“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
“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
