MENTAL HEALTH in KIDS

Last week South Africa could have been the setting for a horror movie.

I honestly never thought I would live to see my country like that and I pray that I never have to ever again. Scenes of factories burning, shopping centres being destroyed, looting and violence flashed across every TV screen and, try as I wanted to shield my children from it, I failed.

They felt the energy dipping as we checked our social media for updates. They heard the snippets of news on the short drives to the shops. They sensed the uncertainty and confusion as we tip-toed around the big issues.

Now I don’t know about you but if I remember anything about being little, things always seemed bigger when people whispered. So, we stopped whispering! Teachers were forced to do that too. My daughter’s English class via Zoom, for example, had to be put on ice for the teacher to field questions (and conspiracy theories) from learners. They wanted in on the conversation and it made me so proud to know that my kids have teachers in their lives who could hold space for such a tender dialogue.

We then received a notice from school advising of a MENTAL HEALTH DAY on Friday. A free day off school for kids to relax, de-stress, do a digital detox and reboot.

Whoooah, I thought. Perhaps this damn world really is waking up to the fact that we need to do things differently if we want to raise a generation of adults that don’t have to spend their whole lives recovering from their childhoods?

I’m hopeful. About South Africa. About the future of mental health and about Friday. I really think we’re on to something. Four-day work weeks are already totally in a thing in some parts of the world:-)

Lee

How a toddler schooled me in SURRENDER

I’ve been observing my son and his CTRL-ALT-DELETE siesta system shut-down for a few weeks now.

 

After a 3 block walk home from playschool at noon, he gobbles down a hot lunch and then stumbles straight up to a sunny spot where he crashes for 2 hours.

 

He never looks across at his PlayDoh, nor does he squeeze in a quick trip to the fridge before he allows his body to melt. He never turns on the TV in case he misses a scene of Paw Patrol nor does he apologise in advance for being unavailable for the next few hours.

 

The dude simply surrenders to what his body needs most and in doing so, allows all systems in his temple to reboot. Routinely, of course, but most beautifully all the same.

 

I must tell you, today I am so very thankful for the lesson in self-care.  The tutorial in surrender is something I need very much indeed….

 

And the GRATITUDE that floods my veins is most delicious!

 

© Aluta continua, as they say.  A Heart Full of Stories, 2017

 

 

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Gratitude: A Short Reflection

I am messing up on so many fronts. But gosh, I am winning on so many others.

 

And so, I remain focused.

Focused on this very moment, I notice the morning light on my tomato tree, I hear the faint news of political turmoil and earth tremors. I notice the missing tooth on my girl’s perfect face. I feel the sun streaming onto my son’s dreads as I step into a puddle of spilled milk on the floor. I pick up some pretty ballet shoes, get a whiff of a sexy man’s perfume in the passage. I open a few emails, watch the the phone ringing endlessly.

And I know for sure, I am holding on to the little things.

Because let’s face it, those little things are the big things.

This is my life. And I only have one.

 

#gratitude #reflections #balance #thismoment #mindfullness #mylife

 

© A Heart Full of Stories, 2017

 

All Rights Reserved

The FRONT of My Notebook

Last week I did something I have NEVER done before.  Yes, another first time.

 

I always have a notebook with me.

 

I use the notebook for work.  You see, my job requires lists.  And, I need to be able to cross off the items of that list.

 

Each day I do a new list.  The most important thing goes at the top.  Yes, a matter of priority.  It is a good habit.  A very useful tool to manage my workload.

 

Then, right at the back of my books, I write MY stuff.  Things like :

• Manuscript
• RSVP for Philosophy Lecture
• Domain Name
• Haircolour
• Milk

 

But last week, I did something I have NEVER done before. Something that will change my life. Something my future self will definitely thank me for.

I started with the date.  Then I wrote this note:

 

And, as it goes for me.  Now that it is WRITTEN, it must be.

 

From now onward, I will incorporate my own dreams, ideas, follow ups, to do list in the FRONT of the Moleskine.  Yes, a matter of priority.    I still have to work through my real workload before I can focus on my “personal” work, but at least I get to SEE the content every hour of the day.   It creates a certain harmony. That’s a step.

 

What is in the front of YOUR notebook? 

 

I wish you LOVE in whatever it is.