one has to repair oneself before you are able to help others.

I definitely help others a lot more now that I've learned how to heal much more of my own past.

Made me think of how much funding is wasted putting a pink bows around trees for one day of the year reminder about cancer patients, appears futile when this could be collected toward treatment of patients or research laboratories.

Shake my head in dismay when I see things like this. There are plenty of them in Australia too.

At least runs organized some finance may be forwarded to local social services.

Agreed. And I think they often do.

sometimes it is as simple as knowing your neighbours well enough to chat, make inquiries into their well being without being over imposing especially where GBV is present within a home.

Definitely. Though I must say, I find it hard to stand by when I know there is domestic violence happening in a home; I feel compelled to do something to help the person being harmed to escape. However, I recognise that sometimes there is nothing we can do except make sure that person knows that we see and we care and we're willing to help if we can.