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We hope you’ll enjoy reading the stories of the first people who have offered to share their personal journeys within ‘take 9 lives, at least…’, and we’re sure you’ll have a view for, against or ….? May be, in your own individual way, something within these life stories might trigger you to want to take small steps to change your own life – may be you already have – or may be…?
On the health and well-being front alone we seem to have become a society that thinks pills are the answer to everything. And that a visit to the doctor is somehow short-changed without a pill to come away with.
Certainly, the hard-pressed doctors within the NHS (and we all know about the state of the NHS) mainly just haven’t got time to suggest that we make some personal effort to help ourselves and that prevention is generally better than cure.
Why do we always look outside for help, for a quick fix, when often there is so much to be gained from employing our own resources – it’s called personal responsibility. The reality is that every individual has the inherent wisdom to know what’s best for them – rocket science it is not.
Myni is where this whole project started and she is the tour de force behind ‘take 9 lives, at least…’.
Myni is in her 70’s. She has type 2 diabetes and a lifelong history of obesity and battling with food. This is her ongoing story of taking responsibility for her health and wellbeing.
Bob is Myni’s long suffering/rejoycing husband and so couldn’t get away with not being part of this project. He is currently in remission from prostate cancer and has arthritis, and reflects upon the difference in the way men & women share their daily problems and the value of a “shed” space. He also likes a nice bit of cake!
Tara is in her 30’s and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2007. This is her journey of learning to live with the condition at a time when there is an abundance of info and advice on type 2 diabetes but a lot of misunderstanding around type 1.
Lucy’s story is one of resiliance and autonomy in the face of childhood adversities she was powerless to control. Her mother’s alchoholism took away the support and stability needed to flourish in early life but a weekend job with horses as a teenager helped her discover a route to her own freedoms and a loving family of her own.
Sam’s story is one of learning to see the wisdom in opportunities and adapting to change.
After two successful careers and a lifetime of working hard to achieve his own goals he suddenly found himself having to adapt to a heart condition that threw his very physical lifestyle up in the air.
At first glance John is very much the self made man – spotting and taking up opportunities to develop and transfer his skills while travelling the world. Diagnosed with prostate cancer over 10 years ago and then later with type 2 diabetes, his is a story of taking responsibility for his health later in life, to try and make the most of the rest of his life.
Leya’s story is one of breaking the cycles of her own upbringing to be the best mother that she can be whilst treading her own path in life. It is a story of hard work and difficult times but ultimately a story of bravery and love.
Dawn’s story is one of reflection on a difficult life and making the best of what you can. With no real family support from an early age she learned to make do with her lot. Now in her later years she lives with both physical and mental pain but refuses to give in to self pity.
Jules’s story makes for a difficult read. Another writer who has suffered from a far from ideal childhood, her’s is a story of abandonment and abuse leading to mental illness. But it is also a story of her resilience and how, through support she has been able to take control of her demons and stop a cycle of self abusive behaviour.
In the hopes that at some point these stories have interested or touched you –
or someone you know, come and join us,share your own experience,
contacts and resources to help others; people are always stronger together
and only good can come of this.
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. This website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Content should not be considered a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. The reader assumes full responsibility for consulting a qualified health professional regarding health conditions or concerns and before starting a new diet or health program.