Today is World Thinking Day! I must admit I had never heard of this before, but it was mentioned on the radio this morning. This is a day that is celebrated by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), a day of international friendship, to raise awareness and speak out about issues that affect young women worldwide, and to fundraise for global charity projects. February 22nd was chosen back in 1926 because it was the birthday of both the founders Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout Movement, and Olave Baden-Powell, who was World Chief Guide. It is celebrated to encourage young people to think about and show appreciation for each other throughout the world. Each annual celebration is given a theme, and this year is leadership.
I don’t know about you, but this got me thinking about our role as carers, and my first experiences as a carer well before I became a ‘professional’ carer as a registered nurse. I expect many of you will find resonance with my experience, that I as a young girl, together with my siblings were expected to care for my mother who had a lot of physical and mental health problems while dad was at work. Then as a Girl Guide, I experienced doing some community work by visiting the elderly in their homes, running errands and helping them in some way.
So maybe on this World Thinking Day, let’s take time out of our busy day to think about each other and show appreciation for how amazing you are, and for all the hard work and dedication you show to your loved ones that you care about. You are amazing and personally, I want to say, ‘Thank you’, for who you are and what you do. The world is a richer place because of you. I know it can get really tough sometimes, and it’s hard to get your head above water. So today let’s share some positivity with each other today and encourage each other.
This takes me back. I was in Guiding for many years, and your post has brought back memories of special Church Services where all the Brownie & Guide units in the district got together, we were also asked to take a shiny 2pence piece for collection then it became a 5pence piece, this was in the early seventies and I remember my dad shining a coin for me to take. Forward wind my life to today and the friend I had a falling out with over my vision loss have now made up and will be going Wedding Outfit shopping at some time as her oldest daughter gets married in October, I've also been trying to sort out a social life and last Monday I went to a localish U3A coffee morning which I really enjoyed, came out with details of a few outings they're organising, so on Monday when I get paid I'll be joining up. Enjoy your weekend everyone x
Hi MAS_Nurse,
Like you, I'd never heard of Thinking Day either, and maybe that's not so surprising as there seems to be a cause for every day of the year.
But hearing about this actually got me thinking about thinking! And it actually brought back two distinct memories from the past.
The first is a little rhyme I learned when I was a Brownie, so many years ago, but never forgotten, and something I've tried to live by all my life.
I don't know how Brownies are organised these days, but then, we belonged to 'sixes', each of which was named after various fairy folk, and my 'six' were The Elves. Each six had its own rhyme and the elves sang: "This is what we do as elves: think of others, not ourselves", and its always been a bit of a mantra for me.
The second memory is from many years later when I was with my soldier husband who was serving in Hong Kong. A road safety campaign had just started and every day on the radio there was a jingle entreating people to "Think when you drive". I was amused and appalled all in one to think that people were out there NOT thinking as they drove. (But when I thought about the roads and drivers in Hong Kong, I'll admit it was all a bit mad).
Anyway, I heartily agree with you about how amazing humankind can be. It's easy to forget it in the frenetic and sometimes dark world we inhabit, but what a wonderful thing that there is a massive army of people quietly getting on with the difficult and tiring job of caring for others. So a rousing cheer to all carers, and I hope you all have a peaceful and happy day today.
Yes I agree there seems to be a cause for every day of the year, but this caught my attention. Apparently yesterday was 'Take your Pet to work day', so it from the sublime to the ridiculous. Puts a smile on my face though.
The World needs to think as never before, find true sane leaders in so many cases. My childhood. Mother had taught me to cook a sunday lunch by 12 years. Just as well, father died then of bowel cancer, Mum went completely blind 2 years later. I had earlier won a scholarship to wellknown public school, which my parents took up instead of the local grammar school 200 yards down road. I had to get there walking mile to thestation, catch early train, always late. the other end catch school bus. A total journey of 21/2 hours. On the train both ways cope with bullying & a rampant paedophile in the shape of a church organist. He even had the cheek after my father died to come to my home & offer his services to teach me the facts of life. Mother had answered the door & he received the biggest slap in the face as answer. After a 12 hour day at school, I cooked a meal, did my homework & fell into bed. From time to time a school satchel or cap was thrown on the line & it meant missing the train to retrieve them & waiting another hour to catch next one. Happy Days !!! A good intro to caring.
Thank you MAS Nurse. We do tend to carry on regardless and not think about what we are actually doing by undertaking the caring roles we each do, and how much it benefits the one we are caring for. Unfortunately it doesn't always benefit us, and that's when it's nice occasionally to be reminded of the wonderful part we play in keeping our loved ones safe and well tended. Have had a very good day today with mom so I am feeling quite good. She has eaten well too!! Hugs to all the wonderful carers out there.
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