![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/Kirsty-769x1024.jpg\")
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t make me a hero; it doesn\u2019t make me a pity seeker\u2026 it just makes me real.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 44-year-old mother of two said walking on the beach is part of her mental health routine \u2013 an aspect of her day she considers to be non-negotiable.<\/p>\n
But just before sunrise last Tuesday, she ventured to Fisho\u2019s with her eldest son, Riley, and began collecting the sand\u2019s rocks to silence the state of the world, be at one with nature and calm her mind.<\/p>\n
As the sun rolled in and began to kiss the sky, Kirsty stacked one rock upon the other while Riley watched on.<\/p>\n
When the rocks suddenly stood as five individual sculptures, she put her photography diploma to work and captured a moment of stillness, serenity and peace.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am of the view, and people call me crazy, that\u2019s my nickname, but I have the view of being a little like Rainbow Brite \u2013 she was my childhood hero.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe used to spread glitter and sparkle and happiness and smiles around the world so that everyone felt that way and I think a smile goes a long way, and a photo can also go a long way as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can really change the trajectory of someone\u2019s day. I just think it\u2019s imperative that we look after everyone \u2013 our physical health as well as our mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kirsty posted the photos to Facebook in the hope of spreading a little joy in an eerie time of uncertainty.<\/p>\n
She said it was particularly important to recognise social distancing will pose challenges for people who already struggle with their mental health.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone is not saying that the media is responsible for it but there is a lot of hysteria out there, and it puts a lot of panic for those who already struggle with anxiety or panic attacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to look after each other, we need to all get through this. I\u2019m a firm believer in looking after our mental health. You don\u2019t know what someone\u2019s going through, so don\u2019t be so quick to judge.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PEOPLE with flamboyant personalities can be misread as being \u201chappy\u201d, but it\u2019s often the most extroverted of individuals who are suffering on the inside. Torquay\u2019s Kirsty Palimaka is an expert at masking pain, so much so that her contagious energy has distracted others from stopping to peer beyond her smile. \u201cI\u2019ve struggled with anxiety, panic […]<\/p>\n