The Kid

It's that time of the year again where 90% of posts are Christmas related (slight exaggeration, I know). So instead of posting Christmas things, I'm going to post selfies and do small appreciation notes. December 1st - World AIDS Day World AIDS Day raises awareness across the world and in the community about the issues surrounding HIV and AIDS. It is a day for people to show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. #supportthecause #decemberselfie #decemberselfiechallenge #selfieappreciation #appreciationmonth #worldaidsday #support #selfiemonth

I've never known a cat that enjoys having its belly rubbed for such an extended period and then complains when you stop. #cat #catsitting #milo #bellyrub #catrub #catscratch #returnofthecat (at Fern Tree Tas)

Today I got to be a kid again. I got photos with TMNT Raphael and Leonardo (just to spite my brother) and then I found the Minions trying to use a skateboard. Then I found this giant tiger out at Kmart. #myerhobart #myer #grandopening #liverpoolstreet #tmnt #turtles #minions #tiger #gianttiger #kid #kidlife #raphael #leonardo #kmart (at Myer Liverpool Street Hobart Tasmania)

I made a fire truck cake today. (at Lenah Valley, Hobart)

#lenahvalley #hobart #hobartpark #newtown #art #artsculpture #sculpture #instatassie #discovertasmania #tasmania #ig_australia #seetasmania #flowerart #flowers (at Ancanthe Park)

Not going to lie, this is by far my favourite day of the year! Lucky I have no exams! Although I wish I was there... #melbournecup

It's like an autumn feeling in spring. So pretty. #autumnleaves #fallleaves #springcolour #november #nantdistillery #nant #whiskey #salamanca #discovertasmania #instatassie #hobart #tasmania (at The Nant Distillery)

Best way to procrastinate. Drinking and baking.

#mchappyday #socks #mcdonalds #ronaldmcdonaldhouse #ronaldmcdonald #redwhite #stripes #stripedsocks (at McDonald's Hobart)

I cooked Jacky breakfast this morning, all because of a drunk promise I made back in June (I probably would've done it without the drunken state). Jacky, good luck today on your Pharmacy Intern Oral Exam. I really hope you do exceptionally well. There's always more pancakes, berries and ice-cream at home. #pancakes #pharmacy #intern #internexam #oralexam #pharmacyintern #berries

Apparently Smarties only come in four colours now. No brown, orange or red... #smarties #minismarties

Quick and easy meal. Yum.

#blueneighbourhood #hurtthisgood #drivesmewild #anditdrivesmewild #troyesivan #troye #sivan #leavethisblueneighbourhood

Are you okay? Each year, thousands of Australians and millions around the world will try to take their own lives. Many of them feel there is nowhere to go, no-one to turn to, no-one to talk to. But one conversation could make a difference. One conversation could save a life. Your best friend, your mother, father, child, colleague. It could even save a stranger. One conversation. So who will you ask? What will you say? Are you okay? #ruok #ruokday #ruokday2015 #oneconversation #changealife #whowillyouask #areyouokay

Finally arrived! @troyesivan #anditdrivesmewild #wildep #wild #troye #trxye #wildprint #warning #youtube #signedprint

Don't say I can't cook. Pasta, with chicken, sweet potato and mushroom in a worcestershire and aioli sauce.

"There are not many people like you in this world." A few weeks ago, I had a lady tell me this while I was working and it made me feel a mixture of emotions. In the way she meant it, it was a compliment and a heartwarming thank you, but it made me realise just how hard it is, to live in this world society, where judgement is more common than acceptance. Growing up, learning acceptance of people was a key factor in my life, as my sister Sarah had an intellectual disability called Möbius Syndrome. Sarah is my sister, she is a member of the community and she is a human being. Each of her friends accepted her too. She wasn't that girl with the disability; she was Sarah, a good, loving - and sometimes cheeky - friend who had the ability to comfort people and to make them smile. The lady I met at work had come in, mid afternoon, for an ice coffee. She had a walking frame and had brought along a sipping screw top cup to have her drink in. Like any other customer, I assisted her where she required it. I made her drink, her ham and cheese croissant and cleared a table beside the walkway for her to access with her frame. During all of this, I had a conversation with her, about her day and about mine. It was to the end of this conversation that the lady said, "You've worked with disabled people before." I explained to her about Sarah and about my years of volunteering for a disability organisation. She replied that she could tell I had experience and went on to say that she had cerebral palsy. "You don't treat me like I'm different. You treat and respect me like I am a person. There are not many people like you in this world." While all this was going on, I could see the other few customers in the store staring at her, most from the corner of their eyes, before quietly whispering away to one another. The level of hurt that I saw in that moment was disheartening; that acceptance has not been accepted. To the lady, I'm honoured by what you said of me and I can only hope society learns to accept those with a disability, not by the disability, but by who you are. To the family that had a lovely conversation with her later on, thank you for making her day a even better one.