Mental Health.

So its been a while but recently a massive topic has come into peoples lives around me. The subject today is still sort of taboo and noone really understands it. In some cases its hard for the person to say how they feel and in other cases its hard for people to understand. As you've already guessed, that topic is mental health.

Quite recently I've had a handful of friends battling mental health problems. But as an on looker its hard to see what happens. some people describe it as having two voices in your head and we choose which one to listen to and then amplify it. Others describe it as this is how society has made me feel. Others suffer because of their past and they struggle to overcome it.

There's a lot of different strands to mental health but because of society and technology nowadays this seems to have demonised some of the issues. According to society its ok to be anxious waiting for test results, but being anxious about going to work, a meeting or waiting on a reply is classed a a mental illness. Being stressed with kids is 'normal' but getting stressed at work is seen as a sign of weakness. Being alone in a crowded room now seems the 'norm' but when someone says they're depressed its classed as attention seeking. How can it be that one strand is ok and the other isn't??

Nowadays, people are becoming more involved in social media and portraying a fake image about themselves because being liked by thousands of people across the world makes them feel happy about a life where talking face to face is now a problem. Everyone gets asked where they're working now or which car they're driving but how many people actually get asked if they're ok?? 

With social media and technology, we seem to be more involved with celebrities and people we don't even know rather then the friends and family who we should be spending our time with. missing out on quality time with people who could actually help us. The problems we have these days is that technology has got us to a stage where checking out phones every five minutes is fine but when your waiting for a reply you start to over think. Surely this shows that these are mental health problems. Checking your phone every 5 minutes is OCD, over thinking is paranoia, stalking someones social media builds anger and trust issues.

I saw this picture recently and for me it sums up how technology has taken how we used to be to how we are now. How trying to get fifty likes will make us happy instead of having that one friend who says, you look beautiful or lets meet up sometime.

Surely this shows that not only pictures or messages sent that trust issues can be broken and damaged within seconds. How misinterpreting a message because of how its written and not said because we've taken it on face value instead of asking the person who said it.

Where in this world currently 1 in 4 people struggle with mental illness in a year and where suicide is the biggest killer for men under 49. It only takes 30 seconds to check in with someone and ask if they're ok...........

Give blood. #Noexcuses

So it's been a while since I last wrote a blog and a recent event has changed that. Recently our family lost two family members with in a very short space of time. The second is the main reason behind this post.

A few years ago I decided to sign up to give blood and after a year I eventually did it, not knowing how close to home it would affect us. People have always given different reason as to why they give blood or reasons why other people should and in one way or another they are all connected to that person. My reason to start with was to give hope to other people, now its to give other people time. Time to survive or in some cases enough time for someone to say goodbye.

A few weeks ago I went to visit uncle in hospital. He'd been in for a while and after speaking to the nurses I found out everything he'd been through during his time. One thing that struck me was that he'd had 20 units of blood in one week. This hit me like a freight train. As a blood donor you never find out who your blood has gone to only that its been donated at a certain hospital. I took that as a sign. I said my goodbyes before I left and the hardest of all, goodbye to my uncle. A few hours later, it was goodbye. Ever since then, my passion and will has never been stronger for more people to donate to help others in situations like this.

Even for me the hardest thing is seeing a needle entering the body, that is something I have overcome to help up to three people with every pint of blood that I give. My reason for this blog is to urge people to sign up to donate blood or platelets. It only takes 45 minutes out of your day and you could help to save the lifes of people you love and care about. So far three of my friends have taken the plunge and decided to donate. For 45 minutes of your time you could help change the lives of others. The commitment is low, donate every three months for a male and four months for a female, how hard is it really to turn up three/four times a year. If it helps there's even snacks!!!!!!

I had to overcome a lot to go and donate blood but now I have an extra reason to donate and I'll be donating while ever I can. When I sat in the chair today I booked my next appointment. The staff in my local center are top notch and with first timers they guide you through it every step of the way. So what ever your excuse is, take the plunge.

If I can over come my fears and doubts, then whats stopping you?

• Approximately 1 out of every 7 people entering the hospital needs blood.
• 1 donation has the potential to save as many as 3 lives.
• 3 teaspoons of blood can save a baby's life.
• If there are 100 people in a room, 46 will have type O blood, 40 will have type A, 10 will have type B and four will have type AB.
• If 50 people donate, they could provide enough blood to take care of victims of a major car accident.
• If 20 people donate, they could help 1 burn victim.

Missing letters, Join today. #noexcuses

Relationships.

Have you ever had times in your life when all you've needed someone to help you or someone to talk to? Relationships are one of the most important things while we live on earth. I know of two stories that show that people who are the most desperate for someone to help that they go to different lengths to get help.

The first, a speaker is talking in a stadium and he gets a notion from God to go and speak and pray for a lad sitting on the vary back row of the stadium. He goes up to speak to him puts his hand on his shoulder and the lad starts weeping. He says he needs to talk to someone and points at the screen and said that Gods left me and I asked him to send you up here to pray with me otherwise I was going to do something. The lad pulled out a gun with the intent of ending it all if someone hadn't spoken to him. But God sent him someone to help him through his troubles.

The second, a guy checks in at a hotel when another man walks in and says he needs petrol. So the first man takes him there. The first man then pays for a petrol can, petrol and some how just knows something is wrong. The second man opens up to him and says that his sister had a heart attack, he hasn't been paid from work and he hadn't felt god in his life for a while.

The only thing is God was there. God answered their silent prays. He put someone in their life to help. He saved one man from death and another from depression.

Maybe you've got troubles in your life right now that you need to talk to someone with. If you've never prayed then pray let God answer your prayer, or ask for God to put someone in your life to talk to you.

I was recently talking to two people who's families health or their own health was affected in serious ways. Their pray was answered when they asked for someone to talk to. Their faith was restored when they had someone to talk to. Their prayer was answered when they thought God was back in their life. The only thing was God handed left them. The relationship had been closed from one side. But not from Gods side.

Very often God has put people in our lives for a reason and most of the time we turn away those people. the thing is when we are at our most vulnerable and hurt, 9 out of 10 people say Jesus Christ. Some are cursing but others are asking him to take away the pain as quickly as possible.

But from after reading this, take the offer of talking to the person that's put in your life, say that prayer for God to help you.

Matthew Chapter 11 verse 28

Things happen for a reason.

I recently watched a film I haven't watched since last year and there was one quote that stuck with me since Revelations 3 verse 7 "What HE opens no one can close and what HE closes no one can open". This got me thinking about things that have gone on in my past that either wont be given as an opportunity again or things that I wouldn't want again.

This got me thinking about what happens and if there was a reason behind it. Most of the time people say things happen for a reason but sometimes you don't know why it happened, so I got thinking about what had happened in my life and if there was a reason behind it.

On one occasion I was travelling on a train for my mates stag do and ended up talking to the bloke opposite me who happens to work for Sports Coach UK. Talk about lucky hey!!!! But what was the reason behind it???

I also found recently that saying no ends something that you had and makes things work, however in some cases it doesn't make things better. Recently I said no to something I was doing and a few weeks later got a new job, improved friendships, coaching opportunities all because I wanted to stop doing one thing and I got 3 things in return. One story I find was that I said no to playing county level sports when I was at university but what would of happened if I had said yes where would I be now???? But everything happens for a reason.

So sometimes it is hard to see why everything happens for a reason, look in the bible at David he had no idea what was going to happen in the lion pit but he had faith he knew that things happened for a reason. Look in the bible when Jesus died some people wouldn't of known why he'd died. People didn't know why Judas betrayed Jesus but everything happens for a reason. But it does say in the good book that: trust in the lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Prov 3:5-6

Back in September I had the chance to go to an academy and the day before we were due to start I had to say know. The reason that came out a month was a good enough reason to back out but at the time it just felt like I was lost but had faith because I knew everything happens for a reason.

So just remember when life gets tough and you feel a lone or feel like your being buried in the sand there will be a reason for it. Sometimes people just want to see how far they can push you before you say no or they want to see how strong you are. 

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25

The Big Bad World.

So its been a while since I last wrote a blog but here goes. Since leaving university life hasn't been easy, with my dad still signed off work and me not getting in to uni because of various reasons, I turned my hand to trying to find a full time job in the big bad world.

When I was at university I loved the phrase 'one day you'll be in the real world'. As a student life was so much more relaxed and it felt like that day would never arrive until now. The worst thing about being in the big bad world is unemployment. One thing I hate with a passion is being unemployed. For various years I've held part time jobs before, during and after university but when you want to get a full time job its like trying to sell your car. People will listen or take your CV but when you ask if they have any jobs going they become quiet and don't say anything. I found this to be true in most  places that I handed a CV or letter in to.

Recently I've found that the phrase " when one door closes another opens" does happen. I recent gained a full time job!!!!!!! I went through numerous interviews trying to find a full time and in some cases just a part time job. With my hours getting less and less where I was before I had to get out. A few days after an interview for a part time job The manager at a local pub asked me if I was still looking for a job and whether I'd like to apply there and I did. A week later the came round and now that I've got the job I can honestly say that its one of the most enjoyable jobs that I've had. Soon after this I saw a quote which is below which I think describes life perfectly.

I have found one thing comforting, God. In most of my blogs God gets a mention and that's because God does something in my life to make my life better. Recently my life changed slightly when I knew I wasn't returning to Preston but that ment God had something for me in store. Then earlier today I saw a quote which I'll share with you "an arrow can only be shot by pulling backwards, when life is dragging you back with difficulties, just imagine its going to launch you into something great".

Just remember that in Jesus' life he had hard times but on the other hand he had fantastic times so with a little prayer and belief life will get better and it'll make the hard times easier to cope with.

But until I have time to write a longer blog filling people in on Jesus, my life and the impacts these two things have had on other people. Keep believing.

Worry and Prayer

Two very interesting words: Prayer, Worry. But everyone at some point does worry and everyone does pray.

Over the past month I've had a lot of worry come in to my life and without prayer I don't know where I'd be.

Over the past month I've been worried about my future, my job, cricket, friends and family.

The future always worries everyone. With my I've graduated and thought I'd get on to do a PGCE and after two months of worrying I got my reply back from that. It was a no. I've been offered the chance to go back to Preston and study again but with no student finance All I can worry about is where I'm going to live or how I'll get enough money together etc. Scary times for a young person.

The next worrying part was my job. Having a lot of hours and then most of my hours going to other people and knowing that you haven't got as much money coming in as you thought, it doesn't half change your outlook on life. Its hard as well knowing that you want a second job but not being able to get one because there are no jobs out there plus you don't know where your going to be living in a months time so you cant plan for the future.

On a sad note, sometimes we pray and worry about things happening in our lives at the moment that's out of our control. My friend recently became very ill and it was out of my hands. The power of prayer always helps even if it seems to be doing nothing. Unfortunately she passed on recently but the power of prayer helped her to get well enough to go back home and be with her family when she was called heavenwards. A true blessing to her and her family.

One thing that I've always prayed for is certainly sporting events to happen to me and having a vision of what you want to do always helps. My vision was to hit 50 and set a new family record with the bat which I completed recently but I'd been praying for that for ages before it happened just proving that regardless of my timing and what I wanted and when i wanted it. God will surface when he says it time to do it.

But in all of this God was present all the way through it, though the hardship and through the good times but I wouldn't of got there with out a few verses and one song.

The song I'd recommend listening to and just think about the lyrics being said is: Where were you (when the world stopped turning) By Alan Jackson. Funny enough I didn't know that part of the chorus was taken from the bible until the other day.

The verses that have stuck with me are:
Matthew 6:25-27
Luke 12:25

Well worth checking out and thinking about and praying about.

Graduation. End of an era

So its that time again. The end of an era/year. I have to say the past three years have been the most enjoyable years of my life. Meeting new friends, growing in my religion, passing university with a 2:1, earning responsibility. But it hasn't always been an easy ride. with car crashes, health problems, operations, worrying, hard work, long travels and a lot of money spent. But its been worth it.

For me this is a sad time. Leaving my friends in Preston and university mates going back to different counties and countries you always have this feeling inside of 'will I ever see them again'? Although technology is good this days it does help having Facebook and mobiles.

However the main point of the blog isn't to talk about graduation its about the future. Unlike last year I have two options this year which hopefully one of them will come true. The first is my PGCE interview next week, the other is about going back to Preston to to join the church academy and study for another year. Both of these are perfect for me because of my high work level and my religion. 

I was given a mat in my graduation card from my parents. The picture below shows you what was included on it. The thing that got my thinking about this is the fact we don't really get told to do it. Even if we do we come up with excuses about not being able to do it. But should we take a step of faith and go for it and see how far we get or do we wait to see if we can do it in the future. 

If I acted upon my own advice I've been on the first plane to Australia for the summer to coach and play cricket. 

But maybe you just need to look at the picture below and say "I'm going to do it"

Whether its finishing university with a high grade, getting your perfect job, marrying the young lady you've been with for years or moving to your first home.

Just go for it and remember, God is with you.