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Heart & Soul Story

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Samantha Heron and The Heart & Soul Story team

(+61 ) 0421056730

Samanthaheron@heartandsoulstory.com

Letters & Art: heartandsoulstory@gmail.com

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

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I feel late Saturday evening so many of us let out a collective sigh of relief.

One of the best things about the stories shared in intergenerational programs in aged care is the amount that the residents who now share a home together get to learn about each others lives. It’s also really important for staff working with the residents to learn more about their lives.

Thanks Sabrina for your words of wisdom when reflecting on why you want to be involved in the Seniors & Teens Empathy Program this term. You have articulated my absolute core motivation for not just facilitating intergenerational injection , but acting as a champion to drive more of it across our country in every school and aged care. We are so lucky and grateful to have you as a student buddy for our Term 2 program.

#intergenerationalweek

“Everything and everyone has a story. The more stories we share,the more we learn. The more we learn, the more we grow. The more we grow, the closer we are to achieving wellbeing - individually and universally. “

“Thank you for sharing all your wonderful stories, of cat cafes in the beautiful cards. I love to talking about horses with you, and hearing about all the adventures you had, walking into a vet and being more extra better than I could ever be. I wish that we could’ve met in person so that I could show more pictures of my horses in so that we could bond over ride like a girl. I’m an introverted person I don’t like talking a lot, so it was amazing to listen to your stories! To make up for lost opportunities, here are some pictures. You really inspired me to step out of my silent comfort zone! “

I always have mixed emotions about our final session of term – so many smiles and heartfelt words of gratitude expressed for the time spent together each Tuesday, but equally tinged with sadness that the weekly sessions for this group of students has come to an end. The silver lining is that with some of the students living so close by in Glebe and right up the road in Annandale, once a few COVID rules are ticked ( like proof of COVID booster vaccine/ Flu vaccine and RAT tests on arrival), the students can organise some in person volunteer visits with the Lifestyle team.

It’s been such a stormy time over the past two years, but in between the rough waves have come moments of joy and calm - just like these amazing sunrises captured by Simon at @surfsupeasternsuburbs_ in the past week. I’ve once again had the immense pleasure to bring together students and aged care residents this term and be witness to stories that have made me laugh and made me cry. In our world where so much continues to feels it’s just gone quite crazy, with fires, pandemics, floods and wars, it’s a privilege to be able to bring some joy back to our aged care residents and a be part of a slower pace, sharing some good old fashioned conversations. We look forward to inviting families of students and residents along for our final Zoom call for the term tomorrow.

Thank you so much to Charlie for sharing such a special memory during STEP this week. Her experience with her own grandfather has helped give give her extra insight and empathy for how challenging it can be for so many of us as we age, especially those in need a high level of care, but also for what special moments can be shared despite these difficulties.

Mali loves 🎾 ⚽️ 🏀 🥊

Mali loves 🎾 ⚽️ 🏀 🥊

Every woman has an incredible story to share and it was a privilege to be with this group of women on this week to celebrate and share parts of theirs.

Mr Bigglesworth & Sebastian the ginger cats, pony rides in Pakistan, Fritzie coming from Austria as a 12 year old with practically no belongings and making a life here in this wonderful country she loves dearly as a hairdresser….Having an older sister who is 22 and a younger brother who is 9 months ( and all siblings born of consecutive days in April ??!! ) Lexie the trusty boxer who steals the heart of the whole family and makes everyone happy… having a job as a guard of one of Australia’s toughest jails… being a great grandmother 4 times over … these are just some of the interesting insights shared in their session together. Though Tuesday lunchtime seems to race by too fast for any of us as we just start to get to know a bit about each other… we are grateful for the time together and look forward to what insights next week will bring !

“We can do hard things”

Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.

Lovely memory of comparing favourite Christmas carols from a session just before Christmas with student Jack from IGS dialing in from home during his holidays to chat with residents he’d connected with over Term 4.

It's been such rollercoaster couple of years for so many of us, but when we compare that to the journey of our First Nations People, many of our current complaints pale into comparison. It was amazing to spend time contemplating the past and our future with my trusted friend & colleague Natasha Cromer at First Nation artist Jacob Nash's artwork at Barangaroo. Passionate advocates for social change in our own respective projects, and ones we work on together - coincidence or synchronicity that we turned up in the same colours we'd worn working together 18 months ago in our fight for #betteragedcare ? It makes the long and hard journey toward social change just that bit easier when you work with someone you respect and enjoy the company of so thoroughly. Here's to more projects together in 2022 my friend!

Whilst they have hidden one of the most beautiful gifts a person can offer someone else - their warm smile - masks 😷 have offered an important protection in our community fight against COVID.

Instagram

I feel late Saturday evening so many of us let out a collective sigh of relief.

One of the best things about the stories shared in intergenerational programs in aged care is the amount that the residents who now share a home together get to learn about each others lives. It’s also really important for staff working with the residents to learn more about their lives.

Thanks Sabrina for your words of wisdom when reflecting on why you want to be involved in the Seniors & Teens Empathy Program this term. You have articulated my absolute core motivation for not just facilitating intergenerational injection , but acting as a champion to drive more of it across our country in every school and aged care. We are so lucky and grateful to have you as a student buddy for our Term 2 program.

#intergenerationalweek

“Everything and everyone has a story. The more stories we share,the more we learn. The more we learn, the more we grow. The more we grow, the closer we are to achieving wellbeing - individually and universally. “

“Thank you for sharing all your wonderful stories, of cat cafes in the beautiful cards. I love to talking about horses with you, and hearing about all the adventures you had, walking into a vet and being more extra better than I could ever be. I wish that we could’ve met in person so that I could show more pictures of my horses in so that we could bond over ride like a girl. I’m an introverted person I don’t like talking a lot, so it was amazing to listen to your stories! To make up for lost opportunities, here are some pictures. You really inspired me to step out of my silent comfort zone! “

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