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First thing I found is find
something you'd really like
to do
something you're passionate about. I'm really lucky
when I first had to give up full time work
I decided that if I was going to work somewhere there'd
probably be a computer involved and I'd never even looked at a computer.
So I got sent along to TAFE by Centerlink
to do a course and
probably within the first 15 minutes
I
realised that I just absolutely loved this and
just kept going and going and going and
when I finally got a proper diagnosis of what was wrong
with me and
could get medicated probably I
got my own business
up and running. It was just probably literally overnight when I was diagnosed
Before that I was a little
I found it very difficult very tiring to concentrate to do anything
and once I got the correct diagnosis
and something I was passionate about (not a lot of people can say that
their hobby and their work are one and the same)
and yeah it's just because I love it so much
I wouldn't actually say it was a job it's a
it's a pleasure to work but you know there's times where
you're tired and you have to maybe push yourself but what I would say
is
don't over push yourself just do what you can when you can
and then you find that you're wanting to do it. If you push yourself to do stuff you
end up
becoming bored with it
scared about doing stuff and that so
yeah.
Really it's a case of knowing your limits
with that as well. When my kids were little I actually,
my disability came about before the kids were born so the kids understand
but one of the good things about like with grandchildren
they don't (what's the word I'm looking for)
they don't know about
Poppy's disability
they don't see if Poppy's in pain If they
want Poppy to do something they just ask, you know,
and, not that you push yourself but sometimes having a like a
grandchild like that you you do things you
you wanted go out and be with them and do that sort of thing. It was the same when
the kids were little
You are careful, you know
Things like, he'll drop something and ask you to pick it up,
no
you have a gentle talk to him and tell him Poppy's too sore can you pick it up for Poppy
and they do, they understand he actually now
understands, you know, because he's grown up with the way I am
he just yeah, he'll come over and rub my back and say Poppy's sore back
it's all better now. But, yeah, no look,
they're just as good
as a drug, they really are, you know,
they take your mind off your pain not that you think about your pain all
the time but if you think
are we're going to go and do this but, oh, the
pain's a bit worse today but you don't push yourself to do it but
you make a bit more effort to do it and yeah
it's just like I said they're just like another drug, you know, they realy are,
a drug that doesn't have any side effects.
Look I think
with a marriage with you know one person with a disability
I think the best thing you can do is,
really is compromise. When I first had to give up work
and Sue had to do more, go more out working
I found that I would do the cooking
and I still do the cooking, I love cooking so that's another bonus.
Do the things that you're able to do
and, you know, take pressure off
the other person, don't just sit around and say,
you know, look
I'm in too much pain today I don't feel like cooking
and I do have those days so we'll have something easy
you know, a toasted sandwich for tea something like that just just try and
work together and compromise
and with that your partner wants to work with you
rather than
feel like they're a burden, and yes,
you do feel like that especially like for instance when Sue mows
the lawn and that sort of thing.
I can't do it I can't even start
the mower and that for her.
Yeah, just, just working, just working as a partnership
is is the best way to do it, you know, that way
everybody has
their chores if you get what I mean.
And just some days I'm able to do
more and that but yeah and it
works in well when you work together and I think that's the main thing just
working together and work out what you can do
and what your partner can do for you rather than, you know, oh that's my job, you know,
I have to do it or, you know, if you do it for me, you know,
I'll, you know, be eternally grateful and that.
If you work is a partnership it's fantastic, it works