Topic Tuesday // Covid-19 and reflecting on the dynamic times of 2020 // Tues 15th December, 7-8:30PM AEDT

[TideisTurning]

So glad to hear the forums have given you a sense of purpose @Judi9877!!

[Former-Member]

@TideisTurning so glad your family and friends were so proactive in letting you know how much they cared about you ❤️️

@Judi9877 online connection has really come into its own this year, where would we be without it? Plus online mental health support, online studies, the list goes on... 

[TideisTurning]

@frog- how have you found support & sought connection through everything?

[Daisydreamer]

Online connection and technology really has played such a huge role this year @Judi9877 @TideisTurning @Former-Member 

And to wrap up our chat for tonight, we have one final question @Former-Member 

What skills have you learnt this year that you can take into 2021 for managing your wellbeing? And what do you hold hope for in 2021?

[Former-Member]

With all the difficulty this year I have learnt more self-compassion. Often I’m my own biggest critic, but I started reading books about self-compassion and doing guided meditations this year: https://self-compassion.org/category/exercises/#guided-meditations This is a good skill for me to keep up in 2021! 

Holding hope? I hope I keep valuing the good relationships in my life and letting people know I care (I think I did this more in COVID than before in my life). I hope I learn more skills for accepting and managing the uncertainty of life.  

[Judi9877]

Thanks @TideisTurning . I feel that I learn so much about mental health and related issues from forum members that it's almost like being at uni in a weird way but in a friendly digital online type of way. I've learnt more about BPD and other illnesses and more about different hobbies and things and it really is enjoyable. 

[TideisTurning]

I think one of my most important takeaways from this year has been that if I need to, to take the time to let myself feel whatever it is that I need to and to give myself permission to do that.

What I hope I can do more in 2021 is to be there for myself just as much as I am for my friends and family.  

What I hold out hope for is that the world will continue to heal and that I’m able to keep up the great thing I’ve had going with staying connected with family and friends fairly regularly.  

[TideisTurning]

Absolutely @Judi9877! Sometimes the best learning is done 'on the job' so to speak 😊

[Daisydreamer]

@Former-Member  Huge things to hold onto for 2021!

I really love the focus of hope on the things you can control, and the areas of life you can continue to build and grow in this coming year

[Former-Member]

@TideisTurning I love the phrase 'be there for myself' ❤️️