To everyone who helped me this year...
Thank you
After starting the year depressed, 2022 turned out to be great. I beat depression, kept Alfred alive, the Dock bounced back, and I got a backup career off the ground, all of which felt impossible in January when I was at my lowest.
And as I reflect on how things turned around, I’ve realised that none of it would have been possible had I not gotten a ton of help from those around me.
So in today’s blog, I want to thank everyone who played a part in my recovery, as it scares me to think what might have happened if I didn’t get the amazing support that I did.
Dad - Thank you for coming back from Europe when I hit rock bottom, and for staying with us even though COVID was spreading through our house.
Dom aka “Dungeon Bard” - I know I’ve already told you this, but thank you for your friendship and support, particularly that night 12 months ago when I came to your house in a real state. I still don’t understand what you found entertaining from that SBS treasure show we watched (hahaha) but it taught me about the power of “switching off”, and that night was the beginning of my recovery. Thank you.
My brothers - Tom, thank you for coming down from Sydney to keep me company, and Hughy for walking with me every morning. The combination of fresh air, routine, and good company helped clear my head and sleep like a rock at night.
Robin Duff aka “Queen Bee” - Robin is the player’s welfare manager at the Brumbies and basically like a second mum to all the players. Thank you Robin for those walks thru the Yarralumla gardens in January, for getting the Brumbies Doctor involved in my recovery, and for introducing me to my psychologist Gayelene.
Dr. Steve Freeman - Thank you Doc for going above and beyond the call of duty AGAIN. I know I was long retired and no longer your responsibility, but thank you for always making time to treat me. Thank you.
Gayelene - Thank you for teaching me that my depression was the result of three things: 1. I’d burned my brain out because I never allowed time for it to recharge because I was always focused on trying to get Alfred off the ground. 3. I’d developed thinking patterns that where a waste of energy, like worrying about things that are outside my control.
Shooter and Jane - Thank you for being ok with me leaving the Dock to go do something else, and sorry for me pulling out of being a part of the Jetty last minute. You guys are like siblings, and I’m stoked to becoming back next year to help further strengthen the foreshore community.
Mitchy - Thank you for getting straight in the car and coming down to hang out when I told you I was struggling.
Boo, Woodsy and Grift - Thanks for being there for me and helping at various stages in Jan. But mostly for just cheering me up and making me laugh during a parkrun or at breakfast after.
Patty McCabe - Uce, thanks for all those morning coffees when I struggling to figure what I would do for work, and trying to figure out whether consulting was worth giving a go.
Duncan Buchanan aka “The Buke” - Thank you mate for helping me stay positive, and for everything you did to help me find work.
My colleagues at KPMG - Thank you for welcoming me to the team and for everything you’ve taught me, which has helped relight my fire of self-belief that was extinguished during the pandemic.
Breeny - mate… where to start. Thank you for all our chats especially during a Friday morning R4R, and our frank conversations of late are a sign of the strength of our friendship. I’m bloody excited for what’s on yours and
horizons. Hoo bloody roo!- - our friendship has come out of nowhere, but it's been awesome to getting to know you thru , and I’m excited to see what the road ahead holds for us both with .
Canberra Hospital - Thank you for everything you did when my daughter broke arm for the 2nd time, as seeing it snap in half was pretty traumatic for my wife and I. But when took her to the hospital, she was rushed thru, received pain medication and saw a doctor all within minutes. Then she was operated on by a specialist the next day and made a full recovery. Thank you.
From breaking arm to cast on: less than 90 minutes The Dock community - We’d be dead in the water without you guys, as your support has helped us bounce back bigger and better from the pandemic. Thank you.
Alfred users - I know it’s been a slow year with little improvements to the app, but thank you to those of you who gave it a crack, gave feedback, and spread the word that losing weight sustainably is possible.
I don’t know if any of them are readers, but thanks to all our girl’s teachers. The girls all had a great year, and can’t wait to get back to school in the new year.
To the lads from the Tuesday trotters (a group of Dad’s that run every Tuesday morning from Deakin Shops) thanks for the company and making it easy to keep exercising when I felt like stopping.
Thanks to all the many friends I’ve made thru
. Getting to know you all thru the has become a weekly highlight, as retirement from sport has been very lonely, and I miss exercising with my teammates.Same goes to all the writers of
. I believe writing is a team sport, and like the Tuesday trotters, thanks for making it easy to keep writing when I felt like giving up.- - doubt he’s reading, but I don’t think I’ve learned so much from someone so quickly. Thank you.
And finally, thank you. Your support as a reader has also played a massive part in my recovery, as getting my thoughts out of my head and onto a page has been so beneficial. The messages about how my writing is helping others has been very rewarding, plus all the friendships I’ve made (
and others) has been a highlight.Thanks again and happy new year!
And .......23. Thank you Ben for showing up being your raw authentic self. You do not realise your presence in the running for resilience community and the positive impacts you have on others without truly knowing. You are a champion Australian, amazing father to beautiful girls, husband and more importantly my friend. Thank you.
Congratulations to you Ben - seriously. The transition from an International sportsman to ..... whatever - must be huge. I spoke to Dan Vickerman (post retirement) in a pub in Paddington before a Tahs game. It was a nice chat and all but I wish I'd told him what an inspirational player he was, how I have a Tahs jersey with his signature hanging on a wall in my home etc etc. So again, my heartfelt congratulations Ben - and please keep up the great work.