Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator

World Smile Day

“Do an act of kindness. Make someone smile.” https://www.worldsmileday.com/

Dear Families,

I love card games and board games and have always played them with our family. Over the holidays, we went away to Sandy Point near Wilsons Prom. We stayed in a house and did very little; beach walks, sitting by the fire, and of course playing games. We had the first ‘McNeilly Games Championships’ and the winner got to take the trophy, an engraved pewter mug. One of the games we played was Uno Flip. If you haven’t played this, it’s a great twist to the original Uno.

I found out about Uno Flip on a recent visit to Super Toys in Ocean Grove. I was in there on the last day of term three, purchasing some card games for our students to play. Games are such a great way for children to learn many social and emotional skills. I filled up my bag of goodies as Mandy started to add up what I had ordered and write me an invoice. As I was standing at the counter, a lady walked in and handed over $100 in cash to the other shop assistant and said, “Please use this money to pay for the next few customer’s purchases.” I couldn’t believe it; someone was just giving away money for no other reason than to be kind. The lady then looked over at me and asked what I was up to. After hearing my story, she said, “I’ll pay for all of those games for your school.” And she did. She raced off to the bank, returned and paid for them. That stranger spent over $500 of her own money to help our kids at OGPS. That act of kindness brought a big smile to my face!

This Friday we are celebrating ‘World Smile Day’. As is well known by now throughout the world Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts created the smiley face in 1963. That image went on to become the most recognizable symbol of good will and good cheer on the planet.

As the years passed Harvey Ball became concerned about the over-commercialization of his symbol, and how its original meaning and intent had become lost in the constant repetition of the marketplace. Out of that concern came his idea for World Smile Day®. He thought that we, all of us, should devote one day each year to smiles and kind acts throughout the world. The smiley face knows no politics, no geography and no religion. Harvey’s idea was that for at least one day each year, neither should we.

To help foster kindness over the next week, and with World Smile Day in mind, you might like to choose one or two activities from the following list to do together as a family.

Phone a relative or friend that you haven’t talked to in a while.
Find some clothes, toys, or books that you don’t want anymore and donate them to a charity or give them to an op shop.
Do something kind for someone in your neighbourhood.
Think about someone that lives near you, who might need some help. Cook them a meal or a sweet treat and deliver it to them.
Next time you are at school, talk to someone you normally don’t talk to.
Pick some flowers from your garden and give them to a friend.
Do a ‘Random Act of Kindness’ for someone.

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” Dalai Lama.

It’s great to see our younger kids back and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone else returning over the next few weeks.

Thanks for your smiles,

Andy McNeilly

Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator