So glad you are here. Friday Five is all about being intentional about our mental health. 5 ideas, questions, tools, and resources to encourage you to lean in, care for yourself and reset.
Let’s be honest. I am not a big fan of winter. To make it through the long cold and snowy season, planning a winter escape to a warm climate has been a priority. I recognize the privilege of being able to travel. My hope for today’s Friday Five is that you can adapt these insights to your situation.
This year we tried a cruise. You know, the thing I swore I would NEVER DO when the pandemic hit and we heard horror stories of people being trapped in their rooms on a ship for weeks?! Yup, we did it. We took the risk. And it was awesome.
Being on the ocean provided some wonderful learning and insight. Here are 5 things I learned.
- Perspective is a wonderful thing. Getting out of the everyday routine of work and family life allows one to see life through a different lens. It allows time to pause and reflect on what matters most. And what matters most to me? Family and friends. My faith. Meaningful work. Health and wellness. And delicious coffee! (Sidebar shout out to the fantastic coffee bar on the cruise!)
- Connection is key. Being in the middle of the ocean meant that sometimes there was no wifi. Go figure. Sometimes the wifi worked and I could connect with family and friends which was a beautiful thing. Getting texts from my kids. What a gift! Being able to connect with those we love, wherever we are in the world, is a reminder of the importance of connection! We need each other.
- Sometimes disconnection is a gift too. The wifi not working meant the phone was off and not a distraction. My brain appreciated this break. And disconnecting from social media? Best decision ever. I learned that I did not miss it and that it is a huge time waster. When one is busy engaging in life-giving activities, there’s less desire to spend time scrolling Instagram, FaceBook, or whatever platform captures your attention. Life is precious. Don’t waste time reading about someone else’s life. Go live yours.
- Kindness matters most. The value of being kind can’t be overstated. The cruise we were on had the best staff and customer service we have ever experienced. Every staff member greeted us with a smile, willingness to help, and kindness. Every single time. I would love to know what training the cruise line offers to make that happen. What did I notice from these incredible staff members modeling exceptional customer service? Kindness is contagious. The cruisers (is that what we are called when we take a cruise?) responded with kindness too. I witnessed people going out of their way to say thank you and praise the staff for their hard work. Wouldn’t it be great if the world, including our communities, demonstrated the same? Showing kindness to others starts with us!
- With privilege comes power. This makes me uncomfortable, as it should. I struggle with the reality that my opportunity to go on a cruise comes with privilege, including financial status, where I live in the world, the colour of my skin, etc. The reality, as well, is that those who served me on the cruise were mostly persons of colour, from poorer countries. Many have left behind families to earn money to provide a better future for themselves. This breaks my heart. No one should have to take a 27-hour flight to find work to care for their loved ones at home. Yet this is the reality of so many of the people we met. I am left sitting with thoughts of what steps I need to take personally to work toward a world where there aren’t severe injustices. This is a big one, and I have no clear answers other than it starts with love and kindness.
I want to leave you with a story about the assistant waiter we had on our cruise. His name is “Blessing”, and his story captures so much of what I learned, and am learning, from my week on the ocean. Blessing comes from Africa where he is an only child who lost his father when he was a teenager. He left behind his mom to earn money to provide a better life for them. He told us that his mom calls him EVERY DAY to tell him how much she loves him and what a blessing he is to her. Wow. Just wow. I think Blessing’s story captures it. Choosing love and kindness is key, and it often starts with one person at a time. This young man exudes love and kindness because he receives it daily from his mom. Wouldn’t the world be changed for the better if we all start by showing love and kindness one person at a time, consistently? That’s my invitation to all of us. Let’s be like Blessing’s mom.
Takeaway: What is one ACTION step you commit to doing this week to demonstrate love and kindness in your community?
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