This R U OK Day we really wanted to make a difference in our community and provide support to those experiencing hard times. R U Ok Day is an excellent reminder to check in with those around you and ask if they’re really doing okay. With so many of us doing it tough, we wanted to inspire kindness and spread positivity in our community through social engagement.
R U OK DAY COMPETITION
We created our R U Ok Day competition to kickstart this goal of ours. This competition asked our followers to share with us an act of kindness they had performed, received or even witnessed. With the winner of our competition being able to select a charity of their choice for us to donate $500 on their behalf. They also received two vouchers to enjoy a Soul Origin catch up with a friend.
ACTS OF KINDNESS
We were inundated and overwhelmed with the amount of beautiful and truly inspirational comments about the good deeds people had taken part in or received over the past year. The stories that were shared were so uplifting and supportive it was hard to choose just one winner. We absolutely loved all the entries but we decided @emmaw’s entry encompassed the spirit of R U Ok Day and Acts of Kindness:
“I work in a busy Melbourne ED and had a patient ask me how I was coping with work and lockdown. He was in ED because he had serious health issues and stopped to recognise how hard things might be for nurses right now, not thinking about himself. That simple 2 minute conversation came at just the right time and made a big difference in a difficult week. 🩺❤️ ️”
Emma’s story really does emphasize that small gestures of kindness can really impact someone’s day in a positive way and we are here for it!
Emma nominated WomenCan as the charity of her choice. We had the opportunity to chat with one of the WomenCan Team Members about the donation and how significant this nomination was.
“Every year 6500 Australian women are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer.
WomenCan exists to support the peak national research group, ANZGOG, by funding their pioneering research and clinical trials to provide the very best in care, treatment and prevention and improve the life for women with a gynaecological cancer.
WomenCan are thrilled to receive a $500 donation from Soul Origin. With the communities support and energy, together, we can raise funds for ANZGOGs programs enabling women with a gynaecological cancer to live better and live longer.”
WOMENCAN
The charity does amazing work researching gynecological cancers. Their work is incredible as it focuses on providing greater outcomes and care for women diagnosed with a gynecological cancer. When we started this competition, it was to inspire others, but in the process, it really inspired us.
IT IS NOT JUST ONE DAY.
We want to encourage our community to continue these small acts of kindness. Especially as October is the month for World Mental Health Awareness. With the ongoing lockdowns in many states and changing conditions, these acts of kindness and checking in with others is more important than ever. Our winner’s post showcased how even a simple interaction like asking “are you okay?” can make a huge difference on one’s day and even life. Thank you again to everyone who entered our competition!
If you or someone you know is not doing ok, please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Both are available to provide support 24/7, please see the contact details below:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
