Feelings, thoughts and emotions are all complex attributes of being a human person. On your own, they may be overwhelming, and you may feel as if you are stuck, unable to go anywhere and unable to do anything. Maybe it will make you think things about yourself that you might not think otherwise if there weren’t feelings of dread and desolation. Now what if you have a friend, and you see them or talk to them like usual. They might seem fine on the outside, as their same usual selves. But on the inside… they might be burning. Facing the same anguish that you may feel when seemingly nothing matters, and when seemingly everything is lost.
For this I ask you and your friend… “R U OK?”
Sometimes such a small gesture might give a monumental impact for someone who is feeling as if they are being suffocated by their own mind. To us, we may think of it as merely a question from a position of concern. A question that calls to whomever you ask that you are there to hear them out. We might notice something unusual about them, whether they’re a little quiet, agitated, or despondent. At that moment, we ask them… “Are you ok?”
To them, with the feeling of total collapse looming over them, to hear those words truly brings relief for them where they may have thought it was impossible to feel. More often than not when you are in that mindset, looking towards the positive is incredibly difficult, because usually the last thing you will think about is “I’m going to be okay.” When your friend, or a parent, sibling, cousin, or anyone that notices, asks you that question, you feel grateful and comforted that they care about you.
R U OK Day - Thursday, 9th September 2021
R U OK Day is a day that raises awareness to stay connected with the people around us who may otherwise feel isolated, unhappy or generally struggling with life. With this in mind, it encourages others to spend more time with each other to show support for them even when they feel as if nothing can help them. This day is important because it has a positive impact on other people's lives and it could also have the power to change a life.
R U OK Day is a day recognised for asking or checking in with others to make sure they are okay. The last couple of months have been quite challenging for many of us. It is really important to stay on top of our mental health and to continue to check in with the people we love.
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