Weekly Wellbeing: Story-Telling
It can be really nice to connect with and learn about different cultures as a way to boost well-being.
The online community team have been spending some time recently looking at the ways First Australians used story-telling , or more commonly known as "Dreamtime stories", to share wisdom, values and important lessons.
We realised that story-telling is a huge part of what we do on the forum!
Comments
This is such a great idea @Janine-RO - I saw it the other day but didn't have time to post, and I've been super keen to see everyone's contributions. @WheresMySquishy I absolutely relate to the postgraduate study acceptance - it's a rough world out there at unis, I'm waiting for my next round of applications after not getting in the last one, and I reckon you're so tough to keep trying and giving it a crack, even through discouragement. I am happy one of your residents was able to help you feel a little more assured. Keep trying! We are all backing you here!! @drpenguin I really loved reading how you and your mum talk about her experiences as a refugee coming to Australia, I think hearing our own family history is pretty underrated and I am glad you have heard some of yours!
Has there been a time where someone shared a story with you, that taught you something important?
We have implemented a program at my footy club where on club dinner nights a player gets up and shares a story about their mental health and wellbeing. Last season, I was privileged to witness so many diverse and different people (even the stereotypical blokey bloke tough players!) get up and be vulnerable and open about their mental health, and how certain situations in their lives have affected them. I feel like we all got to know each other on a different level when we got to open our minds and hearts like that.
@drpenguin @JazzInMay @WheresMySquishy thank you so much for sharing those stories!
@JazzInMay that is such a wonderful initiative from your footy club, it sounds like it would have been a really powerful opportunity for so many people to see other people being vulnerable and sharing their stories, I truly believe events like this can have a totally massive impact in changing people's beliefs around mental health, and seeking help. What an amazing thing to be a part of! I love your story about finishing your boot camp too. It sounds like your club has a wonderful sense of community and beautiful culture - brilliant stuff!
@drpenguin wow, it sounds like your mum went through a huge amount to come to Australia, I can't even imagine what that must have been like for her. Have you read Anh Doh's autobiography? It sounds like he had a pretty similar experience to your mum in coming over here, I find it hard to comprehend going through those kind of hardships, and you're so right - it definitely makes you appreciate the life we have in Australia.
@WheresMySquishy I love your stories from the nursing home residents!! I also volunteer in a nursing home (unfortunately it's on pause at the moment) helping to run an inter-generational playgroup, and I love having a chat with the residents. It's pretty mind-blowing thinking about what they have lived through - I was really close with my grandparents ,and they had a lot of amazing stories about living through the war, and what life looked like under rationing and blackouts in Sydney. They were such an amazingly resilient generation, and it blows my mind thinking about the changes they saw in their lifetimes. My Nanna really embraced technology, and in the last 5 years of her life (she passed away 18 months ago at 95) she absolutely loved Facebook! We set her up an account and she used it to keep up to date on the family news, when they didn't even have a phone in their house when she was a kid. So amazing 
@Janine-RO I also love the stories the nursing home residents tell me about the war! I also like listening to stories about their travels. One of the residents was telling me recently about how amazing it was to have a TV for the first time and how everyone in their area quickly got one.
It's incredible that your Nanna was able to learn how to use Facebook! My grandparents are pretty hopeless with technology. Once when my sister, my mum and I were at my sister's hospital, we decided to video-chat my uncle, who gave his tablet to my grandpa. He was so fascinated and asked how he could see us and talk to us.
Hey guys,
I've been thinking about this thread in recent days - I don't know about anyone else, but I've been thinking about my grandparents a LOT lately.
It's occurred to me that they really would have "got" this whole situation in a really different way, because they lived through the Great Depression and World War II, and literally had their every day lives turned upside down.
One thing I am beginning to realise is how much it shaped the way they viewed the world and lately I find myself thinking WWND (What Would Nanna Do)?
She would always tell me to "stay flexible", take it one day at a time. She treasured little rituals like a cup of tea and a gingernut biscuit in bed in the morning, because that was one thing they always did, no matter what.
She saved EVERYTHING - wrapping paper, clothes, she taught me to knit (which i have now forgotten but want to start again), and she absolutely treasured her family and friends. The war taught her how precious friendships were - she would religiously sit and call all of her friends on a Friday afternoon, and she had had some of those friends for 70 plus years. When she passed away at 95, that was one thing that everyone said - she was an absolutely amazing friend.
In the last years of her life she became a total FB addict, and it still makes me smile to see her photo and comments pop up in my memories now.
Above all else, she valued connection, love, and relationships. So, that's something I will try and remember.
Plus, she loved a dance. So I will continue to dance in my kitchen - this is not my Nanna but it reminded me of her!
Has there been a time where someone shared a story with you, that taught you something important?
I think this is a great idea for a Weekly Wellbeing! Yesterday, I was doing an activity with one of the residents of the nursing home I volunteer at when she asked about the degree I studied at uni and what I've done since them. I told her I haven't had much luck with work or going onto postgraduate study since finishing my course. She encouraged me to apply again for postgraduate programs and do what I want to do while I am still young. She told me about her life growing up and said that after she turned 90, her vision and memory started going downhill and she's not able to do much now, so she really appreciated me enabling her to do one of her favourite activities that she could no longer do by herself. She said she was sure I would be able to eventually be accepted for a job or place in a postgraduate program. Her family members had experienced something similar issues with finding positions after uni and she said that opportunities change all the time. I didn't know how much I needed to hear her advice, especially as my family is pretty discouraging about me continuing to apply for postgraduate courses and jobs.
Do you have a story that you'd like to share with us?
Honestly, nothing much exciting is happening in my life at the moment. I have at least three more appointments for my kidney stones that are definite over the coming months, but at least we know what the stones are made out of now. My sister is the same as always. The hospital is waiting for her seizures to settle down before they admit her, but I haven't seen much improvement.
I'm looking forward to the release of the new Animal Crossing game and going to the shops next week. I used to look forward to holidays, going out, birthdays, etc., but I appreciate the little moments more since my sister became ill. I was telling some family friends who wanted to cancel their holiday on the weekend that life can change instantly and you don't know when something bad could happen to your family, so live life to the fullest while you're still able to. My sister will probably never be able to finish high school, get a job, get a degree or travel by plane if her health stays the same. Her illness has taught me not to sweat minor setbacks.
Hey @WheresMySquishy I think it's so amazing hearing stories told by people from different generations. It sounds like that was a reassuring chat about your studies 🙂 I'm sure you hear lots of interesting stories at the nursing home
Those are some great stories @WheresMySquishy! Say hi to your sister for me, when you can!
I do have some stories, but I don't quite have time to type it right now. I'll post it later, or tomorrow. 🙂
@xXLexi_Lou122Xx My sister says hi! 🙂
I'll try to think of some more good stories I haven't shared before on here. I usually have a lot of interesting ones from the nursing home. Usually, the residents I talk to have trouble with new memories, but they remember a lot about their past and tell me a lot of interesting stories about what it was like in the past.
I'm also really excited for Animal Crossing coming out next week! It looks so amazing with so many customisation options and things to build and do!
