07-05-2023I’m at my happiest when I’m clenching my belly out of laughter, I feel revived and alive.Laughter has been proven to have many health benefits. It releases endorphins (the body’s feel-good chemicals) which makes us feel more relaxed and at ease, develops social skills and builds relationships, it also helps us to tune into the […]
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As an adult, this is easier said than done which is why it is so important to cultivate this skill in young minds during development years.
Awareness of self = accountability of self.
My nephew is 7 years old.
In the first week of Ramadan, my sister @nutri_pebbles told me about his fasting experience. He woke up for *suhoor, completed the obligatory prayers and set his intention for the day ahead. By 4pm he was hungry and keen to call it a day. With a little encouragement from her, he persevered and made it to the end.
No one forced him to fast or asked him to participate in this act of worship (fasting is only obligatory upon a Muslim after the age of puberty) which got me thinking about how he arrived at his decision to partake in the month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is one of the most sacred months in the Islamic calendar, a powerful guiding force in the life of a believer. Muslims are immersed in abundant acts of worship – there’s a deeper commitment and connection to faith in its prescribed form and in noticing the parent/caregiver’s authentic habits the child learns to mirror the behaviour; They not only welcome the month but also embrace and honour it.
It amazes me how kids are always so eager for Ramadan, how it’s always their idea to be woken up for *suhoor and attempt the fasting day without really being prompted to do so.
*pre-dawn breakfast.
As we enter the month of mindfulness remember ‘Authenticity without mindfulness is a void vessel making a lot of noise and mindfulness without authenticity is a sponge sucking all the liquid and holding it.’
🔹Encourage the curiousity, it builds authenticity.
🔹Be deliberate about values, it guides the inner compass.
🔹Connect with emotions and feelings and create safe environments to express those emotions.
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27-04-2023
FREEDOM DAY
I vaguely remember being carried – as a little girl – on my aunts back while she (and others) protested for the liberation of black South Africans under the traumatic and oppressive (a ‘nice’ way of saying lunatic) apartheid government. Of course I am reminded of it often, when I meet friends of hers @saleh.razia, or when they tell me stories about me as a little girl. I sometimes wonder if this brief stint of activism as a child is where my inclination for social justice, human rights & psychosocial equity stems from (I feel like my career in HR chose me).
Freedom day in SA is celebrated as a symbol of hope, change, and renewal and whilst it is heartbreaking to witness how we’ve digressed as a country – ruined by greed and corruption – we must remember that being free is a gift and a privilege that many South Africans and entire other nations continue to be denied of.
In enjoying freedom, remember how we arrived at it. Say a prayer for those restricted, tread the earth with caution and be kind because even though freedom may appear to be ‘free’ there are so many who are still oppressed and the ghost of hurt, dissapointment and trauma lingers.
Create environments where your child is allowed to express their thoughts, feelings and emotions safely, without judgement.
Listen to understand – with empathy.
22-04-2023
WORLD EARTH DAY 🌍
I completely forgot to share this today….
Humans – we use the earth and all it’s beauty for our own pleasure but take little time to conserve and honour it’s rights (me incl).
Whilst I can’t control everything and everyone, I can make my own little difference. If everyone contributed small acts of consideration toward reducing, reusing and recycling there will be a greater impact.
I once had a friend who tossed a plastic bottle out of my car window so I pulled over to the side of the road and politely asked him to get off the car and pick it up. He thought I was joking. I wasn’t 😬.
Moral of the story, don’t litter.
Islam also commands it’s followers to tread this earth thoughtfully with caution; in moderation. Planting a tree or contributing to a water well or even just keeping the environment clean are considered to be acts of worship that earn significant rewards for eternity.
Every conscious effort matters.
In early childhood development, attachment and authenticity are not mutually exclusive. Children depend on their caregivers for safety, comfort, and connection (physical and emotional). As children progress in age, become exposed to external environments and develop character & personality, the interaction between the caregiver and the child evolves and sometimes this evolution is not fully compatible with that of the caregiver so the child is expected to conform. This pressure by the caregiver (or any extension thereof), although innocent, to conform, is where the child learns to ignore ‘gut feelings’ because the pressure to align compromises the child’s confidence to show up authentically (we give meaning to our experiences).
As an adult, this shows up as uncertainty, ignoring intuition (gut feeling), fear, anxiety, overthinking (all destructive behaviours) and so the process of unlearning and healing must begin; listening to our gut feeling, being curious and aware of oneself, self-observation – these abilities are meant to protect us from physical and emotional harm.
The relationship between parent and child is probably one of the most difficult relationships to navigate – especially in the world we live in today – perhaps it is worth establishing family values that serve as the moral compass and a clear limit of what types of behaviour is considered acceptable or not, this combined with communication, affection and acceptance will give your child a safe place to show up authentically and will also guide interactions with external environments.
Childhood Development Read More »
08-03-2023
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 💐💙
Inspirational women create these spaces for each other.
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