Wellbeing Sprinkles
In Assembly, Isabel, Year 10, reminded us to embrace the privilege of nurturing our wellbeing and finding the joy in the everyday.
Wellbeing is a state of health, happiness, and comfort. For young children, wellbeing is the responsibility of family, carers, and teachers but for Senior School students, we are responsible for our own wellbeing and now is the time for us to embrace this privilege.
There are the basics of wellbeing – eating fruit and veggies, moving your body, and fostering loving and strong social connections. Today, I would like to focus on what I refer to as wellbeing ‘sprinkles’ – unique activities that help nurture wellbeing. I have a few secret wellbeing ‘sprinkles’ and one of them is watching television. For me, engaging in TV shows provides a reprieve from everyday life, helps me think and grow, and makes me a better person.
There are two particular TV series’ that have provided me with ‘golden sprinkles’ – the first is Ted Lasso, which has so many ‘sprinkles’, like the time Ted stuck a sign above his office door that says BELIEVE. Far too often we focus on the negatives and are full of self-doubt. We just need to remember this simple but oh-so-powerful word, BELIEVE. For me, the ultimate ‘sprinkle’ from Ted, was when he said, “Winning is fun, but if you find a family along the way, you can't lose.” I am very much more about family and team than I am about winning. When you are in the ‘competitive’ swimming team that probably isn’t something you should say out loud – but Ted did that for me and made me feel okay about it.
The second great TV series I recommend for wellbeing ‘sprinkles’ is Only Murders in the Building. The glorious friendship that develops between the three lead characters highlights that family does not have to be blood-related. Your family can include people you meet along the way. I truly believe, after almost 11 years here at 91黑料不打烊, I have many members of my family sitting right in front of me. The 45-year age gap between these lead characters is another ‘sprinkle’. Age is just a number. Right now, you may be 14 and sitting in Year 8, or 17 and sitting in Year 12, but it won’t be like this forever. You won’t always be wearing a uniform and sitting with people of the same age. You will be interacting with people of all different ages and have friends across age groups. For me, making friends in other year groups is something I truly cherish.
As you can tell, characters from TV series’ inspire and motivate me all the time. Even this week, I felt a little overwhelmed, but I thought about my favourite Bridgerton character, Eloise. Her sole purpose, being from a wealthy family in early 1800s England, was to find a husband and ‘marry well’. She was home-schooled, unlike her brothers, and never had the chance to speak out, the way I am doing today. And some 200 years later, girls in many parts of our world, like Afghanistan, literally have no voice.
TV shows help me develop perspective and empathy, both integral elements of wellbeing. I draw on inspiring and beloved characters from my favourite shows and try to emulate their positive traits. And, for those who don’t have the opportunities I do, I try to do them proud.
So go on. Find your own ‘sprinkles’ to nurture your wellbeing.