26.080
And if you are listening for the first time, welcome and allow me to fill you in.
00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:27.840
Hi, I'm Shell.
00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:40.159
I'm 42 years old, I'm an only child, and I come from a broken home, where I was regul regularly subject to emotional and verbal abuse, mostly from my dad.
00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:48.319
This podcast isn't designed as to be a oh woe is me, nor am I begging for sympathy or pity.
00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:59.120
My heart behind this podcast is to share my story and my own experience in the hopes that it will encourage you, the people watching and listening.
00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:08.479
So going back to my opening question about having a bad day and the thoughts that can creep in.
00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:12.879
I've been there on many, many, many occasions.
00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:19.039
As I mentioned before, I'm an only child.
00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:22.479
And home life was far from happy, unfortunately.
00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:25.199
School also wasn't great.
00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:34.319
I was regularly bullied by other students because of my size, or because I like school and always tried my best.
00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:37.280
You know the whole goody two shoes thing?
00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:38.560
That was me.
00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:49.759
I felt extremely alone and often questioned my worth, my existence, and my importance in this world.
00:03:52.479 --> 00:04:02.240
At the tender age of 11, not once, but twice, I got to the point where I didn't think I could handle it anymore.
00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:08.960
And I honestly didn't genuinely think anyone would even miss me if I was gone.
00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:11.120
I had a plan.
00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:17.759
My primary school was on the Great Western Highway.
00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:22.079
I had to walk down the footpath of that highway.
00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:25.120
And my grandparents lived just off it.
00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:29.120
My auntie passed away just over at the railway station across the road from it.
00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:32.319
My mum worked at the shops just in front of where I was.
00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:38.800
And walking home from school, I decided that I was done.
00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:43.839
I was gonna step out onto that highway in front of an oncoming truck.
00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:49.279
And I don't mean just a little truck, I'm talking a big semi-trailer.
00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:56.319
Legit thought it was the only way that I could escape.
00:04:57.439 --> 00:05:01.360
But both times I was stopped by something or someone.
00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:06.240
So my story didn't end there, obviously.
00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:09.439
But life continued on.
00:05:10.480 --> 00:05:20.879
There are a few more good days here and there, but no matter how much I tried to be happy or get over it, as I was often told, I couldn't shake those intense thoughts.
00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:23.199
On the outside, things appeared pretty good.
00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:28.800
But the reality is on the inside, I was so lonely and in tremendous turmoil.
00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:33.439
It was about age 15 by this point.
00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:36.800
And more and more the thoughts of why am I here?
00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:38.160
What's the point?
00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:42.959
And would anyone seriously care if I wasn't here anymore or not?
00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:46.399
They crept in and they overtook my whole life.
00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:48.720
Morbid thoughts.
00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:50.560
I know, I apologize.
00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:52.560
But that was my internal battle.
00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:55.279
24 hours a day, seven days a week.
00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:58.000
Things were pretty dark.
00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:01.360
And probably the darkest they've ever been for me.
00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:13.040
Whilst I didn't verbalize how I was feeling or what I was thinking, I remember going to bed one night and honestly thinking, I really don't care if I don't wake up tomorrow.
00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:14.319
I'm done.
00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:18.800
Years of bullying, abuse at home.
00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:20.319
I was done.
00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:22.399
I I didn't want to do it anymore.
00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:28.399
I didn't think much about it, obviously, and began drifting off to sleep.
00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:34.160
But little did I know that that night was going to be a huge turning point in my life.
00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:38.079
I had a very vivid and real dream.
00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:45.279
And remember, I hadn't told anyone about what I was thinking and feeling.
00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:54.879
That night, I dreamt that I was watching my own funeral.
00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:56.560
Not on TV.
00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:01.920
But I was right there in the church watching my own funeral unfold.
00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:14.160
The church was one I was attending at the time, and I legitimately could see my casket.
00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:17.839
I could hear everyone talking about my story of my life.
00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:26.079
I know this sounds really weird, alright, but just hear me out.
00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:33.759
The room was filled with over 750 people who were all very clearly upset.
00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:46.879
There were family members, my friends, from all stages of my life so far, my youth leaders, girls' brigade friends and leaders, and even people from Fire Brigade who I hadn't known since I was a kid.
00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:49.600
But I could genuinely see their faces.
00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:53.120
Like super clearly.
00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:06.959
And from somewhere within the dream, as clear as you can hear me now, I heard the words.
00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:12.079
See, you are valued, you are loved.
00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:16.480
And you sure as heck would be missed if you weren't here anymore.
00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:22.560
I woke up after that dream.
00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:24.879
My mind was blown.
00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:30.560
I remember crying out to God saying, I am so sorry for having those thoughts.
00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:32.399
And I lay in bed sobbing.
00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:34.000
No one knew.
00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:36.159
Beauty of being an only child.
00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:40.080
You don't have to share a room, so I was able just to let it out.
00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:42.879
I did end up falling asleep again.
00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:49.440
But I remember waking up the next day feeling lighter and with a new understanding of what I was actually destined here for.
00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:54.159
Although it did shake me.
00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:56.080
It shook me up a lot.
00:08:57.120 --> 00:09:02.879
And there was no coming back from that dream in the sense of I couldn't go back.
00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:04.720
I had to go forward.
00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:11.039
So here we are, 2026.
00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:13.600
And obviously life has gotten better.
00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:16.720
And hey, surprise, look, I'm still here.
00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:27.279
And while I still have some down days, I'm constantly reminded that I am here for a reason and I can make a difference to others.
00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:34.320
I've realized that the little that I can give can make a difference.
00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:40.320
A smile to a stranger passing by, that might be the only smile they see all day.
00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:50.720
That encouragement, however small or insignificant it might be or seem to me, could make the absolute world someone else.
00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:57.200
Didn't wear it today, but I have a hoodie.
00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:00.320
And it says you matter, just here on the front with a heart.
00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:02.399
And on the back, it says this.
00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:07.279
Dear person behind me, the world is a better place with you in it.
00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:09.600
Love from the person in front of you.
00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:14.559
The world is a better place with you in it.
00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:18.000
Let that just sink in for a minute.
00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:36.799
Or anything like it, remember, the world is a better place because you are in it.
00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:46.320
Doesn't matter where you come from, how smart you are, you can make a difference.
00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:54.240
I'm reminded of the story of the eternity word.
00:10:54.559 --> 00:11:00.879
I don't know if you've ever seen it, but it's about a guy called Arthur Stace, and he was completely illiterate.
00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:04.080
And he had a piece of chalk, it was all he had in his hand.
00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:08.559
And he went out into the streets of Sydney and he wrote the word eternity.
00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:15.679
I'm pretty sure it was the year 2000 that word appeared on the Sydney Heart Bridge on New Year's Eve.
00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:19.919
But that word went all over the place.
00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:22.879
All he had was a piece of chalk.
00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:25.919
And yet so many people found encouragement in that.
00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:35.759
So what you have to offer really could make a huge difference in someone else's life.
00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:38.000
And don't take it for granted.
00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:45.120
You might go, oh I'm not that smart, or I'm not, you know, I don't have this, I don't have that.
00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:46.000
Great.
00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:47.600
What have you got?
00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:55.440
What's something little that you can use that can encourage someone else to show them that they matter?
00:11:58.559 --> 00:12:02.399
The world is a better place with you in it.
00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.960
And you have a role to play.
00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:07.440
Your presence is a gift.
00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:12.480
So use your gift and be a blessing to others, encourage others.
00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:20.080
Two quotes I have heard of my entire life, and I do keep them close.
00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:22.720
Is what goes around comes around.
00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:25.679
And treat others the way you want to be treated.
00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:29.440
What goes around comes around.
00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:31.440
Fairly simple words.
00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:38.000
Meaning what you put out has a way of coming back to you.
00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:41.600
And treating others the way you want to be treated.
00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:45.600
If you want to be treated with respect, treat others with respect.
00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:50.399
If you hope that when you're down, someone would pick you up.
00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:52.879
Help someone who's down.
00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:55.679
Buy someone a cup of coffee.
00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:59.600
Sit down and have a chat and actually stop and listen to them.
00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:05.600
You have something that you can give that's going to help someone else.
00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:17.600
But it was the wake-up call I needed.
00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:31.120
Let me just say, whilst I have had moments now as an adult where I've thrown my hands up in the air and gone, stop the world, I want to get off.
00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:37.279
That's not because of feeling like I couldn't go on.
00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:45.360
That was because my borderline personality disorder makes things very, very intense.
00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:50.240
And at times the only way I feel I could escape it was just to end it all.
00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:54.159
It wasn't that I wanted to die like I did when I was younger.
00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:58.159
It was more a case of I just need a break.
00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:03.600
And anyone who suffers a mental illness, I get it.
00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:07.840
It wasn't that I wanted to die as an adult.
00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:10.159
It was just I needed the break.
00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:12.559
I just I couldn't see any other way out.
00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:19.039
Obviously, now I am sitting here in absolutely stunning weather and location.
00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:26.720
And through my correct supports, I'm a million percent better than I was.
00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:27.600
Am I cured?
00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:29.039
No, never will be.
00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:31.360
But I'm in a much better place.
00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:33.360
I know how to deal with things now.
00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:40.080
Whatever you have, you can encourage.
00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:42.879
We all have the ability to smile.
00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:47.759
Whether it be an actual smile or just with our eyes.
00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:52.320
We all have the ability to do something.
00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:56.080
Because the world is a better place with you in it.
00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.679
I need you to hear me.
00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:02.960
The world is a better place with you in it today.
00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:10.080
And it's easy for us some days to go, oh, man, life's great.
00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:12.000
Not a care in the world.
00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:14.960
You know, just cruising, just chilling.
00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:20.240
But the reality is life can change in an instant.
00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:28.960
Where I'm sitting at the moment on this riverbank should actually be part of the river.
00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:38.320
But because we've had some epic floods out here in the past few years, the whole location has changed.
00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:42.639
Technically, I should be sitting in the middle of the water, but as you can see, I'm not.
00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:45.440
Things change in an instant.
00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:51.279
So you might be having a great day, a great week, a great month, or a great year.
00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:54.159
But it can change like that.
00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:57.120
And you need to be prepared.
00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:05.279
What would you want someone to do if you were having a bad day that you could do to help someone now?
00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:12.639
We are very powerful people, human beings.
00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:17.519
We don't need weapons of mass destruction to cause damage.
00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:26.480
Nor do we need great experience or a lot of money or anything like that to help someone else.
00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:30.240
Like I said, a smile.
00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:39.440
Maybe you've got a friend that needs a hug.
00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:45.360
It's pretty cool.
00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:54.240
It's pretty cool that we have those sorts of skills in our hand 24-7 that we could use them to help someone else.
00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:15.519
Sometimes when people are really down, and speaking from my own experience here, but it's hard when people are really down to hear words of encouragement.
00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:18.400
It's hard to hear.
00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:21.519
You are wanted, you are loved, you are enough.
00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:28.240
But sometimes being shown can break that little instance.
00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.599
Does it have to be perfect?
00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:32.720
Nope.
00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.480
Does it have to be professional?
00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:37.599
Nope.
00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.599
Just something.
00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:43.440
Something little can make a difference to someone who's really struggling.
00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:49.119
Unfortunately, when you get into that headspace, the ears turn off.
00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:51.119
The ears genuinely turn off.
00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:55.759
Because all they can hear is the internal dialogue that is so loud.
00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:57.359
I'm not worthy.
00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:59.039
I'm not valuable enough.
00:17:59.119 --> 00:17:59.759
I can't do this.
00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:00.480
I can't do that.
00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.839
I'm useless.
00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:05.440
It honestly becomes so overwhelming.
00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:07.119
It's all you can hear.
00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:13.039
But being shown something, being shown.
00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:20.160
I tell my students at school all the time, like, guys, you've got to remember everyone comes with a story.
00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:23.279
And everyone's fighting a battle you know nothing about.
00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:27.599
We all come to school with something each morning.
00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:30.240
So we need to be kind.
00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:36.000
It's amazing how many of my stage three students resonate with that.
00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:37.920
They get it.
00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:43.440
So stage three here in Australia is year five and six, so upper primary.
00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:46.400
But we don't know what someone else is battling.
00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:48.960
So we might be having a great day.
00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:52.000
But someone else might not be.
00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:56.799
Opening a door for someone, giving them a smile.
00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:58.400
Just something.
00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:03.200
Something that shows them that, hey, you're valuable and you're worthy of my time.
00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:04.720
Or my effort.
00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:14.799
Besides my dream, it was people showing me and showing up for me that got me through those hard times.
00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:21.920
I didn't realize it as much as a teenager, but I do definitely realize it and recognize it now as an adult.
00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:24.000
And I'm forever grateful.
00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:33.920
So wherever you're at today, the world is a better place with you in it.
00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:40.319
And each day is just an opportunity to be your best self today.
00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:43.599
Especially as we're all on our journey.
00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:50.079
Because it's the best way to be.
00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:54.079
Until next time.
