'Wasted': The Real World of Drugs, Alcohol and Your Teenager, by Trent Southworth with Josie Gagliano: BOOK

I have been knee deep in research and interviews and transcripts for many months, for a book I am co-authoring with Trent Southworth.

Trent is a former police officer with the NSW Police, with over fourteen years policing experience, including eight years employed in the Youth Liaison role.

It was during his time in this role Trent worked closely with numerous government and non government agencies to identify youth related initiatives such as underage drinking programs, truancy, road safety, drug programs, and bullying.

Trent also assisted in the implementation and monitoring of the State Governments Young Offenders Act, which targets all young offenders aged between 10 and 18 years of age.

It was through his experience with the NSW Police, Trent witnessed the importance of ongoing education of young people in today’s society.

It's why Trent in now actively speaking to school students and university students, founding a talk he is now actively sought out for, with various tailor-made seminars for students, teachers, parents and community groups Australia-wide.

And so: 'Wasted'.

The name of the book I have been co-authoring with Trent has seen the cover being released, and I thought I'd take the liberty of posting a fun photo of us together, from our first read through on Friday (yes, he is VERY tall: 6 foot 4, to be exact), with the fabulously supportive team at Ventura Press, formerly Jane Curry Publishing, after its founder, Jane Curry, now director of Ventura Press, alongside Jasmine Standfield the publishing manager, and Eleanor Reader, social media guru and media liaison.

Here is their new logo, at their Paddington, Sydney offices, and below... the cover!

The book: 'Wasted': The Real World of Drugs, Alcohol and Your Teenager', by Trent Southworth with Josie Gagliano - will be out March 2016.

It intends to be a bible for parents and their children, teachers and educators, and those wanting to be kept abreast of the drugs conversation.

Jessica Rowe: 'Is This My Beautiful Life?' - 'Studio 10' VIDEO

Did you watch this, this morning?

Jessica Rowe is completely frank on 'Studio 10' (the TV show she is on daily), about the past few pivotal years of her life, which she details in great length in her new book, 'Is This My Beautiful Life.'

NSW Gambling Help: It Takes Guts

Gambling is SUCH a difficult topic to share thoughts on - that's because the shame associated with it is so private, the pain in the grief caused by those affected so deep, the guilt felt by those in its grip so raw and kinda scary. That whole feeling of helplessness can be overwhelming.

I know this because Josie's Juice readers have told me so.

In a series of re-posts of this particular post written for NSW Gambling Help, many private messages straight to the Josie's Juice inbox ensued, each story more heartbreaking and honest than the next.

I gave readers the opportunity to speak their mind, anonymously if they preferred. Many took that opportunity, with some sharing the post with loves ones, so they could anonymously give their own, firsthand feedback. And it was as honest as it gets.

Says Jim* (all names changed):

"I knew I was in deep when I became such an expert in lying to the partner, I started to not know where the truth stopped and the lies begun. I started to weave such elaborate tales, I was ashamed of my lying expertise. It simultaneously broke my heart; how could I have sunk so low? How could I betray the people (my wife and kids) who I loved the most? And yet, here I was doing it daily, saying I was doing overtime when I was at my local, spending hours there in a pokie daze. One night, I broke down to my wife when she questioned what has happened to our 'emergency' money. I could not lie. I confessed it all. We hugged, we cried (but that was well after she got exceptionally angry with me, and I cannot blame her). And then, I promised I'd seek help. And I did. Well, I took the first step, which I know is often the biggest - and most difficult - step of all. But I know I am now on the right path."

The stories got more honest with each message. This one, from Harry* had me actually feeling grateful we live in a country that cares so much for those how want to see help.

Says Harry*: "Our second child was just born, and I was feeling the pressure. Not only was I sleep deprived in trying to help settle our older child - who is only a baby himself, he just turned 1 - but I was feeling the pressure of a one-income home. I decided on one particularly down afternoon that I would try my luck at increasing my week's wages, doubling them even. How hard could it be? A few buck on the pokies - done, easy, then I'd go home.

Nope. How wrong I was. A 'few bucks' here and there turned into my entire week's pay packet. Before I knew it, when my partner asked me why her EFTPOS card was declined when buying nappies, I had to fess up. It was so very hard. I was mortified, embarrassed, angry (at myself) and ashamed, all rolled into one. I could barely look my partner in the face. But… I had to man up. I had to tell her the truth. After telling me how disappointed she was, she marched me straight to the phone and to a gambling helpline. It was the best and most significant phone call I ever made. The journey is slow, but the help is immediate. I am so grateful something like this even exists. I am so grateful there is help to help myself. I am getting there, and we all are, as family, together."

Gambling does not discriminate amongst the genders, either. Sue* shared her story also.

"Gambling for me went hand in hand with depression. I was feeling SO low, at such a horrible point in my life, so sad and lonely and hating my life and job. My relationship had just broken up so I felt more alone than ever. And so, I'd head to my local club after work for a meal and to be around people, even though I hated being around people and conversing. And so, heading over to the poker machines felt ideal. I’d escape my solo-ness at the dinner, to go to more 'socially acceptable' part of the club to be solo, the pokie area. It was here I became entrenched in the whole gambling setting: I’d just sit there with a blank stare and not interact much at all, just to get that little buzz (which then became a bigger thrill) when the pokies clicked over to a win. I knew I was in trouble when I barely had money for groceries. I am yet to seek help, but I will. I know it's kind of urgent."

And this one, from Peter.*

"Although I am not a gambler, the best advice I ever heard was this: 'If you win big the first time, it's the worst thing that can happen. Because when you do, you get the taste. And once you get the taste, you will want to keep satisfying that itch to win. I am so glad that when I had a 'casual flutter' on the horses I lost. Best win ever, actually."

With Australians spending nearly $12 billion a year on poker machines and three quarters of people who have a serious problem with gambling play the pokies, the occasional punt can be seen as part of the cultural fabric of Australia – you have a go and try your luck at your local. But, as we can see from the real-life stories above, this is a huge concern Australia-wide and it's not a matter to be treated flippantly.

Statistics show that between 8-17% of people with a gambling problem seek professional help (of any kind), and this subset of people tends to be those who have hit rock bottom and are in crisis. And this group is far more likely to have a problem with gaming machines than any other form of gambling.

Almost half of people seeking help suffer from anxiety and depression, and around one third of help seekers have a problem with alcohol.

While it's evident from discussions we want to break down the stigma, we still have a long way to go. Feel free to use this blog post as a way to start the gambling acknowledgement process, and share your own stories. You can email or comment anonymously. You will be surprised at just how good this first step feels. Help is at hand, and it’s not far away at all.

It’s also free. You can learn more at www.gamblinghelp.nsw.gov.au 

Gambling: 'You're Stronger Than You Think' - NSW Government Initiative

Brought to you by Nuffnang and NSW Government.

You know what they say about a problem, a life issue, a challenge that is having a huge impact on your life: the first step to tackling it is acknowledging you actually have a problem. Without this, the issue is still in your head, it still threatens to derail you and there truly seems to be no end in sight. No hope, no light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.

Gambling is one of these insidious problems. For the person in the grip of what can potentially be a huge, all-consuming issue, burying one’s head in the sand and propagating the problem only succeeds in amplifying it, nothing else.

We are fortunate to live in a country – a truly lucky one – that outlines societal issues and works out ways to help those at their mercy. Gambling is one such issue.

Australians spend nearly $12 billion a year on poker machines and three quarters of people who have a serious problem with gambling play the pokies. The occasional punt can be seen as part of the cultural fabric of Australia – you have a go and try your luck at your local. Yet, Australia-wide, this is a huge concern, not a matter to be treated flippantly.

In NSW, problem gambling is a major - and largely invisible - problem. It’s a typical Australian oxymoron that whilst gambling is considered to be a normal and widely-accepted activity, it is also considered shameful when problems arise from it.

The self-control of the gambler is put under the spotlight – and this is where the ongoing stigma applies. Can that person not control their behaviour? Can’t someone talk to them, tell them they have a problem? Can they not share their concerns with a loved one? Or reach out for help? And… can’t they see they have a problem? And, we are back to step one: acknowledging a problem.

As with anything entrenched in deep-seated psychological behaviours, the process must start with being strong enough to access help. And the only person that can make that first step is the person with the problem.

While I have not experienced problem gambling firsthand, I do know that I have overcome huge life milestones like dealing with grief, dementia, autism and the challenges of raising twins. After all this, there is one thing I know I have in common with tackling the huge concern of problem gambling: I am much stronger than I think.

Over time – and each concern could take weeks or months, sometimes years – the resilience within becomes apparent and you’ll find yourself stronger each day.

It’s the same – I’d imagine – with overcoming the very real challenges of gambling addiction.

Primarily, problem gambling is characterised by secrecy and shame around money: the difficulties in accessing money and the limitations on spending that money on gambling, as well as time spent on the actual gambling – away from family and friends and usual interactions. This leads to adverse consequences for the gambler, others or for the community: isolation, depression, loneliness, intense guilt and self-loathing, which lead to an even deeper depression. The cycle is never ending, unless that person seeks help.

With research indicating that problem gambling is not well understood by society and that this in turn contributes to the stigma associated with having a gambling problem, this too is a vicious cycle.

Statistics show that between 8-17% of people with a gambling problem seek professional help (of any kind), and this subset of people tends to be those who have hit rock bottom and are in crisis. And this group is far more likely to have a problem with gaming machines than any other form of gambling.

Almost half of people seeking help suffer from anxiety and depression, and around one third of help seekers have a problem with alcohol.

The thing is: we live in a more compassionate world now, thanks in large part to the open dialogue created by social media and the trend for confessional-style articles. It’s as good a time as ever to key into this compassion and open chat, therefore arming people with a gambling problem with the tools and the environment to feel free to take that first step: to get help.

While we want to break down the stigma, we still have a long way to go. Feel free to use this blog post as a way to start the gambling acknowledgement process. You can email or comment anonymously. You will be surprised at just how good this first step feels. Help is at hand, and it’s not far away at all.

It’s also free. You can learn more at www.gamblinghelp.nsw.gov.au or visit this link: http://goo.gl/Ng2ezH

Christy Turlington Burns: Amy Robach #GirlPower - VIDEO

Renowned longtime model Christy Turlington Burns is one of the world’s most recognisable faces… and now she’s reinventing herself off the runway.

Turlington Burns’s new mission for which she’s been called an "ambassador for maternal health" by Melinda Gates, was inspired after a “frightening experience” giving birth to her daughter.

“My daughter Grace, after she was born, I hemorrhaged,” Turlington Burns told ABC News’ Amy Robach. “We're bonding, and she's breast feeding and it's all perfect. Then I started to notice there's a shift of the energy in the room and that there's a little bit of concern. It went from this very empowering experience to a very disempowering, frightening experience."

Here is that interview. See more below:

More ABC news videos | ABC Entertainment News

Shaken by her experience, Turlington Burns realised that the prevalence of postpartum hemorrhage and maternal death was a much bigger story than just her own.

“It started with the birth and the complication. And then trying to understand – Why? What? Why that happened to me? -- was how I came across the global statistics,” she said. 

“Postpartum hemorrhage is the most common cause of [maternal death], which often times happens after delivery.”

But Turlington Burns learned that 98 percent of all maternal deaths are preventable with appropriate health care.

“I was really excited by the fact that 98 percent were preventable. I thought, ‘How many issues are that you can say that about, really? There’s so much upside to this issue,” she said.

And so, Turlington Burns established Every Mother Counts, a non-profit foundation devoted to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother. The foundation provides education and raises funds to provide access to maternal care across the globe to prevent women from becoming a deadly statistic during childbirth.

The statistics are startling: over 287,000 women die every year as a result of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, according to the World Health Organization. That’s one woman every two minutes.

“If you live two hours away from care, game over,” she said. “So many women live in rural places -- in the United States, in Africa, in Asia. In Uganda for example, we transport women on the back of motorcycles or bicycles.”

Turlington Burns sat down with ABC News’ Amy Robach for an interview as part of her “#GIRLPOWER” series, which will highlight women and girls who are agents of change in fields ranging from humanitarian and public service to business and the arts. Here is the interview:

To Turlington Burns, whose maternal health movement embodies the definition of girl power, girl power means recognising your individual potential.

"We use [girl power] so much in my house because my daughter is so powerful. And she came into the world powerful. So I feel like girl power to me is potential. It’s like, every girl has that potential. Every human has that potential.”

What does #GIRLPOWER mean to you? Tweet @GMA using the hashtag #GIRLPOWER.

'The Invisible Discriminator' - Stop. Think. Respect. Beyond Blue Viral Video

This Australian video by Beyond Blue is set to go viral.

And it should. You might shed a tear. I did.

Says the YouTube description:

Why should anyone be made to feel like crap, just for being who they are? 

Subtle or 'casual' racism can be just as harmful as more overt forms. Stop. Think. Respect. encourages everyone in Australia to check their behaviour. 

Share this video to help make a difference. For more info head here.

First, watch the video:

Female on male violence: viral video

Interesting.

Thoughts on this video?

DareLondon for the Mankind Initiative created this video, saying they were inspired by the recent Solange attack on Jay Z.

How do you think YOU would react if you saw a woman attacking a man in public?

Josie Webster: Viral Video - Engadine High School

Mess with a special needs mum and… God help you.

Hell hath no fury like… a tiger mum of a special needs child.

I keep thinking of the words my friend with an Asperger's child: "You will be his strongest advocate," she said when I told her my son was diagnosed with autism.

I didn't quite get it yet, but I got a good sense of it.

And not that I have ever had to get my claws out - just yet - to defend and speak up for my son. But goddammit, I would, and I will.

Just as Julie Webster did for her daughter Josie, pictured here:

Josie is in year 10 at Engadine High School. Her Year 10 formal was last week, on Thursday. Julie found out about it in the worst possible modern-day way: via photos on Facebook post-event.

Julie was so upset and hurt, she decided to show the world how beautiful, capable and confident her gorgeous daughter Josie is. Here is the soon to be viral video:

Until the event on Thursday, neither Josie nor her mother Julie knew a Year Ten school formal had even been planned.

Also: proceeds from ticket sales for the dance were going to fund the Engadine High School special needs unit where Josie is among a number of students with "mild" or "moderate" learning difficulties. So, it's kinda weird Josie did not get an invite (and neither did four other special needs kids), no?

Heartbreakingly, another special needs student bought a dress in anticipation of a pre-Christmas party, only to find out on Facebook the formal had already taken place.

"She was devastated," Julie Webster tells news.com.au in this article.

School principal Joanne Jarvis has refused to comment, although she has sent an email to Mrs Webster saying the school had no involvement in the party.

WHATEVER happened and whoever is to blame (can somebody please 'man up' and admit responsibility, and stop embarrassing Josie and Julie, and provide a little dignity to the whole debate?!), it should not have happened, and Josie (and Julie) will never get that opp to celebrate this important event again.

At my son's special needs unit - and his school in general - I could not wish for a more inclusive, wonderful, embracing spirit. As I dropped my kiddies off this morning, I asked one of the teachers from the special needs unit if she'd heard about the story. I filled her in. "Disgusting," she said. Her heart sunk and her face said it all. With a few words exchanged, we understood each other completely.

Again, whatever happened, my heart aches for Josie and Julie. You would understand, yes. Maybe, possibly. Ask a special needs mum what she thinks about it all in the depths of her heart and you see and understand the pain Julie speaks of.

However, something here does NOT add up. The school says they did not know about who was invited and I believe them. Indeed… read below:

UPDATED:

Engadine High School has issued this statement:

Year 10 Formal Correction

Engadine High School would like to correct the inaccurate reporting of the recent Year 10 formal. This event was NOT organised by the school but was a private function organised by a group of parents. The school understands that notes were distributed to students in Year 10 including students in the Support Unit on a number of occasions during roll call. The school has been assured by other Year 10 parents of the Support Unit that they received the notes and invitation. The event also had its own Facebook page publicly available. As such this occasion was a matter for individual students and their families to decide if they wished to attend.

Engadine High School’s strong record of active inclusion for students with special needs in all aspects of school life as exemplified by participation in this year’s Schools Spectacular - extends to instilling in mainstream students the importance of this principle outside as well as inside school. 

Engadine High School will continue to actively pursue the schools values of inclusivity, participation and care for all the children the school serves and stand very proud on our record in this area. 

Dorothy Breininger: Interview on Hoarding + Organising Australia Conference

Hoarding. You know what it is, and you either think you have a bit of an issue with it, or you absolutely steadfastly believe that you don't.

But how does it manifest in everyday life? Sometimes, it does not have to be the kind of excessive, compulsive hoarding you see on the show 'Hoarders', where every inch of a home is a fire and health hazard.

No, hoarding can show itself in many ways.

Dorothy Breininger, aka 'Dorothy the Organizer' - who appears on that show 'Hoarders' (seen in Australia on the BIO channel, on Foxtel) - sat down to answer some questions just for Josie's Juice.

Dorothy is in Australia now to speak at the Organising Australia Conference. (You can win two tickets - worth $418 - by clicking right here).

Here is my chat with Dorothy, which produced much insight into the world of hoarding.

Josie's Juice: Everyone talks about hoarding, and often people think about ‘things’. But what about modern-age hoarding: digital overload. So, full email inboxes, full DVRs packed with TV shows to watch, iPhones with a full memory? How do you combat that, and what does this indicate in a person (I am asking for a friend… ahem).

Dorothy: Digital overload has most of my clients running scared. We now have so many places where we keep data. How many places are you having to look, sort, and eliminate saved info? Cell (mobile) phone, home phone, DVR (Foxtel IQ, for example), email, texts, iPad, iPod, camera, and more. Most of us can’t keep up with it – especially if you keep info electronically AND physically. If you are facing this situation, it may be time to decide whether you want to straddle both worlds (physical and electronic) or move strictly to electronic storage of such items. To stay organised with your digital clutter, remember:

A. Just like you need to make time to organise a messy garage, you need to make time on your calendar to organise your digital life. Remember if you’ve let your digital info collect over the years, you may need assistance to handle the initial process. From there you need to decide how often you want to organise your digital info in the future. 

B. Get clear on your categories. Do you keep recipes? Photos? Movies, Music, Financial info? Kid’s artwork? The clearer you are about your categories, the easier it is to organize your digital clutter. No categories = chaos. Categories = control.

Josie's Juice: What do you hope people will get from this conference?

Dorothy: Most attendees come to our conferences to learn about the newest organising products and how to deal with their clutter. Invariably they walk away learning “why” they are holding on to clutter and what’s actually underneath that clutter. Once you know these answers – it’s easier to let go of the stuff.

Josie's Juice: How do you come to a happy medium when you are a hoarder and your partner is a ‘chucker’ (throws things out, with no emotional connection to it)?

Dorothy: Ah yes, how to keep a relationship intact when you are clutter opposites. The secret? Each person gets to have two areas: one – a clutter zone; and two, a clutter-free zone. I believe everyone should be allowed to have both areas and everyone deserves to have these areas respected.

Now, if we are talking about one partner being a hoarder – this is a different conversation. Hoarding is a disease like alcoholism and only the alcoholic (hoarder) can solve the problem. As a partner, we neither want to enable our partner around their hoarding, nor do we want to startle them by clearing their belongings out when are away. The best solution? A twelve step program for both. A clutter support group for the hoarder and a group such as Alanon for the non-hoarder is my first suggestion.

Josie's Juice: What have you found is typically Australian when it comes to hoarding styles (or do you see the whole phenomenon as rather ‘universal’?)

Dorothy: I believe the items people hoard are universal (at least in westernized countries). Most men tend to collect tools and electronics and women tend to collect clothing, dolls, jewelry and memorabilia. Both genders tend to keep recycling items: plastic wear, etc. In other countries and cultures; however, individuals hoard items for “survival.” For example in some Asian counties, people hoard rice or other food items.

Josie's Juice: Emotional attachment to things seems a big catalyst for hoarding. What is the biggest tip for people to help combat this, and live with it?

Dorothy: Ask yourself: “What’s the story behind this item?” If you can understand the story you can make an intelligent decision about whether to keep it or give it away. Example: Mom made that blanket for me and I’ve never liked it (translation? Get rid of it. Mom made that blanket for me and I love it (translation? Keep it).

Told you! Dorothy is all kinds of awesome.

She is a three-time recipient of NAPO-LA’s ‘Most Innovative Organizer Award’ and has co-authored five organising books. A high-energy speaker, Dorothy inspires her audiences to take immediate action and produce results.

She's an expert organiser and regular on Emmy-nominated TV show ‘Hoarders’, plus has appeared on the ‘Today Show’, ‘Dr Phil’ and ‘The View’ and features in ‘Wall Street Journal’, ‘Forbes’ and ‘O’ magazine.

Dorothy will be joining Australia’s foremost organising experts Sarah Cottman and Karen Koedding at The Organising Australia Conference, in Sydney and surrounding suburbs this week (Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Sydney Olympic Park).

Click here for more and to win tickets to this event - worth $418!

Matthew Newton - 60 Minutes Australia: interview with Liz Hayes

UPDATED:

Here is the entire 60 Minutes Australia interview with Matthew Newton:





And here is the must-see Liz Hayes '60 Minutes reporter discussion', where she reveals how he was asked to do the interview, and how she feared he might pull out at the last minute.

====================================================================

No doubt this interview with Matthew Newton will be the talk of social media this Sunday night.

In this new interview with Liz Hayes, Matthew reveals it is "the first time I have spoken not on some medication". Watch the preview:



Here and here is a backgrounder on Matthew Newton.

What do you think? Will you tune in on Sunday night?

And in news just in, The Sunday Telegraph is reporting that the Newton family knew nothing of the new Matthew Newton interview until they say the 60 Minutes promos this week.

Read more here.

Watch this extended clip from the site:



Photo: Facebook

Chrissie Swan: Smoking While Pregnant - 'The Project' clip

TV and radio personality Chrissie Swan tearfully admitted on TV's 'The Project' this evening that her "dirty little habit" of smoking while pregnant is something people have a right to be disgusted about.

She added that she has really struggled to give up smoking during her third pregnancy, and probably wouldn't have confessed to it had she not been caught out by a photographer.

Chrissie earlier used her Mix FM Melbourne radio program to confess her smoking while pregnant - which she had kept hidden from her partner, family and friends until being photographed by a paparazzo last week.

"I actually can’t explain it," she told Carrie Bickmore and Charlie Pickering from 'The Project'. "There can be no reason," she added. Chrissie said she was "completely embarrassed" by the story "because being a mother is the single most amazing thing that has ever happened to me".

See an edited clip from 'The Project' below:



What do you think? Did you smoke while pregnant?

Feel free to comment below.

To My 13-Year-Old, An iPhone Contract From Your Mom, With Love

You may have seen this viral blog, originally published on Huffington Post about the fabulous US mother and blogger Janell Burley Hofmann who gave her son Gregory a mobile phone for Christmas... and gave him a list of conditions.

Here is what she said:

Dear Gregory

Merry Christmas! You are now the proud owner of an iPhone. Hot Damn! You are a good and responsible 13-year-old boy and you deserve this gift. But with the acceptance of this present comes rules and regulations. Please read through the following contract. I hope that you understand it is my job to raise you into a well rounded, healthy young man that can function in the world and coexist with technology, not be ruled by it. Failure to comply with the following list will result in termination of your iPhone ownership.

I love you madly and look forward to sharing several million text messages with you in the days to come.

1. It is my phone. I bought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you. Aren't I the greatest?

2. I will always know the password.

3. If it rings, answer it. It is a phone. Say hello, use your manners. Do not ever ignore a phone call if the screen reads "Mom" or "Dad." Not ever.

4. Hand the phone to one of your parents promptly at 7:30 p.m. every school night and every weekend night at 9:00 p.m. It will be shut off for the night and turned on again at 7:30 a.m. If you would not make a call to someone's land line, wherein their parents may answer first, then do not call or text. Listen to those instincts and respect other families like we would like to be respected.

5. It does not go to school with you. Have a conversation with the people you text in person. It's a life skill. *Half days, field trips and after school activities will require special consideration.

6. If it falls into the toilet, smashes on the ground, or vanishes into thin air, you are responsible for the replacement costs or repairs. Mow a lawn, babysit, stash some birthday money. It will happen, you should be prepared.

7. Do not use this technology to lie, fool, or deceive another human being. Do not involve yourself in conversations that are hurtful to others. Be a good friend first or stay the hell out of the crossfire.

8. Do not text, email, or say anything through this device you would not say in person.

9. Do not text, email, or say anything to someone that you would not say out loud with their parents in the room. Censor yourself.

10. No porn. Search the web for information you would openly share with me. If you have a question about anything, ask a person -- preferably me or your father.

11. Turn it off, silence it, put it away in public. Especially in a restaurant, at the movies, or while speaking with another human being. You are not a rude person; do not allow the iPhone to change that.

12. Do not send or receive pictures of your private parts or anyone else's private parts. Don't laugh. Someday you will be tempted to do this despite your high intelligence. It is risky and could ruin your teenage/college/adult life. It is always a bad idea. Cyberspace is vast and more powerful than you. And it is hard to make anything of this magnitude disappear -- including a bad reputation.

13. Don't take a zillion pictures and videos. There is no need to document everything. Live your experiences. They will be stored in your memory for eternity.

14. Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision. It is not alive or an extension of you. Learn to live without it. Be bigger and more powerful than FOMO (fear of missing out).

15. Download music that is new or classic or different than the millions of your peers that listen to the same exact stuff. Your generation has access to music like never before in history. Take advantage of that gift. Expand your horizons.

16. Play a game with words or puzzles or brain teasers every now and then.

17. Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling.

18. You will mess up. I will take away your phone. We will sit down and talk about it. We will start over again. You and I, we are always learning. I am on your team. We are in this together.

It is my hope that you can agree to these terms. Most of the lessons listed here do not just apply to the iPhone, but to life. You are growing up in a fast and ever changing world. It is exciting and enticing. Keep it simple every chance you get. Trust your powerful mind and giant heart above any machine. I love you. I hope you enjoy your awesome new iPhone.

xoxoxo,
Mom

What do you think? Too harsh? Or just right?

Viral Videos of 2012 - what's in store for 2013?

Viral videos of 2012 - this may not be the 'best' list or the most comprehensive, but these are the ones that I recall the most. What about you?





















What will we be obsessed with in 2013?

Christmas depression - when the festive period saddens and disappoints: what to do about it

You may not think the two words above go together - 'Christmas' and 'depression', but if you've experienced the lows which come as a result of such sky-high expectations during the festive period, you'll get what this blog title is all about.

The reality is that Christmas is such an intensely high pressure time, laden with expectations from within yourself and from modern Western culture [Gifts! Fun! Keeping up with the blasted Joneses!] about how you should feel on this day - which, you'll remember, is actually all about celebrating one of the most important days on the Christian calendar.

In any case, you'd be in serious Catholic denial to not acknowledge that, religious or not, it's about families and couples and taking stock of end-of-year accomplishments, and hanging with people you perhaps don't get on with, and an overload of food, and OTT imbibing of booze.

Sadly, if you've just lost a family member and there is an empty chair at the table, or have been through a marriage breakdown, or your ex-partner has the kids for the day, or you are longing for a child and it hasn't happened yet, or a parent is seriously ill, or if you're working abroad... it's tough. Really, really tough. In fact, for any of the people described above: Christmas seriously sucks. And could quite possibly send you into a spiral of depression, a black hole you can't see out of.

It is especially on a day of high expectation like Christmas that you need to seek help. Speak to a relative, or a close friend, someone who you know will get you and what you are feeling.

If that's not possible, a call to Lifeline is essential... vital, even.

Because while everyone else is having fun - and very likely not having as much fun as you think they are - you are left feeling deeply lonely and alone. Talking to someone at this time is crucial to your mental wellbeing.

It's no surprise magazines and online news portals run stories on depression at this time. Read them, heed the warning signs, and do something about it immediately.

Call Lifeline on 131114 - they are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year [yes, Christmas day included].

For more info, click here.