July is my birthday month, and I’m very excited to announce I’m running a competition on my podcast and my blog to give away a copy of my book:

“My Medical Musings, A Story of Love Laughter Faith and Hope, Living With A Rare Disease “.

All you need to do is listen to a podcast episode and leave a review or comment on Spotify podcast or leave a review or comment on any blog post during July and mention you would like to enter the book giveaway competition.

There will be three podcast episodes and blog posts throughout July, specifically giving an opportunity for you to enter the competition.

If you listen through a different podcast app, please leave a review there, and just DM me to let me know, and I’ll still include you in the book giveaway competition.

Here’s the link to the first e-book style Podcast episode…

Listen to the most recent episode of my podcast: Podcast/Blog Party Month – An e-book reading-Chapter 21 A Trip Down Memory Lane

So, without further ado, I’m delighted to share the first excerpt from my book:

Chapter Twenty One

A Drive Down Memory Lane

Memories are strange things. They can arrive when you least expect them.

They can bring amazing joy or they can startle you.

They can cause you to quietly reflect. You can be caught smiling for apparently no reason to others around you.

You can feel melancholy.

You can cry when you least expect it.

A recent drive in the country was just what I needed. The constant pain of a long standing rare tongue ulcer/benign tumour, needed definite distraction therapy.

With Peter as chauffeur, we drove to a place we often loved to visit on weekends years ago when I was still working. It is on top of a mountain range in an area called the “Scenic Rim”

The scenery is amazing. Countryside leads into dense rainforest which opens up to beautiful escarpment views at the top of the mountain.

We drove past many of our favourite places from the past. A signpost leading to our special BnB conjured up the happiest of memories.

Memories only we shared, memories we laughed at. Precious, joyful memories.

Further down the road, other memories came flooding back and with them came a reaction I was not expecting.

Memory Lane

Not long before I had to medically retire, I was awarded Leader of the Year by the Bank I worked for. It was such an honour for many reasons.

Firstly it was the inaugural award. Secondly, I had been off sick for months prior to the award ceremony, as my body was starting to break down. Mostly when I was working, I’d been doing so from home, leading my large team remotely.

It was unbelievable to have such an award bestowed upon me under those circumstances.

It was 2010 and I hadn’t yet medically retired but I had been on extended personal leave. I managed to “sort of” stabilise my health with the help of my medical team and medication (Methotrexate and Prednisone in particular).

Not long after the award ceremony I was back in the thick of working life again, facilitating a three day conference for my Leadership team.

It was an “away” conference and we were staying in a rural retreat for a few days. Team building/bonding was in full force, as well as time to just relax together.

It was probably the best conference I’d facilitated. I had themed the entire event…” To The Beat of The Drum”. The emphasis was on all working together, all to the beat of the same drum.

One of our activities was a session to play African style drums/bongos. The company I brought in to facilitate this was amazing. So much fun. So much laughter filled the room.

My speech, from the Gold Coast Woman of Influence networking breakfast, had been published by our Banks communication team the day before my leadership conference. I remember checking my phone at the first morning tea, and I had so many messages from colleagues congratulating me on my speech and letting me know how much it moved them. Their response meant the world to me, and I was so humbled at the effect my leadership story was having on other successful Leaders. Especially as I didn’t hold back about the impacts chronic illness was having on my life.

A year later I would be leaving my dream job and my beautiful team forever.

I had no idea at the conference my future as an Executive Manager was so close to ending.

In retrospect, I’m really glad the life changing road ahead wasn’t fully apparent at the time. I feel blessed to have been given another year of working full time before needing to say goodbye to such a wonderful chapter of my life.

Ten Years On – An Unexpected Reaction

As Peter and I drove the long and winding road on our mountain outing, we suddenly came across a sign. A sign I had somehow removed from my memory.

A sign that caused me to sit up and take notice.

“Oh my goodness”, I exclaimed to Peter. “Look, this is where I had my last conference. Oh wow, look….this is where we stayed. I remember it like yesterday. I forgot it was here!”

I had completely forgotten it was there. It hadn’t even crossed my mind as we were planning this drive days before.

How could I have forgotten? I loved this place. I loved the conference and all it represented. I loved the memories of my team.

Suddenly, without warning, I was crying.

There it was. Such an unexpected reaction. A reaction of deep loss. A reaction of deep love. A reaction of deep gratitude for the life experiences I’ve been blessed to enjoy.

The tears were not just tears of sorrow. Yes sorrow and grief was intertwined, but so were happy tears as the memories came flooding back.

I felt like I’d come home. Such a strange feeling.

Personal memories, work memories, life before chronic illness memories. This place brought them all home.

New Memories

As I dried my eyes, we continued down memory lane.

We were creating new memories on this day, not just revisiting old ones.

A new memory was created when we shared this special emotional moment together looking back. Grieving what was lost and being thankful for a past life. It was a healing moment.

We created new memories finding a perfect little cafe for lunch that catered for people with disabilities. The owners were so caring and considerate of my needs.

We found another disabled car park after lunch which allowed us to look in two really pretty shops. One was named after our 18 month old grandson, making it extra special. The owner of this shop couldn’t do enough for us as I tried to navigate the gift store with my walker. A recipe for disaster, through overcrowded shelving, but I managed to pull it off.

We purchased a few lovely items and as we were paying, the man serving us disappeared. I had bought some exquisite paper serviettes and he had gone out the back to get an extra packet. No charge….just a little gift from the owner.

A new precious memory to take home. One I’m still smiling about.

Sweet Sorrow And New Perspective

Memories may catch us by surprise. They may cause a variety of emotions but they are so important.

They are our life story, for better or for worse.

They have formed who we are today and on some days, on some occasions, taking time to remember can be so healing.

We thought we were just going for a drive in the country. It was so much more than that.

It brought with it another level of acceptance. It released memories which needed to be remembered and it allowed me to be grateful to be able to create new memories.

It reminded me chronic illness is just another chapter of my life. It’s not my whole life.

My memories of working in the corporate world reminded me it’s why I founded Medical Musings With Friends . It’s why I started my blog.

I am still a Leader. I always will be and I will always want to care, coach and nurture others. Chronic Illness hasn’t taken my passion, my calling away. It has just re-directed it.

Life has an amazing way of evolving, reinventing itself, no matter our circumstances, especially if we don’t lose sight of who we are.

Memories help us get back in touch with what’s important.

A drive down memory lane is one I’m going to make sure I do a bit more often than I have been.

I’m pretty sure other memories will show me, life ahead can still hold opportunities for new and exciting memorable experiences.

“Precious memories, unseen angels. Sent from somewhere to my soul. How they linger, ever near me. And the sacred past unfolds. Precious memories how they linger. How they ever flood my soul. In the stillness of the midnight. Precious sacred scenes unfold”Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Alan Jackson Precious Memories lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC)

My Podcast

If you would like an audible version of my blog, please check out my Podcast, Medical Musi ngs With Sam

Medical Musings with Friends

If you’re looking for genuine support, care, understanding and friendship, you are so welcome to join my closed Facebook support forum, Medical Musings with Friends . It’s a safe place to connect with others living with chronic and complex diseases, who truly understand the daily challenges. A warm welcome awaits.