Sometimes it is very hard. To keep on doing the things you know will make you feel better but just keep putting it off. Some of my common excuses are:

I'm tired
I'm busy
Why bother?
It wont work this time

Maybe it is the law of inertia. You'll just keep doing what you're already doing. Sometimes it is just plain laziness. But when I do the things that keep me well I am always glad that I did. It is worth the effort.

This week the internet was down throughout the whole building and what first seemed like a pain turned out to be quite pleasant. Usually we get heaps of e-mails every day; a fair number of them are accompanied by those red exclamation marks indicating urgency. Almost all seem to require answers of some sort. So I spend part of my day chained to a computer trying to respond somewhat sensibly to this deluge. This week I was amazed at how much time was freed up by not having access. I got caught up on stuff that I’ve been wanting to get done and, best of all, I got to spend more time with our members. Being available for real live humans for face- to- face interaction has been wonderful and reminds me why I do this job in the first place. I know people missed their e-mailing, chatting and games but I found it a nice people break and we all got to chat with each other instead.

The secret is to remember how nice it all was when the internet comes back on line and a weeks worth of e-mails flood across my screen.

p.s. Happy Birthday, Werner!

So the Update newsletter went out early this month. It was mailed yesterday. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped in the mail out. For those who did not know, I am the new Update person. If anyone has any suggestions or submissions, please let me know at least a week before the end of each month. I am planning to change the look of the newsletter a little. Just to freshen it up a bit.

I have not blogged here in awhile mainly because I was off for a week and did not have access to a computer. Keep checking and feel free to comment.

It looks like summer is here. They are forecasting a hot and dry summer. Which brings me to the subject of this blog. The medication I take (Zoloft) has made me extremely heat intolerant. As soon as the humidity roles in I just sweat. It is embarrassing to get on a bus having to wipe the sweat off myself constantly. I am quite sure that many of the meds out there have this side effect. The installation of our air conditioners is very important at PSO when it gets hot.

As far as side effects is concerned, this is not serious. It's just one of those things about taking psych meds that...well...suck.

I have heard so much positive feedback from persons involved in the Wellness Project. From both the peer supporters and there peers. Who would of thought in the old days that a large hospital and a consumer/survivor organization would partner up in a peer support oriented project? It is a great step forward.

Mark C. continues to do a fabulous job along with all the others who are working in the project along with the Royal Ottawa Hospital's PSR team. I hope that everyone will have an opportunity to see this project continue and flourish.