Be mind safe...

An very quick insight into my nightly viewing, has given me the mindset to write this piece about my feelings this week. Each evening myself and my wife, settle down to watch Masterchef Australia. A little niche perhaps but it is a great relaxer and we set our ambitious mealtimes by what is being made by the contestants that week. I digress slightly, but I think it's important to explain my televisual habits.

This week, my cert for the win, Brent Draper, opened up on live TV about his mental health and how he was unable to cope further cooking in the competition. I thought it a little voyeuristic when the cameras stayed on him through this admission / cry for help. But I'm glad they did as the Judge, Jock Zonfrillo, took him to one side and very emotionally talked Brent through his options. Options? you may ask, yes options. We all have them, we can all make our own mind up and sometimes, be guided by what others share with us. Jock left Brent with some worry beads and asked him to be Mind safe. I loved the fact that he offered a shoulder, a focus for Brent to work to, and through, until he was able to come to terms with his state of mind.

This came just a week after the 10th anniversary of the death of Terry Newton, an amazing Rugby League player who never took a backward step on the field, but we all wish, he had taken a forward step to seek the advice and help he needed in his life off the field. But, from this tragic event, an amazing thing happened the creation of 'State of Mind' a charity which assisted, originally, Rugby clubs, but now all sports and businesses by talking passionately about issues and concerns in life and the workplace.

I was literally, moved to tears watching the events unfold on TV as all Brent wanted was the love of his family around him at a very testing time in his life. We can all share those views and, thankfully, many of us are not too far from receiving that love. This reminded me of one important rule when asking if someone is ok, ask the same question again, with the following added words, are you sure! Some people do not want to talk, others feel it a burden. When we ask this further question lets prepare ourselves for hopefully the same answer, but sometimes prepare ourselves for a different one.

I thought further about this and looked into a bit of wordplay; when someone expresses a passionate expression of grief or sorrow (n) or expresses passionate grief about (v), they are LAMENTing. Just look at that word again and swap some of the letters around MENTAL. There's a close connection in both meanings when attributed to the mind.

We have a duty of care to look after our kin, whether they are friends, family, loved ones or strangers. Look after each other, be there for each other and most of all don't 'Lament' without first finding someone to speak to or confide in.

Thanks for reading...