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02-03-2023

World Teen Mental Wellness Day

Ask. Listen. Support.

Sometimes, support also means just listening. Understanding with empathy and compassion; without judgement.

A sense of belonging is a basic human aspiration and societal pressure can be an inhibitor of belonging, resulting in mental discomfort.

To support effectively
🔹️Encourage communication
🔹️Recognise unconscious bias
🔹️Be aware of your own triggers

01-03-2023

Go out there today and recognise something special about someone & then tell them about it 💙

COMPLIMENT THEM.

12-19 February 2023
www.sadg.org

@unicef_southafrica reported that atleast 65% of young South Africans silently grapple with mental health challenges and
20% of high school kids have tried to take their own lives.

The numbers are increasing, especially in communities where access to mental health care is limited or non-existent. Social pressures also contribute to intrusive thoughts.

As a parent / teacher or caregiver, you can support young minds with conversation check-in’s and pay attention to out of character behavioural changes.

A roadshow for the Resilient Minds initiative across schools in Johannesburg; deliberately selected for their esteemed leadership and commitment from principals who take pride in the education they deliver, who strive to be the protecting force for young minds.

I AM HUMBLED AND HEARTBROKEN

It was also a stark reminder of SA’s socioeconomic challenges, crippling political leadership, crime, inequality and injustices in our beautiful land.

Our children need hope, our educators are burnt out and our public system is under-resourced, ill equipped and severely strained to fully support learners in navigating the various challenges they experience which has and will continue to have lasting effects on their mental health. These young minds are supposed to be leaders of future generations. Why then-in 2023-is an educational psychologist not a mandatory requirement in every school (especially in rural communities where the dynamics are soul destroying)?

These kids just need to be seen, to believe they haven’t been forgotten, to have inspirational leaders visit them and reignite their soul; to be the reason they hold onto hope.

“The aim of education shall be to teach the youth to love their people, and their culture, to honour human brotherhood, liberty and peace.”
Freedom Charter

May you know a friendship so genuine and sincere that it ignites your soul, comforts your heart, eases your loneliness, preserves your dignity and honours your truth’
zee

“suffering is what makes us appreciate joy” Tibetan saying.

I came across a documentary on @netflixsa the other day about two people who in spite of their individual life challenges mastered the practice of joy as a way of being rather an emotion that is occasionally felt.
@missionjoyfilm Mission:Joy is a dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu which dispels the notion that joy can only be experienced if our lives are problem free.

The Dalai Lama and the Archbishop suffered injustices in their lifetime – the Dalai Lama separated from his mother at age 2 after being recognised as the reincarnation of his predecessor, taking on political responsibility at age 16, and finally fleeing his country at age 24 as a refugee; the Archbishop faced frightful health challenges from childhood, a father who became abusive when intoxicated and being a black man in apartheid South Africa. Both figures, in their own sentiment believe that joy is an internal state of being, found in the ability to turn personal suffering into compassion and kindness toward others. To be ‘wise selfish rather than foolish selfish.’ To live the spirit of ‘Ubuntu.’

Like the Quran teaches (Islamic holy scripture) Archbishop Tutu echoes that holding onto joy requires us to be ‘prisoners of hope.’ Serenity doesn’t come ready made, it is found in prayer, meditation, gentleness and compassion.’

Mission:Joy is a heartwarming invitation into the lives of these two funny, mischievous and playful characters who – in spite of their suffering – made it their mission to spread compassion and kindness, to remain joyful and hopeful, unreservedly so. In this, they cultivated an extraordinary friendship rooted in mutual respect for each other. The banter between them is also just too cute.

🔹What are some of your Joy reflections?
🔹Coincidentally, February’s theme is friendship

There’s a difference between a house and a home. A house is a just a structure. A home is made up of the aromas, artefecats and traditions that embody the identity of its occupants. It is the energy of patience, tolerance, unity and connectedness.

When I was a little girl, we often connected with my dad’s family over *Eid-ul-fitr and **Eid-ul-adha. It was something I looked forward to every year, but it was short lived.
10 years ago, my cousin got married. Over the years I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a significant amount of time with her in-laws.
This is where I learnt the true meaning and value of family. Quality time and care afforded to each member of the family unit (immediate & extended). The traditions upheld either by way of a simple meal shared together, a boardgame, a box of dates in preparation for the holy month of ***Ramadhaan, a little gift to welcome the Islamic new year, a sincere, heartfelt conversation about overall wellbeing or a prayer for goodness & divine blessings. Nothing fancy just regular connection, unity, support and comfort.

Healthy, positive family traditions give children a sense of security and safety. It creates a sense of belonging and informs a sense of identity. It is a powerful way of shaping memories, establishing values, building relationships and sharing lived experiences. Family traditions continue a legacy of heritage through generations and give life meaning. It is essential to survival; studies prove a distinct correlation between knowledge of family history in adolescent identity and well-being.

Today’s activity is to enjoy a family tradition, we’d love to hear about some of your family traditions.

*Islamic holiday to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadhaan.
**Islamic holiday to commemorate the sacrifice of Abraham and the completion of pilgrimage to Mecca.
***Muslims observe a month of fasting from dawn to dusk.

If you’re reading this, say a prayer for this family. For their generosity & kindness and most importantly for their continued health and wellbeing 💙

INCLUSION, FOR EVERY CHILD 💙
20-11-2022

Our rascals calendar provides the caregiver with the tools needed to facilitate these basic rights of every child through daily activities and challenges that build resilience, facilitate positive brain health, reinforce healthy habits and teach concepts of self-discovery, kindness and empathy.

“World Children’s Day offers each of us an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate children’s rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children. “

If you haven’t already watched the @netflixsa @fromscratchnetflix @from_scratch_netflix_ based on a true story, then you absolutely must – a spectacular showcase of the expansive range of emotions that humans encounter.
(love, sadness, anger, connection, frustration, empathy, sadness, relief, joy and so many more).
This is the first series-in a really long time-that I have watched twice. Each character invokes a different emotion that resonates.

From Scratch is a tribute to the realness and rawness of family dynamics, culture and tradition and the emotional bid for connection, its impact on the human life experience and WITHIN the human body as well as the importance of self-awareness, compassion, vulnerability, understanding and empathy. (Physical and emotional fitness).

Disclaimer: you will cry, and then you WILL sob and you WILL need tissues!

In her book “Atlas of the heart” @brenebrown describes 87 emotions that shape our lives – giving us a vocabulary to accurately define and communicate the emotion- so that we can process, move through and heal.

Take a moment to understand your emotions as a parent and help your children to understand their emotions too. Bring them into an awareness of their emotions from the beginning. Teach them to listen to their gut and trust it.

Benefits of understanding our emotions.
🔹Improves emotional regulation.
🔹Increases social and self-awareness.
🔹Improves connection and relationships.
🔹Develops empathy.
🔹Improves ability to make responsible decisions and handle challenging situations.

BE KIND
13-11-2022 💙

/ˈkʌɪn(d)nəs/
Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate.

🔹Kindness facilitates understanding, improves connection and transforms relationships
🔹Kindness gives hope and peace to a restless soul
🔹Kindness is a chain reaction so be kind to inspire kindness

What does kindness mean to you and how do you express kindness to yourself and other’s?