Table of contents for Issue 13 in WellBeing Wild

I’ve been noticing the tensions of life lately and, in particular, the tensions of motherhood. As I navigate this new identity, juggling full-time work with full-time mumming (let’s be honest, parenting is roundthe-clock care), these tensions are showing up everywhere. I feel myself being pushed and pulled by an invisible thread that strains me one way, then twists and turns me back the other until I am a knotted and frayed mess on the floor. OK, that was a little dramatic, but bear with me, you’ll soon see what I mean. These tensions are contradictory in their very nature and, quite frankly, extremely exhausting. Here’s a list of some contradictions or tensions that society at large expects of women and mothers: ∼ Kids need a happy mum … but kids…

“Don′t be scared. We’re all here together.” Those were the last words of Iranian “Don’t protester Ghazaleh Chalavi in footage shot from her mobile phone moments before the phone falls to the floor and those nearby scream her name. Ghazaleh was shot dead, protesting for basic human rights. Ghazaleh was one of many who have taken to the streets of Iran to protest the murder of Mahsa Jina Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who was taken into police custody in Tehran on Tuesday, September 13th, 2022. Mahsa, originally from the city of Saqqez in Kurdistan Province, had travelled to Tehran to visit family. She was with her brother, Kiaresh Amini, when she was arrested by the Islamic Republic’s “Guidance Patrol” before being transferred to the “Moral Security” agency. Mahsa’s crime?…

When and how did you love for art and creating illustrations first begin? I grew up in a creative and artistic household, but my interest in art and drawing didn’t come until my early 20s. In 2019, I bought myself a tablet and started drawing digitally. I’m self-taught, so at first I experimented and practised a lot just for fun and without the goal of making a career out of it. I got obsessed with illustration instantly and I haven’t stopped drawing and experimenting with digital art since then. What does a typical day look like for you? I spend the morning answering emails, doing paperwork and catching up with Instagram. After lunch, I usually work on client commissions and create some content for Instagram. If I don’t have any…

Dearest Zo, First of all, I don’t care what anyone says: I think those tracksuit pants look lovely. I like how you’ve teamed them with a knit (and a bra! Fancy!), so that people will take you seriously. Now. How are you? I gather from the tears and the chocolate that you’re maybe still getting your head around this whole newborn thing. Zozo. This is perfectly normal. But I think that maaaaybe that is part of the problem: you didn’t know what would be normal. In fact, you had no concept whatsoever of what this first three months would be like! Who friggen does? No one. Here’s why: A. It’s impossible to adequately articulate the astronomical upheaval that a newborn brings with him or her. Friends with kids just kind…

Green Things Fritters Long live the fritter. Could there be a more forgiving and useful trick up your sleeve? When in doubt, make fritters. When the fridge needs a clear-out, make fritters. When the veggie patch is looking like it could do with a tidy-up, make fritters. Here’s a green fritter recipe for all of the above. Use spinach, silver beet, zucchini, kale, celery leaves, peas, herbs or a mix of what you have. Makes: 5-6 Fritters 1 bunch (about 350g) spinach, finely chopped1 cup fresh herbs of choice½ cup grated or crumbled cheese¼ cup plain (all-purpose) flour3 eggs beaten with ½ tsp salt2 tbsp oil Mix fritter ingredients in a bowl. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium–high heat and pour in ½ cupful of the green mix,…

When I hear the words “capsule wardrobe” I think beige and black basics in sleek, timeless shapes that are entirely functional, but maybe a bit … boring. If you’re a maximalist magpie like me, a lover of colour, pattern and a “more is more” aesthetic, you probably think a capsule wardrobe isn’t for you. I certainly did. When I moved to London from Sydney last year, I took just one suitcase, which I lived from until the rest of my belongings (and wardrobe) arrived, almost six months later. Not wanting to shop for more clothes with plenty on the way, I learnt to get the most out of my streamlined wardrobe. I realised that a capsule wardrobe doesn’t have to mean basic, minimal or even neutral; it’s simply about getting…

I haven’t seen my therapist IRL for almost three years and I know I’m not the only one taking my sessions from the couch. A small silver lining to months of stay-at-home orders was moving traditionally in-person activities to online spaces. Book clubs, market weekends and courses all began inhabiting the digital world, and while some things just can’t be replicated on a screen, your therapy session is not one. In fact, remote psychotherapy made getting help more convenient and more accessible at a time when Covid was causing increased emotional suffering and placing unprecedented demands on mental health services. While it might have felt weird to begin with, teletherapy has so far outlasted the pandemic, with many people choosing to continue their digital sessions for myriad reasons, including accessibility, convenience,…

We received so many beautiful images and kind words about WILD 12, a crowd favourite. Landscape love A decade or so ago, I borrowed the school camera to document the demolition of Tallawarra power station and fell in love with photography. If that 16-year-old who came home covered in thistles knew that one day her work would be published in a national magazine, then maybe she would have had the confidence to follow her dreams a little earlier. I loved sharing my story in WILD #12! Belinda Doyle In times of need I think WILD is the best magazine I’ve bought in a long time. I seriously need it right now – thank you! Jodie Raff We would like to send out a big apology to Emma Nuttall who was…

We human beings are very social creatures. As a social species, our development in childhood and throughout our lives unfolds within the context of close relationships with others, particularly our early relationships with our caregivers. The special relationship between caregiver and child is referred to as an “attachment”. An attachment is a specific type of bond to another person who we turn to for protection and care. Think about the last time you experienced hardship or intense stress — who did you turn to? We not only form attachments with our caregivers, we form these bonds with romantic partners, too. Our attachments to others can be either “secure” or “insecure” depending on whether we derive a sense of security from the relationship we have with the person we are attached…

For an estimated one in 100 women, being autistic is an inextricable part of life and identity. As natural as breathing. But in the mainstream, neurotypical world, the very existence of adult autistic women has only recently been acknowledged and represented, let alone celebrated. Kay Kerr is one of the voices changing that. The 34-year-old autistic author and writer is a star of YA literature, penning Please Don’t Hug Me and Social Queue — both of which feature an autistic teenage girl, coming of age in a complicated world — to great acclaim. But for the 34-year-old Sunshine Coast dweller, herself a mother to an autistic daughter, there’s much more work to be done. We spoke to Kay about the diagnosis process, radical self-acceptance and her new book, Love and…

Octafluorocyclobutane, polyethylene glycol and flavoxanthin — these probably don’t ring a bell, but you may be unwittingly eating them. They are just three of the 350 food additivities used in the food industry. Food additives are used for a variety of reasons, mainly to enhance flavour, colour and texture or to prolong the shelf life of food products. Approved additives are regulated by the government, but there is conflicting, and sometimes startling, evidence regarding their safety. Some approved additives are restricted or even banned in other countries. Despite some grey areas, we have a much smaller sale of additives than the US, which has 10,000 approved for use. With the increasing options available on the shelves for packaged foods, it is more important than ever to read the labels before…

We’re all naturally curious to try the latest craze. Often our exploits are a passing exploration driven by peer pressure and promotions. However, the rising popularity of vapes has people concerned. The issue is so serious that some schools are warning that any student caught selling, using or possessing a vape could be suspended. Many students have been suspended in Australia, such as the Waverley College student who ran a vape pen network selling to students, Queensland kids caught smuggling asthma puffer-style vapes to school and five students sprung vaping at a Canberra Catholic school. The problem is so pervasive that many schools, including Knox Grammar, have installed vape detectors in their bathrooms. America’s silent vaping epidemic has over 3.6 million kids vaping, says the Surgeon General, and its incidence…

We all know the importance of making a great first impression, but did you know the first thing we are judged on is often our shoes? Our footwear can reveal our age, social status, income bracket and even our political ideology. Think about it: Birkenstock wearers are stereotypically young and easy-going and, as such, are more likely to possess liberal views. On the other “foot”, high-end designer heels are tied to wealth and, generally, assertive personalities and more conservative stances. In 2012, a group of researchers at the University of Kansas conducted a study on this theory to determine if we can evaluate a person by their footwear. In the study, they showed participants photographs of strangers’ shoes and asked them to guess distinct personality traits. The participants were able…

How and when did you first get into art? What initially drew you to landscape painting? I remember drawing as a child; this continued into adult life when my folks encouraged me to study art. I began painting the landscape in the final year of a Bachelor of Visual Arts. Your landscape paintings comment on current global issues like climate change. Please share how you investigate these complex issues in your work and why you believe it’s important to do so? As a painter interested in landscape, it seems impossible to speak of the land without exploring ways to articulate the ecological issues surrounding it and how humans have impacted non-human worlds. As I understand it, a non-violent, coexistent relationship is important for our future. I question and consider these…

23 February 2023 to 18 May 2023 Aries March 21–April 19 Aries, you have luck on your side this season as Jupiter passes through your sign. You may be drawn to seek new opportunities and feel a renewed sense of hope at the start of the year. Make the most of this energetic time by staying focused on the goals you set in January. Typically, we think about what we want to achieve without considering the why, but your passionate spirit will help you create a strong, mindful intention that will keep you energised over the coming months. Watch for signs of blind optimism amid your strong sense of direction; always follow the truth in your heart, rather than the headstrong ram you can be. Balance is essential in navigating…

A big part of me wishes I hadn’t gone to Collegiate, for obvious reasons. And I feel embarrassed about having even gone there in the first place, in a way. Not because I am not grateful for the opportunity or some of the lasting friendships and great memories I did make, but because it really wasn’t somewhere that I felt suited who I was. I feel embarrassed by a part of myself that tried to become what I thought I had to in order to fit in there. To be slender. To dress a particular way. To wear too-nice clothes. It has taken me a long time to work through the outward expression of perfectionism that was always bubbling inside me but which really boiled over in such an environment. The…

Stay at home. That was the mantra parroted by hashtags and health officials during the Covid-19 pandemic. For months at a time, many of us were confined to our homes, physically distanced and discouraged from any sort of social gathering. It would be no surprise if you’re still feeling the knock-on effects of social isolation, years later. And you wouldn’t be alone. The Connections Matter report by KPMG Australia in collaboration with Groundswell Foundation (a foundation established to address the growing issue of loneliness and its impact on mental health in Australia) found over one in two Australians (54 per cent) reported they felt more lonely since the start of the pandemic. The myth that loneliness affects mostly older generations has been busted; multiple studies suggest the loneliest people in…

The adage “mum knows best” is used often by pregnancy health specialists and for good reason: no one knows your body or your baby quite like you do. That said, we live in a fast-paced world in which there’s a plethora of facts and advice at our fingertips; every qualm and question can be answered within seconds. When you’re newly pregnant and searching for information, it can be hard to know who to trust and where to go for information and advice. All these unknowns can contribute to the overwhelm many women experience in the first trimester. I’ve interviewed more than 350 women about their pregnancy and birth experiences on my podcast, Australian Birth Stories, and the vast majority admit to feeling lost after discovering they’re pregnant. Once women have…

sponsored by At WellBeing, we see good women doing great things for their communities absolutely everywhere … and we're more than proud to be celebrating them in The Women of the Year Awards, sponsored by Ferro-grad C. With winners soon to be announced, we'd like you to meet just a few of our finalists … Usha Raman Who brings over 20 years’ years· volunteering experience to her practice as a wellness educator, as well as a co-ordinator of yoga classes for charity. The REDD Centre Team A multi-disciplinary group of women providing women with the latest medical advice and drawattention to, and break down taboos surrounding menstruation. Rach Mac A former victim of domestic violence who now uses her organisation Broken Crayons Still Colour to help women with emergency relocation and even with…

A while ago, a friend went on a dinner date with a man she met on Tinder. His looks lived up to his profile picture, they had common interests, he was charming, they shared a few laughs. Everything went swimmingly. More dates followed. They continued to hit it off. Then silence. No responses to her messages, no phone calls, no texts. “Has he fallen off the face of the earth?” she wondered. She was forced to face a harsh reality — he just wasn’t that into her. He’d clearly been seeing several people and had found someone better. More suited to his tastes, whatever. She was hurt and confused — had she misread the signs? She’d genuinely thought she’d felt a connection this time round. Months later, the man contacted her…

As a child in Hong Kong, Billy Ho remembers being surrounded by bonsai trees. They would feature in the backdrop of movies and television dramas, and in local restaurants he would visit with his family. At the time, he was more preoccupied with playing with his toys. But years later, after moving to Sydney with his family, the Japanese art of growing and training miniature trees has become not only an artistic passion, but a form of meditation for Billy. As the co-owner and chief operating officer of an award-winning design agency, Pop This, Billy was struggling with the stress of the fast-paced environment. That all changed around seven years ago, when he bought his first bonsai tree from a nursery in Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands. “My clock…

Fiction People Person CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS, HACHETTE Jamaican-born, London-bred womaniser, Cyril Pennington, has had five children with four different women. The result … a big, segmented, multi-racial family with little in common but some DNA and an array of abandonment issues. When Cyril’s daughter, 30-year-old Dimple Pennington, finds herself in a disastrous situation, she calls upon her siblings, four people she barely knows. Coming together to help Dimple, these near strangers suddenly become pivotal in each other’s lives. People Person is Carty-Williams’ followup to her best-selling novel Queenie. It’s an exploration of complex family dynamics, generational trauma, toxic relationships and racial identity. An enjoyable read, People Person is full of funny one-liners and sparky dialogue, a book that leaves you thinking of the characters long after the final page. JJ…

Mineral Facial Sunscreen SPF50 Dermatonics Mineral Facial Sunscreens SPF50 are zinc oxide (25 per cent w/w) physical sunscreens blended with hyaluronic acid. You will enjoy a light and dewy finish with the standard sunscreen or a tinted version. Both sunscreens will help you to achieve consistent daily protection. dermatonics.com.au Skin Glow with Elasticen® The first ingestible in the Dermatonics® skincare range is the amazing new marine collagen-based Collagen Peptide Supplement with vitamin C. With a lovely subtle natural orange flavour, the peptides in Skin Glow with Elasticen® have been scientifically proven to accumulate in the skin, cartilage and joints. seaamourwellness.com.au Dermatonics Nourishing Face Oil A true hero product in the Dermatonics® skincare range, Nourishing Face Oil helps calm the skin and boost hydration. With ultra-pure oils that help calm inflammation…