MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH: Australia, Let's Talk (October 2023)

[ArraDreaming]

Forgot to mention a coffee at sunrise with my other half to start the day!

[Jynx]

Ahh! A most marvelous and merry mental health awareness month Monday greetings to you all! 

Here's today's query:

Share one act of kindness (big or small) that you have experienced that has had a positive impact on you.

Hmmm... Well just today, I got a delightful message from one of my closest friends. She knows I have a house inspection coming up, and also knows that I really struggle to get everything clean and in order before the deadline. So she messaged me out of the blue and has offered to come over and help me to tidy up before Friday! I'm so chuffed about it, especially because I never asked, and I was even thinking about how I may need some help but didn't know who/how to ask for it in this instance. 

💜😊

What about you, forumites?

@Jupiter @amber22 @Jynx @tyme @fluffylight @PizzaMondo @Bon_courage @Ilovepenguins @MissLil @Shaz51 @outlander @Judi9877 @wellwellwellnez @Zoe7 @Faith-and-Hope @NatureLover @Flying_Hams @nervouswreck @Patches59 @Jacques @TAB @Smiling_Gecko @EternalFlower @WIP @StuF @Meowmy @StanD @magpie4 @Captain24 @Snowie @creative_writer @Laura4 

[Snowie]

That is so nice of your friend @Jynx Those selfless moments are ones to hold onto.

[hanami]

Hi everyone! 

Kindness has a huge impact on mental health. So time for the next discussion this mental health month...

Share one act of kindness (big or small) that you have experienced that has had a positive impact on you. 

@Snowie @tyme @Mistyme @Glisten @StanD @Jupiter @Jynx @fluffylight @Former-Member @TAB @StuF @Jacques @creative_writer @Bow @Captain24 @Kyle1 @Patches59 @Blackbird11 @Ilovepenguins @Shaz51 @Oaktree @NatureLover @outlander @Appleblossom @MDT @wellwellwellnez @Dimity @Meowmy 

[Blackbird11]

Hi @hanami 

Great question!

For me a family friend opened up her home to me, to rebuild my life! I am so very thankful for a safe place with a safe person!

[Melbcoffeesnob]

What a thoughtful thread @hanami! 

This morning, while I was waiting at a bus stop on my way into the city, I noticed an elderly homeless gentleman huddled into a corner. He was shivering from the cold, and he looked frail and unprepared for the weather. I approached him and offered to buy him a warm breakfast from a local cafe. I engaged in conversation and asked how he was doing, he talked about how he was down on his luck and had recently lost his job and was now experiencing homelessness. He was so grateful for the support and for the warm food and mentioned most people would simply walk past. I felt really privileged and honored in that moment to be able to really hear someone's story and help in a small way. 

Doing something kind for others with expecting nothing in return is priceless. 

This gave me a sense of joy and satisfaction throughout the rest of the day. 

Please continue to share your stories and let's celebrate the goodness we encounter in our lives.

Much love,

From Melbcoffeesnob

[hanami]

Oh, @Melbcoffeesnob that's so awesome. Love that 😍

[Patches59]

Having a friend surprise me by coming to my new home on the day after I moved in to help me move furniture.  Because of arthritis in one knee it’s very painful for me to kneel, even though her daughter wasn’t well this same friend came another day and connected all the hoses for me on my washing machine

[Kyle1]

you know what @hanami ...

acts of kindness that glow brightest in my memory are those that have come from strangers. And, always seem to involve food! 

I know I'm thin-ish, but I must have hunger written on my face like I just don't realise. 🤭 ...

I had moved into the Kinglake area a couple decades ago (before the fires), and was hunkered down alone for my first winter out at Pheasants Creek. Some nice lady turned up one evening from down the road & around the corner with a home cooked lasagne - just to say welcome.

It was still piping hot!

This impressed me so much...

And I've been gifting people cooked food ever since.

As if to stick with a theme, the karmic wheel rolls around now and then with strangers continuing to give me food...

They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach - maybe they're right.

As down and out as i often feel these days, i reflect on these acts of kindness and, yes: it does feed the soul, also.

I might mention, aswell, when I asked directly for some encouragement and support here at the Forums recently...  How readily the members sprang up for me! 🙏

Someone rather attentive even thought to gift me a piece by my favourite poet, which I'd not read before, and was especially beautiful. 

Now, I've heard the cynics wry testimony, that hell is other people.

But so are angels, too, at times,.. and the goodness in them turns giving hands to wings.

[Captain24]

I have a really simple one. 

I was going away and would be able to take my bins out or bring them back in. The neighbour I met a couple of days before offered to do it for me. It was really nice of her considering we had only just met. 

Also I had my electricity disconnected a few years ago. I just didn’t have the money. So a friend of mine paid my $3000 bill to have it reconnected. I was shocked. She didn’t want anything in return. Obviously I did a lot for her after, clean her house, mow her lawns, volunteer at her business. That sort of stuff. I tried to pay her back by making some things easier for her.