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A moment from my recovery, where “what if” softened into presence, and a restful landscape emerged beside a letter to Uncertainty. There was a period in my recovery when my mind lived in “what if.” What if I had done something differently? What if life had taken another turn? I kept searching for answers in old versions of myself, trying to understand how I had arrived here. It became an endless spiral—a chore of meaning-making that never quite delivered what I hoped. During an extended stay in a mental health clinic, time slowed enough for me to see what was really happening. I couldn’t change the past, but I could redirect my “what ifs” into the present moment—into small activities, gentle rhythms, and the work of finding myself again. In that quiet space, I began writing letters to the emotions that were shaping my days. This one is to Uncertainty. Beside it, I painted a landscape that felt restful—soft light, open space, a horizon that didn’t demand anything from me. It became a place where I could breathe again, a reminder that healing often happens in stillness. This series, Ashes Into Light, shares those letters and the art that held them. My hope is that they meet you wherever you are, and offer a moment of recognition or release.

A group of strangers who once served the people of Australia on the frontline as first responders or military, gathered to begin a life changing program with ex-racehorses.  Anxiety. Fear. Concern ruled their hearts prior to the program. What if I don’t belong? What if it doesn’t change anything?  As the first day fears subsided, they each uncovered something new about themselves, something shifts, the load gets a little lighter. They connect with the horse, or with another participant.  Upon completing the program, the participants return home with a renewed sense of self, better equipped to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease.  What changed for S., Paul Coates and Mel? Listen to this special episode as part of Podcasthon 2025 raising awareness for Horse Aid. Horse Aid thrives on the community’s generosity to support serving and former first responders and military personnel with PTSD. Discover the program’s impact and how you can help by also tuning in to LivingWell Talks, where Dr Mel Baker talks with director and horseman Scott Brodie.

In the spirit of International Women’s Day (8 March 2024), we celebrate the indomitable strength and courage woven through your narratives. Immerse yourself in this, where my poetry—born from personal tribulations and shared experiences—resonates with the enduring power of resilience and healing. It’s a tribute to women worldwide, a testament to our collective journey towards empowerment and recovery. Join us in commemorating this day, a milestone marked by the voice and story behind ‘Say My Name,’ Mel Baker. Let your narrative be the beacon that guides others towards healing. Share your story, find solace, and foster connection at LivingExpressions.com.au. To view the video of this episode with scenes from my award-winning short film, Say My Name, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRo-QmFFVKs Music composed by Quinn from Say My Name.

Grieving, a natural part of life, a living expression of an incredibly heavy moment. The last few weeks I’ve been sitting in the most heaviest grief I’ve experienced as my adopted dad passed away. In sharing my life with him and he with me, I allowed myself to be vulnerable. I got an opportunity to be loved, to have shared positive family experiences that I would never have had. I’m so grateful for those 21 years. In this monologue, I try to speak generically for any loss you may have experienced, whether your child, parent, sibling, grandparent, friend, or most loved animal. The price of love means grief then is so much more. Life has been heavy and empty, until you get to a place of transforming.

Life is most certainly a rollercoaster. One day everything is going fine, then we find ourselves hit with something that knocks us down. In my experience, I have found those little times in-between we can actually bring some life moments back into ourselves. Experiencing release in those times helps us to have the strength to keep going. This musical arrangement demonstrates all those moments in life. I certainly had some fun in creating it!

For some, motorbikes are a way of life, a hobby, one cannot easily give up. For others, they have no inkling or understanding of the experience you feel on a bike. Enter my experience of riding in the city, on the open road in Australia and on the Ho Chi Minh trail in Vietnam. It most definitely is a freeing moment.

There are some precious moments that are worth holding onto, especially in times of doubt. They can carry you. I met a man a couple of years ago. This moment was the moment of my life, when I met someone who truly understood me and I him. We had never experienced anything like it. I describe what this felt like this organic connection.

It is 2013. I am in the middle of training exercises on an Australian warship headed for the Middle East. In this monologue, I speak of two events I lived through. One in facing death after months of traumatic assaults, whilst trapped at sea; the other that gave me life when I met an ex-racehorse, two years later. Sometimes we fall, in falling we shall rise.

Being weighed down by the past and pressured to get things done, we can easily lose sight of who we are. Growth begins with being open, to accept failures and celebrate victories, to find the strength within to overcome the war within ourselves. In this monologue, I reflect upon this journey in believing that I can make it.

Heather, a regular contributor to the Living Expressions publication, shares her experience in tough moments to listen and trust yourself. She reflects on a beautiful bird song metaphor with real birds chirping in the background. We hope you find a space to empty your mind through the stressors and challenges this time of year.

Have you ever felt stuck? I decided in this moment that I want to find my way out to freedom. I have been here too long! I imagine myself in a metaphor to help externalise what I am feeling inside. Seeing and naming objects around me helped to identify why I am stuck and move towards healing.

Anchal Singh, 17 year old writer and poet, reflects upon the importance of positivity to promote healthy living. Anchal has a heart to express her feelings through words in order to empower change. Not only in her own home in Northern India, but also across the world. Anchal has been a regular contributor to the Living Expressions publication over the last 2 years.

Being stuck at home for a few days, I needed to get out of the house. Walking outside with the birds and fresh air was just what I needed, until I got overwhelmed by the noise from a protest. I soon learned how to turn this stressful panic attack moment around.

It's never nice to be on the receiving end of belittling and intimidating behaviour. Totally disrespectful to human life. If you have, the first few minutes may be hard to hear; but stay with me as I work through my trigger. We can transform these moments and find strength.

In this monologue, I to stop reflect about life itself from dusk to dawn, from new life to growth, from moment to moment. A mixture of inspirational thoughts that went from one to another without any pre conceived ideas. It came naturally.