From The Chaplain

CELEBRATIONS

Can you believe that we are in November? How fast has this year gone?!

This is actually my favourite time of year. The weather starts to get warmer, the evenings are lighter, and I feel like I start to get a little spring back in my step.

I think that one of the reasons I feel this way, is because there are some good things on the horizon. I know that with November and December, whilst they do get busy, they come with some fun, exciting, celebrations. I have things that I am looking forward to.

I believe that this is not only good for our spirits, but it is good for our overall health. Actually, the importance of celebrating life is reflected in physical and mental health, community and family relationships and even in a healthy self-concept. Each of these is essential to an optimal quality of life.

Celebrating is good for people. It’s an opportunity for activity, conversation, laughter and excitement. Parties can mean games and singing and even dancing. Laughter opens airways, lowers blood pressure and relaxes tight muscles. People eat more when they’re celebrating together, and they perceive less pain.

I recently read a very well written article on this topic:

https://www.alturalearning.com/healthy-and-happy-the-importance-of-celebrating-life-milestones/

It says...

Mental Health.

This is the key to the importance of celebrating life. We are social creatures, and we’re happier when we connect with each other. Multiple generations of family come together at birthdays and anniversaries, to think about their shared history, to tell familiar stories and unveil new ones, to enjoy seeing how the children have grown, to feel close to people they’ve known their whole lives. Anniversaries remind life partners of the years they’ve shared, the struggles they’ve endured, the triumphs they’ve savoured. Celebrating these events allows people the chance to feel like they’ve achieved something significant, that their commitment to each other has value in the eyes of their family and friends. The joy and comfort of these events is an important source of strength for people, even when they may lack the energy to do all the planning themselves.

Relationships.

Friends and families bond together because of the years of experience they have shared. Celebrations are an opportunity to deepen these bonds by bringing people together who might only see each other rarely. Special events become reunions, allowing far-flung friends and family members to see each other in the context of celebrating their loved ones. These moments reinforce the continuity and endurance of relational ties, another important source of strength and peace when challenges arise.

So celebrating is good for us! And so is looking forward to those celebrations!

Wellbeing and the power of anticipation

Anticipation is an important part of life. It can be both energising and a powerful motivator to help us manage the ups and downs of everyday life. Research tells us that having something to look forward to benefits wellbeing and mental health:

• Anticipation can make us feel optimistic because it helps us focus on possibilities.
• It can be a pleasant distraction, filling us with excitement as we think about these potential experiences.
• It can motivate us when we feel like giving up, teaching us that if we’re patient we can experience a greater reward.
• It can add meaning to our lives because we’re imagining a brighter future.

We certainly have had our ups and downs this year, so I hope that you are able to finish the year well. Find some things to look forward to, and enjoy all those celebrations!

Carly Cassidy – carly.cassidy@education.vic.gov.au

Chaplain – Pastoral Care for the whole school community