Wellbeing Wednesday #19: A tribute to key workers
A special edition to thank key workers toiling over the holidays
Read: Happy holidays and heartfelt thanks
I planned to skip publishing this week as I figured that those of us who celebrate Christmas would be spending today with family and friends, hopefully on a digital detox.
But then I remembered that not everyone is fortunate enough to have today off. Even in places where Christmas is celebrated, there are key workers who are toiling today and throughout the festive season to keep things functioning.
Saving lives in emergency rooms and ICUs, fighting fires, dispatching emergency services on the worst day of people’s lives, keeping our streets safe, providing food and shelter for the less fortunate, supporting people in crisis, providing sanitation services, keeping the lights and heat on, offering spiritual care. The list goes on...
Today’s newsletter is a heartfelt thanks to you all - today and every day.
Know that your efforts are seen and appreciated, even if the words are aren’t said aloud often enough. You keep the world going around.
I hope today and every day you find a little space and time for rest and rejuvenation.
Sending you thanks and wishing you peace and joy this festive season. 💖✨
Hi, I’m Holly - coach, mindfulness facilitator and writer of the Zestful Zen Wellbeing Wednesday newsletter. 💖 I hope you’ll find these resource round-ups a helpful self-care support and an opportunity to pause as we hit “hump day” each week. 🐪
Inspire
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
– John F. Kennedy
Look
Thank you to everyone who keeps the NHS running, from cleaners to care workers, nurses to night porters, doctors to dentists. And all those in the background who we may never see. We appreciate you more than you can know.
Listen
For all the key workers whose “holiday” season is a hectic work period. Find a quiet spot if you can, and try this short meditation on intentionally Taking a Work Break.
Watch
Enjoy this wholesome children’s story, Thank You, celebrating key workers and the NHS, read by the book’s author, poet Joseph Coelho, as part of the Christmas Jumper Series.
Ask
Reflections for key workers:
What do you need today to support yourself? Who can help you?
What were your favourite moments over the past year?
Reflections for other readers:
Think of all the key workers who keep your life going day-to-day, especially the less visible ones.
How can you show them your appreciation? How can you offer them support?
Do
Thank a key worker! Find a way to show them your appreciation. Write a thank you letter, or draw a thank you message. Perhaps send a care package to your local hospital for the staff room - some sweet treats and healthy goodies. Or a voucher for a massage.
Donate to a charity that supports key workers. If you have a useful skill, give that for free - arrange a time to provide a mindfulness session, a manicure, a meal.
Here’s a video example of making a small home-crafted thank you to NHS key workers.
Wishing you all a wonderful Wellbeing Wednesday and some rest and rejuvenation this festive season 💖✨
For more self-care resources, dip into the Wellbeing Wednesday back catalogue, or check out my essays on self-care.
P.S. I’d love your feedback on this post: What would make it better? 🌸
Ways to connect or work with me 💬
DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer coaching sessions and mindfulness courses.
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