Catch up with my boy Tuck

Had a awesome kai and catch up with this young guy while he was back from mahi. Like many that have heard about my journey, he felt the need to catch up and let me know how much I meant to him and his whānau. It was a emotional time but a rewarding time as I explained that illness isn't the thing that defines us, it's what we do to change that negative focus to a positive one.

I have 3 things that I check myself against each day.

1, ME- I have to ensure that my Whare Tapa Whā is in sequence with each other, if one is on a lean then my Whare isn't balanced so I need to reinforce myself to bring balance.

2, WHĀNAU-

I can't journey on my own, I have to have a strong network of whānau to keep me accountable, guide me and help me. I have to be able to open up fully and ask for help when I need it. I have to leave my ego and my YES all the time self and feel comfortable to say NO or to ask for help and not be embarrassed by it. I said it's not easy it's the hardest thing to learn. But the aroha in whānau is amazing, whānau to me is every single person that I have a relationship with.

3, FAITH no matter what, as a Māori Christian I am forever grateful for prayer and support from so many faith aligned whānau.

There is one scripture that is my go too.

Jeremiah 29:11NLT

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Heremaia 29:11

Kei te mohio hoki ahau ki nga whakaaro e whakaaro nei ahau ki a koutou, e ai ta Ihowa, he whakaaro mo te rongo mau, ehara mo te kino, kia hoatu te tumanako ki a koutou i o koutou ra whakamutunga.

So I am blessed I'm not afraid nor am I going to let this be the only thing that people talk about when I die, I want the stories to come alive now not later and I need people to let emotions be of something positive not the sad and gloomy feeling.

Everyday we need to celebrate life, and the people in it.

Love and light.