voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering
voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering
voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering
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Guest Blog - Kindness (Maggie Wright)
Created: 21/05/2020
News/Events Category: FVA NewsThis blog has been written as part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2020.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” ― Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
This quote, written during a time of turbulence- set against the backdrop of the French Revolution of the 18th century- is so relevant and poignant at this fragile moment in time…a time of fear and uncertainty.
Yet despite all of this, we are seeing such incredible acts of kindness between individuals and communities. This alone is worth highlighting and shouting out about!! This is an epoch-making time now and will be discussed, regurgitated and examined in detail well into the future – but we are the living testimonies now.
So what do we want to do with this time we all have during lockdown? Have you had lots of suggestions from all angles being thrown into the pot?? Are you feeling able to take it all in or is it a feeling of complete overwhelm?
If you are feeling like that, please do not think this article is just another long list of suggestions to add to what is probably an exhaustive list already – hobbies, music, arts, crafts, sports, gaming etc.
I would like to just gently suggest how to be kind to yourself – by slowing the pace down. Feel your breath getting slower, in... and out... breathe…in … and…out...Do this a couple of times…
For me, being kind to oneself at this time involves slowing things down as much as you possibly can. This might seem simplistic, but at its core it is often the very thing we can do to start taking stock of where we are right now, at this moment in time.
It is a time to re-evaluate our priorities, decide if we need to make changes, or alter the direction our life is heading. It is also a time to think and plan – which we often never have the opportunity to do.
Modern living is so fast paced, we often do not have the luxury of time – and our decisions are often forced and not always the best. We end up feeling rushed for time and often make the wrong decisions.
So my message on kindness during this lockdown would be very simple – give yourself time!!
Going back to our French Revolution- believe it or not – there are some things from that devastating period that have remained to this very day. Listen to this recording and think about the fact that some things must be cut out of our lives – but some things are so precious – that they must remain. We decide what those things will be for our own lives.
Maggie Wright is the CEO of Families in Trauma
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