Sunday 12th November
Kindness, Bystanders, and Charity
Hello Dear Friend,
How has another week come and gone? I was in a coffee shop yesterday and there was a sign saying that there were only 44 sleeps to Christmas… Arghhhh
The year seems to be going by faster and faster. Also a quick apology for forgetting to add the audio file to last week’s Letter, it was recorded, promise…
I will try to remember to add it today.
I have lots to share this week, some of which you you may know about if you follow me on social media, some of it will be new to you. Grab a cuppa and a biscuit (or two) and join me as I dive down this week’s rabbit hole.
World Kindness Day 2023 - November 13th
World Kindness Day was established in 1998 - making this year the 25th year. The idea is simple - be kind. Those who know me, know I try to live by this, you never know when a small thing you do will make a difference to someone else. If you are not sure how, or what to do, here are some resources
101 Self Care Ideas, Beyond the Cliches - because you need to be kind to yourself too.
9 Ways to Celebrate World Kindness Day
What will you do to celebrate World Kindness Day?
The Bystander Effect
The Bystander Effect - The Science of Empathy video on YouTube
Much has been written about and studied when it comes to the bystander effect. Mostly it has been studied in relation to crime, and situations that have an element of personal risk.
The most frequently cited real-life example of the bystander effect regards a young woman called Kitty Genovese, who was murdered in Queens, New York, in 1964 while several of her neighbors looked on. No one intervened until it was too late.
The video below - it is only 5 minutes long - looks at how long it takes someone to help another when there is no risk.
It really is worth a watch and the next time you are in a situation where you are thinking about ‘maybe’ helping someone, remember this video, and be kind.
Other Ways to Be Kind
A great way to be kind is to find a charity which means something to you and donate - your time, your money, or maybe just some items for their charity shop. Below are a couple which are close to my heart.
Dementia UK November Knitting Challenge
Dementia UK are running a month long Knit Every Day Challenge to raise funds for the charity. The picture above is my mum, not long after I was born, knitting something in pink wool, while wrestling a cat. I am definitely my mother’s daughter, as I am often to be found wrestling a cat whilst knitting. My mum taught me to knit when I was around 10 and it has been my go-to craft ever since.
When I saw the challenge I knew I had to do it in memory of my mum, and also Jo’s mum, Pam. Both sucumbed to the hideousness which is dementia, Pam’s journey through was quick, my mum’s was a slow, frightening journey, with nothing we could do to help.
If you can I would love it if you would sponsor me to help raise funds for this important charity. Everyone who donates will have their name popped into a virtual hat to win one of my knitted animals, UK postage included. The name will be drawn on December 1st. If you donate anoymously, and would like to have your name in the hat, please just drop me a note to let me know - I don’t need to know the amount. Every penny is worthwhile, helping research and care for those who are suffering throught this disease.
Thank you so much, if you are unable to give, I completely understand, I would be grateful if you could share this fundraiser instead. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
I will be posting up regular photos on to one of my Instagram pages @tracyoknits Having fetched that link I realise I have some catching up to do, so that will be organised very shortly.
Light Up the Mountains Event
This event popped into my inbox this week, it was organised by Keith Jones, and it is raising money for the Mountain Rescue Teams across the UK, this years walk concentrated on Mam Tor in Derbyshire. There is an amazing video here on the BBC, which shows the walkers with their torches shining out into the darkness, if you have the time, please watch it, it is inspiring.
The Mountain Rescue teams all over the UK do an amazing job, helping and rescuing people from all sorts of trauma. When I lived in the Lake District, especially at the Outward Bound centre in Eskdale, and the Wasdale Head Inn, we regularly saw the teams heading out on rescue missions.
Just Giving Page for Mountain Rescue - as I write this they have raised over £11,000 for the Mountain Rescue England and Wales charity. Every member of the Mountain Rescue team are volunteers.
Continuing the Heirarchy - Cherubim
I will pop this into next weeks missive, I have run out of time today, and have a deadline looming for my first Open University assignment for this year’s course, it is due on the 23rd of November.
Wish me luck.
Until next time, as ever, may your angels and guides watch over you and protect you until we meet again.
Love and Light,
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Until next time, bye for now.
Links:
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation - website
The Bystander Effect - SimplyPsychology.org
Mam Tor Drone Headlight Footage
Just Giving Page for Mountain Rescue
November 2023 Knitting Every Day Dementia Challenge - Just giving Page
Anything in bold and underlined is a link to the relevant article or web page. None are affiliate links, just things I hope to benefit you, or people I admire and have worked with.
Note: If there is a * these are affiliate links and may earn me a few pennies without adding to your cost. Disclosure: If you buy books linked here, I may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.
I immediately got up and grabbed a biscuit to read with, just because you said so. Hehe.
Without knowing what the rest of the volume would hold, I grabbed a ginger biscuit - Gordy's favourite - my Poppy who has dementia. Thank you for doing what you are doing this month. So much love to you! xx