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Heart and soul story

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Samantha Heron

Local office = Maroubra beach, Sydney Australia

(+61 ) 0421056730

Samanthaheron@heartandsoulstory.com

https://au.linkedin.com/in/samanthaheron

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Dr Sarah Jane Moore, recipient of the Anat On Country Residency, is currently oyster artist in Residence at UNSW Sydney where she is collaborating with Indigenous Scientist Laura Parker and exploring creative research dialogues that focus on the Baludarri or the Sydney Rock Oyster. Her exhibition ‘ I know where oysters lie” explores the importance of the Baludarri, the Sydney Rock Oyster shell as a remnant story; a story of resilience and heritage, of the importance of the humble oyster as a filter, a restorer of river systems and oceans too. @sjmoore1970 Sarah Jane is an independent creative artist, performer ( swipe 👉 to see her rockstar performance of her song about the Oysters) , researcher, lecturer, incredible mother, wise and spiritual storyteller. A friend who came into my life after a trip to Tassie a few years ago, a friend I can’t ever now imagine not being in our life. If you have the chance I highly encourage you to see her art and listen to her share her story this week Wed to Thursday at the Accelerator Gallery, 6-8 Scott Street Piermont from 11 til 3. Everyone and everything has a story. We need powerful storytellers like Sarah Jane to help the future of our planet. Come and hear the tale of the Baludarri told by one of the most passionate and talented storytellers I know. #baludarri #storytelling #unswscience #oysters #sydneyrockoysters #artmeetscience #powerofstory #creativityforchange
As the sun rises today across our incredible country our thoughts and love go to those affected by the bushfires. In particular we send love to our incredible emergency services and Rural Fire Services teams and volunteers who are stretched beyond capacity and face imminent and grave danger to protect us. It is times like these we need most to come together as a community, as one.. in particular we need crave that from our leadership. And in the wise words of the amazing @catiadavim today “ stay safe and when the threat is over let’s sit and rethink everything. This is not normal. “ Repost @joelabell #environment #climatechange #climatechangeaffectsusall #bringingcommunitybacktogether #staysafe #thisisnotnormal
These words from Jean in her post Spring STEP reflection gave me mixed emotions... happy that she enjoyed her conversations and interaction so much with the teens, in particular becoming good buddies with Angus over the year. However, I also felt a twinge of sadness when she said it was “just not something I was expecting in a place like this”. With the Royal Commission interim report into Aged Care released last week, Minister for Aging Richard Colbeck was quoted saying “ It puts the government on notice, the industry on notice and it puts the community on notice, we need to change the approach of how we care for older Australians." I think as we as a community hear and reflect on the Royal Comission findings, it is important that we all look at what our role is, what we can do.. .that we don’t finger point at the government or industry, but that we acknowledge all of our roles to keep our Elders living with respect, dignity and connection to our community. “If we were to lose (our) sense of human connectedness, we would risk losing our sense of compassion. Then we would stop living as if we need each other, though we do. We would fail to recognise that our own mental health depends on the health of the communities we belong to, though it does” Hugh Mackay AO, Psychologist, Social Researcher and Author #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #intergenerational #community#agedcareroyalcommission #bringingcommunitybacktogether #sharingstories #startaconversation #youthoffthestreets #volunteering #servicelearning #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #eldercare #bupaagedcare #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #friends #life #socialenterprise #socialenterpriseaustralia
A reflective yet joy filled moment today. Quiet colouring whilst thinking of those who have died. Dia de los Muertos. Day of the dead. Paying respect and remembering those who have died as part of our 🎃 session at Bupa today. The annual Mexican celebration, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), is a time when families gather to honor and remember deceased loved ones. Since living in Mexico for a short time in 2009, we have celebrated this tradition annually as a family, each year adding new family or friends who have died to our altar of rememberance. Day of the dead is full of colour. A day not to mourn, but to honour the dead. The Aztec honored their dead with fiestas and rituals during the harvest season. They viewed death as the beginning of the cycle of seasons and life. Living with death in this way means that Mexicans learn to accept death as part of life. #diadelosmuertos #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #intergenerational #community#kindnessrocks #bringingcommunitybacktogether #sharingstories #startaconversation #youthoffthestreets #volunteering #servicelearning #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #bupaagedcare #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #friends #life #socialenterprise #socialenterpriseaustralia
Dia de los Muertos. Day of the dead. Paying respect and remembering those who have died as part of our 🎃 session at Bupa today. The annual Mexican celebration, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), is a time when families gather to honor and remember deceased loved ones. Since living in Mexico for a short time in 2009, we have celebrated this tradition annually as a family, each year adding new family or friends who have died to our altar of rememberance at home. Day of the dead is full of colour. A day not to mourn, but to honour the dead, to celebrate them and remember all the thugs that made them who they were. The Aztec honored their dead with fiestas and rituals during the harvest season. They viewed death as the beginning of the cycle of seasons and life. Living with death in this way means that Mexicans learn to accept death as part of life. #diadelosmuertos #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #intergenerational #community#kindnessrocks #bringingcommunitybacktogether #sharingstories #startaconversation #youthoffthestreets #volunteering #servicelearning #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #bupaagedcare #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #friends #life #socialenterprise #socialenterpriseaustralia
This week I was 🙏 to have the opportunity for some creative time in Melbourne, starting with an authentic conversation with the gentle and wise editor of @dumbofeather Nathan Scolero. I was Injected with a true hit of a creative inspiration just being in the workspace of a magazine I’ve admired and savoured for more than 13 years. Dumbo Feather is all about conversations with extraordinary people ( if you’ve never read it I encourage you highly to buy a copy and pass it on). I mused with Nathan that the relationships I see blossom between teens and Elders during STEP will often lead to extraordinary conversations with ordinary people ( which leads me to think how extraordinary many of our so called ‘ordinary’ community members actually are). As I studied the incredible people on the wall of inspiration at Dumbo Feather 👉 & school of life aus HQ I pondered to myself whether these too were ordinary people who just showed consistent determination for their cause no matter the obstacles in their way. I later had the good fortune to attend a thought provoking panel discussion on the role of creativity in climate change hosted by the incredibly talented Karina Seljack from @seljakbrand We heard about innovative & creative community housing solutions from @nightingale.housing , a recently graduated uni student making beautifully designed played from pure lettuce 🥬waste produce and the bringing together of community in temporary tents by Sydney artist Keg DeSouza. Being in @cityofmelbourne , exposed to such creativity across such different disciplines, sparked a number of new 💡 for my intergenerational connection work. Einstein called this ‘Combinatory play’ - opening up one mental channel by dabbling in another. In other words, taking two unrelated things and putting them together to generate new ideas. Stepping away from your project, immersing yourself in combinatory play seems to be, according to Einstein 👉 “the essential feature in productive thought” Next time you feel you are stuck on a project and just need to double down to get it solved... take the time out to step away and dive into some combinatory play 💡🌈 💡
Gratitude is a feeling of happiness that come from appreciation. Shout out to my biggest supporter out there. My partner in life, child rearing, excel spreadsheet manoeuvring and social enterprise 🎢 crises mentoring, managing and massaging. My determination to successfully spread the benefits and impact of intergenerational connection as far and wide as I can is only slightly surpassed by my determination to become a better 🏄🏻‍♀️ to share not just the often tumultuous 🌊 of work and child rearing with him, but together, more of both the peace and thrill that the ocean brings us both. 💛 #heartandsoulstory #sharingstories #love #together #sunrisesurf #socialenterpriseaustralia
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all” Aristotle #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #kindnessrocks #intergenerational #intergenerationalconnection #intergenerationalprogram #community #bringingcommunitybacktogether #heartandsoulstory #sharingstories #startaconversation #empathy #stories4connection #igssyd #volunteering #servicelearning #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #eldercare #opalagedcare #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #friends #life #socialenterprise #socialenterpriseaustralia
A small act of kindness can be so simple to enact, but the effects of that action can be felt for far longer than the giver would ever realise. A case in point came from this magic moment captured perfectly by @opalagedcare photographer Mikalus, when the big-hearted Jed from @igssyd gifted his buddy Louise a poster of Michell Payne in @ridelikeagirlmovie , to her absolute delight. During STEP, there had been a wonderful connection between the students and Elders as we played the “what’s in common” game, over a common love for Michelle Payne, and in particular Louise's love of horses ( a close second to her love of cats). It always blows me away to see how mature, kind and thoughtful the students can be ( teens cop a lack of flack for their self centeredness, but giving them the opportunity to spend time with their Elders mostly reveals the exact opposite. Louise now proudly displays the poster on her wall for all to see. This thoughtful act of kindness from Jed was typical of his nature ( he’d surprised her the week earlier with a Roosters flag after learning that was her favourite footy team), but he likely had no real idea how his seemingly small actions could bring a world of happiness to her week. Happy 16th Birthday for this week Jed. 🙏 for your kind ❤️ #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #bekind #kindnessrocks #michellepayne #ridelikeagirlmovie #intergenerational #intergenerationalconnection #intergenerationalprogram #community #bringingcommunitybacktogether #heartandsoulstory #sharingstories #startaconversation #empathy #stories4connection #igssyd #volunteering #servicelearning #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #eldercare #opalagedcare #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #love #photooftheday #friends #socialenterpriseaustralia
“I think probably kindness is my number one attribute in a human being. I’ll put it before any of the things like courage, or bravery, or generosity, or anything else… Kindness—that simple word. To be kind—it covers everything, to my mind. If you’re kind that’s it.” Roald Dahl The great thing is that it is really easy to be kind ! Here’s to a week filled with kindness ✨🌈 #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #intergenerational #community #bekind #kindnessrocks #bringingcommunitybacktogether #sharingstories #startaconversation #youthoffthestreets #volunteering #servicelearning #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #bupaagedcare #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #photooftheday #friends #life #socialenterprise #socialenterpriseaustralia
“I think probably kindness is my number one attribute in a human being. I’ll put it before any of the things like courage, or bravery, or generosity, or anything else… Kindness—that simple word. To be kind—it covers everything, to my mind. If you’re kind that’s it.” Roald Dahl The great thing is that it is really easy to be kind ! Here’s to a week filled with kindness ✨🌈 #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #intergenerational #community #bekind #kindnessrocks #bringingcommunitybacktogether #sharingstories #startaconversation #youthoffthestreets #volunteering #servicelearning #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #bupaagedcare #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #photooftheday #friends #life #socialenterprise #socialenterpriseaustralia
Today is 10.10. World Mental Health Day. The day I came into the world 45 years ago. I love the irony ( and it's never lost on my darling husband or family) that this day 10/10 marks #worldsmentalhealthday ... Sadly in today’s society we have come to associate 10/10 with the 'perfect' score, whether it be in sport, academics or even in relation to body image ... the irony is that in striving for elusive 10/10 in so many areas of life, we fall short and the constant pursuit can lead to an increase in mental health issues like anxiety, depression and for some even suicide. I know the pursuit wreaked havoc on my own mental health. For so long mental illness has been taboo, not to be talked about... because it's the hard stuff. Yet 1 in 5 Australians suffer from mental illness in any given year, with almost half the population having suffered a mental health disorder at some time in their life. That statistic most definitely includes me. So in order to do the best mental health promotion work I can through Heart and Soul Story and be the strong and inspirational, yet vulnerable and imperfect mother I want to be, I need to make some promises I promise to .... Tell my close friends if I’m feeling unwell and needing support. Share my journey with my family to help them understand my experience. Reach out to people in my community and remember that one in five may be experiencing mental illness Listen openly to my family members, and help them find support if they need it. Check in with my mates and let them know I’m here to listen. Be there for those in the middle of the storm by providing the support they need and want to help them find the sun again. Help reduce stigma around mental illness to make way for more people to seek help. Go to 10.10.org.au to make your own promise today to help shed a more positive light on mental health. Keep well, today especially, love, hug, laugh (a lot) and when the down times come, turn to your friends & family for support ... let's ensure we help our kids and Elders do the same. #makeapromise #worldsmentalhealthday #bettermentalhealth #bekindtoyourself #heartandsoulstory #mentalhealthawareness
Today’s sunrise honours Elizabeth Louise Brady, best known to all as Betty. If you have been following along our program with Opal and IGS over the past few months, you will have come to know and love Betty’s smile and good humour. It was with much sadness we were informed last week that Betty took a sudden bad turn and was admitted to hospital, where she died days later surrounded by close friends. We were so absolutely privileged to have known Betty for just a couple of months, but in that time, the students from IGS heard amazing stories about her time growing up in Wales, her marriage in 1959 and her setting off to Australia 12 days later. We learned that she loved the book and movie How Green Is My Valley, has two corgies, and absolutely rocked a pair of 🕶... we heard how she lost her husband Tony a year ago. We celebrated her 86th birthday and she had us all in stitches when I’d clang my little Tibetan 🔔 to bring the group back together and she’d sing out “ Order in the court !” The celebration of her life was held today in Erskenville, with Father Peter Guy paying homage to her wonderful friends and neighbours and also specifically to the IGS students Rory, Tasch, Jed and Annie for the time spent with her during STEP and also for being there today to pay their respects. We heard today that this year would have been Betty and Tony’s 60th wedding anniversary. It’s a lovely thought that she may be somewhere right now dancing her 60th anniversary waltz with her Tony ... for as Kahlil Gibran said “ when the earth shall take her limbs, the shall she truely dance”. In loving memory of l Betty Louise Brady 9.8.1933 - 18 .9. 2019 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #intergenerational #intergenerationalprogram #community #bringingcommunitybacktogether #heartandsoulstory #sharingstories #startaconversation #empathy #stories4connection #igssyd #volunteering #servicelearning #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #eldercare #opalagedcare #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #photooftheday #friends #life #socialenterprise #socialenterpriseaustralia
Had a call from the General Manager of @westfieldeastgardens to say that I hadn’t made it through to the final 3 of the Westfield Local Heros for the grant to support STEP with @youthoffthestreets (huge thanks to all who voted and I am super excited for the final 3 - yet to be announced, as they are all doing incredible work in our community) .... however... it’s not all bad news though, as just around the time the Westfield finalists were announced we received amazing news that @randwickcouncil has come on board to fund @youthoffthestreets to have their students continue to be involved in the Seniors and Teens Empathy Program at their local Bupa Maroubra for one term a year with follow up monthly sessions for up to three years ! Last month I had the honour of accepting a cheque from @Kathy neilsonrandwick from Randwick Council along with School Manager, Mel Davis of @youthoffthestreets The Bowen College. An important aim Heart and Soul Story has with its intergenerational programs is to ensure they are intentional, long term and sustained and that we can evaluate mental health outcomes over time. It is fantastic to form a collaboration with different partners such as our local council and @youthoffthestreets and @bupaaustralia who have similar aims for bringing our community back together. 🙏🙏🙏 #stayfocusedonyourgoal #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #intergenerational #community #bringingcommunitybacktogether #heartandsoulstory #sharingstories #startaconversation #youthoffthestreets #volunteering #servicelearning #bethechange #makingagedcarebetter #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #eldercare #bupaagedcare #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #friends #life #socialenterprise #socialenterpriseaustralia
“ I believe the children are our future. Teach them them well and let them lead the way”. Could not have been truer words today. Part of an almost 80,000 strong crowd in Sydney supporting our children fighting ( and dancing 👉) for their rights to a healthy 🌍 “When your house is on fire, somebody needs to sound the alarm. Young people in our cities, displaying incredible maturity and dignity are doing just that. School children are taking to the streets, drawing attention to the terrifying threat that climate breakdown poses to their future. Young people recognise just how unfair climate change is. Those who have generated the least greenhouse gas emissions, including the poorest, most disadvantaged and youngest in society, will suffer the worst effects of a rapidly changing global climate. They are right to sound the alarm, and they are right to demand action that tackles climate change and inequality simultaneously” (part of a strongly worded joint statement released overnight by mayors of Paris, New York City, Los Angeles and Copenhagen) #makethefuturecool #onekidcandosomuch #kidpowerforourplanetsfuture #climatestrike #climate #schoolsstrikeforclimate #thereisnoplanetb #notbusinessasusual #bringingcommunitybacktogether #bthechange #soundthealarm #lovemotherearth
It’s not business as usual today. It’s time to take to the streets to support our children in their pleas to be heard around the 🌎. It is time. My daughter Indie is 8 years old and decided to prepare her public speaking speech a few weeks ago on climate change. So did the 3 other students she was up against in the school final. Coincidence ? No. A topic they are passionate about and wanting to do their bit to change? yes. I read Paul Gilding’s The Great Disruption around 8 years ago. I felt his despair. I worried for my children’s future...how do I explain that as a civilisation we are choosing extinction as a future .... in Paul’s words “ What we now know, is that we are facing a time sensitive, existential risk. Failing to respond adequately, could commit humanity to widespread misery for hundreds and possibly thousands of years. It could literally change the course of evolution and human history.... What we have to do now is simple. We have to decide – do we choose extinction? Or do we choose to fight it? To rebel against it. To stand in its way. To do all we can possibly do, to get humanity on a different path. That is our choice. And each and every one of us now gets to decide. That’s why we’re in the streets. That’s why this matters…..like never before.” We don’t want to stay stuck in despair. So we are taking action together. We have been inspired by @2040film and all the solutions that are in place today that could change the course of our future if we choose to adopt them, such as educating girls and women across the 🌍 and choosing to share 🚗. It’s not business as usual. It’s sometimes a hard decision to take them time to stop, but the time has come. Let’s make the future cool. @gretathunberg 🙏 for showing us all that one kid can do so much ! Picture repost @barackobama #makethefuturecool #onekidcandosomuch #kidpowerforourplanetsfuture #climatestrike #climate #schoolsstrikeforclimate #thereisnoplanetb #notbusinessasusual #bringingcommunitybacktogether #bthechange
“He said it was the highlight of his week coming here. “We knew it would be a really great program but we’re just really quite touched and amazed at what everyone got out of it and being here today and seeing the connection that they have, it’s quite emotional. I was delighted to meet the residents who have made my child feel valuable”. A really important part of STEP is to have the students families meet the residents they have been buddied up with. It’s often a really special time for all, as evidenced by these photos. To read the wonderful article by IGS about the final session of STEP for this term please click the link in the bio #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #intergenerational #intergenerationalprogram #community #bringingcommunitybacktogether #heartandsoulstory #sharingstories #startaconversation #empathy #stories4connection #igssyd #volunteering #servicelearning #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #eldercare #opalagedcare #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #photooftheday #friends #life #socialenterprise #socialenterpriseaustralia
Conversations can change lives. Sometimes you may not want to ask if someone is ok for fear you may say the wrong thing. The most important thing to do according to the professionals is follow 4 steps. Ask - r u ok ? Listen - don’t try to solve Encourage action - suggest where someone may be able to go for help Check in - follow up with the person 4 simple steps that could make the world of difference in someone’s life at a time they need it. To learn more read through some of the amazing resources at ruok.org.au I’m ok today. Definitely not other days and I’ve found the more open I am at being able to say I’m not ok, the more support I get and the faster I get back to being ok. Thank you @katieandgang for checking in 🤗 #ruok #ruokday #bettermentalhealth #bethere #listen #stories4connection #bringingcommunitybacktogether #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #heartandsoulstory
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