Side effects?
© Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me, 2011-2013. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner are strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Teens, social media and suicide
This is something totally off-topic but it’s something that is becoming more and more a regular news story. It’s making me afraid, short of not freaking out because Ask.fm is the reason why. You might have heard of this website if you’re living in Ireland because it has been linked to several cases of vicious cyberbullying, leading to the suicides of two teenage girls. In the past 3 months, 5 Irish people took their own life because they were bullied online, so you probably understand my fear and gasping for air when I found out what some people anonymously write on people’s profiles. According to the Irish website Be Safe Web: “From looking at this website, I’m shocked at the very public conversations that are happening in this forum. I’ve…
‘Nuff said!
© Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me, 2011-2013. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
New Year’s Resolutions
“I’m a little bit older, a little bit wiser, a little bit rounder, but still none the wiser.” (Robert Paul) “We’re going to get resolute about our new year’s resolutions in 2013,” according to a new weekly writing challenge on WordPress today. The doompocalyptic-resolutions-writing challenge asks us to write about “the three things you’d most like to change about your life, and make a bold, I-don’t-care-who-knows-it-because-there’s-a-meteor-a-comin’ assertion to the world that you are going to get these changes made. And that you’ll have at least started making them happen by March. When, erm, you’re probably going to wind up as dust.” Ouch… resolutions… dirty word! Especially on New Year’s Day. Even though I’ve never made tangible lists in the past, I always had a quickly-made-up and shortened version of one…
Christmas Day, and every day after
Christmas Day, and it’s a great one so far. Family brings out the best in you, especially if you only see each other a few times a year. This makes Christmas even more special, knowing that whatever happens, your family remains your backbone and your oxygen. My family had many struggles throughout the years; they’ve seen hardship no family should ever go through. They survived and came out shining like a star. It did make me wonder though why we were going through so much. At the time I thought we were jinxed, it looked like we were, it felt like we were. It placed a question mark after each time something happened and in the end, it left my faith in tatters. My religion – although already more non-existent…
Invictus, by William Ernest Henley
Invictus Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. (William Ernest Henley 1849-1903) (At the age of 12, Henley contracted tuberculosis of the bone. A few years later, the disease progressed to his foot, and…
Happy Christmas!
To those who have been bombarded with blog posts over the past few weeks: be merry and be joyful because from tomorrow onwards I will have less time to write… and your mailboxes will not be targeted by new notifications for a while 😀 My jet plane will drop me off somewhere between The Netherlands and France to spend Christmas with my family. Needless to say, I am quite looking forward to it… presents are wrapped, books were chosen to read while resting, phone backed up and synched with new music and suitcase about to be filled. No, not taking 5 pairs of shoes this time, only the one pair of Dr. Martens‘ boots that suit my every style!