Breaking down the barriers and being a light in the dark
I am Maggie. I am a mother. A nurse. A family member. And a friend. I am a colleague and member of society. I have been impacted by mental health, both from people around me and also my own.
Mental illness and the shame associated with it are topics close to my heart. How can something so prevalent in society have this ongoing negative stigma? I would go out on a limb to suggest that there are more people living with a mental illness and/or impacted by one then not. How do we break down the barriers? For me it’s by talking openly about my own struggles. And encouraging an open dialogue from others about theirs.
There have been times I have been the light in the darkness for people around me. But also times that I have needed the love and support of a village to get me through. Through the times that I have struggled with life, relationships, work, myself. And when I just thought it was all too hard.
Finding the peace below the surface on a hike for for mental health
Personally I use many avenues to keep my mental health in check such as staying active, running and walking. I also enjoy the calm that comes from being in nature be it the bush or beach. And am soon to achieve a life long goal of obtaining my scuba ticket. The peace below the surface is indescribable. I also strive to educate myself about mental health, emotions and the impact that communication has in facilitating and fostering close relationships, be they personal or professional. Not forgetting my personal mental health A team (psych, GP and me). And the struggle is real when it comes to finding the right medication profile. The work is continuous and sometimes exhausting.
You will rarely see me without a smile on my face. Sometimes its an active choice I had to make that day to show up. Suffice to say life is a journey, sometimes a straight path, some ups, but also with its fair share of knocks. But I want you to know life is worth it and sometimes hope or light is just around the corner.
So continuing the journey of life, I want to give back. I want to say thank you to those who have walked with me through life. I am grateful to each and every one of you, because you have contributed to the person I am today and are part of my purpose to continue the track of life.
A hike for mental health on the Cape to Cape
I want people living with mental illness to know that its OK to talk and its OK to ask for help. You aren’t alone. With that said I am going to hike the 123km Cape to Cape trail between the lighthouses of Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin in April 2023. It is something I was always going to do. Call it a bucket list item! But I have the opportunity to make it meaningful to more people then just myself.
So on behalf of everyone I know and those that I don’t, I hope to ‘raise funds for the Black Dog Institute to support crucial mental health research and support services that help Australians impacted by mental illness and suicide.
Mental illness doesn’t discriminate. It affects 1 in 5 Australians every year with symptoms like depression and anxiety. The impact can be devastating, not only for those living with it, but for those around them.
From the Cape to Cape Explorer Tours team, we can’t wait to welcome Maggie to the Track and support her hike for mental health! Book your self-guided adventure on the Cape to Cape Track or walk with our expert guides on our 8-Day Guided End-to-End adventure. And we’ll see you on the Track soon!