Wednesday 19 November 2014

Do Be Do. Sources of Inspiration. ** Sat 29 Nov **



Do Be Do: Sources of Inspiration is an exciting event that promotes people making positive differences in their communities. This includes Jimi Hunt, who was a finalist for the 2014 New Zealander of the Year and a 2014 Hubbard's "Amazing Hero" grant recipient. Jimi has created lots of inspiring events to raise awareness for mental health, including lilo'ing the Waikato and building the world's biggest waterslide. Another speaker, Gabriel Acuna-Carvajal, gives new life to pallets by turning them into beautiful furniture. He recently won the JAFA Auckland award for projects with high social impact. Kiran Patel is a social entrepreneur who is the founder of the Young Innovators Collective. The organization supports young people to pursue their passions.

There will also be speakers who teach dance and creativity, for the purposes of promoting positive mental wellness and connections in the community. One creator, Gal Stern, will talk about her digital storytelling project that tells of her grandmother's history as a Holocaust survivor. Monica Evans coordinates and facilitates for Express Yourself, a creative arts programme for young people facing challenges in their lives, based at Toi Ora Live Arts Trust in Grey Lynn. As a young adult Monica lived in South America and got inspired about the inclusive, participatory arts culture she experienced there. These are just a few of the speakers who will be sharing their stories of creativity and positive community contributions.


It's a $5 donation (it includes tea and a muffin!). It will be happening on Saturday the 29th of November from 9-12, with registrations from 8:15 (though it's fine if people come just before 9). It will be held at the Unitec marae - enter Unitec through gate 3 on Carrington Road, Mt Albert.  There is ample free parking close to the marae.  

REGISTER FOR THE EVENT BY COMPETING OUR ONLINE FORM: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1hrjhpH-c8KFuTyaq_vxbOsgS43h5Asg3CrrU4Gr6es0/viewform

Or send an email to: upbeatcollective.nz@gmail.com 

For more information on the event go to our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/upbeatnz

We hope to see you there xx

Andrew and the Upbeat Collective team 


Tuesday 28 October 2014

100 Days Project

100 days.  It's a long time isn't it?  99 seems so much shorter when you compare both numbers together.  

About a week ago I completed the 100 Days Project, whereby the idea is to choose one creative exercise, and then repeat it every day for 100 days.  Record each daily effort and see what evolves in the work and in the self over time. 

I decided to use photography as my medium and used the 'Five Ways to Wellbeing' as my theme.  Under the Upbeat Collective guise, I purposely chose this theme as a way to explore five actions that are important for building the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.  I will explain them in greater detail over the coming months, but in the meantime you can check out this link for more information on them.  http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/page/1180-five-ways-to-wellbeing

In a nutshell the 5 actions are:
CONNECT.  Talk and listen, be there, feel connected. 
GIVE.  Your words, your time, your presence.
TAKE NOTICE.  Remember the simple things that give you joy. 
KEEP LEARNING.  Embrace new experiences, see opportunities, surprise yourself. 
BE ACTIVE.  Do what you can, enjoy what you do, move your mood. 




Below are some of the photos I took during the project.  Coming up with new ideas to portray each of the actions wasn't too difficult (I love being creative) but after day 75, I noticed it was becoming more tiring to be disciplined each day.  Nevertheless, I made it (woo hoo!) and I'm pleased to share it with you.  You can see the whole collection by going onto the Upbeat Collective Facebook page, or check out the 100 Days Project website:  http://100daysproject.co.nz/project/2014/1748


Day 3:  Chop Suey 101.  Keep learning.

Day 14.  Hello.  Give.


Day 16.  Avondale.  Be active. 

Day 28.  Oh deer.  Connect.
Day 30.  Beach Therapy.  Be active.

Day 38.  Rangitoto. Be active.

Day 48.  As seen on campus 2.  Take notice. 

Day 60.  Grapefruit.  Take notice. 

Day 71.  Doubtful Sound 2.  Keep learning. 

Day 93.  Selfie.  Connect.




Monday 13 October 2014

Today was a hard day

Okay.  I'm putting it out there.  I had a really crappy day today.  

Call it Mondayitis if you will, I honestly found it difficult to get into second gear and consequently I felt flat as a pancake.  It was as though my vase full of energy had been knocked over and I couldn't stem the flow, everything just felt too hard to contain.  To make things more difficult I had individual client sessions and a workshop to run today, so I was pretty depleted by the afternoon.  


When I put things into perspective I know my woes aren't the worst in the world and that I have support around me, but when you're in the thick of it, things become so distorted that your woes do become bigger than they seem. 

I do not wish to use this post as a rant of the woes of the world, for that would be at the expense of using more energy.  I wish to use it as a point of reflection whereby I can be honest about how things can feel at times. 

Many people regard me as a kind-hearted and generous person who supports others.  I love playing that role and it's an important part of my DNA - I am a humanitarian at heart and nothing gives me greater pleasure than making a difference to those around me.  But when I tend to give and give some more, my energy levels get sapped up quickly and I can veer on burnout.  It can feel hollow and it's not the best feeling to have. 

Over the past month I've noticed I've been busy at work and also in my outside interests and projects.  I enjoy having variety in my life but the volume of work has been creeping up and I have a tendency not to say no.  I began noticing I was craving for my weekends and when Sunday rolled around I started feeling 'blah' about the week ahead.  I also noticed I was snapping at my loved ones and was constantly telling people I was so 'busy'.  It was as if busy was a constant condition. 

More alarmingly I noticed I was starting to get regular headaches and my sleep wasn't as restful.  I was also starting to exercise less and I was being too liberal with the snack box at work (eeep!).  

As a constant giver I know for a fact that at times I am not the best of seeking help for myself when I am overwhelmed, but it gets tiring when the brave face and the smile begins to slip.   

I know I wasn't at my best today but a part of me was glad I was seeking people out for support and reassurance.  In my late teens and early twenties I battled with insecurities and being a perfectionist, I would've baulked at the idea of telling others how it was for me.  So with my peers today I told them I was feeling exhausted and explained some of the pressures.  I didn't expect them to fix things for me but just to be aware of how I was and to lend a supportive ear.  

After moping around for most of the day I've consciously decided I do not wish to wallow and allow my exhausted self to think negatively about things.  I think experiencing depression in my early twenties taught me how to cope with the negative distortions, however irrational they are, and to refocus the thoughts on what is practical.  

I'm aware I need to rest.  It seems so simple, but sometimes I am terrible at having 'proper rest'.  I am an active relaxer and normally flit from activity to activity, so having complete stillness can be a struggle at times.  I actually appreciate it when people tell me when I'm overdoing it.  I'm not always good at reading my signals and I know people have my best interests at heart. 

In the next day or two I will reflect on what I need to do to rebuild my energy and to get the vase full again.  Many of you will know this as a self-care plan.  With the work related issues I will chat with my manager and prioritise work.  With my extra commitments I will have to put some on hold.  But most importantly, for my health I will make sure I eat better, sleep more, get active and surround myself with my loved ones.  

Wow, writing this blog post has been invigorating and it's nice to share things in a thoughtful and open way.  I may be a helper at heart, but helpers do have their bad days too and I guess it's part of being human.  

Thanks for reading this through.  I appreciate it xx  

  
For those if you who want to know more about coping with burnout and building resilience strategies, here are some useful articles:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11168359
http://www.grownups.co.nz/read/health/health_wellbeing/kay-douglas-burnout
http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/page/1180-five-ways-to-wellbeing




 


Sunday 5 October 2014

A project is looming...

Do you know what a Rainbow Loom is?  

About a month ago I had no idea what it was, but all of a sudden all I seem to see are colourful bands in the form of bracelets, animals, fruit, Hello Kitty, Batman, unicorns, the Smurfs, and the Incredible Hulk... I am in awe of the creations being plastered on Facebook and it seems if you can think of it, you can make it.  








During her tour of New Zealand this year,  the Duchess of Cambridge was seen wearing a Rainbow Loom band bracelet  leading to a spike in sales in UK school.  In 2013 it was named the most searched toy on Google.  Rainbow Loom has been banned at some schools in US due to students being distracted in class and animosity growing in the playground.  Who knew rubber bands had a purpose other than tying things together or using as a slingshot?

You may be wondering why I'm raving on about a school yard craze.  Well I'll tell you. 

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (6-12 October) and the theme is KEEP LEARNING.  The whole idea is that learning new things will make you more confident as well as creating a sense of achievement.   Continuous learning is identified as one of the key ways we can maintain wellbeing and this can range from simple activities such as book reading and watching a documentary, to more challenging activities like mastering French, learning how to wind surf or attempting to make a croquembouche!  

For more ideas on what you can do extend your learning then check out the Mental Health Foundation website:  http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/page/995-home

To mark MHAW I have challenged my colleagues to learn something new this week and then next Monday we'll have morning tea and trade stories about what we've learnt.  

How can I forget... the Rainbow Loom... on the weekend I caught up with my inlaws and god-daughter and they had made a few colourful loom bracelets.  They gave me one and told me how they stumbled across it when browsing through the toy shop.  Instantly my creative brain perked up, they picked up on this, so they bought me a loom kit too!  

My challenge this week is to master the art of making a Rainbow Loom friendship band.  I'm also keen to make an elaborate animal or superhero character too.  Will this be easy to learn?  I'm not sure, but I'll keep you posted at the end of the week. 

Whāia te mātauranga hei oranga mō tātou – Seek after learning for the sake of your wellbeing."


Monday 1 September 2014

Random blog of kindness

Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day, and even though the weather was horrible and not befitting of a lovely first day of Spring (hello deluge, goodbye ray of sunshine), it felt good to engage in a few acts promoting kindness and generosity.  

This year I decided to leave a bunch of pre-loved books in the staff room for colleagues to take and by the afternoon most of them had gone!  As much as I love books, I simply no longer have storage space in my wee home in Avondale and it felt good to know that others would get pleasure from them.  



I have always enjoyed being generous with others and have done so since I was quite young.  I remember making things for friends and often wrote notes and letters for them too.  As I got older I used to get a buzz by giving 'surprise' gifts to friends and family.  I didn't want anything tangible in return, just to know they appreciated the small gesture. I truly believe the act of giving is essential for enriching the soul and enables meaningful connections between others.  

On that note, yesterday I attended an event in Aotea Square called #HappyNZ whereby a big group of us participated in different acts promoting happiness.  All dressed in yellow, we braved the wet and cold and thankfully were not mistaken for championing a new political party! 


I went along with my sister Evy and friend Louise and initially we were a bit hesitant and shy about participating.  What helped to reduce those fears was the welcoming nature of the attendees, and refreshingly they appeared reasonably young and ultra enthusiastic.  In a society where youth are often seen as indulged, self-centred and materialistic, the people I met were friendly, genuine and keen to make a difference.  





A few people gave out free hugs and balloons and others danced spontaneously to the music blaring on the loud speaker.  Once the group had grown to a decent size, we were all issued with an Amazing Race challenge card where we invited to participate in different random acts of kindness. 

Evy, Louise and I decided to work together so we made a beeline to Starbucks and bought a coffee to give away to a stranger.  Louise decided to give the hot drink to a homeless man who was so grateful to receive it.  Spurred on by the reaction, we gave packets of biscuits to a few other homeless people and they were both so gracious and thankful for receiving them.  I know there are times when I tend I turn a blind eye to homeless people on the street and it was a timely reminder that we all have a story to tell and we can't judge people on face value. 



As we were crossing the road we saw a young girl with her father so Evy decided to give her yellow flower pin to her.  The look on her face was priceless... a big smile and a look of wonderment!  Her father was really appreciative and he accepted our kind gesture. 

By this stage, we realised this challenge wasn't as scary or daunting as we realised.  The act of giving was quite simple and needn't be complicated.


I would like to personally commend Kiran Patel who organised this event. I've spoken to him several times and despite his young years, he has a well developed social consciousness.  It takes courage to start something you are passionate about and I will definitely lend my support for future events.  So go on.  Give 'giving' a go.    


Click here to find out more about the #HappyNZ movement:
http://www.hashtaghappynz.com/


   



Tuesday 26 August 2014

Random Act of Kindness Day - Monday 1 September


I am not a direct person by nature, but I've decided to take a stand on this blog.  So here it goes... 

This coming Monday, 1 September, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY encourage you to take part in Random Acts of Kindness Day. 

Here are my reasons why...
  1. It feels good to give and everyone has something to offer.
  2. You will truly put a smile on someones' face.
  3. This year marks the 10th year of RAK Day in New Zealand.  Did you know we are the only country in the world to have a Random Acts of Kindness Day?
  4. You receive positive mental benefits (ie. you feel great and it reduces low mood).
  5. It reminds us what it means to be truly human.
  6. It's an easy thing to do. 
  7. Why not?!
I have a few ideas up my sleeve for next Monday that don't require too much effort and energy to do.  In fact, by keeping it simple I plan to do a number of small things to mark this occasion.  

Here are some ideas as shared on the awesome RAK Day website:  http://rak.co.nz/ 
  • Pay for an extra coffee and ask the barista to give to the next person who comes in
  • Put a note inside a library book when you return it
  • Pick flowers from your garden and give to a colleague or teacher
  • Pay a stranger a compliment - you just don't know what they're going through
  • Leave an encouraging note in your neighbour's letterbox
  • Put a flower on a car windscreen
  • Send a pizza to the local fire station, police station, staff room
  • Take muffins to work
  • Give an employee an extra hour for lunch
  • Let a car into the traffic ahead of you(!)
  • Wash your mum's car
  • Mow the neighbour's lawn
  • Throw a dinner party for a family in your street
  • Take a box of chocolates to neighbours you haven't met yet and introduce yourself
  • Give your parking display ticket to the person pulling in behind you
  • Visit your local old people's home and spend time talking with a resident
  • Pay the bus fare for the passenger behind you
  • Ring a friend or loved one you haven't spoken to for ages
There you go.  You now have lots of practical ideas for taking part in RAK Day on Monday.  You won't regret it.  

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
- Aesop




  

Tuesday 5 August 2014

Hospice Cuppa - Morning Tea Fundraiser


Greetings and salutations people!  August got off to a great start with a morning tea fundraising event being held last Sunday at the Unitec Mt Albert campus.  About 40 people turned up, which was remarkable given the wet wintery Sunday conditions.  

Guests were treated to yummy finger foods (including Faye's delicious pineapple pie) and piping hot cups of tea.  The Hospice Cuppa event was a great success with all money raised being donated to Mercy Hospice Auckland.  

Thank you to everyone who came along to support the event - your donation will go a long way to helping many individuals and families in need.  Events such as this always remind me of how generous we are as kiwis.  

A BIG thank you to organiser extraordinaire Liza Ah You for co-ordinating the event, Faye Tui for her baking and to the many others who helped to set up on the day.  Gotta love team work.  

If you are interested in hosting a Hospice Cuppa event then please click on the following link:  http://www.hospicecuppa.co.nz/

Below are some photos as taken by the talented Brigette Shutkowski.  

Fancy a cup of tea?

Thank you Charlotte for helping us out!








Food, glorious food!











Stay connected and find out about upcoming events and initiatives:

Wednesday 2 July 2014

The Upbeat Collective - JULY UPDATE

Hi everyone

Trust you are all keeping warm during these cold winter months.  Despite having a few mornings where I've wanted to stay cocooned in my bed, I've actually enjoyed wearing lots of layers (oh to be an onion) and draping myself in ridiculously long scarves.  In fact I have a purple scarf I bought from London years ago and I swear it could double as a blanket!

The screening of "Happy" was a success and I thank those of you who came along and braved the chilly, wild weather.  For those of you who are unfamiliar, "Happy" is a 2011 documentary film directed by Academy Award winning film-maker Roko Belic.  

The film explores human happiness through interviews with people from all walks of life in 14 different countries.  You can find out more on the following link: www.thehappymovie.com

A happy bunch in attendance


LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN WALKING STARS CHARITY EVENT!

In November the Cancer Society is running the 'Walking Stars' event on 22 November and am putting together an "Upbeat Collective" team.  I will pay for the registrations for 8 people, provided you are committed to doing a little bit of fundraising for such an amazing cause. 

If you are interested then please email me at upbeatcollective.nz@gmail.com and let me know why you wish to take part.  Be in quick to secure a place!


Stay connected and find out about upcoming events and initiatives:

 

Saturday 28 June 2014

Horsing around

Over a week ago I went horse-riding for the very first time up at Muriwai Beach.  I was extremely anxious in the week leading up to it and even contemplated opting out of the experience!  I guess I had an irrational fear that the horse would take off into the sunset and I would go flying off, arms and legs flailing in a yo-yo like manner.  Then KABOOM!  I would go crashing into the ground below. 


I was nervous to begin with!
Thankfully the experience was not a harrowing at all, rather it was it serene, breathtaking and energising at the same time.  Even though I was nervous, I placed my hand on the horse and it made me realise I could my trust in this majestic brown creature (named Jimmy by the way).  

Riding along the beach was a mesmerising experience and there were many moments when I felt my mind wandering in and out, the content forgotten, but the feeling peaceful.  There was also something exhilarating about watching the the wild west coast sea in all it's furious glory.  

We then weaved our way through the forest and passed by skeletal trees, pine cones resting on the ground, mushrooms of an unnatural shape and size, bubbling brooks and meadows shimmering in varying shades of green.  

Two hours later our ride ends and I feel indebted to Jimmy.  He guided me through tough terrain and took me past scenery I forgot existed in this region.  I am in love with New Zealand all over again. 

A big thank you to the team at About Riding for this amazing experience. http://www.aboutriding.co.nz/




Follow the leader

My colleague with Ben the horse

Riding with colleagues

Jimmy (he loved to eat)

The horses from About Riding

A well deserved rest

Muriwai