I haven’t blogged for a while as my life has just been full.

I have had the most amazing last two weeks.

I work as a primary school Chaplain and I helped plan a disco for the students at one of my schools. It was my first time helping out and planning a school disco. We had three sessions and we had the most fantastic volunteers. I love being in a school community that is committed to making a difference. The disco theme was COLOUR POP and it was so much fun.

The disco was on the Friday and the Saturday I went to a Grow + Gather event hosted by a friend and mentor of mine. It was held in a great coffee place in Rockingham.  This event was on Social Media and I learnt so much.

That night I had one of my beautiful nieces stay over and had to pick her up first from a party. I love having them over and just being in the moment.

Monday I had my two support schools and then I went to one of my other schools to help them with their art exhibition and fun afternoon. It was another great example of when a community gets together what can happen. I love community events.

Then last Wednesday to Friday I had Drumbeat training and this was just amazing. Drumbeat helps to engage students where talk based therapy has not helped. I love the whole way that the program valued and respected the student. It was great to meet other people, also to learn about other organisations. Lunch was provided which is always good and the food was amazing.

Then Friday night I had two of my nieces stay over and it was just a lovely night of watching DVD’s and having the feast.

Now I am on school holidays and I am looking forward to not having to set my alarm, which is my favourite part of being on holidays.

I really want to focus on just slowing down and working on creative ideas.

Having the space to create.

What helps you to be creative?

Will share more soon.

The theme for this month is Be Kind to Yourself and I don’t think that I have started the month of doing that.

I know that Being Kind to Myself is a challenge and that is why I wanted to focus on it for the month of September.

I had all these ideas that I would-

• Go and have a facial
• Buy some new clothes for Summer
• Go to a nice place and have coffee
• Catch up with friends
• Go and learn a new dance style.

Something happened along the way I was unwell, I felt sick.

You are probably thinking and………, well I find it really hard to take a day of work and just to rest up and to recover.

Let me just say that I feel guilty, there I have said it I feel guilty about taking time off work.

Now I do work for a wonderful organisation and I do have sick days available for me to use when they are needed.

But I struggle with being unwell, I am not a very good patient.

This week has been a bit of a lesson for me in being kind to myself.

I had to let go of the pressure that I place on myself and accept that things are going to happen out of my control.

Yes there are days that I am not going to be feeling 100% and I just need to accept them.

Resting, relaxing and recovering are part of life.

So I am reminding myself to-

Be Kind to Myself

Repeat after me-

Be Kind to Yourself.

The month is not over and I still have plenty of time to Be Kind to Myself and I am going to focus on what I can do.

I also know that I do have my health and I am grateful for that.

The challenge is still on.

What have you been doing to Be Kind to Yourself?

Have you learnt anything along the way?

Will share more soon.

This month I am setting myself a challenge-

Okay for this month I am going to be kind to myself.

Mmmmh what does that look like?

What does it look like for you?

I am sure that we all have different ideas and I love that. It is also great to see what others are doing.

In my work as a Primary School Chaplain my role is a giving one. I love my job, I do it is such an amazing, diverse and rewarding experience.

Lately I have been hearing people say to me, what do you do to replenish yourself?  This is a great question. I met up with My Supervisor who encouraged me to place looking after myself as one of my priorities.

I know that if I am not looking after myself that I will not have the capacity or energy to continue what I am doing, long term.

I don’t want to burn out.

I must say that this is an area that I don’t do that well in.

So the challenge is set.

Who would like to join me?

I will be posting what I do to keep me accountable in this month.

Will share more soon.