Tonight I had the pleasure of speaking about mental resilience at the local WI group. After a lovely warm welcome I started to share my story – of my diving injury and consequent stroke and how my stubborn streak and personal development had got me through.
As I was speaking I could see nods of agreement, smiles and a general understanding of where I was coming from. I felt we could all feel the busyness of life, the pressure of wanting to do a good job and be there for our family and how sometimes the overwhelm just got too much.
I made the point of how actually we aren’t in competition with anyone else; we should just try to be the best version of ourselves that we can be and I mentioned a certain article comparing the legs of two political leaders that graced the front page of the paper…
The groans, nods and sighs from my fellow ladies summed it up…but it really got me thinking. So much so that I am sitting here typing accompanied by a cup of tea and a creme egg rather than being on my way to the land of nod.
Recovery
While speaking about my stroke and recovery I have had the absolute pleasure of meeting some amazing people. Those trying to recover, those in daily pain and with constant struggles. The carers who feel that they aren’t doing enough, while the person they support feel they are putting them out.
It makes me realise the simple value of life meeting these amazing people. People who would just like a body that works, or one that isn’t in pain…while the general media encourages comparison, image and superficial details that pale into insignificance when measured against simple pleasures like walking or living unaided.
Human Triumph
The next headline I would like to read would include details of human triumph. Of the good deeds I see occurring all around me. Things that warm my heart and make me feel like a part of humanity, rather than competition and fear based, flashy headlines designed to separate!
On that note I’m off to find my pillow and think of at least 10 good things that have happened today. With the people I’ve met today that shouldn’t take long…
https://www.thewi.org.uk/
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