By Nicole K. //
What a whirlwind of a year 2021 was.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and burnt out, you are not alone. This constant tango with an ever-evolving coronavirus has left many fatigued and frustrated. Perhaps, you might even find it hard to make any new year’s resolutions for 2022 – and that’s perfectly okay.
At Tapestry, we’ve started a tradition of coming up with a mental health-related theme every year. Last year, our theme was on being a #WorkInProgress where we shared stories that redefined recovery and resilience; mental health is an ongoing journey that looks different for everyone.
A lot has gone on in the mental health scene. On the home front, the tragedy at River Valley High School has thrown youth mental health into sharp focus. Migrant worker mental wellbeing was also flagged as a pressing need given their prolonged quarantine period. On the international stage, world-class athletes Simon Biles and Naomi Osaka also lit the way to conversations about athletes’ mental wellbeing at the Tokyo Olympics.
Despite the many needs, we are heartened by the many who have stepped up to champion the importance of good mental health. As a young non-profit organisation, we had the honour of working with 14 organisations where we held talks (one of them being the biannual Together Against Stigma Conference held in Prague), conducted 15 Re:Story workshops for schools, and rounded up 2021 with our 22nd Sojourners lunchtime journaling club.
Yet we know there is still so much more to be done.
The question is – how does one do good without burning out? We do our best to walk the talk, and are mindful about pacing ourselves and prioritising our wellbeing. Therefore, this year, our theme is about going #BackToBasics against the backdrop of pandemic fatigue — revisiting or rediscovering the fundamentals of who you are, and what matters to you the most.
We invite you to give pause to your busyness and ask – what does “going back to basics” mean for you this year?
Come share your #BackToBasics story with us. Here’s to shaping our mental health culture, one story at a time.
Nicole K.
Founder & Editor, The Tapestry Project SG
Image credit: Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels