What does strong mean to you
​and how did you find your strong?

Finding  Strong

So many people have experienced tough times and found their strong. We want to learn what strong means to them, and discover how they found it. The #FindingStrong campaign takes an appreciative inquiry approach to celebrating these strengths and sharing them with the broader community - particularly people who are doing it tough because of COVID19. The Campaign is being undertaken by the Kindness Pandemic in collaboration with Beyond Blue and with support from the Department of Premier and Cabinet Victoria. 

• Festival of Strong here
• Queer Strong here
• Pride Fairy tales here
• Carer Strong here
• Two Good Strong Men here
• Strong in Spirit here
  

How to participate 

​If you would like to share your story about what strong (mentally strong, or resilient) means to you, here are the steps to participate: 

1. ​Share a story about what strong means to you and how you achieved it
2. Use words to tell your story (please try to keep to under 200 words)
3. Share an image to help tell your story 
4. Share your words and image to your social media with the hashtag #FindingStrong and #BeyondBlue
5. Share your story to the Kindness Pandemic Facebook group directly or email and we will share it for you. 

Story galleries 

Thankyou to everyone who shared their stories with us in the Facebook group. We have included stories here and on the other Finding Strong pages so everyone can read them.

Liz Wheeler: Finding strong is a paradox for me. My strength came when I did two things. I embraced my vulnerability and I surrendered all of what I thought was my fight to accepting myself as complete and taking all the help available to me. Seven years ago I lost most of my sight to a degenerative illness. I lost my sight, my job, my capcity to cook, the ability to leave the house, my feeling of safety, my identity. There was a lot of loss. My coping mechanisms for many years of denial and avoidance no longer worked. I got a lot of functional help but I never really faced my mental health. Fast forward a few years and my unresolved grief and trauma from loosing my sight and subsequent events left me with a list of mental health diagnosis. I kept “fighting” or what I like to call trying to preserve my ego. I needed to appear in control, on top of things, unaffected, brave, inspirational - feel free to add to the list. But I was broken and didn’t know who I was and worse, I didn’t like myself. I found myself suicidal and in extreme distress when I finally surrendered. It was then I sought help for my mental health again and this time, I did whatever the mental health team suggested would lead me to recovery. I had / still have a good team. In a time when I had none they had absolute hope. They didn’t think life would be bearable for me, they believed I could recover mentally and lead a worthy life filled with good quality stuff. So I learned and practiced mindfulness Meditation. I started to challenge my negative thoughts. I kept / keep a gratitude diary. I took up yoga. I quit caffine and I found many ways to accept how sad, angry and aggrieved I was at loosing my sight. Two months ago I I was officially recovered from Major depression. I have made friends with my anxiety disorder, the mothering safety part of me that is always checking things. I have learned how to calm her down, acknowledge her when she feels we shoudl be worried and balance it. Sometiems she gets the better but I’m compassionate toward her and give her the space, she has had an important role in my life for a long time and it would be unfair to expect her to no longer try to help. I finally learned to love myself and to be compassionate for myself and everyone. I turn to love, forgivness, compassion and patience. I found strong in the paradox of vulnerability and surrender / acceptance. Picture of Liz’s Guide Dog Poppi demonstrating mindfulness and connecting with nature by the river in the first days of spring. Poppi is a blonde labrador with honey ears and bright happy eyes. Poppi the Guide Dog

Gavin Wake: Today marks 19 year’s since this little ball of crazy arrived on planet earth. She has taught me so much, and I am still learning everyday. Finding my strength as a Dad isn’t always easy and I have made my fair share of mistakes, but I couldn’t be prouder of the amazing individual that you have become Imi. I love that today marks the easing of lockdown restrictions in Melbourne, it also marks the beginning of a new year for you Imi, get out there and smash this one. It’s not easy being a young person in this crazy world today and we all need to help them find their way and their strength. Loads of love on your special day Imi, stay strong and know you are loved and that your family has always got your back.

Kathie Elliot: I started life as a dancer. From the age of four my life was a constant round of ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary classes. I was lucky enough to go on and become a professional dancer - travelling the world on various contracts. For me, being strong meant the technique, the stamina, the ability to physically do things that others admired and sometimes even dreamt of doing themselves. Fast forward to an accident on stage which ended in me not being able to walk for almost six months. This began my journey with pain, with disappointment, with patience, and with changing expectations. I discovered along the way that I had Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) as well as some dodgy discs in my lower back - inoperable for many reasons. My life has changed completely and these two worlds couldn't be further apart for me. I've received amazing support and care from friends and from complete strangers. I've also seen the negative aspect - some people really don't want to make changes or exceptions for a person with disability. It is sometimes all to hard. But that is exactly what makes me strong. My disability. I've learned empathy, I've learnt to see past the physical. I've learnt never to assume and never to take anything for granted. I'm grateful for what I can do, when I can do it. And I'm grateful to the people who want to be in my life. For those that see past the things I can't do yet love and laugh with me regardless. They also help make me strong. As Paulo Coelho says "The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion." #FindingStrong (Image description is included as part of Alt Text.)

More information 

Beyond Blue has a very useful Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support service, which is available 24 hours/7 days a week. You can click on the image below, or here

Partners and collaborators

The Kindness Pandemic is pleased to be collaborating with Beyond Blue and to be supported by the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Victoria.