Melissa Gijsbers

  • ‘Inspiring’ People

    ‘Inspiring’ People

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    This past week, I’ve a couple of different training sessions for work where ‘inspirational’ people were presented as people we should take advice from and inspire to emulate. Mostly they were sportspeople and billionaires. They were being put up to show what hard work and determination can do, or how their idea changed the world…

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  • Review: The Wonderful Thing about Phoenix Rose

    Review: The Wonderful Thing about Phoenix Rose

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    Author: Josephine Moon Category: Novel Publisher: Penguin Random House Publication date: 18 April 2023 Blurb: Phoenix Rose, a 35-year-old neurodivergent teacher, is at a crossroads in her career and in her relationship with her boyfriend, Zack. But when she receives an urgent plea from a friend in Tasmania who needs to rehome her beloved animals, Phoenix, who has always led…

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  • I feel like buried treasure…

    I feel like buried treasure…

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    For most of my life, I have been running on autopilot. Following a path I feel like has been set out for me. You go to school, then university, get married, have kids… basically doing what I was told. It didn’t always work out that well, but I did it. My kids are now adults…

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  • Review: Different, Not Less

    Review: Different, Not Less

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    Author: Chloe Hayden Category: Memoir Publisher: Murdoch Books Publication date: 4 April 2023 Blurb: An empowering lived-experience guide to celebrating and supporting neurodivergence from 24-year-old actor, social media star and advocate Chloé Hayden. Growing up, Chloé Hayden felt like she’d crash-landed on an alien planet where nothing made sense. Eye contact? Small talk? And WHY are you people so…

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  • I don’t understand Peer Pressure, and never have…

    I don’t understand Peer Pressure, and never have…

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    I have never understood peer pressure, and, growing up I really tried. I remember the ‘cool’ kids offering me a cigarette at the bus stop after a bad day. My grandma smoked & I hated the smell, so it was easy to say no. I remember going to a party where everyone was drinking. I…

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  • When I grow up…

    When I grow up…

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    For as long as I can remember, I have had people asking ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ It’s a common question that grown ups ask kids. Many kids have an idea of what they want to be, but I never have. At various times, I would say something that sounded…

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  • Applying for Jobs

    Applying for Jobs

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    One thing I have always struggled with is applying for jobs. This is not to say that I haven’t been employed in the past, I have had quite a few jobs. The biggest thing is the selection critera. I look at what the employer has listed as ‘must have’ skills and qualifications, look at what…

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  • Review: Unmasking Millie

    Review: Unmasking Millie

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    Author: Millie Carr Illustrator: Polina Povshedna Category: Picture Book Publisher: Millie Carr Books Publication date: 27 July 2023 Blurb: “Your brain it works different, different you see. Different than others, neurotypically.” Millie suspects she is different than others. On the outside she appears to be fine but what’s really going on in her head is a completely different story. Unmasking…

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  • Happy New Year – 2024

    Happy New Year – 2024

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    Happy New Year everyone and welcome to 2024! I don’t know about you, but 2023 went by so quickly. It was an interesting year for me. At the start of the year, I had my first job interview in many years, and got the job! It lasted for five months when the contract ended and…

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  • As Is…

    As Is…

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    A while ago, I discovered a YouTube channel called How to ADHD, and the videos have been quite helpful in understanding ADHD. Someone in a Facebook group shared a video today that had me in tears. Click here to view it. It’s talking about how we are enough ‘as is’, we don’t have to overcome to be…

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