As we almost reach the end of another year, it is a good time to stop and reflect and consider what 2022 has brought to us. It has been a mixed bag personally and professionally for most people in my world, with some joys and with some very clear lows and sorrows. From a community, country and international perspective it has also been a very mixed bag. We have celebrated some great gains and successes around the world while also observing and being party to some of the most tragic behaviour that humans can afflict on each other. And let’s not even get me started on how we care (or often don’t care) for our environment, the unfair distribution of resources around our country and world, poverty challenges, increased costs of living and housing, indigenous rights and over all the potential for stress and trauma, actual and vicarious! It has at times been a difficult year to hold hope in. But hold hope we must! Somewhere in the muddy world of life, as supervisors, social workers, youth workers and others engaged in the world of supporting and helping others, we must retain and maintain our hope. Hope for the future, hope for equity and justice and hope for a better world.
But to hold this hope we must also care for ourselves. Take time, refresh, restore and rejuvenate. In line with this we will introduce a series of blogs in the New Year which will encourage us to think about our own self care routines and support us throughout 2023 to have an eye on maintaining our own wellbeing, energy and hope.
In the meantime we hope you will take this end of calendar year as a chance to take stock, hopefully slow down, and breath. Maybe even stop and smell the roses! On behalf of the Project Team we would like to thank you for journeying with us as we explore what is ‘on top’ for us through our blogs. We wish you each a blessed Christmas and New Year season, whatever you believe or engage in this season, we hope you are surrounded by love and with loved ones.
Arohanui
Karen, Rod and Chris
