Here we are in the final month of the year 2024. It is a time for reflection of both the past and the future. At Athenie’s Angels we firmly believe in the power and strength of the human spirit. We can use this time of year to feel our sorrows but to also believe in and plan for a better tomorrow. We have so much planned for 2025 and want to share it all with you. Keep reading and you will see what we have in store for you!!!
Flying and Reaching New Heights
Pole vaulting is not for everyone. But it is most certainly for Nina Kennedy. Before the Olympics in Paris in 2024 an Australian woman had never won a gold medal in Olympic field events. Pole vaulting was originally featured in the Olympics in 1896, but women were not allowed to participate and compete until the year 2000 – more than a hundred years later. This is a sport requiring power combined with technique. Enter Nina Kennedy! She works hard at her gym in Perth, where she is known and respected for her stamina and strength and perseverance. While she works hard, she also suffers hard. This is a sport that inflicts injury on its participants. And Nina has had her share of this. She has also suffered from depression and at times had to take a break from training and competing. For example, she missed the Olympics in Brazil. But in 2020, she says she shifted her focus from being good at pole vaulting to being good at being happy. She realized she was worthy of love even if she failed at her sport (or other endeavours also).
Fast forward to Paris and Olympic Gold in 2024. And fast forward again to Los Angeles in 2028. We will be with you Nina no matter what. It is people like you who inspire us to be healthy and honour our emotional needs as well as our physical needs. Thank you for your dedication and inspiration.
Don’t shop till you Drop – give the gift of love
A ritual of year-end holidays very often includes gift giving. We must all be careful not to overpromise. Or to overspend. But we also must be careful not to be scammed by fake deals. If a deal seems too good to be true it most likely isn’t real and should be avoided. Scammers are out in full force at this time of year trying to take advantage of your good nature and generosity. Please be careful. PayPal Australia says its research has found that 30 percent of Australians have visited a fake retail website this year. Here are some warning signs re fake websites:
- Poor spelling and grammar
- A lack of contact information and no physical address
- No locked URL
- No secure payment options
So be careful.
And perhaps give a gift of time. A home cooked meal. Dog walking. Babysitting. Joining a lonely senior to take a walk or watch a movie. There are so many ways to share love that will be well received and add to the viability of our communities. These are truly the most valued gifts – the gift of love.
Help our caregivers
Our caregivers come in all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life. A critical caregiver can be a loved one or a member of the medical/psychiatric community.
But it can also be the teacher who spends the better part of the day with our children while they learn not only academics but important life skills.
New research by Deakin University found that teachers are increasingly taking on the roles of social workers and supporting students with trauma due to a lack of official support services. Because of this, more than one third of educators are considering leaving the profession. They feel worn out and are finding themselves in a high mental health risk category. The research revealed “teaching is no longer simply about literacy and numeracy.” They need better support and resources. The next phase of this important research will investigate solutions and is scheduled to be released in February 2025.
In the meantime, we can express our appreciation to this dedicated group of people. And make them feel valued as we wrap up the school year and wish them well during this school holiday season.
Help Yourself and Your Loved Ones
During the holidays you might feel:
- Lonely – even around others
- Stressed – about money, time and social pressure
- Sad – especially if grieving the loss of a loved one, home or job
- Anxious – about family interactions
- Overwhelmed – by the change of routine
- Guilty – for not feeling the expected holiday joy
Please remember that you are not alone. These are common issues experienced by so many people. Don’t worry about happy holiday stigma – know yourself and reach out for help. It may be difficult at first but the relief you will find can make a huge difference in your well-being – both mentally and physically.
Holiday mental health tips:
- Connect with friends and family – in person or virtual meetings or phone calls
- Volunteer – give your time to a cause that is important to you
- Create a list of enjoyable activities and spend time doing things you love – ranging from cooking to hiking to art to trying something new
- Reduce screen time – get outside – spend more time with others
- Schedule time to relax and recharge
- Spread kindness – smile at strangers, offer kind words, offer to run errands for the elderly or vulnerable people, care for friends’ pets. You can make your own list. The goal here is to spread kindness and you will be surprised at how rewarding this can be for others as well for yourself.
2025 News:
Our FREE 2025 programs are:
- Emotional Resilience
- Understanding and Managing your Financial Health
- Mental Wellness Chat Club
- Stress Management
- Anger Management
Call To Action (CTA):
Share our 2025 programs with your networks and register NOW on our website at atheniesangels.org.au. The programs with most demand will be delivered.
If you or anyone you know needs skills and tools to deal with life struggles, please contact us.
As always, we strongly encourage you to seek help for yourself and your loved ones as soon as possible. Athenie’s Angels is here to support you in your struggles on your journey to embrace mental wellbeing. More information is available on our website at www.atheniesangels.org.au.
Reach out!
We are a space of hope!
Writers/Researchers
Denise Gillen
Aya-Ti Thomas