Another Level Completed : My Roadmap to Independence

A small task for some, a big accomplishment for me

I slide my headphones back onto my head as the traffic from the highway whirrs past me. I thought I could deal without on the walk home but fuck it is busy for a Saturday, “It is still holidays though” I muse.

Yesterday I went to Kmart with my support worker and was tearing up while waiting in I shit you not, a 30+ person line at the checkouts. I had just wanted to buy a few pairs of socks… You see, I’d initially planned to do three things yesterday : Purchase socks from Kmart, hay cubes from the pet store, and green bin bags from Bunnings. Unfortunately I had underestimated how many people would be out and about despite the Christmas rush being over, and after becoming overstimulated by the wonderous world of Kmart I promptly headed home— not before going through Maccy D’s for a cheeseburger of course.

Given that I use a particular type of bin bags for changing my cat’s and rabbits’ respective litter boxes—a task I complete every second day—I couldn’t exactly ignore the fact that I’d skipped going to Bunnings. Despite knowing I didn’t have a support worker booked in, I told myself yesterday that I would need to adventure there tomorrow. I was going to conquer the next big solo outing on my roadmap to confidence and independence. My secret weapon? Peanut.

Although I say ‘solo’, I have had a companion to accompany me as of September 2025. Last year I had the privilege to apply and receive an assistance dog through Assistance Dog’s Australia and honestly he is one of the best things to have came into my life. I’m sure I could write many a thing about our adventures together, and likely will do as time passes— but today; Today we went to Bunnings.

Luckily for me, where I currently reside is quite central to— well, everything. Everything I need that is. The main street is a short walk away, lined with a proportionate amount of cafes, locally owned businesses, a pharmacy, and a major supermarket chain. No huge shopping malls, just a perfectly quaint Sydney suburb. And in the opposite direction, there is a handful of fast-food chains, a small industrial area, and, you guessed it— Bunnings. At 7:30 this morning, after an unplanned early wake-up, I saddled up Peanut in his Assistance Dog vest, Halti and lead, and we headed out the door on what Google Maps instructed was a 20 minute walk. The air was slightly thick and the sun deceivingly warm as it peeked out from the sky full of clouds. It was forecast to rain within the hour, which made me question whether to just take a walk around the block. “No, we can do this” I reassured myself, “We have enough time to get there and back”.

“bloop a loop a loop” — that’s the sound the pedestrian crossing makes. I had never walked that direction before. I hadn’t walked past all the bus stops on the main road or experienced the frequent mini ‘turn left at any time with care’ zebra crossings. It was all new, yet felt safe enough. Having Peanut and my noise cancelling headphones created an extra barrier of security not only on the walk, but also as we walked inside the hardware store. I knew which aisle to go to, having been to that particular Bunnings many-a time on trips home from shifts with my support worker. The self serve checkouts were closed, something I’d already anticipated given the hour of day, so we simply went to the counter, exchanged the usual retail pleasantries, and checked out.

Easy. Done

I stood outside and did a self check-in. I was still within my window of tolerance. More vulnerable parts of self were not overly distressed. I was still in a state of what I often describe as flowy-ness. Multiple parts were around but we were experiencing the world together— collaborating. Younger parts that were anxious but also wanted to experience the world weren’t being pushed backwards by protective parts, but instead were being accompanied by them, alongside caretaker parts encouraging them as we— I, engaged with the outside world. I paused for a few extra seconds on the grass and snapped a picture of Peanut, the Bunnings sign visible in the background. I wanted a record of this moment.

I was feeling good. Good enough to complete my ‘bonus round’ task.

Although I have a goal of spending less money on takeaway and the like this year, I found a $5 note and some gold coins in an old purse the other day— meaning anything purchased with that is free. Right? Right?

”Girl math” and a drive for caffeine sent me a few hundred meters further down the road to the Gloria Jeans to treat myself to a cold beverage. I was feeling slightly more anxious about the bonus task than I was about picking up bin bags. I had never been into this location before, with or without Peanut. Would someone tell me I can’t have a dog inside? Would I not only have to make a coffee order but also advocate for myself and explain that assistance dogs have public access rights? It has happened a handful of times since receiving Peanut last year, and although I am becoming more confident in explaining the legalities, I hoped today would not be another exception.

Thankfully, my wishes were granted. I walked in, and none of the staff said a word about it, none that I could hear at least—headphones. It was quiet inside, and my order for a regular iced mocha on oat was completed in a timely fashion. Peanut sat at my feet while I waited, and wagged his tail as I praised him on the way out. I snapped another picture, this one of him in a down position in front of the neon Gloria Jeans sign. We did it! Task number two, the bonus round and final checkbox for our Saturday adventure.

And so, I walk across the cafe’s drive thru lane onto the sidewalk, iced mocha in one hand, leash in the other and slide my headphones back onto my head as the traffic from the highway whirrs past me. I thought I could deal without on the walk home but fuck it is busy for a Saturday. I’m more mindful of my pace this time, due to the looming clouds and noticing symptoms of presyncope crop up from my POTs.
Twenty minutes later and we arrived home. After a quick shower due to the grossness of muggy weather sweating, I finally sat and took a moment to reflect after completing what some would define as a ‘small’ set of errands. I shared the snaps of Peanut to my main support Cee, then to my best friend, and lastly to Peanut’s ADA trainer.

“Walked to Bunnings to grab bin bags and treated myself to a coffee with my loose change. ALL BY MYSELFFFFF 🥹🥹🥹🥳🥳” the caption read.

“How do you feel?” Cee replies

“Proud”, I respond.