Wellbeing

Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses!

Spring is now well underway. The days are getting warmer and lighter, plants are flowering, new leaves are growing, and there is a sense that Summer is not too far away.

In our Seasons for Growth groups, we use the seasons to talk about grief, loss and change. Spring represents a season of new growth in our lives. Steve Southerland sums it up when he says,

“I believe in process. I believe in four seasons. I believe that winter’s tough, but spring’s coming. I believe that there’s a growing season. And I think that you realize that in life, you grow. You get better.”

Good Grief is the organisation that has created the Seasons for Growth program that we run twice a year at WBPS. They encourage us that Spring is a good time to take stock of our own mental health – to spring clean our minds. Mental health relates to our psychological and emotional wellbeing and impacts our ability to cope with stress, connect with others, and make good choices. Learning to prioritise our own mental health and self-care can help us navigate the changes and uncertainties we experience.

Being present and connected and mindful of your thoughts and emotions can support your wellbeing. In the busyness of life, it is easy to forget to appreciate and enjoy what is happening in the present. We need to remember to stop and smell the roses. We encourage you to pause and using your five senses, mindfully notice the colours and shapes, sounds, smells, flavours and textures surrounding you. Here is a helpful exercise that we use with the children: Download their mindfulness activity here https://www.goodgrief.org.au/sites/default/files/Activity_Companion_Seasons_Mindfulness.pdf?ct=t(Seasons-Spring-COVID-GRIEF-MENTALHEALTH-WELL)&mc_cid=9364e1d4a5&mc_eid=257598884f

Kind regards,

Tina Mouzakitis

Wellbeing Coordinator

tina.mouzakitis552@schools.sa.edu.au

Cathy Turner

Pastoral Care Worker

cathy.turner255@schools.sa.edu.au