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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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👍 The reaction when you hear that you are going to get visits from students again ... even if they are via 👨‍💻 👩‍💻 Planning is underway for our STEP Virtual program between @igssyd and @opalagedcare Annadale. With both schools and Aged care having to make a number of changes due to Covid 19, we are proceeding gently to make sure that we get the virtual program working as well as we possibly can ... in the meantime it’s great to be able to share pics, letters & video messages back and forth 👉 like Louise from last year’s program reminding us all how much she loves Jed. #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #STEP #stepvirtual #bekind #intergenerational #intergenerationalconnection #intergenerationalprogram #community #bringingcommunitybacktogether #heartandsoulstory #sharingstories #startaconversation #empathy #igssyd #volunteering #servicelearning #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #eldercare #opalagedcare #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #friends #socialenterpriseaustralia
“There are so many people out there who tell you that you can’t. What you’ve got to do is turn around and say - watch me !” Happy Birthday to the incredible, tenacious, funny and huge hearted @laynebeachley Thank you for seeing, hearing and believing in what I do! 🌊❤️🌊❤️🌊❤️🌊 #laynebeachley #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #STEP #STEPVIRTUAL #heartandsoulstory #bringingcommunitybacktogether #stories4connection #intergenerational #intergenerationalprogram #intergerationalkindness#intergenerationalconnection #community #bekind
“A day without laughter is a day wasted” David from Bupa Maroubra having laughing at a 14-year-old’s account of being homeschooled by his mother. With New South Wales schools returning on Monday many students and parents alike are breathing a sigh of relief... however visitor restrictions still in place for Aged Care meant that school groups and children under 16 cannot visit unless under specific special circumstances. We won’t let that stop us. Now more than ever our older people need to know that we are here and we care, and we can still meet 👩‍💻 ❤️ 👨‍💻 #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #STEP #STEPVIRTUAL #heartandsoulstory #stories4connection#intergenerational #intergenerationalprogram #intergerationalkindness#intergenerationalconnection #community #bekind #connection #empathy #kindnessrocks #bringingcommunitybacktogether #sharingstories #bupaaustralia
Keep the letters coming ... now that things are semi returning to ‘normal’, schools back full time In NSW next week and many parents ( and kids) are breathing a sigh of relief 😂 Let’s not forget that’s not the case for everyone. Aged Care still has strict restrictions on visitor numbers and school groups won’t be able to visit anytime soon... so whilst we are busy setting up a virtual connection program, keep those letters coming 👉 🙏Grace from @maroubrabay Few residents still awaiting a letter, so pm me if you’d like to be involved or send an email to heartandsoulstory@gmail.com ❤️ 🖊 🖼 🌈 💛 #visitsbymail #heartandsoulstoryletters #heartandsoulstory #intergenerational #intergerationalkindness #intergenerationalconnection #artwithheart #artforagedcare #community#kindnessrocks #empathy #bringingcommunitybacktogether #sharingstories #stories4connection #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #eldercare #bupaagedcare #bupaaustralia #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #friends
❤️Less self doubt. More self love ❤️ @onewaveisallittakes 🙏 for the reminder for us to all take stock in how far we’ve come. 2020 is proving a more challenging year than many would have ever expected... but with challenges come opportunity. I am confident that the challenges Heart and Soul Story is facing with aged care visitor restrictions for groups of students to do face to face programs will lead us to connect in new and different ways ... and this may be able to even lead us to connect more youth and elders more often than we ever thought possible. ❤️This is no time for self doubt. Only time for self love ❤️ Who’s with me ??? #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #STEP #STEPVIRTUAL #heartandsoulstory #bringingcommunitybacktogether #stories4connection #intergenerational #intergenerationalprogram #intergerationalkindness#intergenerationalconnection #community #bekind #storiesmatter #sharingstories #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #youthmentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother
“Each morning we are born again. We do today what matters most” Buddha I don’t post as many sunrises as I used to. That’s mainly because I’ve really been having a crack over the last year at surfing, and pre sunrise seems to be the best time to keep out of everyone’s way ;) with the swell pumping beyond my comfort zone this morning I decided to be a nice mum and try to get some video footage of my son instead. It was great to be able to capture this shot of Simon @surfsupeasternsuburbs_ who is out most days capturing the sunrise riders (👉 for some of his great pics from today, plus the only video I managed to get of Hugo) I am so thankful to you @laynebeachley for not only your belief in my mission of bringing community back together through intergenerational connection, but also for making a promise at the end of my two days with you to really commit to have a go at surfing... I’m definitely hooked and love the beach going community of surfers & photographers I have come to know.... and especially love that I can share this passion with my eldest son, and when it’s a bit calmer, my sweet Indie and Mika too. #maroubrabeach #maroubracommunity #surflife #heartandsoulstory #bringingcommunitybacktogether #stories4connection
Life is amazing. And then it's awful. And then it's amazing again. And in between the amazing and awful it's ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That's just living heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life. And it's breathtakingly beautiful. L.R. Knost @talleloofa 📸 🙏 for the reminder of an amazing time together, to hold on to those amazing memories, to be grateful, to breathe and to accept chopping wood and carrying water. #amazinglife #ordinarylife #heartandsoulstory #bringingcommunitybacktogether #stories4connection #intergenerational #intergenerationalprogram #intergerationalkindness#intergenerationalconnection #community #bekind #kindnessrocks #bringingcommunitybacktogether #sharingstories #startaconversation #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #photooftheday #friends #life #socialenterprise #socialenterpriseaustralia
“I was having issues at school, trouble with my friends, at the time, and I found STEP an escape route from that trauma. It gave me something to keep my mind off the negativity. At the time I was feeling very selfish, but the experience of  STEP made me realise there were other people in worse conditions and I am so grateful. Taking part in STEP made me understand myself more, increase my confidence and appreciate what I have and not to take anything for granted.” This Friday afternoon flashback feedback from last year was from a Year 9 student who had completed STEP two years earlier in 2017. She was in Year 7 at an all girls school with close to 1000 students. To hear her be able to reflect back and articulate the benefits of spending time talking with someone 50 years her senior was priceless. The benefits of intergenerational connection are two way. With 1 in 3 youth experiencing a mental health issue by the age of 25 it is crucial that we continue to engage in mental health promotion programs and initiatives, importantly keeping our youth connected with community and people who can be there to listen. be a friend and help give them some of the confidence they need to see through the hard times. Thanks @mystrengths_movement for the awesome 📸 and reminder that confidence is strength, and confidence can be built in the unlikeliest of places such as the bond formed between young and old ! ❤️🤜 🌈 #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #STEP #STEPVIRTUAL #confidence #confidenceisstrength #heartandsoulstory #bringingcommunitybacktogether #stories4connection #igssyd #opalagedcare
“Take me with you, I’m waiting here for you !” Edmund from Bupa Maroubra telling us if he could go back in time anywhere it would be back to his home country of Lebanon. Edmond grew up one of a dozen siblings, went to a boarding school where along with his native Arabic tongue he learned French ... when he arrived in Australia as a 24 year old he didn’t speak a word of English. 👉 to hear him talk about how that experience was for him. Great to have 14 year old Hugo having a laugh with Edmund as they chatted about escaping off to 🇱🇧 together ... we may not be able for it to happen in reality, but who knows where the future virtual world may be able to take them together ?! Look forward to partnering with people like @silvradventures , bringing virtual 🌍 travel to aged care, to figure out how we get the likes of Hugo and Edmund to explore a virtual Lebanon together ! #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #STEP #stepvirtual
International Nurses Day, observed around the world to mark the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale. What could you do to thank all the the incredible, dedicated heroes working so hard to keep so many safe ? Send a letter of thanks, say thanks on social media and tag an incredible heath worker you know ,cook a meal,download the COVID Safe app so they are better prepared to keep numbers down ! @annameagher 🙏 for being the most incredible nurse. #heroes #internationalnursesday2020 #heartandsoulstory #stories4connection #banksyart
🙏 Cassius ! “Kindness is doing ordinary things with extraordinary love” ❤️💫 #visitsbymail #heartandsoulstoryletters #heartandsoulstory #intergenerational #intergerationalkindness #intergenerationalconnection #artwithheart #artforagedcare #community#kindnessrocks #artforagedcare #empathy #bringingcommunitybacktogether #sharingstories #stories4connection #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #eldercare #bupaagedcare #bupaaustralia #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #friends
“Please do keep writing ! Everybody here has been so happy to receive the letters” Mia. Lifestyle Coordinator, Bupa Aged Care Maroubra. Wonderful feedback from the letters sent to Aged Care from many of the families of @maroubracommunity and @maroubrabay ... see if you can spot your letter in this post or any of the previous posts. Thanks to all involved , keep them coming, this little act of kindness is touching the 💕 of our Elders. #visitsbymail #heartandsoulstoryletters #heartandsoulstory #intergenerational #intergerationalkindness #intergenerationalconnection #artwithheart #artforagedcare #community#kindnessrocks #empathy #bringingcommunitybacktogether #sharingstories #stories4connection #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #eldercare #bupaagedcare #bupaaustralia #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #friendship
“So mid 2019 I started working on this project when I noticed a lack of eldership in my life. I realised that nearly all the “life advice” I was consuming on social media / podcasts / newsletters was from younger people. And I asked myself the question - Where are the voices of our elders? With that question in mind I began interviewing ageing New Yorkers about life, death and everything in between. I can only describe this experience as truly life changing. I get chills thinking back to it. With these recorded gems of wisdom I set out with an incredible team to create a film that speaks to the youth of today. Words can’t describe how stoked I am to share my new short film ‘They Saw The Sun First’ with you.” Turn the lights down. Turn your emails off. Turn your volume up. And enjoy the voices of our elders. 🌞 film link in bio of @stefan_hunt or check out a clip in my previous posts. 👉 to see Stefan and one of his wonderful NY Elder interviewees... #theysawthesunfirst #community#kindnessrocks #empathy #bringingcommunitybacktogether #sharingstories #stories4connection #heartandsoulstory #voicesofelders #intergenerational #intergerationalkindness #intergenerationalconnection. #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #friends
🙏 Leah & Hannah, you made John’s day ! Amazing how something so small and simple can bring such joy ❤️💫 #visitsbymail #heartandsoulstoryletters #heartandsoulstory #intergenerational #intergerationalkindness #intergenerationalconnection #artwithheart #artforagedcare #community#kindnessrocks #empathy #bringingcommunitybacktogether #sharingstories #stories4connection #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #eldercare #bupaagedcare #bupaaustralia #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #friends
“My best tip of the day ... probably the whole year ! Candle wax on fingertips for toughening your fingers for the guitar ! “ Advice from June at Bupa Maroubra today for 9 year old Indie’s new love of guitar. Indie heard how June had wished she heard of it when she used to have to head to her own guitar lessons on the rickety old trams 🚃 that she nearly fell off a few times. Indie couldn’t believe the coincidence as one of her favourite residents, Judy, who we visited for around 4 years until she died last year, had also recounted a story to Indie off how she had fallen off one of the trams on a trip to Coogee. Whilst families are now being allowed back in for scheduled visits, the absence of visitors has been very felt by the residents, some of whom don’t usually receive many visitors anyway. We chatted with four of the residents who usually participate in the face to face Seniors and Teens Empathy Program, and all of them were eager to be able to have virtual chats with youth. It was wonderful to see how easily the residents and Indie were able to chat together, especially those who had never before had a video call on a tablet ! Our next important🦶 toward STEP Virtual for our schools involved. I look forward to sharing more of their messages to students from The Bowen College and thanks to the community for the letters that keep on coming and putting such smiles on the faces of the residents. NB Re the tip kids ...wait until the 🕯 wax cools before sticking on your fingers 😂 #heartandsoulstory #seniorsandteensempathyprogram #STEP #STEPVIRTUAL P#intergenerational #intergenerationalconnection #visitsbymail #heartandsoulstoryletters #kindnessrocks #bringingcommunitybacktogether #sharingstories #startaconversation #stories4connection#youthoffthestreets #volunteering #servicelearning #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #bupaagedcare #eldercare #bupaagedcare #bupaaustralia #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #loveoneanother #love #friends #life #socialenterprise #socialenterpriseaus
Thanks Indie for your letter, sure to put another smile on Victorjia’s face. 🙏 🌈 💜 #visitsbymail #heartandsoulstoryletters #heartandsoulstory #intergenerational #intergerationalkindness #intergenerationalconnection #artwithheart #artforagedcare #community#kindnessrocks #bringingcommunitybacktogether #sharingstories #stories4connection #bethechange #agedcareaustralia #seniorcare #eldercare #bupaagedcare #bupaaustralia #commonhumanity #mentalhealth #healtheworldtogether #loveoneanother #love #friends
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