Ten years ago I had the great privilege of delivering a lecture on mental health recovery to the Islamic University of Gaza. I think this was the highlight of my career. All the UN psychiatrists were there, all the Palestinian psychiatrists and little obscure me. They struggled to understand the concept that I could live with mental illness yet be well. The men were divided from the women and the video camera was fixed firmly on the men. A debate ensued on where the video should be directed. The women won.
Sadly today many people are dying in Gaza and Israel as yet again a flare up of an age old conflict has occurred. I do not know why or what happened and I'm certainly not on anyone's side but I'm saddened that some of those wonderful friends I met ten years ago may be dead. I wish for peace.
Many of my people are dead from my nearly 31 year battle with mental illness. Yet at the end of Mental Health Awareness Week I am still standing. Still struggling. Still speaking. And apparently still inspiring. The last two weeks have been tough for me. Desperately low and deprived of motivation when I came out of it I had a horrible work week. But I did some good.
So now on a grey and wet Saturday afternoon I am at rest and trouble free. I have turned to a well known path that is listening to the legendary Bob Marley. I've been focused so much on opera I had almost forgotten the other paths of my life.
On Monday I will finally be able to enter a pub. To sit in a restaurant. And cook for my friends. It has been a long time coming. I think I will visit Yan on Tuesday...she doesn't open on a Monday. I have a massage booked for Wednesday. And on Saturday finally a return to London to meet my friends Ross and David along with the splendid Eliza whose birthday is coming up. Not sure of the plan yet but it should be good.
In two weeks Marie will visit. And in three weeks I return to Kent to see dad, see the sea, meet my friends and indulge.
Take care out there.
I Heard a Voice.
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