Raised in Kalamunda in the beautiful Perth hills in Western Australia, I can’t draw myself away from them.
I love the country living surrounded by gum trees, there is no other place I want to live. I have a close and loving family and am grateful for this blessed life of mine.
Growing up with five older protective brothers and surrounded with loving security, I now have three boys of my own and a wonderful husband, life doesn’t get much better than that.
Introduced to the spiritual and metaphysical world during my teenage years put me on the path I have followed throughout my life. I am blessed to have a wonderful mother who acquainted me with alternative therapies which I value and credit to be the catalyst for my resilient health outcomes.
I love dabbling in new and outreaching therapies that many would scoff at but I know my longevity, in spite of living with type 1 diabetes for over forty eight years and not always doing the right thing with it, is ‘proof in the pudding’ for me.
Like most people dealing with chronic diseases from an early age, especially one that entails giving up the delicious sweets and sugary delights children love, rebellion is generally guaranteed. Then to deal with another dietary restriction, of gluten, because of coeliac disease also leads to more rebellion. If you haven’t noticed, I love my food!
Never allowing these diseases to restrict or rule my life, I charged along paving my own way, enjoying all the experiences life had to offer. I took life by the horns and rode it for as long and hard as I could stay on for, knowing that when I come off, it damn well hurts!
I’ve realised my lesson in life is to have some compassion for myself and to listen to what my body is trying to tell me. I never was open to listening to my body nor would I allow it to stop me from charging along on the bull ride, however that eventually changed.
Ignoring my health issues obviously comes with a price and the ticket item was an enormous one indeed. I needed a heart transplant. Not only was this out of left field but the complication arising from it was completely out of the park. I woke up legally blind after four days in an induced coma.
Getting straight back on that damn bucking bull for another ride, I stayed on for well over the eight second mark required to stay in the game as a winner. I was determined to not allow my new heart, or my blindness to stop me from doing anything. People call me amazing, inspiring, and awesome. I just say it’s life and what else should you do?
After going on a TV show and making a pledge to win gold at the Australian Transplant Games, I not only trained hard for it, I was victorious, winning four gold medals and a silver medal.
During that time being matched up with my seeing-eye dog, Rhian, along with learning how to handle her was a challenge all on its own.
I returned to work at the high school as a Special Needs Assistant but in a completely new and unique way, without vision. I thought I had control of every aspect of my life. I was soon to be very disillusioned!
The bull ride ended when the fall I took broke me down into little pieces and this time my body was not going to let me ignore it. Deep self-investigation through various modalities was the integral healing path helping me shed some of the onion layers that had been there way too long.
Taking the time to journey inwards, led me to a more serene and compassionate way of living life.
This awakening led me to write my book ‘I can see clearly now.’ I reveal my entire life in its raw truth, leaving no rock unturned. My intention was to help anyone who may be struggling with where they are in life, to know they are not alone nor do they have to do it by themselves.
I have just completed my second book ‘Ya Gotta Laugh.’
I share all the encounters and trials of living my new normal as legally blind and seeing the funny side to it. If we manage to laugh at the events that occur and see them for what they really are and the part we play, then life flows more smoothly.
Laughter truly is the best medicine and this life is the playground we should all come to enjoy.
Where I am now, I want to inspire and shine a light to help people find a way of coming to peace with situations and show how to find positive outcomes. I am lucky to be gifted with the ability to find silver linings in every aspect of life. Being a goal setter and one to strive ever forward, it is my honour to share my insights with you. Glimpses of my day-to-day living and how I handle them can be a way for you to take something from this for yourself. I am not a life coach or counsellor. I simply have a vast amount of life experience on many levels and speak with my own authentic voice.
Don’t worry, I am still human and have my little gripes. You will discover those in my regular Peacock Tales.
Testimonials
"I have known Colleen only a short period of time yet it is as though I have known her my whole life. Her story is remarkable, but more so her openness in letting you into that story. And it truly inspires.
The hardships she has endured would have led many to give up on life, yet she has overcome them with such grace and optimism"
Raymond, Biofeedback Therapist, MBBS”
If there was ever a theme song most appropriate to the life of Colleen it would be Chumbawamba's Tubthumping. "I get knocked down, but I get up again, you are never gonna keep me down". Colleen is driven and goal-focused. She embraces challenge and hardship and knits them into the fabric of her life's journey to enrich her life and the life of those closest to her."
Mary-Anne
Pictures of Colleen
