.png)
Halfway Decent Advice
After twenty years of chronic disability a lot of people have helped me on my path. From doctors to friends, from counsellors to support staff, everyone has been so kind. And honestly, it’s not like I feel indebted, I mean much of the help I’ve received there hasn’t been much choice in the matter, still I’ve always wanted to give back to the world in some way. Pay it forward as they say. And as such, here we find ourselves.
​
​
Success isn’t about emerging unscathed, we are changed, and quite often for the better.
What is it?
Having such a unique perspective on the world, what I’m doing through this advice column, I’m endeavouring to apply this perspective to some of your everyday problems and not so common conundrums. Honestly, with my rather chaotic life experience thus far (which through it, I have learnt a lot), and I really want to be to pass this knowledge forth and to help people.
​
So, much like any traditional advice column format, you (or anyone for that matter) can write in with a question and I will do my absolute best to answer it with smarts, empathy, and to offer up some practical workable advice.
I really do have this bizarre lens through which I see the world. It’s this lens that somehow weirdly combines ambition with extreme suffering and medical complexity, then making this all work at all costs to achieve the things that are important to me.
​
I’m resilient and stubborn, but also incredibly creative. I get stuff done.
​
This is what I want for you too – well, maybe not so much the stubborn part.
​
Anyway, hopefully as I answer your questions and apply some of my own personal approaches to your dilemmas, the hope is that my responses can inspire action and provide various tools to do so. Which, I know I’m not perfect (and I do sometimes get things wrong), only having now faced and overcome so many diverse challenges in life, I do believe that my voice and opinions are valid. And like I mentioned earlier, extremely unique.
​
Still, with my advice, you can take it or leave it – your path of personal self-discovery, self-education and self-actualisation is much more important than me being right. Dance your dance, which with any luck, maybe my advice will be like a few strums on a guitar. Who knows?
​
But it might be worth a punt?
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
Ask a Question
This is where you can ask anything you like. Vent, rant, have kittens – leave nothing in the tank. No judgement here. Or, hey stop the press… you can even ask anonymously.
About
Obviously, an advice column written by a complex quadriplegic - me! After a twenty year period of struggling with extreme disability, after losing everything and fighting to reaffirm my life, I now have a very unique take on the world. So, with this column, the hope is that I can apply this unique perspective to whatever queries you have about your life.
​
LIFE COACHING
This is something I’ve studied for almost a decade now, in fact, I’ve even been part of a fancy school where I’ve received flashy certificates and everything. This school has been such a blessing in my life. Nevertheless, because of my disability and inability to talk, I’ve never found a way to put all these “self-help” skills into action. Like I’d loved to have started a coaching practice years ago only my health seemingly got in the way. Anyhow, budda bing, I’m spewing it took me so long to come up with this extravaganza.
​
A CALLING
Sometimes you meet people who you know where meant to do certain things (like can you imagine Michael Jordan the gardener?), well this is how I feel about the advice column. I’m a writer, I have an unbelievable amount of varied lived experience (mostly with hardship), and I’m incredibly curious about life, it’s rhythms, and how people perceive the world. Also, I absolutely love to help people, to build others up. Because this is a one-time gig, so nope we don’t need stuff weighing us down, instead what we all need is the chutzpah and confidence to follow our dreams. Yep, some advice for ya, this is the big show.
Disclaimer
I am not a doctor or psychologist, nor am I any sort of mental health or suicide expert. So, if you need professional advice please talk to your GP or call LifeLine on 13 11 14 (within Australia or please find crisis support in your local area).