Chaplains Spot

Last Saturday, my daughter and I, plus 3 others, participated in the 37 kms [48,000 steps] Oxfam walk to raise money to fight poverty around the world. It was very grueling, especially the steep hills on the walk from Silvan Dam to the 1000 steps and return. I had never walked that far before in a day, and the last time I encountered such steep hills/mountains was in Nepal in 1980 when I was much younger. 

We are very sure it was worth it – to try and make a difference to others in poverty. 

It took a few days to recover from the sore limbs and exhaustion. Taking care of our wellbeing is important, whether after such a major exhausting adventure, or following a difficult day with work or family. I found the following thoughts on the above website:

“Taking care of your wellbeing can help you feel more able to manage stress. Different things will work for different people, but these are some ideas you could try:

• Be kind to yourself. Learning to be kind to yourself can help with how you feel in different situations. Try to take breaks in your day for things you enjoy. And reward yourself for your achievements, even if they seem small.
• Try to find time to relax. This might feel hard if you can't do anything to stop a situation that is making you stressed. But if you can allow yourself a short break, this can help with how you feel.
• Develop your interests and hobbies. Spending time on things you enjoy could help distract you from a stressful situation. If stress is making you feel lonely or isolated, shared hobbies can also be a good way to meet new people.
• Spend time in nature. This can help to reduce stress and improve wellbeing. Try going for a walk in a green space, taking care of indoor plants, or spending time with animals. Our nature and mental health pages have more information.
• Look after your physical health. Getting enough sleep, staying physically active and eating a balanced diet can make stress easier to manage. Stress can sometimes make things difficult, but even small changes can make a big difference.”

What are your favourite ways to care for yourself? If we care for ourselves well, then we are more able to care for others. It is like the emergency instruction on planes – apply your own air device first, then those who are with you. I know that this is not always possible, especially if you are on your own. Our family needs can seem so constant. However, we should do what we can to sustain ourselves – for our sake, and for theirs as well. 

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Toast Tuesday: Our free Toast Tuesday program runs from 8.30 until start of school. Our second-hand uniform stock is also available for gold coin donations. 

Meal Train roster: We would again like to offer a weekly emergency meal to families in our school community. If your family would appreciate a meal at any time of emergency, please let me know. If you would like to contribute a meal, please go to the following link. mealtrain.com/vlwooz

Contact: If you need to contact me, you can email me, or phone or see me at school on my days listed below.

Joke of the week: How do you stop an astronaut’s baby from crying?You rocket!

Fun Facts for4 Kids: Owls can’t move their eyeballs!

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Alan Silverwood: Chaplain - Pastoral care for our community. [Tuesday, Friday]

[alan.silverwood@education.vic.gov.au] Supporting the School community in emotional, social, spiritual and practical wellbeing. 

Our Chaplaincy program is funded by the Federal Government’s ‘National Student Wellbeing Program’, the GRPS School Council and donations.