Where I go…banishing the Monday blues

Those of us old enough to remember Bob Geldof and his band The Boomtown Rats will be familiar with their big hit ‘I don’t like Mondays’. Then there’s the old ‘Monday Blues’ saying and many other expressions that combine to give our first day of the working week a really bad rap!

Whether we’re at school, at work or in retirement (I’m surmising here as I’ve yet to get that far in my life…), Mondays tend to be greeted with a sullen and hostile ‘oh God, it’s Monday again!’ when the shrill of the early morning alarm is the final reminder that yes, the weekend, beautiful as it was, is over.

But today, Monday 17 July 2017, has changed its course and connotations forever in my world. It was a wonderful, different and richly rewarding Monday; it was the day I became an ‘Angel for a Day’, donned my apron and assisted with serving breakfast to those in need of a helping hand on a cold, wet and wintry morning in Adelaide, South Australia.

Our 5:30am alarm had my 10-year-old daughter and me bouncing out of bed (maybe a little exaggerated in her case…) and making our way to the wonderful Hutt Street Centre. My daughter leads a privileged life and I wanted her to know that homelessness doesn’t discriminate and can befall anyone, regardless of status, gender, age or background.

On arriving at 7am, we were greeted by the remarkable volunteers who prepare healthy meals several times a day and throughout the year, one of whom has been doing it for over 20years. What spectacular, decent, wonderful human beings, I thought.

As we helped prepare and serve breakfast I felt honoured to have been given the opportunity and truly moved to see the love in my child’s eyes as she proudly said good morning to the wonderful folk who drifted in from the streets – and all of whom, without exception, said good morning and asked us how we were doing.

The work of the centre doesn’t end there and beyond meals, warm cups of tea, laundry services and a cheery companion with whom to watch the footy on TV, the myriad case managers, pastoral care staff and teachers are always available to provide ongoing support.

Yes, we were there for just a few hours but it was rewarding, I met some inspiring people and I left determined to spread the word and encourage you all to banish the Monday blues and gain a different perspective to its awakening!

Monday is what you make it, my friend, and today’s Monday is a great day.

For more details on being an 'Angel for a Day' go to: https://bit.ly/2uqlFZt

For more of my blogs please go to: www.whereigo.net