He whakaaro noo te Kiingi
Whilst today's announcement of more than 6,000 new cases is consistent with expectations, it will still come as a bit of a shock to many. Today the Minister of Health also announced that New Zealand will shift to Phase 3 of its response plan to Omicron at 11:59 pm tonight. With the transition to Phase 3, there is an expectation that individuals and whaanau take more personal responsibility for their own approach to this virus, for testing, for isolating and contact tracing in particular. With yet another shift in the country's response plan and the massive amount of information being shared about the dos and the don'ts, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and even confused as to how you are meant to respond.
Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss is a natural response. Remember we are nearly 24 months into this pandemic and each of our experiences has been different. Some of our babies still haven't had a full week in a classroom since early 2020. Some of our whaanau remain offshore and are unable to reunite with their loved ones. Others have suffered loss and were not able to mourn in ways we traditionally have been able to, adding to their mamae. Many whaanau businesses have been shaken badly. And then there are those of us that have been inconvenienced through the virus, but who have not really had to give up a lot so far as a result. Throughout the pandemic we have been asked to stay safe, to wear our masks, to wash our hands, to social distance, to limit our numbers, to stay home, to get vaccinated, to get boosted, to be kind and think of others. All of this on top of life, as usual, work, school, community, whaanau...it is no wonder that we might be feeling a little inundated.
Kiingi Tuheitia encourages us all today to be kind to ourselves. To breathe and know that this type of reaction is perfectly normal and perfectly human. He tangata noa te tangata. As the saying goes, taking care of others starts by taking care of ourselves. So today and in the coming days, take the time to do a check on yourself. How is your energy? How are your moods? What can you do to help reset? Get out for a hiikoi, explore new places, eat great healthy kai, get creative, feed your wairua, do something for yourself, get your hair done, get a massage, get in your maara, take the bike out for a spin, go for a dive, get into the bush, have that afternoon nap, turn off the computer, disconnect from social media, get to the gym, do that Youtube Yoga class you have wanted to do, sing your haka favourites in the shower as loud as you can, get your Euchre on, cuddle with the mokos, go on a date with your honey, take time to throw the ball around with the dogs. Whatever it is that helps energise you, make sure you take the time to do it this weekend. Getting away from all of the news, and focusing on the things we enjoy can help us cope better in times of pressure and stress.
Our King encourages those that are struggling to cope to reach out for help, to talk to others, to remember that you are not alone. There are lots of organisations that have been set up to support our whaanau through the pandemic, to provide advice and guidance or to just be a listening ear over a hot cuppa. The 1737 hotline is available for those that want to chat with someone if they have no one else to turn to. They will even take your texts if you don't want to talk at first. This service is completely free and has trained counsellors ready and waiting. Otherwise there is always your local GP and a whole list of other organisations that you can ring, text or email for support. Find that list here.
Ka ora te puu, ka ora te katoa. Care for others starts with care for self. That's how we ensure everyone is taken care of. Amohia ake te ora o te iwi.
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