What now?

I have been needing to write! But Procrastination and binge watching entire TV series often wins.
Y'know I always try and do a wrap up for the year that was around now but this year is different - I'm happy.

That is not normal for me around this time. I really should be a little more stressed about what the F%*k I'm going to do with my life. It's mostly financial - I'm not working and I am writing this instead of applying for a few jobs. Yeah - so financially I should make some big changes in my life - but my soul is happy. I may have just jinxed myself and I am a little superstitious that the happier I admit to being the further I have to fall into that familiar pit that is depression.

I was telling a friend about my woes and mistakenly said that I was in the same boat last year and have been saying "Next year is the year!" for about 3 years now. It's not true. Last year I had one potential project on the go and in its infancy. Since then I have shot a funding video for that project, produced a short film, written another, driven up and down the coast in my trusty new Suzuki SX4, seen great things, met great people...the list goes on. I have had a good year, except for that one week of hospital stories and an unexpected death, but that was one week, oh and that one night where I drank way too much rum...one night! I digress - My friend summed up my current problem as being one of abundance. I have a number of fantastic opportunities on my plate right now (and I am talking creative projects not men, although I know a few good ones there too), I just need to choose which one to focus on first. They will all get done but my dilemma is HOW do I  prioritise?

And on the subject of my love life - I have lots of wonderful people in my life that I love and that love me - I know this, and it makes me happy. I may not have that "someone special" that society
brings us up believing we should have but that's ok. I never have been one for conformity.
Here is a good article I came across this morning about relationships in 2017 - it makes a lot of sense to me.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/80-singles-go-one-date-2017-paul-carrick-brunson?published=t

Worth?

* This was written a month ago in November. I re-read it and it needs to be published - so it's 2 for 1 today.

I have a new project in the pipeline that begs you to ask the question "What am I worth?". It is a comment on the hospital system and questions who is worthy of treatment.

This week I have spent a bit of time visiting in hospital and watching how a public hospital operates and it's really quite dismal. You don't want to get sick, that's for sure. The nurses have the customer service level of any store in the UK and don't get me started on the scheduling!! If you have no intention of doing something at or by a certain time why tell a patient that it will happen. People want information, they like to know what is happening, they find it comforting. I know this, I have been incorporating it into the way I work for the past 20 years.

It's a strange mentality people have.
Answer me this - which is more comforting -
1. "Yes, I know you are in pain. we are bringing your pain medication now" - it never comes, no explanation is given.
2. "Sorry, I know you are in pain, we are unable to get the one your doctor has prescribed but here are your alternatives". alternative medication is administered.

1. We will be with you shortly, please wait. 3 hrs later.
2. Im sorry, it's going to be a 2-3 hr wait.

In my line of work if I ask how long something will take  many people feel they should respond with "five minutes" because they think it is what I want to hear. Not true. I need an accurate estimation so I can keep other things moving and shuffle a schedule around to improve efficiency. I like to think I have a pretty good track record for doing this well.

It just felt like the flow of information was very stagnated and scattered. I understand certain protocols need to be in place for WHS laws and what not but you wouldn't think a bottle of water would be too  much to ask for.

When I told these stories to a friend who has spent way too much time in hospitals supervising her parents treatment over the past 10+ years she didnt bat an eyelid and was not surprised to hear any of it.

It's eye opening. Lots of sick people in the world and not enough funding to treat them all or to even make the ones who can get into hospital comfortable. That is the definition of "Met minimal requirements". A review I received once on my Airbnb place. It sits amidst the 49 other glowing reviews about me and my place do :-p to you!!

What else? If you go into hospital afterhours or god forbid on a Friday, don't expect much in the way of support. A friend of mine went in on a Friday but couldn't contact her health insurer until office hours Monday. I would say switch providers but its too late by the time you are in hospital on a Friday night , isn't it?

I was also reminded that life is short and life is precious. Why waste time hating on politicians and posting it all over facebook go spend time with people you care about. You never know when they might not be around anymore. I still don't know the details, but I know he is no more - We should never have kept putting off that Yum Cha lunch!!