reading in my survival kit...

I am reading daily at the moment to survive a massive upheaval in my life + dealing with my distressed reaction to world chaos. It is the main way I maintain a measure of control and calm and the will to keep walking...without resorting to artificial medication...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) March 19, 2022

facing retirement beyond mere survival...

Welcome news...as I am facing retirement very very soon...
No financial stash/investment and still on the rent merry-go-round.
I've wondered if I can survive in retirement, hence I've kept working...
Now I'm tired...Need to stop...
I need a few miracles 🙏...

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) February 27, 2022

there are those who suffer more...

Whenever I feel hammered by non-stop issues + crises+can't relax+can't sleep or eat well, (current pressures yesterday+today, but also recent months+years), my medicine is to seek those with worse challenges...
Rarely I need to look far to find people in far worse predicaments... https://t.co/KT4SCeR1G8

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) December 21, 2021

survival kit...

PASSING THOUGHT: My survival kit for these uncertain, tempestuous days:
1. Travel to far places (my imaginary holiday)-via SBS - e.g. Michael Portillo's train journeys+empire narratives
2. Twitter posts for knowledge+inspiration
3. Write poetry
4. Read novels
5. Walk outdoors

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) December 20, 2021

surviving remote teaching/learning...

What's everyone got planned for lockdown today? I was thinking about gazing into the eyes of madness. Maybe a walk, too.

— David Milner (@DaveMilbo) September 8, 2021

Sounds so much like my story...You did not mention the dreaded word 'emails'...Do they ever end? I am learning that when I reach 5 o'clock, I stop...I just stop...(I start each day online by 7am...In early days of 1st lockdown in 2020, it was 5am start...I have improved...)

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 8, 2021

Yeah, this is crazy. I hear parents whinging about remote learning, well, many teachers as also parents. Feel like working 3 jobs ATM. Have to keep up with my own kids, still run a school for kids coming in AND teach all this at home. Yeah, then the real work starts. :(

— 7RockLists (@7RockLists) September 8, 2021

I do sympathise...Again, my story...Last week, parent-teacher interviews for 5 hours (beginning 3:30pm) after remote teaching...That was a killer...Marking's impossible...So far behind, yet I am working as hard as possible...But I take short breaks to revitalise+then go again...

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 8, 2021

Believe me, there are many teachers in our boat...That's what keeps me going...We're not alone...Yesterday, staff Google Meet after remote learning...lasted an hour...tedious...no need...teachers looked terrible...Indeed, one fell asleep...the one with 3 children at home...

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) September 8, 2021

survival mode...

survival mode
I paint my mind
with big skies, trees and
bluest seas till
my spirit smiles #tanka pic.twitter.com/GAQTJkcokk

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) February 14, 2021

how civilisations heal...

"This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal."

- Toni Morrison

— Deborah A. Bennett (@dabennettpoet) May 30, 2020

And this is how I breathe, survive and heal daily... dreaming and thinking and writing  (repeat)