Rising from the Ashes

This last trimester 2025, life has taken a U-Turn for me.

A lot of satisfaction is being derived from my new identity as a Sexual Assault Therapist, which helped me preserve a sense of self.

I meet women from all walks of life, shell shocked by trauma, and together, we walk the way towards recovery and moving on with their lives until they become their own therapist. 

I find this job uplifting because I see them bouncing back, rise from the ashes. I see first hand the strength of human spirit.

Beware that a sexually assaulted woman has a ten times higher risk of suicide in her lifetime compared to normal.

Together, we can.

I finally obtained my last master this year - one degree (Psychology for which I got credits from previous studies) and two masters (Sciences, Psy Research - 2 years) (Counselling - 2 years) after 6 years FT studies - and was able to join the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia.

A number of master students friends (x3) have expressed the wish to work with me in the future in private practice. 

That's the plan.

For now, I work part-time for a government agency with referrals from the police and hospitals mostly, in the field of Trauma, predominantly. My contract ends in April but I have been told last week that we got new fundings for 2026 and I should see my contract renewed. We'll see.

I kept my previous job part-time as well, "just in case", but I hope to move on to private practice two days a week in the near future.

Since I now can work full-time, this is the end of financial struggles. 

"Finally"

As a result, I managed to address a couple of health issues like post eye surgery dry eye treatment intervention; I was able to repair a retaining wall which collapsed after the cyclone; I managed to fix little things that are not such little things, such as I subscribed to an app allowing me to listen to music without adds interruptions !!!!, I can subscribe to quality news subscriptions, I don't have to freak out every time an appliance  goes down, I bought a freezer "finally", and I can go on holidays...

Cherry on top of the pudding: Red Hat increased my salary by 27%. I wish they did that earlier!

                     This is my 2025 tee-shirt. 

This may sound a bit radical to some of you but to me, it is clear that when I was near the abyss, and this happened many times, when I had cancer, or when I had to look after my daughter single handedly in the middle of covid, NO MEN of my life took any responsibility. 

I grant you I may have had a bad hand. I know very decent men but there is a problem.

More generally, the underlying issue: a misplaced sense of entitlement, deeply cultural and generational in nature. That's what allows it to endure.

Patriarchy is not just men's apanacea, many women - perpetuators - uphold the model without even realising it. 

I could have ended up in the street easily, not as far as this year in October, had I not pushed hard - at the detriment of my health and social life.

I managed to obtain money from the government to repair the damage after the cyclone after the insurance declined the claim. It took a while though (March til November), you have got to have a PhD in government paperwork mumbo jumbo but it reconciled me a bit with the system. Some things work. And if you want my first hand opinion, the government is more reliable than husbands and fathers when shit hits the fan.

Christmas 

I was not sure I should even celebrate this year, but I decided to push through/practice what I preach.

At the end. Christmas went very well despite my daughter not joining this year, and starching hot temperatures (35C that week). We had to set the table inside and the aircon held on (just). The guest were all in good mood, participated with bringing a dish (or two:) each, and we had ample amount of food and a lavish time.

As temperatures went down a bit in the evening, we had a ping pong game in the garden - I had dreamed of that for a long time and was finally able to buy an outdoor tennis table - the little things... which the younger Xmas party crowd, including my son, appreciated. 

Since both companies I work for closed their doors between Xmas and new year, I decided to go on a Yoga Retreat in Bali for a week.

Yes!

The importance of self-care is something I learned from my new profession. 

Also, I can, which is new.

My body is barely holding me at the moment, after all I made it endure this year, but with the kind and skilled touch of a private yoga instructor, I am reconnecting with all my senses, breathe better, move better, even see better (strange) I noticed after the yoga session yesterday morning....

which took place here:

                                    Isn't grand!

I feed myself better as well.

Mocchi - coconut, chocolate, matcha

And bonus....

I was ambushed in a temple today for a blessing out of nowhere! I embraced it, we all connect in different ways.

See the rice grains on my forehead put by an old men as I was walking past. 

For now, I am here and well in Bali - alone, but here and well, free to be myself, open to the world and sometimes, I meet wonderful people through shared travels or activities like learning Balinese writing, cooking or permaculture, etc.

I may see a long time friend from Tahiti early January in Nusa Dua if the planets align :)

Mid January, I will fly to Paris where I have not set a foot for 7 years!! 

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year 2026. 

May the wars in Soudan, Gaza and Ukraine end,

May we see the end of bullying dictatorships for countries, and any organisation for that matter,

May people start working collaboratively, vote with their frontal lobes in countries where voting still counts for something!

May Respect extends to any form of life on this planet.