Dear Parents and Carers,

Happiness

Last week the focus for our Principals award was kindness – a characteristic of our schools Patron Saint St Joseph.  Kindness was also the focus of staff prayer this week.

I am always intrigued to listen to podcasts/read books about stories of extreme resilience and about everyday people overcoming great adversity.  I am not sure whether many of you have heard the story of Kath Koschel – professional cricketer and founder of Kindness Factory.  I listened to a podcast on 'No Filter' where she was interviewed about the many obstacles she has faced in her life and I am now reading her book Kindness – What surviving on the kindness of strangers taught me about perspective, connective and happiness.

The blurb reads:

Kath Koschel has faced almost unimaginable hurdles.  In her mid-twenties, she broke her back and was told she may never walk again.  Shortly afterwards, she lost her beloved partner to suicide.  Then, just as she was piecing her life back together, she was hit by a car while cycling and forced to re-learn to walk a second time.

In the midst of these harrowing experiences, Kath created the Kindness Factory on social media to share her small acts of kindness.  Her idea went viral, prompting millions of kind deeds around the world.  In 2016, Kat put her belief in kindness to the ultimate test, leaving home with nothing but a change of clothes, her phone and a toothbrush – no food, money or water.  Her goal? To see how long she could survive on the kindness of strangers.  Her journey took her to every state in Australia, where she met with people from all walks of life to share her kindness manifesto.

I guess it always good to get a different perspective on things.  Sometimes it is great to do a little reality check – the problems and issues that we all face can seem big to us at the time, however when we see other peoples adversities they can seem trivial.  No matter what choices and issues we are faced with – we always have the choice to act/respond in kindness.

Have a lovely week,

Kirsty Beavan

Principal